Prefabricated Homes.

#48 After we got married in 62 we decided to buy our own home,we put back starting a family while we saved for the deposit and we moved out of London to Essex, and a different way of life. Six years later we had the money required and put down the deposit on our new house that was still being built, and it turned out to be our home for the rest of our lives. Over the years we looked at other properties but always decided we liked our house better, we saw it as a home and not an investment. When my wife's brother
died four years ago his siblings had predeceased him so he split his estate between his niece and nephew (my son) my niece advised
my son to buy to rent, I advised him to buy for himself and pay cash and he took my advice. There was a shortfall in the amount needed and what he actually had and I'm glad to say I was able to make up the difference. Now he will never be beholden to the banks as we were and the property he bought four years ago is now worth £300,000 "and yes he does appreciate how lucky he is" . I agree with what you say JS about Australia being a land of opportunity also if you want to make a go of it you've got to be prepared
to work hard for the rewards, personally I think Aus is a great place to live with all it offers but I am firmly imbedded in England and
here I'll stay. When I was at BT in the 80s a bloke was put to work with me, he had worked for BT previously but had emigrated to Aus, he worked for the phone company there and was very happy and prospered. His wife however missed her family and constantly
complained that she wanted to return to the UK and he gave in. They hadn't even left Heathrow before she said she regretted leaving
Aus and wanted to return, the poor fella was now almost skint after paying air fares for a family of five. They went to live with her mother and the five of them lived in two rooms, it wasn't long before the row's started, after about five months they returned to Aus
he couldn't get back on the phones and got a job as a housing manager and had to start all over. In contrast I had a mate that I knew at school we also sailed on two ships together, after he married they became £10 poms he joined the police in Sydney and became a sergeant and raised a large family. I firmly believe life is what you make of it. cheers, JC.

It is nice to hear that you guys who moved to OZ and settled, and good on ya,but i like Johnf will never leave England, the best place in the whole world is wherever you are happy, lots of times the Scouse guys say how much they love Liverpool, and its good to hear, me? its the Isle of Wight, but despite the moans, and me as much as any, England is not such a bad place to live, KT

interesting to see you got your head down and saved for 6 years johnf.......that is the way to start with a good deposit ......many of todays young are not prepared to do that.......and expect a home to be ready and waiying when they decide to leave the family nest......and often will expect the housing benefit toi help them get a home ...of course there was no housing benefits in our time of young persons .......but with 2 persons saving for 6 years a good deposit can be saved and the start of owning a true asset possible.... this is not for everyone.... but at least you have something that will gain in value and belong to you ...in the long term it is better than money in any bank....and also creates a good feeling of security for your self and family......best wishes cappy

"The Grass is always Greener on the other side of the fence."
Brian.

Every time I see this thread prefabricated homes it reminds me of my first "longies", how many of you can remember getting your first long trousers ??We were just on school leaving age around our way before we got our first longies and didn't we feel embarrassed going out in them the first time.Well if you remember the prefabs you will remember that they had chestnut paling fencing.The prefab by us had a small wall and a chestnut paling fence behind it,it was my first day out in my longies,I stood on the wall put my right foot on the wire in between the staves and using my left foot jumped over the fence.Idid'nt realise one of the staves was up the leg of my trousers,a mighty rip,they didn't go at the seam but shredded so they were a right off.Does anyone remember their first day in longies.
Regards.
Jim.B.

#53 Thank you Cappy, The area I worked in for BT covered new towns and lots of new developments with new telephone exchanges being built in the 60s, I had to attend courses lasting one month at a time to learn the job which was quite involved and always updating with new technology. I was a cable jointer to start with and with all of the new developments there was loads of work, I used to work night shifts jointing the large cables leaving the exchange to serve the surrounding areas. I opted for nights as we were paid time and a third plus a few other add ons, these night shifts were usually 6-7 weeks long 7 nights a week 13 hours a night, six pm to 7 am and the work was all done down manholes by the light provided by generators. My wife worked for Standard Telephones and when I was going home in the mornings we used to wave to each other as she was on her way to work. So I do feel I earned my crust but I also feel it was very worthwhile. cheers JC.

a chance to earn some decent brass then johnf........i dont suppose the unions would allow folk to work them hours now ; it would be taking someone elses work they woud say no doubt.....regards cappy

wracked my brains jim and just cant remember my ist longies ....strange that usually got a good record of growing up ...but just cant remember that....regards cappy

I remember my first *longies* well, my father worked as a gardener for the Riley Smith family, who owned the Tadcaster brewery, and this was when we lived in Sussex, the Riley Smith family had sons, and used to give their sons clothes that they had grown out of to my father. Their clothes were always very expensive, and the first longies were a bit big for me, and were in the bedroom drawer, when my parents were not in the house one day, i put these trousers on and went out and about, feeling very grown up, however the bottoms became very wet, but i carefully folded them up and put them back in the drawer !!!, they became very mouldy, and when my mother found them, that was it, a good belting, and early to bed for some time. I suppose i was about 11 years old, KT

riley smith are still a big name round yorkshire kieth...and own many old pubs and various hotels and village halls which they bought or helped to buy in the villages....there is a big trust fund from the family which i believe is still giving to charity cappy