There was a lot meaner inside the Crown
I never made it into the crown. Was in a squat over in forest gate and worked on the Isle of dogs.
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Different times. How fast standards and expectations change.
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They do. For better or worse? Bit of both, like most things.
Worse I think myself. Do you think it’s much safer nowadays?
Just after a swim, it was not at all as bad as I expected. Fresh.
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Human nature doesn’t change. I think we are all probably overprotective as parents,but when you look at the news, who could blame us.
Would I let my lad disappear off to London with a second hand address and £200 quid, and not expect to hear anything for two weeks?
Doubtful.
Easy to say it did me no harm, and I knew I could always get home somehow, but the shame of “failure” was a big thing.
I knew a few lads went, and we’re back in Galway within a week.
With hindsight, I think that took more balls than I had.
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But do you think it’s any more dangerous now than it was in your day, or are expectations just drastically changed?
Honestly I don’t know. All objective data suggests it is getting safer, certainly Manchester city centre is a lot less dangerous than it was a decade ago, and I mean a lot less dangerous, but this is reckoned to be down to CCTV. I doubt that human nature has changed. I suspect it is safer, but back then, there were always oul Irish hard men who’d look after you a bit. They’re gone now I’d say.
Fortunately, a young lad would find work at home these days in any case. Statistics suggest violent crime continues to fall, but police massage statistics.
Sure you were only gone over for a summer job.
I know. I’ve said this. It seemed a long way and a big thing at the time. Perception changes.
Nothing is as scary as it used to be.
I wasn’t going over to a relative or friend either, and had no job lined up nor place to stay.
London seemed like ryker island in my head.
Now it’s just a dreary city I go to to work
That’s a hairy enough leap for any 18 year old in fairness to be heading over with an address on a scrap of paper. Suppose if it was the done thing back then you’d think nothing of it.
I dunno. It was sort of the done thing by the hardy lads, but I was never one of them.
What work were you at down the Isle of Dogs? Millwall crew down that way
I’m jumping into lakes in Monagham these days. Much colder, real manly stuff.
Ground labourer.
