Bring Back De Ole Time Days | The Glory Days


Wow, indeed, times have changed, and it is a natural progression as people mature and technology pushes us to the limits. This makes the world a village instead of a distant transatlantic journey. Nowadays we can quickly get up to date with events as they happen as reported by the media of the World. The savvy Internet surfers can browse to any page with information about any country and come to the "lime" (hangout with friends) loaded with information as if they lived in that part of the World.

When I reminisce about the good ole days, I recall having to watch TTT at night (7:00 pm to be exact) to know what happened. Now CNN is available via satellite and cable channels on the island and easily accessed via the World Wide Web. I used to walk to the corner shop early in the morning to buy the Guardian and Mirror in order to keep up to date with the news. Now I can read the Express, Guardian and Mirror newspapers online and still be as up to date as everyone at home. We listened to Radio Trinidad (Jim Sutherland and Rennie Bishop must listen shows) and 610 Radio (Phil 'The Thrill' from Laventille) and later on 100FM. Technology has now allowed us to listen to WACK radio 901 FM and many others streaming online from our homeland. This is even though we live in a foreign land. 'Back in the day' life was quiet and relaxing. We woke up in the morning, got something to eat and headed out to the nearby liming spot where ‘the boys’ would gather to talk about just about anything imaginable.

We were at peace with the world and ourselves and only cared about who had the bat and ball - cricket or soccer. We also liked playing checkers (draughts) and this would go on for hours interspersed with a mango chow session or someone getting rowdy and a mini fight to solve the problem. Fast forward to the climate today where kidnapping and shooting are the norm. Today, d'lime is dead... No one is at the corners or gathering for fun to have a good time on the block. A gathering of guys at any place could lead the police to believe something else was taking place – times have changed indeed. People are also 'cut down’ by passing cars with gun-toting assassins inside. One can be killed by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This never happened in my youth.

I can recall trips to the forest to get cocorite and bathe in the river. As a group, we had a good time and disturbed the forest with our jovial energy. I loved those days now that I see what has happened to the land because of progress. Progress you say, well this progress has teachers in fear of students and adults looking over their shoulders in fear of robbery. Can I write about all the good times I experienced? Of course, I could but those would be my experiences of the period I was fortunate to be a part of. Somebody from this generation would counter with their experiences for this period. Of course, they would write glowingly about how enjoyable these times were to them and depending on the circumstances of the day ask to 'bring back their old-time days'.

Here is just a reminder of some of the things we did as kids:
Do you remember riding a box cart and pelting mangoes and using sling shots? Oh and one must not forget ‘stinking toe’ with donkey eye seeds, Chinee tamarind, Kite flying with the younger kids flying ‘chicky chungs’ and the teenagers flying ducking kites and playing with zwill. Mad bulls were in the hands of adults because young people could not help those kites - the pull was too great. Then there was ‘stick-em-up’ (Bonanza and Lone Ranger influences), liming on de corner, making and eating black ting (Milo with powdered Klim and sugar), black poop (condensed milk with Milo and sugar). Of course, everyone wanted to play wind ball cricket (or football) on the street. I enjoyed going to the forest to get cocorite (the pink one was my favorite), balata and bathe in the river. Everyone played card games, but the adventurous kids played for bokey and that meant swollen fingers when you did not win. One chore every kid hated was sweeping mango leaves from the yard with cocoyea brooms – "fuss ah hated to do dat".
Wow, indeed, times have changed, and it is a natural progression as people mature and technology pushes us to the limits. This makes the world a village instead of a distant transatlantic journey. Nowadays we can quickly get up to date with events as they happen as reported by the media of the World. The savvy Internet surfers can browse to any page with information about any country and come to the "lime" (hangout with friends) loaded with information as if they lived in that part of the World.

When I reminisce about the good ole days, I recall having to watch TTT at night (7:00 pm to be exact) to know what happened. Now CNN is available via satellite and cable channels on the island and easily accessed via the World Wide Web. I used to walk to the corner shop early in the morning to buy the Guardian and Mirror in order to keep up to date with the news. Now I can read the Express, Guardian and Mirror newspapers online and still be as up to date as everyone at home. We listened to Radio Trinidad (Jim Sutherland and Rennie Bishop must listen shows) and 610 Radio (Phil 'The Thrill' from Laventille) and later on 100FM. Technology has now allowed us to listen to WACK radio 901 FM and many others streaming online from our homeland. This is even though we live in a foreign land. 'Back in the day' life was quiet and relaxing. We woke up in the morning, got something to eat and headed out to the nearby liming spot where ‘the boys’ would gather to talk about just about anything imaginable.

We were at peace with the world and ourselves and only cared about who had the bat and ball - cricket or soccer. We also liked playing checkers (draughts) and this would go on for hours interspersed with a mango chow session or someone getting rowdy and a mini fight to solve the problem. Fast forward to the climate today where kidnapping and shooting are the norm. Today, d'lime is dead... No one is at the corners or gathering for fun to have a good time on the block. A gathering of guys at any place could lead the police to believe something else was taking place – times have changed indeed. People are also 'cut down’ by passing cars. 

I can only reflect, watch what is happening today and conclude on the basis of my experiences. I can only conclude that my "old-fashioned days" were so much better to be a part of than this highly technological society. So, sit back, relax and put on Nappy’s Ole Time Days and reflect on how wonderful our youthful experiences were – our youth is passed, but surely, we can continue to dream and remain young at heart.

Production Notes:
Song/Title: Ole Time Days 
Composed & Performed By: Richard "Nappy" Mayers

More Ole time days images

3 تعليقات

Your comments can also become a Post!

‏قال kati1998
my "ole time days" were not much different from yours, some of the things you mention were stuff we also did including: three hole pitch, moral, hop-scotch, roll-over & going to pick cocoa(just an amazing taste). Those were really good times, when your nieghbours were more like an extended family. When I look at what is going on now it aches my heart that we've allowed the global society to dictate how we treat each other including family members. "Bring back the ole time day".
‏قال Santiwah
Thank you for your comments... I guess we can only reminisce about a time when life was sweet... sigh!
‏قال غير معرف…
أزال أحد مشرفي المدونة هذا التعليق.