SOULKISS

It's a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair - David Bowie Life on Mars

I don't remember too much about this time of my life , I must of been asleep for most of it.
At 13 I remember working in a hairdressers for £1.00 a day washing hair - 'Muriels' mainly blue rinse and old ladies perms salon. From this at 14 went to work for 2 years at a local hotel 'Stanier House' washing dishes, and serving up, sometimes even cooking breakfast for the guests. Mainly I was the dogsbody who did a bit of everything. The money I earned went to buy records , clothes and funded nights out.

Friends from this time would of been School mates :

• Jeannette & Barbara Harrison
• Maggie Duxbury
• Elaine Parker
• Jackie Dooner
• Elaine Norton
• Karen Woodward (a fellow northern souler & farmers daughter)
• Lad's were: - Dave Hockey, Dave Marsden, Pip Pye, Norman both from Burtonwood
  

I hated School with a passion from 13 - 16 and each day seemed like torture and couldn't wait for the day I left, until then I had to make the most of it. I got suspended from School along with 11 other girls for 'wagging' it in the toilets and being cheeky to the teacher. I  attended Selwyn Jones High School at 13 and despite my poor contribution & lack of interest to my Education managed to come out with 6 CSE's at 16 - although failed typing. I don't have any photos from the School, I tried to focus all my energy into my out of School life in which was commented several times in my reports. I joined friends Reunited but can't recall anyone from my year of 1976. As I said I must of been asleep or in a coma. I don't keep in touch with anyone I went to School with but sometimes I see the odd person who I vaguely recognised from School. Spud Richardson needs to get a mention he was trying to chase me for over 20 years lol

I can't believe I have submitted this photo to scrutiny on the net LOL - Look at the state of my neighbours yard. My Sister actually lives in this house. I remember this first white velveteen bikini I thought I was so grown up, pity I didn't have anything to put in the cups, but that would all change later. Mother said I was 13 here so it must of been 1973.

I remember going to the local Youth club on 'the common' and also Burtonwood youth club, recall dancing 'the bump' and rock n roll . Alvin Stardust ' My coo ca choo' and 'born to be wild'. A local biker died in a motorbike accident who was an acquaintance and we all trailed to the mortuary and morbidly viewed his body at the age of 14. I decided I didn't like the look of death. I had another school friend die also Jackie Morris, since then various other people.

Songs I remember from 13 -15 years :

• Alice Cooper - 'I wanna be elected'
•   Gary Glitter & The Glitter band  - 'Do you wanna touch'
•  David Bowie - 'Life on Mar's'
•  Marc Bolan - 20th Century Boy
• The Sweet - 'Ballroom Blitz'
• Slade - 'Cum on feel the noise
• David Essex - 'Lamplight'
• O Jay's - Love Train
• Ike and Tina Turner - 'Nutbush City Limits'
• David Essex - 'Rock on' & 'That'll be the day' movie
  

I can vaguely recall posters on the wall, had the Ziggy with Orange hair, Alice Cooper and Gary Glitter . I Remember years later making ashtrays with the old Bowie singles (naughty naughty).

I hardly have any photos from this era, I was a horribly gawky skinny teenager therefore photos were banned until 1976 .

I spent most of my younger days at Auntie Mary's & Aunties Susan's farm who my dad was farmer for. We had cow's, pig's a huge cage full of rabbits, wild cat's running around. My cat I named 'Tiger' she was about the tamest of the bunch.

I used to 'spud' pick every year this was a chore I hated but had to do it, remember my dad embarrassing me in front of all the boys from school.A local boy named Gordon Richardson was nick named 'Spud' as he was always there to help come rain or shine. I also had to sell vegetables with my dad every Saturday afternoon on the back of the pony trailer. I had two horses, 'Candy' pictured here and a black horse named 'Star'. I was in the Laffak pony club and Haydock Park pony club and once rode the length of Haydock park race course. Candy was put to sleep through old age around 1978 and 'Star' was sold by dad as he wasn't happy I let everyone ride her. My friends around this time would of been Lynne Marsh from Cross Lane, N-Le-W. I admit to being a little spoilt !! well I was the only child for 6 years.