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  • "Not that I ever had one but my mate swears that if you get a stye on your eye, rub a wedding band on it.

    If any kids got chicken-pox or German measles, you were sent to play with them for a week until you got it. Germ warfare at it's best.

    When ever the ice cream van came round, if one got, we all got. My Mum is still that fair, even now. So when my brother got ringworm on his and had to have his head shaved for treatment, we all got it. 4 lads, all with heads shaved, painted with Gentian Violet, made us like a bunch of alien. We didn't mind because we are bruvvers.

    Rubbing a wart with a match?
    Am not sure about this one but heard that it works but it has to be blue match head not Swan Vesta."
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Which old wives' tales do you believe?

2:21pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Opinion

Is it sexist of me to ask about, never mind use the phrase 'Old Wives' Tales'?

I’ve just remembered about Mrs Paine, as a school kid being brought up in Brum, our revered next door neighbour.

She wore a hairnet, always, had John Lennon glasses before he did and always wore an overall.

My Mum, then a trim and sparkly mid-30s, taught me to revere Mrs P big style.

Indeed her only trespass was to listen to the tea time Archers on a very high volume.

My Mum would turn our telly down and then complain she could hear all the adventures in Ambridge.

Mrs P’s main function in the community was applying butter.

Bump your head, cut your hand, graze your leg and off you were despatched to No 561 to have proper butter, no low fat spread, proper butter liberally applied on the newly acquired wound.

Did it make any difference, did it help, was it safe to apply? Goodness only knows.

Friday nights was Californian Syrup of Figs to keep you “regular” whether you were already or not.

Everyone got measles, German measles, mumps, chicken pox - everyone.

It was great when, not if, you did as then you got ownership of the street box of comics.

This was a heavy cardboard box full of Eagles, Toppers and Victors and for the girls, Junes and things.

Did no-one ever think the box and its contents might have been the cause of these infections?

Colds were always head colds or chest colds, can’t remember which was worse.

As soon as the temperatures dropped, balaclavas, with big long bits over chest and back were donned, scarves were wound around necks and chests and tied at the back, gloves or mitts were threaded through sleeves.

We were also told to starve a fever and feed a cold, (or was it the other way round?).

There will be a logic to that somewhere.

Consuming carrots improves your eyesight was also known to be an Indisputable Truth.

Apples, of course, prevented the doctor having to call.

You couldn’t go out with wet hair, that would definitely bring a cold on.

I could go on . . .

What were you told, what did you believe, what didn’t you believe but were too fearful to challenge?

Who was your local administrator of potions and lotions?

Local Businesses

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