I Grew Up In Bath

I grew up in Bath in the nineteen nineties
wearing short shorts over tighty whities,
while Bath were champions of English Rugby,
a beautiful city farfetched from ugly.

We played on Stilts and had Yo-Yo's,
skateboards with logo's,  
Tamagotchi's, Slinkys and Pogo Sticks,
a string tied to sticks for Diablo tricks.

A lot wobbled, we played Wall Ball,
Smarties packets caused trouble.
Political Correctness didn't exist yet,
we wore Reebok, Fila or Hi-Tec.

We had Roller Skates, later Roller Blades,
out on the concrete in the streets we played,
as there were always lots of parking spaces,
space we used for running races.

We played Bulldogs Charge on repeat,
never stopping for the rain or sleet.
We played Wembley, or Heads, Volleys and Beats,
playing in the street our daily treat.

We played Kirby because kirbs were free,
40 40 in, also called Alien,
front gardens were a great WWF ring,
or we'd hit tennis balls tied to string.

Jumpers for goalposts, 
or one and a lamppost,
cheated as we'd peek 
playing Hide And Seek.

We played Knock Knock Ginger with its hiding,
or we'd get out our bikes and go riding.
We went Garden Hopping, never stopping, 
played in the dark after the suns dropping.

We had Master Systems, Mega Drives or Nintendo's,
but were not reliant on technology inside,
we built Lego stadiums, played Subbuteo,
we collected sticker books, Pog's and trading cards with pride.

There was a fuzziness to Radio and TV,
we'd always sneak a peek at Page 3,
we watched films on VHS, played Cassettes or CD's,
or Conkers when they dropped from trees.

We only had four television channels to be flicking,
Saturday mornings were for Live and Kicking.
Bodger and Badger, The Chuckle Brothers, Rosie and Jim,
but you couldn't beata, bit of Blue Peter, 
to Neighbours and Home and Away we tuned in.

When home alone emptied living rooms,
played football inside, 2-a-side, 
cleaned up damage with brooms, 
when parents got home we lied.

I'm proud I grew up in the nineties in Bath,
we had so much fun, so many laughs.
From no other time and place I'd rather be,
so here's to the nineties in the West Country.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

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Horsman Avatar
July 20, 2018 at 4:04 PM
An interesting story Nick. Enjoyed this your adventure of growing up.
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July 20, 2018 at 6:11 PM
thanks Harry
Sands Avatar
July 20, 2018 at 10:27 AM
An enjoyable poem and you sure did many fun things to get the most out of life! Well done :)
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July 20, 2018 at 6:11 PM
thank you Heidi
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