Retro: reminiscent of things past.

Big man often asks me about the olden days. It's not surprising that he thinks I am ancient, when I tell him phones used to be attached to leads, TV's were black and white and teachers used a chalkboard. It is amazing how much life has changed in *cough cough* 21 plus 17 years!

So how have sweets changed? Well there are still drumsticks, swizzle lollies,black jacks and wham bars readily available in the newsagents. As far as I know they have never stopped making them. Infact the only thing I think has changed about them is that they have got smaller and more expensive.

Looking though the retro sweets you can buy on the internet, a few things dawned on me.

Firstly I must have spent a lot of pocket money on sweets. On a Sunday morning when I was around 12-13, my sister, friend and I would walk into town to our local newsagents. Here we would spend/waste our money on "Neighbours" collecting cards and sweets. The sweets were all in large jars at the back of the shop and bought in quarters. Here are some of my favourite purchases.




For some reason the aniseed balls remind me of Thorpe Park. I can only imagine that on a special trip here, my Dad had a bag of these and that is why there is a connection.

Army and Navy tablets and cough candy remind me of my Grandad. As do the fizzers. You see these were often used as tablets when my sister and I were playing doctors and nurses. My Grandad would lay down on the floor and we would help him feel better my emptying a pack of fizzers down his throat and banging him with some plastic hammers. In this photo, however, it seems that I was using marshmallows to cure my Dad of his imaginary illness. Happy Days!



I had forgotten all about chewing nuts and to be honest I am surprised I never pulled any of my teeth out with these.

Bananas and Shrimps were also a favourite, and still are today.

It is strange to think that sweets can have so many memories attached. Big man's retro sweets are going to be fudge and Thorntons special toffee. What are your favourite retro sweets and what memories do they bring?





This is an advertorial post but they are all my own memories and opinions.