David is an author of fantasy novels and a writer and producer of rock music. The site provides information of his creative works and has a regular blog of news of his latest work and insights into his life and past.
Before the days of central heating and double glazing, houses really knew when winter had arrived. Temperatures in the bedroom would plummet, and the windows would be covered in the … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – The Winter Chill Before Central Heating. The Frozen Piano and Pipes Saga.
We moved to 19 Gipton Wood Crescent when I was younger than seven. I can’t remember which year, but it was probably 1959 or 1960. The road was still cobbled … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Adventures in Gipton Wood Crescent, Leeds. Rag-and-Bone Men, Knife Grinders and Peg Selling Gypsies.
Childhood is an interesting period and often we think that we have no memories of those early years, but I think with the right prodding, the memories pour back from … Continue reading Cup of Tea Tales – Harehills County Primary School in the Early 1960s. Milk, School Dinners, Marbles, Gym and the School Song!
I remember well one warm, sunny afternoon in Leeds when my grandma came to our house and took my younger brother and me for an outing to Roundhay Park. The walk … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Adventures With My Grandmother: Sunken Ships, Buried Treasure, Crooked Spires and Locked In Kenilworth Castle!
As I said, I loved my grandma and her house, but I didn’t mention my grandfather, Harry. Harry had been a tailor, but he had also owned his own sweet … Continue reading Cup of Tea Tales – My Grandma’s House in Chapel Allerton. Cutting the Lawn with Scissors, Breaking coal Lumps, and the Boxing Day Party.
Christmas in the late 1950s, early 60s was a very different beast to the overindulgence and massive consumerism that is the norm in 2021. Not long out of rationing, there … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Family Christmas in Lawrence Avenue and Gipton Wood Crescent, Leeds 1950s-60s.
The wind up to the end of term and the Christmas holidays was always something that I enjoyed and looked forward to. The teachers seemed in a good mood in … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Balaclavas, Scarves, Gloves Drying on the Radiators. Winter and Christmas Parties at Harehills County Primary School in the 1960s.
I remember playing a lot of games as a child. There were card games, simple board games, dominoes, and many others. I was trying to think about some of the … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Bagatelle, Trains, Meccano, Bayko, Cards and an Assortment of Other Family Games of the 1950s and 60s.
I cannot say what age I was when I started to go to the dentist, but I remember my first one well. Mr Gosling had his surgery on Easterly Road … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – A Trip to the Dentist in Leeds and Papua New Guinea. Not for the Squeamish!
Our first house as a family was in Lawrence Avenue, on the edge of the Gipton estate. It was a small, semi-detached two-bedroom house. This was fine until my mother … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Testing My Mother’s Resilience! The Scrapes and Near Scrapes from Playing in the Garden, Street and the Local Area of Gipton.
I have many memories of my childhood, as I suppose most other people do of their own. In my case, the memories are all good and it truly was a … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – My Grandmother’s House – Two-Up, Two-Down. Guzunders, Ranges, Coal Men, Cellars and Outside Privies! Seems so Old Fashioned Now.
We have just had Halloween, but when I was growing up in Leeds, it was never much of a thing. Bonfire Night was the major event and there was always … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’–Remember, Remember the 5th of November! Mischief Night and Bonfire Night in Leeds, 1950s-1960s.
David M Cameron 