Sunday, January 4, 2015

Recollections of a bygone era in Sri Lanka by the 70 plus - Part 1


As 2015 dawns on us, a reminder for our latent contributor friends that although it is a good philosophy to put the past behind and live in the present, a knowledge of the past does help us to appreciate the present better and prepare us for the future. So go for it! Pleas read the Blog and comment and contribute!
 
Speedy (Mahendra Gonsalkorale). 
 

Count all the ones that you remember, not the ones you were told about.

 Compiled by Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale

1.       Bulto toffees

2.       Alerics Ice chocks

3.       Home milk delivery in glass bottles and a few bread deliveries too.

4.       Wrack denims

5.       Newsreels before the movie and the National Anthem

6.       TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the evening (This was after 1979)

7.       Catapults

8.       33 rpm records/ 45 rpm’s

9.       Enid Blyton/Hardy Boys books

10.   Record players instead of High Fi’s

11.   Metal ice trays with levers

12.   Kerosene Fridges

13.   Cork popguns

14.   Hardly a Jap car on the road. First Japanese car was the Datsun Bluebird.

15.   Cops in long Khaki shorts  (that was a sight with their skinny legs!) and hats. At big matches kids loved to tease them as "Kossas'

16.   Same goes for Grade 10 students in mini shorts with their skinny legs ( -another sight was when they were made to stand on their chairs by teachers for not doing their homework to be teased by primary school kids, after school )

17.   Imported apples sold were wrapped in purple tissues.

18.   Full meal of wadai at Saraswathie Lodge for a large family for less than two bucks.

19.   What was served at kid's birthday parties were, sandwiches, ribbon cake, marshmallows, kebabs in a half pineapple and iced coffee.

20.   Elephant House Ice Palams in triangular cardboard cases for 15 cents

21.   Those privileged to go overseas brought home as gifts Wilkinson blades and Parker refills.

22.   Imported popsicles sold at Perera and sons, were delicious.

23.   Soft drinks were delivered to homes.

24.   Many had accounts with Cargills and Elephant House

 

2 comments:

  1. They, indeed bring back the life now long gone. Lanka Lime sizzled our taste buds. Icy chocs dripped down to our elbows.
    Thanks for those memories
    ND

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  2. Mahendra, that was the start of our Memory Lane which led us up to Kinsey Road, opposite GH, Colombo. What you mention forms the scenery to that memorable road. You have made great addition to ND's musings.
    Thanks, you two!
    Zita
    Zita

    ReplyDelete