Im up in the attic today getting down the Christmas tree and I find an old Clarks Shoe Box full of Baubles,Old Paper Chains that we use to hang from the ceiling and some tinsel .I remember the day in 1967 me Ma bought those Chains in Woolworths in Thomas Street .I remember the excitment sitting on the 21 bus home dying to put the Chains up on the ceiling .When we got home I charged in demanding that My Da put the decorations up .He said he had no thumbtacks and went to the shops to get some .I watched as he walked down the road and went into Slatterys Pub to buy thumbtacks .The pub must of had none left because he didnt bring any home but me Ma put them up the next day so that was OK.
I threw the old paper chains out of the box and into a black plastic bag then emptied out the Baubles and Tincel to see what else was in the box .I found my old Santy letters .One dated 1967 said ,Dear Santy can I have a bike .If you get me one ill share with my sister .I have been very good said my prayers every night I even told God if I got a bike I would give the Baby Jesus a Crossbar .
I looked some more in the old Shoe Box and found my shopping list from 1967 .Unlike this year I just went on line to Crap and Co .com Rubbish You Like .ie You buy it You Own it .Co .UK and ordered piles of crap to be delivered to my house by Big Dommos youngfella in his Courier job .no need for a list just click and pay I have loads of Christmas paper I recycled from last year .I sat on the top stair and read the list .If you asked me to remember to turn off the immersion in an hour I would probably forget but things that happened years ago I remember clearly .That year I got my first ever Christmas Card it was addressed to Master Mc Grath if it was for me Da it would of said Mister .The envelope was licked shut that use to cost a penny more than an open letter .I ripped it open and there was a picture of a Robin Readbreast ,it frightened me as I thought the red was blood and somebody had shot the bird . In the middle of the card in the place where you put the Lottery tickets now for people you dont really want to buy presents for was a Postal Order for Five Shillings from me Uncle in England .
Me Ma brought me down to the Post Office on Emmett Road and I cashed the Postal Order and put me Five Bob in me pocket .”Dont lose that” instructed me Ma but there was no chance I still had a good tight hold on it as me clenched fist in me pocket .We went shopping first down to Mulvins for a Colouring Book cost threepence and a pakkage of Crayons for another truppence .Then Back to Boles Chemist .A jar of Brilcream for me uncle cost one and three ,a bottle of 4711 Au Do Toilet Water for me aunty another one and three .Some Nivea for me Ma cost one shilling and tuppence then one single Wilkinson Sword Double Edged Razor Blade cost tenpence for me Da .Then up to Mc Evoys Shop on Tyrconnell Road for a box of Jelly Fruits for me Granny cost another one shilling and Threepence and a Long John Chewing Gum for me new Baby sister she had no teeth so could only chew or suck soft stuff like Chewing Gum .
Now im sitting on the top stair reading the shopping list remembering the trouble that bike got me into and adding up the sums ,just like today I spent more money than I had .I realised that me Ma actually paid for her own Christmas Present .That Bike got me into loads of trouble I still have it took it out of me Mas old shed and now its in my Shed collecting Cobwebs .The Brilcream The Jelly Fruits ,The Razor blade and the Nivea are now gone but the old Santy Letters the Shopping list in the Old Clarks shoe box means the memories will live on .I took the Broken old paper celing chains back out of the Black Plastic Rubbish bin carefully refolded them and put them back in the shoebox .I think I remember they cost one shilling and eight pence as I got a small bar of Cadburys Chocolate out of the change and that cost fourpence .I remember me Ma complaining they were expensive but what value now in memories from the old Carks Shoe Box .
