What Dad Could Once Buy For a Penny

Another one from Bex's old school lunch box....

What Dad Could Once Buy For a Penny

 

What can I buy for a penny

The little girl asked of her dad

Not much nowadays came the

Answer  

But you could when I was a lad

So what could you buy then

Dear daddy

I very much would like to know

Well a packet of crisps and some

Sherbet plus

Four pints of beer and a haircut

A toothbrush a large box of

Chocolates

Some fruit gums and Everton mints

My word that’s a lot said

The young girl

Sshh I’m not finished

Her father replied

A pot of pork dripping as well

As a new pair of boots

Two taxis’s and a single bus ride

My goodness me the little girl

Sighed

I’m not finished yet

Her father replied

A newspaper six large eggs

A small tin of white paint

For the old garden gate

And a portion of real fish and chips

My word are you sure

You’re not telling me porkies

The little girl asked with a grin

With my hand on my heart

I’m not joking

But then dads have a

Licence to spin….…..

 

 

 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is very playful & I can feel the tug-and-pull dance between father & daughter. You come up with so many things I have forgotten about . . . did you remember licorice sticks? Both red & black, of course. Had to buy those in the store across the highway from where my family camped on a river in forested northern California every August . . . & I took several penny sticks of that licorice to bed with me in my sleeping bag under the stars, munching & feeling a little bit naughty *wink! wink!* That's what your poem makes me feel like *smile* Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

I do remember them, I preferred the black one.. s'pose I'm just an old fashioned kinda guy... am glad you have a few early fond memories Margie and that these scribbles serve to evoke them......Neville

[alanwgraham]

Brilliant, Neville. And not too far from the truth. My pocket money in the days of my youth was a penny for each year and ee by gum a penny was a penny in those days. We were telling our kids about old money recently - five Bob, half a crown. What a laugh. And we knew our 12 times table!
Cheers
Alan

[Neville]

it was indeed alan an oh' so bloomin true.. this old geezer still hankers after florins and Roman milk tokens..... what did happen to the 12 x's table mate........cheers my friend....... Neville

[angel]

I told a kid in line at the drugstore with a .99 cent candybar that at his age, I could get 20 of them for $1; it's true, too!

[Neville]

not in the slightest bit surprised... how many teeth did ya still have by the time ya hit thirty tho.... cheers Angel, you are an angel....Happy Sunday.... Neville

[angel]

At thirty, I had lost only the wisdom teeth...alas, the wisdom went with 'em.
Now, I don't have any.

[Neville]

at thirty, I had lost only my marbles, now I don't have any balls at all.........

[Chris Shaw]

Dads and Grandads always tell the best stories. They can spin them out and make them a mile long. I love your long list of what you could buy with a penny. My Grandad used to say the same about a farthing Neville, but his imagination didn't have a patch on yours. Your lunchbox poems are endearing. Good morning to you.

Chris

[Neville]

Good Morning Chris & thank you ever so much for such a lovely and most encouraging review.. Neville x

[Chris Shaw]

Have a lovely week-end x

[Neville]

You too Chris..... :) x

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this sounds like my dad...great stories because of the exaggeration...
but even when i was a kid...a penny, a nickel could buy more than many of the kids today could ever imagine.

j.

[Neville]

the motivation behind these words was a brief moment of indulgent nostalgia jacob and in which my own Dad and my daughter Bex both featured strong..... Bless you my friend... you are always welcome to visit..... No charge whatsoever.... N

[Beccy]

One of my father's favourite tales is of how he and his brother could catch the bus to town on Saturday, pay to get into the cinema, gorge themselves on popcorn, drinks and sweets, catch the bus home and still have change from 1/6d, (I think that's how to write the number.) The tale never varies, nor does the wicked grin on his face when he starts moaning to my sister and I about the cost of living today.

I won't even begin to tell the tale about how he was so poor as a child that they could only ever afford one firework on bonfire night.

Then again, as you say Neville; dads do have a licence to spin...... :))

Beccy.

[Neville]

tis all true.. well almost all.. well very nearly... cheers Beccy..... Neville