Perils of youth-I may have trashed a treasure

[Lachlan09]

I’ve “loved and lost” too and done things in callow youth I perhaps shouldn’t have !

a) My Dad’s WW2 bush hat. It wasn’t the Gurkha double Terai he wore during the Burma campaign with S.O.E. On returning to India before sailing back to Blighty for demob, he left SOE and returned to Army control. He was issued cool-weather clothing for the journey home including left-overs from the oddments bin ! - including an Aussie bush-hat, a Kiwi mounted troops greatcoat (longer than the infantry type) and a pair of African troops’ ammo boots (African boots were wider and rounder than standard British issue). The boots and hat ended up at our home. Many moons later, I decided to butcher his hat to make it look more like a Gallipoli hat. He didn’t mind but I shouldn’t have done that. My bad !

b) When I worked in Edinburgh, I used to pass an antiques shop in Thistle St every day. In 1972, I stopped and looked in the window where I noticed a pair of 1829-1855 (inc Crimean War period) British full-dress officer’s gold bullion-fringed epaulettes in spanking condition, plus a pair of undress officer’s epaulettes, plus their japanned metal storage/carrying case. Every day I passed, day after day, days into weeks. Then I couldn’t stand it any longer. I asked how much. The price for all was £20.00 ! But then for me, a young trainee, it was still expensive. I thought about it for a few days then one night summoned up the courage to ask my parents. They said yes !!! Next morning, I slipped out of the office and sprinted to the antiques shop. I couldn’t see them. I asked but they said they had been sold THAT MORNING !!! My motto ever since – If you see something you really, really want (of which this might be the only one available) and there’s any way to get it – then get it !! Don’t wait – you’ll regret it !!

c) My hearing isn’t all it used to be and hasn’t been for some time. Reason ? Rock music – both in my earphones top-volume for long periods and all those very, very loud concerts I went to. The loudest for me was Deep Purple in 1974 (it was truly deafening – lost my hearing for all the next day, just a whistling sound), though The Who concerts I went to were supposed to be louder (as in Guinness Book of Records). Did I regret it ? Not one bit !! I’d do the same again !!

[NorCalPiper]

Thanks guys-
No regrets-i was a kid, so i DO NOT beat myself up for any stupidity performed at that age (Which is slipping further and further away). I was just curious if I actually did have such an ancient kilt due to the color scheme. MUSTARD GAS?!?!?!? Maybe thats why I'd always get rashes when I wore----just kidding---I think it must have been WW 1 because I jsut can't believe something could last almost 120 years and then survive a years worth of rugged teen-age use and not fall apart (Until we had to take on some rivals that night at the show). Anyway, thanks for your input. As I said-i'm not losing any sleep about it.....The only thing I regret in my life is that I smoked cigarettes for so long....Other than that-Life is fun and good!

[BoldHighlander]

c) My hearing isn’t all it used to be and hasn’t been for some time. Reason ? Rock music – both in my earphones top-volume for long periods and all those very, very loud concerts I went to. The loudest for me was Deep Purple in 1974 (it was truly deafening – lost my hearing for all the next day, just a whistling sound), though The Who concerts I went to were supposed to be louder (as in Guinness Book of Records). Did I regret it ? Not one bit !! I’d do the same again !!

It was the mighty Motörhead for me!

[Lachlan09]

It was the mighty Motörhead for me!

Talking of Motörhead, a London mate of mine got to go on-stage with some fans and head-bang with Lemmie and the boys at their Hammersmith Odeon concert once. He even got to take a swig from Lemmie’s own can of beer. Halcyon days !!! int:

The Ace of Spades !! The Ace of Spades !!

[Pleater]

Well - my mum's 'save it for when it might be needed case' contained a piece of blackout material from WWII and it was in perfect condition after 60 years - and I mean perfect, not a blemish, the nap as fresh as when it was first brushed up and the colour still absolutely black.

It was carefully rolled up, and put back, for when it might be needed. I had designs on it as the makings of a black beret, but that was considered too frivolous.

If the kilt had been rolled up in a trunk for some time it could have remained equally unchanged for many decades.

Recently I have been studying photos of a probably knitted wool woman's cap which is dated 1700, and that is in fair condition too.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: