The Shed

OK, OK, OK....

I think it's time, in deference to the Grey Room's founder to re-post his opening speech from 2006:

Mystic Fred wrote: Welcome to The Grey Room - for those members who are the wrong side of forty (or thirty for that matter!) here's a place you can discuss gigs from long ago, the price of hair restorer, how lucky the kids are today - are they spoilt brats? Have they never had it so good? Did we have more freedom in the sixties/seventies (eighties)? Look at the lighter side of maturity - not strictly to have a moan like grumpy old men, unless Rick W. decides to pop in and have a grouse!! Did we have things better when we were teenagers? Has nothing really changed? Are you chuffed that your favourite classic Rock and Prog is still being found and appreciated by new generations, and new bands creating new music and following a strong tradition? Did you dig your Dad's record collection - i never liked my Dad's music - Glenn Miller and The Sound of Music, i was a rebel, i wanted something they hated - Prog!! I find it amazing that todays young people are into music their parents liked, things have certainly changed. Do you like the world we're in today - did girls look better in frocks? Did you recently buy a motorbike and are reliving your adolescence? Do you believe in the Mid-life Crisis? Are we eating chemically infused rubbish? Did Grandad's tomatoes taste better? How did we manage without computers, mobile phones and digital TV with all those channels - was TV better when there were just three? Where is Rock heading in the future - will it change completely or continue to go round and round in circles? ........discuss!

Behold - the Mission Statement from our founder. It's our solemn duty to uphold Steve's original ideals & not descend into suede-esque banality. We must remember the feel and the atmosphere of the original, when days could go by without a post, but they were usually well worth reading when they appeared.

Further to which:

Does anyone remember exactly how the interior of a 1950s/1960s car smelled on a hot day? Cloth seat trim doesn't have that certain something as good old leather or crackled vinyl & certainly doesn't have the same effect when hot as the old materials used to have on school-shorts clad 5 year old legs...

Jim Garten wrote: Further to which: Does anyone remember exactly how the interior of a 1950s/1960s car smelled on a hot day? Cloth seat trim doesn't have that certain something as good old leather or crackled vinyl & certainly doesn't have the same effect when hot as the old materials used to have on school-shorts clad 5 year old legs...

Jim Garten wrote: OK, OK, OK.... Does anyone remember exactly how the interior of a 1950s/1960s car smelled on a hot day? Cloth seat trim doesn't have that certain something as good old leather or crackled vinyl & certainly doesn't have the same effect when hot as the old materials used to have on school-shorts clad 5 year old legs...

Oh Yes!

The smell of plastic coated 'walnut' dashboard and hot moulded plastic fittings added to the faint odour of Shell 4 Star and melting Rolos that had fallen down the back of the rear seat.That's one Proustian rush that I don't mind never experiencing again.



Edited by Man Erg - August 12 2008 at 08:09

wandering about like a doddery old soul I am thinking "I recognise this place, but somethings not quite right"

Man Erg wrote: Jim Garten wrote: OK, OK, OK.... Does anyone remember exactly how the interior of a 1950s/1960s car smelled on a hot day? Cloth seat trim doesn't have that certain something as good old leather or crackled vinyl & certainly doesn't have the same effect when hot as the old materials used to have on school-shorts clad 5 year old legs... Oh Yes! The smell of plastic coated 'walnut' dashboard and hot moulded plastic fittings added to the faint odour of Shell 4 Star and melting Rolos that had fallen down the back of the rear seat.That's one Proustian rush that I don't mind never experiencing again.

You guys create a very pleasant image of how old cars used to smell. I seem to remember my dads Triupmh(Dolomite?) and his 1973 Austin Allegro smelling vaguely of stale cup-o-soup, and cigarettes. The Allegro rotted fronm the inside out, if I remember rightly. That was a bloody awful car!

Jim Garten wrote: Does anyone remember exactly how the interior of a 1950s/1960s car smelled on a hot day? Cloth seat trim doesn't have that certain something as good old leather or crackled vinyl & certainly doesn't have the same effect when hot as the old materials used to have on school-shorts clad 5 year old legs...

No, but I do remember my Dad's Hillman Avenger:



I'm not sure if it had the black roof, but it was a vivid yellow colour.  We used to call it 'Flora Dora'.

And yes, I can still remember how my little legs used to stick to the black vinyl seat covers when it was hot.  Ouchie!

Dean wrote: You can tell when you're in the right place when people reply to your posts   ...so welcome

Aw, thanks Dean.

James wrote: Dean wrote: James wrote:   just two years younger than Miss M. and a lot less beautiful. but if she had your beard and penchant for donny osmand hats, who knows... I can see Miss M. in a Baker Boy hat actually... but sans beard.

Y'know, I'm actually renowned for being an habitual hat-wearer.  I am particularly fond of my Peruvian hat which looks like a 1920s cloche.   I've never found a Baker Boy cap that wasn't too big for me, unfortunately.

I am in no danger of growing a beard, people.

James wrote: fandango wrote: James wrote: just two years younger than Miss M. and a lot less beautiful. ...and James, please stop 'hitting' on our newest member in public; you'll give a number of Greys palpitations...   we'd be most grateful if you could declare your undying love by PM... I'm not "hitting" on anyone, Jared.   I'm just speaking the truth that I am not as beautiful as Melissa. Besides, I have my eyes on someone else.

Goodness me, flattery-a-go-go!   Haha, don't worry, James is the perfect gentleman really!

I'd liek to make it clear that I am NOT scared of thunder.................... but it's been thundering for about an hour now, it's as dark as night and the rain is coming down like stair rods!

Man Erg wrote: Because I suffered from travel/motion sickness as a child,he (my Grandfather) fitted friction strips to the back wheelarch. It cured the travel sickness instantly.

Dean wrote: Don't worry Rach, it's just the people upstairs moving furniture.

Edited by fandango - August 12 2008 at 10:43