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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Wednesday November 24th, 2004 18:08 |
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I was doing some reminicing with some old school friends recently, and got into a funny chat about how our houses looked back then. As someone who grew up in a Jamaican Household in North West London during the 1970's and 80's, I'm trying to compile a definitive checklist of essential furnishing, rooms and other items that HAD to be in place. 
Here's my starting list:
A 'Front Room' that was only ever used when White people came to the house and for opening Christmas presents.
Crocheted doyleys on the back of all armchairs and the arms as well. Sometimes also seen on Televisions.
Jim Reeves albums dusted off at Christmas time (once described by Lenny Henry as his mystery White Cousin).
Scary picture in the hallway that said "Jesus is the Head of this house. The unseen listener of every conversation...."
Glass Fishes Ornaments in the front room that sat on the mantelpiece(s). If you were really lucky you'd have several.
Carpet in the hallway covered by touch clear plastic protector.
Picture of 'The Last Supper' on the wall in the Front room (da Vinci code anyone?).
Those dark blue scrolls (with gold plastic ends) which you only ever bought on seaside trips to Margate/Littlehampton or Blackpool (for the REALLY adventurous black people).
In open doorways, multi-coloured plastic strips or beads that hung from the doorframe. Not quite a door, but it looked the business right?
In the car, seats covered by furry seat covers (in gold) that messed up your clothes...
What else can you guys add to the mix...?
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The Watcher
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Posted: Wednesday November 24th, 2004 18:14 |
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Brown plastic Afrocomb with "MANDELA" in big gold letters.
Masks and animal sculptures.
Clock shaped like Zimbabwe (or whereever you are from)
The doyleys GRRRRR
Those beady door thingys LMAO I remember them now!!!
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shae
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Posted: Wednesday November 24th, 2004 18:28 |
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good topic...damn...lol...you brought me back to my Granny's house (R.I.P)...
drinks cabinet - with the real stuff @ the back for 'medicinal purposes' (i don't drink, was just a curious child)
the porcelain ornaments
that doll that covers the toilet roll in the bathroom
the good ole rubber/spider plant
a framed picture of the '10 commandments'
the old black & white/sepia photos in the white frames
Last edited on Thursday November 25th, 2004 10:54 by shae
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Mafdet
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Posted: Wednesday November 24th, 2004 18:31 |
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A big ugly peacock ornament
These fake large flowers made from coloured tights......yes thats right different coloured tights
The big blue fish on the mantlepiece
The brown hen ornament with a lid in the kitchen that you were meant to put the eggs in
Big massive vase ornaments 3 of them with gold looking plated handles filled with more fake flowers but these ones were plastic
Our living room was alway used however we did have a locked cupboard on one part of the large cabinet with special treats locked away....only mum had a key to this cupboard.
A glass cabinet filled to the brim with dinner sets and fancy glasses that only 10% every got used and only at xmas time.
The picture of the last supper with white faces but when my uncled visited us from America in the 70's this got changed one with black faces.
Plastic carpet protecter from the front door entrance to the living room
Crochet doyleys and lace doyleys EVERYWHERE
That damn ornament of a spanish lady in her traditional clothing with a fan in her hand this was placed on top of the tv
A digusting bar for drinks that looked like the front part of a ship.....no lie it was like a half bar in the shape of a ship front that you were meant to stand behind and serve the drinks from then you place the drinks on the gold plated looking trolley with two shelves that you wheeled around the room.
Silly ornaments/trays and hanging maps from Brighton/Margate/Southend and Blackpool
A ornament of a horse with a saddle .....I don't know why but all my friends had one in their homes as well along with the fish and the hen with a lid for eggs. WHY????
Stupid mats and rugs everywhere even though the whole house was carpeted.......even the bathroom at one time.
I'll come back if I think of anymore.
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Posted: Wednesday November 24th, 2004 18:48 |
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Lovedaddy wrote: I was doing some reminicing with some old school friends recently, and got into a funny chat about how our houses looked back then. As someone who grew up in a Jamaican Household in North West London during the 1970's and 80's, I'm trying to compile a definitive checklist of essential furnishing, rooms and other items that HAD to be in place.
Here's my starting list:
A 'Front Room' that was only ever used when White people came to the house and for opening Christmas presents.
Crocheted doyleys on the back of all armchairs and the arms as well. Sometimes also seen on Televisions.
Jim Reeves albums dusted off at Christmas time (once described by Lenny Henry as his mystery White Cousin).
Scary picture in the hallway that said "Jesus is the Head of this house. The unseen listener of every conversation...."
Glass Fishes Ornaments in the front room that sat on the mantelpiece(s). If you were really lucky you'd have several.
Carpet in the hallway covered by touch clear plastic protector.
Picture of 'The Last Supper' on the wall in the Front room (da Vinci code anyone?).
Those dark blue scrolls (with gold plastic ends) which you only ever bought on seaside trips to Margate/Littlehampton or Blackpool (for the REALLY adventurous black people).
In open doorways, multi-coloured plastic strips or beads that hung from the doorframe. Not quite a door, but it looked the business right?
In the car, seats covered by furry seat covers (in gold) that messed up your clothes...
What else can you guys add to the mix...?
Oh man you just took took me back to the days of my grannies house (R.I.P)
LoL not forgetting the cabinet filled with old style glasses that never get used.
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Thursday November 25th, 2004 10:21 |
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Other things I remembered from the past:
The 'Front Room' had not one, but FOUR white goatskin rugs on the floor.
A big drinks cabinet in the shape of a globe that opened up to reveal a selection of rarely used drinks, including Advocaat and Malibu
A big table lamp with a glass base that contained (hopefully artificial) birds and sparrows on fake plastic branches. The shade itself was a nice shade of bright pink.
Telephone locks anyone...? We had them on both phones upstairs and downstairs.
Two huge reproduction Constable paintings with blatant plastic frames. Dad went into stubbon mode when we told hime it looked rubbish.
Mum & Dad's wedding picture was cool though. It was one of those b&w ones that had been touched up with colour paint. They both looked sharpe as 1966 style was cool. (However, my friends parents who married in the 70's...? nuff said about THOSE wedding pictures!)
Oh yeah. The family video recorder (A Ferguson Videostar) was kept in my parents bedroom...
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Bredder Tukoma
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Posted: Thursday November 25th, 2004 10:49 |
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What about the wall unit. Every front room had a wall unit. Filled with glasses and ornaments that were never used.
The drink trolley with a water carbonator that never got used.
The glass cabinet that I got a beating for breaking with my brothers air pellet gun.
The large obligatory white furry rug with coffee table on it.
The best settee and carpet in the house...
The gram. Now this is definatley for the older members. But the gram was what the modern hifi component set is now.
I really wonder how all this even could fit in the damn room..
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shae
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Posted: Thursday November 25th, 2004 10:54 |
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Mansamusa wrote:
The drink trolley with a water carbonator that never got used.
lol i forgot about that one..used to play on it with my cousins...
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Thursday November 25th, 2004 11:01 |
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We had a Gram with sliding doors. It weighed nearly a tonne and is currently in my Mum's house in Mandeville, Jamaica (it STILL works!)
We also had a Sharp music centre - 1970s cutting edge stuff
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The Watcher
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Posted: Thursday November 25th, 2004 11:15 |
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Lovedaddy
You killed me with the globe drinks thingy lol, that big ugly thing with tiny lil glasses inside, though ours had Amarula and mainstay inside lol
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Ammazon
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Posted: Thursday November 25th, 2004 12:54 |
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This topic has really taken me down memory lane.
The fire guard ( we uses to dry our clothes on)
Those cushion (usually in dark burgundy colour) with the stitched design
The ruffled cloth on the fire place, tele, side board and anywhere else that could fit one.
the Jamaican picture frame with:
jamaica's national dish - ackee and salt fish
jamaica's national flag
Coat of arms: out of many one people
jamaica's national flower: Lignum Vitae
and portraits of marcus Garvey, alexander bustamante, paul bogle, norman manley (I'm sure there was someone else - can't remember who now)
the front room - ours was used for visitors only, at Christmas time, when the tree and presents would be in there. And when we were having family photos taken. Hey just remembered Chinaman the photographer.
who can forget the gram, I think it was made to play Jim Reeves
the ghastly lightshades - Urgggh
horrible patterned carpets (good for playing marbles on tho')
Lovedaddy thanks for bringing a smile to my face 
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Friday November 26th, 2004 16:12 |
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I was chatting to a few of my Chinese and Asian collegues, and whilst comparing notes, it seems that we all seem to have had similar decors in our houses.
...although my Indian friend claims that her parents covers the remote controls in plastic!
I went to the States to visit my Dad's family; there are loads of them! My Dad was the second of my Grandma's THIRTEEN children (Jamaican contraception wasn't so good back then!). The Yank branch of my family had similar tastes but they did that Black American thing where they covered the sofas in plastic!
What's that all about?
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sista girl
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Posted: Saturday November 27th, 2004 16:15 |
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Fake flowers everywhere
Carpet everywhere even in the kitchen bathroom/toilet. mats/rugs
Cabinet in the kitchen full of glasses and plates that were only used at xmas if ever! and miniature bottles of alcohol like rum.
Plastic carpet covering in the hallway and uner the stairs where we put our shoes.
Beaded door curtain thingys (and beaded car seats the beads were supposed to massage your back)
Lots of ornaments in the living/sitting room. Horse pulling cart of barrels ornament. Fish and birds too!
Gold birds in flight on the wall.
A giant brandy glass!
Top loader washing machine.
A big drinks container of sasparilla in the fridge.
Big dining table and chairs.
Picture of "The Last Supper".
Multi-coloured plastic cups.
Big jar of raisans soaking in rum to make cakes with.
Pot and pan rack
Kitchen prayer on the wall.
Metal afro pic!
Shelves filled with videos
Dad's stereo and lots and lots of records.
Crochet doyleys on sofa and tables with fake flowers placed ontop of doyley.
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Mafdet
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Posted: Saturday November 27th, 2004 16:35 |
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@All
Ain't it funny how almost every household had the fish and horse pulling carts of barrels and all those plastic flowers, I remember when I first went to Jamaica with my mum and she made us carry plastic flowers and ornaments as our hand language for granny and the joke was she brought some from the market in Jamaica to bring back to England what was that all about 
 Our very first trip to Jamaica my mum loaded me and my brothers and sisters up like donkies, I had a bag hanging of each of my fingers on both hands and about 3 sports bags hanging around my neck. We were so vex that when we reached Jamaica and that long hassle process through customs and baggage claim when we actually met our family they were so happy to see us and we (except mum) just wanted to kill them for all the stuff we had to carry for them.
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sista girl
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Posted: Saturday November 27th, 2004 16:56 |
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@Mafdet
yeah, those items were the "must haves" for everyone! I bet people tried to outdo eachother with the plastic flowers and doyleys who could be the more creative with them!!
You said:
Our very first trip to Jamaica my mum loaded me and my brothers and sisters up like donkies, I had a bag hanging of each of my fingers on both hands and about 3 sports bags hanging around my neck. We were so vex that when we reached Jamaica and that long hassle process through customs and baggage claim when we actually met our family they were so happy to see us and we (except mum) just wanted to kill them for all the stuff we had to carry for them.
Was LMAO at this part, I can just imagine!
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Sage
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Posted: Saturday November 27th, 2004 21:47 |
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Lovedaddy wrote: The Yank branch of my family had similar tastes but they did that Black American thing where they covered the sofas in plastic!
What's that all about?
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LD You had me screaming on this one, ha!, ha!, ha!
So true, so true...for some of us, it's an economic thing...if the furniture is new or somewhat new, this is a way to make sure it stays that way..... for as long as possible, LOL!
This reminds of me of when we were coming up...the living room or the front room as it was called and still is....was off limits for us (children) for the most part, especially if grown folks were talking.
But yeah the picture of the last supper, somebody's favorite chair designated for the grown-ups only....a tv that didn't work yet it would hold whatever was placed on it, rugs, a clock on the wall that didn't work. A picture of MLK or one of those hand held church fans with his face on it lying on the coffee table.
A china cabinet growing cobwebbs because the beautiful china only got pulled out for the special people or special occasions. Oh my those were the days.
Great thread.
Last edited on Saturday November 27th, 2004 22:46 by Sage
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An_Advanced_Spark
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Posted: Saturday November 27th, 2004 22:39 |
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LMAOO JOKES
The drinks cabinent oh lord esp at my aunts house used to be behind the sofa i never could lean back properly!
The kitchen beads I used to lick off my head every single time.
the string ones used to strangle me.
What about those Frame type mesages that hang in the kitchen or the hall way such ' god bless this house'and other phrases like that with jamaica written at the bottem.
Wat about the Red living room?
Red chairS
Red sofa!
red carpet
red rug
Whole room red! lard!
Last edited on Saturday November 27th, 2004 22:41 by An_Advanced_Spark
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cocoasweet
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Posted: Wednesday December 1st, 2004 11:24 |
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Can't BELIEVE how many memories ppl have bought back to me!! Absolutely love it.
What about the dining room though?! That's where everything took place at my grans cause the front room was out of bounds (though we were never TOLD this, we just KNEW!)
I can remember the smell of cooking, you know when it smells so sweet it makes you drowsy?!
Plus the glass dining room table which took up 99% of the room! Then there's that MASSIVE wood effect TV with the aerial which had to be adjusted every time you changed channels! What about CALOR GAS heaters??! and the cat (always called 'Pus' or 'Kitty') which was taken care of but never really considered 'pet'?!
Also the sticks of rock from coach trips..you know the ones where you sit on a coach for HOURS driving to Brighton/Blackpool...then spend 30 mins at the sea side doing kids stuff and HOURS playing outside at the DANCE when the adults raved?!!!...
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Thursday December 2nd, 2004 09:50 |
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@Cocasweet
I loved the cooking smell bit.
We had a notorious Jamaican family on the next street whose house ALWAYS had food frying in the backgroup. Fried Plantain and dumplin smell would be all over you when you left their house. This family had about 10 brothers and sisters, which in the 1980s ranged in age from about 10 to what seem nearly Forty years old.
Their house was similar to our own with the front room and pictures of white Jesus.
What I really hated as a kid was the plastic carpet protecter. If you ever slipped and fell whilst playing, it decided to strip 16 layers of skin off your knee. Besides, in my house it was protecting the swirly red/brown paisley carpet.
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jewell2
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Posted: Thursday December 2nd, 2004 11:11 |
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Man, how can you forget those days? The gram with the records at one end and the drinks cabinet at the other. Those old 78s and Old time reggae...
The smell of saltfish cooking in the house - man did that smell bad!
My mum used to press my hair in the kitchen when I was old enough and started to mature. The smell of that hair oil...., bergamont or Dax I think, it was blue! Unmistakeable smell and sound of sizzling frying greasy hair.
Front room - lock up ALL THE TIME and definitely out of bounds for us kids. Ironically the phone was in there. We had plastic on the sofas too.
All the same plastic ceramic ornaments including an old white male and female couple, he was standing, she was sitting, they must have been 70 if a day.
The barrels that my dad had to pile up full of clothes to ship back to JA.
Avon!!!!
