Last week, I arranged to meet my youngest daughter in Huddersfield for a Christmas shopping trip. I was driving about 40 mins from where I live and she was getting the train from her town. She called me the evening before from her landline phone to say that her mobile phone had died and she wouldn’t be contactable on it when we were travelling the next day. How this throws us all now! I told her we would just have to make a foolproof 1950s style plan for the next morning.
This started me thinking about how easy it is now to make arrangements and to adjust them, even at short notice. Back in the 1980s when my three children were small I often travelled to different locations, some quite near, others further away, to meet up with people. My sister and I lived about 90 minutes apart at that time and we had a couple of nice meeting up places mid-way between us. We’d make the plan by phone from our houses beforehand then we would set off to meet up with our excited children in our cars. Nothing ever went wrong for us but now we would all panic at the thought of travelling somewhere to meet someone without the backup of a mobile phone.
Going back even further, to the 1950s, we used to get packed up to go and see our grandparents who lived in north Wales. We had a telephone at home then but my grandparents didn’t and never did, even several decades later. They had a public telephone box in their village so maybe they called us sometimes. I was too young to be taking notice of things like adults planning visits.The plans were presumably made mostly by letter! Yes, the humble hand-written letter and the good old postman – no female posties in those days!
Phone boxes (telephone kiosks as they were called) in the 1950s.
!950s memories of the postal service.
Two models of 1950s cars like ones which we had in the 1950s.
A 1950s phone – not every household had one.
The modern mobile phone – most wouldn’t leave home without it!
In the ‘old days’, we had maps and guide-books to help us navigate and to locate places of interest and their opening hours. If we needed to contact someone or needed help, we waited until we spotted a phone box and pulled over to make a call. I still have a book of road maps in my car but the modern phone is not just a phone it is also a road atlas, bus, plane and train timetable, guide book to anywhere and everywhere, live weather and travel advice, newspaper, in-car entertainment etc etc.
Childhood Memories of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. 
Or you could even write a letter letting them know when you would be there. Long distance was too expensive.
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You’re right! I’d forgotten about prohibitive long distance charges! Thanks for commenting.
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I remember growing up that my mother and my grandmother would write each other a letter once a week to stay in touch. In addition to the cost of long distance, we couldn’t engage in long conversations on the phone because it was the one for my dad’s parish, so the line needed to be free or emergencies (mainly deaths, as I recall).
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I remember that distance calls were a rare luxury. From being quite young I always loved writing and receiving letters. I miss the pleasure of receiving a hand written letter in the post. Thanks for commenting.
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I agree with you about hand-written letters. It was always such a treat to see one with my name on it in the mail box.
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Before the black, cradle phone you have pictured..we had a tall, stick phone style. Out here in the farmlands..we left for days at a time..to go commercial fishing..on the Columbia river..or..hunting..up in the cascades. Further afield..we would send letters..to tell the various friends/family..that we would arrive..on such and such a day. On the days we were away..the telephone was used by any of the neighbors..who might need it. In addition..anyone who knew us..and was in Eugene..to visit..could grab a taxi out to the farm (about 12 miles)..and stay there..leaving us a note, on the dining room table..as to what needed..replacing..as to the canned and frozen foods. Lastly..when I was of age to use the phone..i was allowed 5 min..TOTAL..for my friends and chatting. None of my age mates..ever had to..meet that standard..but I sure as h–l did! Now..i still use a landline. I chk for messages..when I get back up from any hiking. When I am on the train..to the youngest sons..in the seattle area..the sons make me carry a cell phone..to ‘call out’..with any train troubles..in the Amtrak schedules..and when about..30 min. from arriving. All the other passengers..on the business class train section..use their phones..forever!!! Play games on them etc. And there I sit..with my nose..in a nice, thick..paperback..enmeshed in intrigue and political mystery!! 😉 ina
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I love your responses! They’re so full and vibrant! Like you, when I travel by train, I have my nose in a good old book! Meryl
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I love your description of a simpler time when one could trust one’s neighbors.
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Odd, but all these years later, the things of those simpler times are still wonderful. I absolutely love to get a hand-written note or letter in the mail. The times have certainly changed, but when we slow down a bit and think about life’s little pleasures, they are often the same pleasures we enjoyed in the past. Time for conversation with a friend for instance, with a shared cup of coffee. Time for a visit with a family member or friend we seldom see. Past or present, we need to find time for the important things…Sometimes, it is kind of nice to think about not always having that mobile phone in hand, as convenient as it is…you need to be creative about staying in touch!
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That is so well expressed and so true. Thanks for commenting.
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