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

Reducing Stress

Most people suffer from stress at some stage in the lives. How can we calm ourselves after a stressful day? From listening to relaxing music to a workout in the gym, there are several ways to reduce stress. According to some, there's a tried and tested way. Come and join me for a walk in the woods.

The Four Seasons.

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn. The four seasons are very different, bringing different experiences to different people. Summer holidays, winter nights, dark evenings, lighter evenings… Join me for a look at the seasons.

Your Emails.

I’ve received shed loads of emails over the last year or so. In this episode, I read some of your comments, funny, happy, rude and sad. Join me for a look back over the last year of Podcast episodes, and what you thought of them.

Broken Marriage.

A young couple fall in love, they marry and build a home together, they have a baby… Then disaster hits. Divorce. What went wrong? Why? Whose fault was it?

Working From Home

Working from home, the idea sounds great. You can start when you like, finish when you like, take a day off when you like. But… is it a good as is sounds? In this episode, I explore the good side… and the not so good side, of working from home.

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.