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1_Princess_Blak
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Posted: Thursday December 2nd, 2004 13:41 |
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 - This topic had me bending up.
I remember/still see all the above - believe it or not my mum is very old fashioned and still has most of that stuff in her house.
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Friday February 11th, 2005 07:06 |
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Oh yes... SPIDER PLANTS!!
Every West Indian houshold in the 70s and 80s had one of these...!
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Posted: Friday February 11th, 2005 08:06 |
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Yeh good topic,
you lot bringing tears to my eyes anyway my question is does anybody remember them ducks that people used to hang on the walls? I used to see them in the passage as you enter the house or on the wall as you go up the stairs, or have I gone back to far for you?
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Hitman2005
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Posted: Friday February 11th, 2005 22:50 |
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"Dad's stereo and lots and lots of records."
LOL! I remember ours - used to be the size of a cabinet! Combination of radio and record player.
Used to remember my brothers & I couldn't touch the records (or the drinks stored away). Wasn't allowed in the front room, either.
Always had one or two pictures of Jesus in the house.
Growing up in Queens Park back then, couldn't get away with anything! If a neighbour saw you do anything wrong he/she cuss you, then told either mum or dad (and that was when the proverbial crap hit the fan).
Last edited on Friday February 11th, 2005 22:54 by Hitman2005
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Posted: Sunday February 13th, 2005 14:52 |
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Before you come in take them shoes off and put them to the side, then take your coat and hat off...especially the hat...and hang them on the coat-rack.
Plastic all over the Living Room furniture and hall-way
Everytime you made a move it sounded like you were farting.
Big ass picture of Martin Luther King hanging on the wall in the hall-way.
IndianHead House Blessing candles and Lottery Dream books laying all over the place for good luck.
Always the smell of something frying in the kitchen.
Big pitcher of cherry Kool-aid...even in the winter time....in the fridge.
Last edited on Sunday February 13th, 2005 14:53 by Ahmaad
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Posted: Sunday February 13th, 2005 15:44 |
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@Lovedaddy
you are killing me with the goatskin rugs, telephone locks for them dialling telephones, coulour painted touch up pictures that made everyone look weird and yes, the lampshades.
My house was brown , brown, brown witht he touch of beigey stuff.
No main theme whatsoever, anything goes.
Now, i know that EVERYONE here had the punch bowl with the hooks all around it for the cups!!!!!
The black and white TV where you had to turn the dial to change the station.
The picture of either the black child with the tear falling from his eye, or the man standing with his muscly torso on a beach, and he has the big swan wing curling over him.
The wallpapers, lets not even go there.
The rugs that are burgundy with the pattern around the edges (everyone had it and bought it from the door to door gipsy salesmen)
The wall unit with plenty drink, someone mentioned Aadvocaat and Malibu (you know)!! Always some Bacardi and Clarkes court rum straight from home too.
The mainly burgundy mad stripey design type curtains, and dont forget your nets!!!
The original fridge magnets.
OMG who else had the dining table that can be enlarged when you open it up and unfold another bit from inside when guests came?????
What about the quilted headboards for your bed? Or the bed with the built in bedside tables at the side and the built in alarm clock if you are lucky.
Wardrobe sets with light in the dressing table section.
Mothballs, Avon powder that came in a shell type pink container / lipstick. Musky perfumes.
The black scroll that has whatever island you were from on it with parishes.
@ Drunkmonkey - We had the Grenada clock!!!! We had the goatskin rug too until my cat sh*t on it and the rug and the cat got dash out.(my mum said it had one chance, Grenadians are not the biggest pet lovers) LOL
Some people always had Princess Di and Charles marriage plaques / cups.
The ironing board with the built in seat.
The bathroom wallpaper that looked like the Ariel soap powder logo.
Records galore.
Fish frying, split peas boiling (yuk), ham frying (Xmas morning), cocoa tea, home made bread, bakes, saltfish, cakes baking.
