Many things can help bring back our memories, and as well as people and places from our lives, there are also, well for me anyway, smells and tastes that can help me remember.

Every so often I would have the pleasure of staying the night at my gran and granda’s house at 32 Carfin Street, Govanhill.

The two-chair makeshift bed as in its own way, equal to any orthopaedic mattress around. The worldwide (solid state) radio that allowed us all an audio peek into the night time goings on of the local polis was magic. My granda always scared us by stating that the polis could also hear us if we spoke.

The next morning I would be greeted with the bagpipe-like sound of the water heater and mooth-wattering aroma of fried bacon and eggs, with a hefty jar of red cabbage on hand as a garnish. (Oh! Hanky for ma slabbers).

My granny and granda would sit up in bed in a sea of Sunday newspapers. I would peruse the pages of Whizzer and Chips (Ivor Lott and Tony Broke!), Cor!, Shiver and Shake, the Victor, Hotspur and the Sparky. I won a competition in that once – a wee stick with a hoop and a baw that went roon inside it… smashing!

The imaginations of we young readers back then were also fuelled by the many American comics on offer. My favourites including Haunted House and Astounding Stories, bought on order from Georgies newsagents in Dalmeny Street.

We all seemed in so much of a hurry to grow up then. I’m thinking back to my first attempt at sneaking into the Odeon in Rutherglen to see an ‘X-certificate’ movie. My suit jacket and tie with darkened bum-fluff to match, didnae fool the wummin though and I never got in to see The Planet of the Apes!

Once again it’s nice to know that there are those of you who share my pride and memories of Oatlands. Great to hear from Linda Coull who was brought up in the area in the 50s and 60s when she lived in Logan Street.

Linda has fond memories of the outdoor jumble sales in the summertime, Milford’s Dairy and Willie Scorgie’s shop in Rosebery Street and also Miss Christie the music teacher. She remembers her as a nice, silver-permed lady that lightly pulled the top of your hair as the music came out via the top of your head.

Near Wolsely Street School was Jeannie Trend’s wee sweet shop – pale blue and narrow inside. Linda and her pals entered with great trepidation as Mrs Trend was a ‘weird wee wummin’!

Once more, the Oatlands jig-saw of the past gains some other pieces so thanks to Linda for sharing her memories. I’m looking forward to hearing from any other Oatlanders out there.