Ray’s Rants Life in the 1950s 1960s 1970s Great Britain girls England family UK work school British music night clubs pubs fashion pirate radio Caroline English holidays television

Thoughts of a Recluse.

Are you a recluse? Would you rather go out for a meal with friends or stay at home? Do you try to avoid parties and BBQs? What is a recluse? I’ve been chatting to a friend who reckons he’s a recluse. Join me on 23rd August and I’ll reveal his thoughts.

1950s House Wives.

What was it like for married women back in the 1950s? Were they chained to the kitchen sink? Cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, bringing up kids… Were they happy? I’ve spoken to several women from that ere and my findings are very interesting.

Your First Radio

Imagine you’re back in the 1930s. You have no television, no radio, no telephone. Your only entertainment was the cinema. Your only source of news was Pathe News or a newspaper. Then, your first radio is delivered by the man from the local wireless shop. You hear a live concert from the Royal Albert Hall, you hear the BBC Home Service news… A magical experience, indeed! Join me for a look back at the early days of radio and television.

Politically Correct?

You have to be careful of what you say these days. Everything is so politically correct that it’s become a maze of confusion. Can I say this? Can I say that? I take a look back at how things changed over the years including wolf whistling, curved cucumbers and old jam jars.

Hospitals Doctors and Dentists.

What were hospitals like in the 50s and 60s? How have things changed at the doctor’s surgery or in the dentist chair? I have first hand experience of a men’s surgical ward in the early 1960s. Join me as I recall my visits to the dentist and the doctor.

Food...

We all have to eat to survive, but some of us are fussy eaters. Apparently, I’m a fussy eater. I don’t like blood dripping from meat. I don’t like veins, liver, hearts, brains, tongues… But I’m not a fussy eater. It’s just that I don’t like filth!

Getting Old.

Growing old gracefully… or disgracefully? Old age seems to creep up and catch you unawares. It’s only when we discover that we can no longer do something that we’ve always taken for granted, that we realize that old age is approaching. Join me for a look at getting older.

Tunnels Under The Ground.

Tunnels, bunkers, chambers, secret rooms… There are hundreds of man-made tunnels beneath the ground. Some are nuclear bunkers, some were secret wartime command posts, radar sites and communication hubs. Join me for a chat about the mysteries of the secret tunnels.

Meeting Girls.

Meeting girls back in the 1960s and 70s wasn’t as you might imagine. There were pubs and clubs but they weren’t necessarily the best places to meet the opposite sex. Join me as I look back at some of the girls I met… and where I met them.

Where have all the insects gone?

Where have all the insects gone? And the hedgehogs and the frogs and the field mice and the... Over the last 50 years, there's been a disastrous decline in, not only in insects, but hedgehogs and other animals.

The Games People Played

Board games, garden games, street games such as hopscotch and roller skating… Were games in the 1950s very different to games kids play these days? Join me in a look back at the games kids played.

Hosting Students

Every summer, foreign students flood into the UK to learn English. They stay with host families, which usually works extremely well for both student and family. However, things aren’t always what they seem…

The English Language

The English language, grammar, syntax, sayings… In this episode, I take a look at the mistakes people make when speaking or writing. I hope you find somthink of what might interest you, if you get my drift, know what I mean.

Early Retirement

Your partner works and you’ve retired. You’ve had several years at home alone during the week. You have your daily routine, coffee at ten, lunch at one… Your partner takes early retirement and your routine is completely disrupted. How do you cope?

Gardens Then and Now.

Gardens back in the 1940s and 50s were very different. No patio area, no brick built barbecue, no water feature or outside lights… So, what were gardens like back then? Join me for a look at gardens then and now.