The smell of a running bath with Dettol in it.
Too much to remember , i will have to look at some old photos and observe the background.
Last edited on Sunday February 13th, 2005 15:49 by IYALLAH.
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Posted: Sunday February 13th, 2005 16:13 |
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Had a radiogram massive radio thing in a cabinet
furry rug but ours was black lol
patterned carpet kinda orangey and brown
bless this house ornament
the obligatory thingys for the sofa head rest and arm rest
fake leather foot rest stool
Kwame nkrumah portrait
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Vezz.
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Posted: Sunday February 13th, 2005 17:07 |
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Ah yes, the gram - the mainstay of every Black living-room!
We had one of those drinks cabinets (not the one like a globe, thank God). This has just been shipped down to Grenada....
I can't remember what they're called, but we had these black scrolls on the walls, one for Grenada (Isle of Spice), Guyana (can't remember what was on that, except the map of the country showing Timeri airport, and waterfalls), Malta (?) and Trinidad.
Sideboards, bought from Boltowns in Peckham (am I taking you back? lol)
I remember all the pictures of Michaelangelo's Dad as Jesus, the Last Supper, etc. My Mum STILL has plastic covering the stair carpets. And plants - EVERYWHERE!
Mum never locked anything away. We were too scared to touch anything. Maybe that's why she still has pots older than me (39 years!).
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Vezz.
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Posted: Sunday February 13th, 2005 17:15 |
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@ Iyallah, you're killing me! That punchbowl - lol.
My Grenadian Dad never called the dog by her name - she was always Daawg.
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 10:53 |
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@ IYALLAH.
If I had a had a hat, I'd have thrown it up into the air.
Yes! The Punch bowl - how could I forget this?
And the Swan/Love picture... A West Indian classic essential.
I also remember the range of potions and medicines my Mum and Dad used, that they were convinced were doing them good. My Dad used to use some hair tonic call "Paltus" - It had a picture of a bespectacled white man, and my dad went bald anyway.
For the ladies in the house, who can recall those heavy metal combs that were used to Press afro hair. They'd sit menacingly on the cooker getting to about 600 degrees celcius, before applied to a my poor Sister's/Aunties scalp. I remember this was combined with some hair cream that was blue in colour and came in a red jar (anyone remember it's name?).
That pressed hair small... I'll never forget that.
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urban_beauty
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 11:30 |
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My house was heaven on earth growin up in it; especially when we had relatives and over. And celebrations such as Birthdays, Easter and Christmas were all something to look forward to. I remember when my mum and aunts would be in the kitchen cooking when i was 8ish, and because i thought i was grown i would always try to get into their conversations and end up gettin kicked out by my mum in the end- LOL. I remember once when my aunt was chattin about stretch marks from pregnancy and without realising what she said i replied: "i know what u mean"-LMAO; my mum literally kick me out of the kitchen- lol.
I remember everytime our reverend would come to visit us; he would always say "oh you get so beautiful everytime i see you- will you marry me" - I WAS SHOOK.
Lol and i remember at one point i wanted to be an entertainer (my family grand-dad even came up wit a nickname- PRINCESS; which i eventually insisted on being called since i was 2- lol); so one Christmas when i was 3 i got a music kit with a mic and loud speakers; i got up on the table and started singing none-stop; and everytime my parents would try to put on music for our guests i would say "i'm the music machine" then when my parents (and the guests) had enuf of my singing they packed up my music kit- and since then i dont think i remember seein it again- lol - i was devistated.
To cut a long story short- one high-light of all these celebrations was (and still is) most definately the food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our table would be so packed up with food that we would have to sit on the floor to eat- lol. Huge bowls full of red-rice; plantaine; fried race; meats of all sort (goat and chicken- most definately favourites); puff-puff; chin-chin; fufu... etc etc etc... aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh- FOOD GLOREOUS FOOD!!!!
