Page 25 - recollections of a life in Porthleven

The football Club. It was a good club (team). It might be now. But time back
there were on average 1,000 people watching them when they were playing
in the Cornwall Combination League and The South Western League.
Please, I do not wish for the players and the committee to be offended. I am
living in the past.

Saint Peters Tide, Gala Week. The very large saffron bun all the children
were given. The flags we the villagers would put out for the two weeks.
I recall with great joy my Easter weekends with my Father, Gran my sister
and brother. Putting buckets and rakes into my Fathers car, a Morris 1100,
are there any about today? Why and where were we going to? Each and every
Easter we would go down to the Helford River to pick cockles. A number
of hours getting stuck and falling into the mud.... A great time had by us,
that is, Margaret Stephen and myself. Gran would try to wash the mud out
of our hair and off our skin before we made our journey home. Our clothes
were put into bags. No way could Gran clean them. The many full buckets
of cockles we brought home, well if it was not my father working so hard.
I think there would not have been many brought home.

When it comes to my birthday or Christmas time now my family says 'Dad
what can we get you’? I reply with the same words each time. 'Dad's got
everything he can ever wish for'. A loving wife, three wonderful children
(sometimes) and three healthy and happy grandchildren, two boys and a
beautiful little girl. What else would I like when I have all this? There is
nothing so I tell them.

Things are different now at home in the evenings. Jen my wife will call or
receive a call from her mother and they will have a good chat. I have not
spoken to my mother for more than 60 years as she passed away when I was
four years of age. How I would like to pick up the phone and say, ‘Hello
mum’. I have a lot to say. .....

Happy Easter to you and your family.

John.