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So....... married and finished with South Africa we returned to Europe.... but language and contacts virtually dictated that we returned to London rather than (say) Rome or Munich or wherever.. Bassy and Anne gave my Mum a lift to meet us at Heathrow and then it was the usual wife/mother-in-law discontentments for the next 15/16 years.
2, Brickwell Walk, Tylers Green, Bucks - aged 30 to 32 -1973 to 1975
What a "wake-up"....!! I'd gone off to South Africa 3 or 4 years before and a big detached house on 1 acre in Gerrards Cross cost ?15-20,000. So we had some savings and reckoned that's the sort of lifestyle we'd get into...... alas, prices were more into the ?40,000 bracket - and all we could afford was poor little Brickwell Walk (about ?12,000) - a terraced, 3 bedroom cardboard box, warm-air central heating etc.. Memories...
I joined up with Jim Davis & Bassy in Systems 70
We bought a dark blue MGB-GT, nice car but broke the rear axle
The piddly little back garden with single car garage occupying 30%
Easy shopping on the estate
Me doing the DIY - installing double-glazing - very badly!!
Paying ?15 call-out for Gas Stove guy to come (when the gas stove wouldn't turn on) and point to the "Timer" switch which had somehow got pushed to 3 minutes - but not initiated - all he did was come in, point, collect the money and left.
BBQ's inevitably ending up in the garage because of the rain.
Walks on Sundays in the woods around the area
Brittsy being born and her arrival home - the "nursery"
Meeting Roger Hicks and Maureen Hicks - lots of outings (and even holidays - to Italy) with them
Meeting Les Bentley and Regina Bentley, again lots of good outings, they lived in the same road as my mum.
Selling to a couple (he was into graphics) and the brilliant decorations he made to the place.
Good times...
33 Wheeler Ave, Tylers Green Bucks - aged 32 to 40 - 1975 to 1983
OK - this was getting more like it... on a smaller estate, bigger 4 & 5 bedroom houses with maybe 1/3 rd of an acre garden each - good quality, kept nicely etc... ?30,000
Inga being born and coming home
Emily arriving - our black cocker-spaniel - no brain, but lovely.
Ron & Pam next door neighbours and their kids Matthew and ?Katie?
Other neighbours Mike McAvoy, the doctor next door, the couple next to them, who went off to USA, the sub-mariner across the road, and others up left of us
The Jubilee Street Party - excellent!!
Building the sandpit at the bottom of the garden, installing the swing
Having a guy come in and build a brick fireplace - the chimney was there - but the installed fireplace was only plastic. Took him about 3 days - and it was very smoky (but that was more the chimney's fault than his)
Recording lots of Greg Edwards shows from Capitol Radio
Nice big double garage
Gardening was easy, enjoyable
Taking kids to Tylers Green First School and picking them up in the afternoons
Meeting the Kunheims - Mat, Jane, Michael and Toasty - through the Tylers Green School - lots of outings and holidays - thanks Matt & Jane for 2 great holidays in their Cape Cod home.
The start of au-pairs - basically to look after the kids - Lore was first, her sister also au-paired in Beaconsfield
Then came Gabriella, Anna-Grit (didn't last long), Anke and Ute - all lovely girls - thanks!!
Britta wanting to "board" at Godstowe
Inga following Britta to Godstowe
Inga getting blown-up by a bottle of beer - that was a bad day!!
I did my 1 year contract in Saudi Arabia during this time
Buying the BMW 320 - in Brussels, Belgium - what a great deal - despite ****ing Government taxes:
At that time, the car would have cost ?9,000 in the UK
From a BMW dealer in Brussels we bought it for the equivalent of ?4,500
We ran it in by going to the family in Hannover then
Entering UK through Dover paid ?1,500 in Taxes (Import and whatever - applying amazingly biased (in the Govt's favour) exchange rates)
?6,000 instead of ?9,000 and a great weekend in Brussels to boot!!
A variety of cars...Blue beetle, Citroen Dyane, Chrysler Alpine, VW Scirocco, White Beetle, BMW,
Good times...