Peace out People
(story after story after story)
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urban_beauty
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 11:36 |
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LMAO!!!!! DAMN forget the above- wrong post sorry.
One thing i can always remember in my houses (moved bear times) is the laminate flooring and leather couchs- my dad's a lunatic when it comes to that stuff. As well as a few art works my dad did; of African masks - usin beads to create it. And a liquer cabinate that would only be open when we had guests. Bear Michael Jackson Albums; from the Jackson 5 to Thriller; some mats and foot rests brought back from Nigeria. etc etc etc.
Last edited on Monday February 14th, 2005 11:40 by urban_beauty
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Parris
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 12:50 |
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Two things I remember most about my house
Albums.......I mean hundres of LP's, my dad had albums and albums of music......soul, jazz, even swing, country, and Rock.
Oh and PICTURES.....in every room, on all the walls I mean pictures of the familly. My parents had 9 children and my parents parents had 13 children. And there was at least two pictures (usually more) of everyone in the family...pictures and pictures frames.
You grew up knewing who family was even if they were people you had never met.
PaRrIs
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UniqueLady
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 19:30 |
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Lovedaddy wrote:
For the ladies in the house, who can recall those heavy metal combs that were used to Press afro hair. They'd sit menacingly on the cooker getting to about 600 degrees celcius, before applied to a my poor Sister's/Aunties scalp. I remember this was combined with some hair cream that was blue in colour and came in a red jar (anyone remember it's name?).
That pressed hair small... I'll never forget that.
OMG!!!!!
i had that hot comb and that sh*t was hot as hell. i swear i burnt my head so many times with that. But oh no.....my gran try convince me it was the heat. i had that hot comb till recently untill a friend broke it.
i nearly forgot about this post. memorys
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BLACK CAT
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 22:49 |
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Ahhhhhh yes those were the days:
The "Bless this House" thingy over the front door
The smell of that pink carbolic soap that used to clean everything, and strip ur skin when you did the housework. In fact the smell of all those deadly industrial strength cleaning products thety aint allowed to sell now!
Don't forget the parrafin / Calor gas heaters: smell bad, dangerous
That nasteee psycheldelic orange/brown 70's wallpaper in the kitchen (I used the off cuts to cover school exercise books coz' I thought I was being individual. One day my friend came home to study with me and when she left Mum decided to redecorate coz'my mates book had better wallpaper!(Mum was quite apsirational & house proud...bless her)
The family of multi-coloured glass fish in the "front room" arranged in size order on the brown plastic coffee table )Urgh!!
All those crocheted doillies and plant pot holders (don't bother saying "shame", you had them too admit it)
The sound of ppl slamming down the Dominoes and cussing on Friday nights
The smell of furniture polish on Sturday afternoon when we had to polish all those bloody ornaments in the glass cabinet (of cousre in the front room, so you couldn't watch the telly when you did it).
Big old tank of a B & W Rediffusion TV was parked on the dining table in the back room. so you had to get your face right up in the screen when you had ur dinner. I wear glasses to this day!)
The smell of Avon bubble bath in the big pink plastic bottle (Do they still do that?)mixed with the stink of Dettol at bathtime
All those bottles of Jamacain remedies in bathroom cabinet esp Ferrol' (for womens problems) that smelt like Creosote.Oh yeah and DAX hair oil and that Paltas that stank and didn't work
The smell of Nutmeg & Vanilla in Sunday morning's Cornmeal Porridge
But best of all......the smell of Jamaican Xmas Cake, when your Mums been soaking the fruit in rum since August and you just wont budge from the side of the cooker cos it's always warm in the kitchen and it smells soooooo good!!!!
Yep, the simple pleasures... we remember them well....
  XXXXXXXX
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Hitman2005
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Posted: Monday February 14th, 2005 23:44 |
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"Fish frying, split peas boiling (yuk), ham frying (Xmas morning), cocoa tea, home made bread, bakes, saltfish, cakes baking."
Yeah!!!
Flying fish, Sorrel, Coconut Bread, Turnover, mince beef patty, The giant bottle full of rum-soaked raisins which seemed to be there forever. And those Gunga peas & sprats (I still hate sprats & Black-Eye peas!)
And when you was ill -OMG!! Vicks smeared all over your chest and up your nose (no matter how you washed, you still smelt Vicks somewhere!)
And there used to be a cough medicine called Liquafruita (I think that's how it was pronounced), it use to taste so much of Garlic, you rather took your chances with the cold instead!!
I remember going to Barbados last November/December and saw people selling fish-cakes & bakes!! I nearly bust a gut watching white tourists paying to eat titchy-sized bakes....LOL!!!
Last edited on Monday February 14th, 2005 23:53 by Hitman2005
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IYALLAH.
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Posted: Tuesday February 15th, 2005 21:39 |
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Lovedaddy wrote: @ IYALLAH.
If I had a had a hat, I'd have thrown it up into the air.
Yes! The Punch bowl - how could I forget this?
And the Swan/Love picture... A West Indian classic essential.
I also remember the range of potions and medicines my Mum and Dad used, that they were convinced were doing them good. My Dad used to use some hair tonic call "Paltus" - It had a picture of a bespectacled white man, and my dad went bald anyway.
For the ladies in the house, who can recall those heavy metal combs that were used to Press afro hair. They'd sit menacingly on the cooker getting to about 600 degrees celcius, before applied to a my poor Sister's/Aunties scalp. I remember this was combined with some hair cream that was blue in colour and came in a red jar (anyone remember it's name?).
That pressed hair small... I'll never forget that.
@ Love Daddy
You MUST have been in my house!!!! LOL
The grease is called Blue Magic, and my mum uses that up till today!!!
And i remember Paltus, in the little yellow plastic squeezy bottle with the 'high' smell. LOL
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IYALLAH.
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Posted: Tuesday February 15th, 2005 21:49 |
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Listen up,
i just got a mad flashback......are you ready?????
Now i dont want nobody to deny this because EVERYONE had it.
Who remembers the kitchen wallpaper that was beigey-brown and had kitchen utensils / pots and stuff drawn on it. And there was another beigey-brown one that had a picture of bread and other stuff???
And what about those big mugs that used to say OXTAIL SOUP on the side and had the so-called recipe of the soup hand written on the side? They were common too.
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Lovedaddy
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Posted: Friday February 18th, 2005 15:28 |
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IYALLAH. wrote: Listen up,
i just got a mad flashback......are you ready?????
Now i dont want nobody to deny this because EVERYONE had it.
Who remembers the kitchen wallpaper that was beigey-brown and had kitchen utensils / pots and stuff drawn on it. And there was another beigey-brown one that had a picture of bread and other stuff???
And what about those big mugs that used to say OXTAIL SOUP on the side and had the so-called recipe of the soup hand written on the side? They were common too.
************************************************
Here is is (don't know how to insert image)
Attachment: blu_mag.jpg (Downloaded 145 times)
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Vezz.
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Posted: Friday February 18th, 2005 20:40 |
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Lovedaddy wrote: IYALLAH. wrote: Listen up,
i just got a mad flashback......are you ready?????
Now i dont want nobody to deny this because EVERYONE had it.
Who remembers the kitchen wallpaper that was beigey-brown and had kitchen utensils / pots and stuff drawn on it. And there was another beigey-brown one that had a picture of bread and other stuff???
And what about those big mugs that used to say OXTAIL SOUP on the side and had the so-called recipe of the soup hand written on the side? They were common too.
************************************************
Here is is (don't know how to insert image)
Oh my days.....
That really made my week!
What memories.....
I never got my hair pressed - I was sooo jealous of my sister!
Last edited on Friday February 18th, 2005 20:42 by Vezz.
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