By Christmas 1981, we had been in the flat nearly 2 Years, can't say I remember too much actually about the Christmas Period, but the 2 things that stands out the Most around this Time are, First of all we were going to be Moving to a 3 Bedroomed House (Rented from the Local Council) and Secondly, after 9 Months of Working at a Place I Hated, I was Leaving!
First Moving, I cant remember all the Circumstances, but what I do remember is , our 2 Kids were a Boy (aged nearly 3) and a Girl (aged nearly 2), and we lived in a 2 Bed Flat, so we Needed a Bigger Place!
Just before that Christmas, we had recieved a Letter from the Council, saying we were being Considered (along with others!) for a Move, and would we like to be Considered , but we knew this Meant, the House was probably ours!
We actually knew where the New House was, and during the Christmas Period we took the Kids in their Pushchair / Pram, to have a Look through the Window, it Looked Great through the Window, I can Remember a Lovely Fireplace, and I believe it was fitted with a Gas Fire!
As for Losing my Job, now Most people would have been Miserable, Losing your Job right on top of Christmas, but I was the opposite, I was Happy!
I Hated the place, what had happened was they decided to lay off Several Worker's, on the Last Come/ First Out Basis, and that was me, Sacked! (Thank God), but I knew knew I would soon get another job!
One thing I do remember about the Last Day working (that was Christmas Week) we were all called into the Factory Manager's Office, one by one, to get our Last Wages, an explanation and some Goods!
Now the Manager's name was Fred, I can't remember his last Name, but he was a Right Tw*t, he thought he was something Higher than any of the Worker's!
Anyway to my Surprise he was Really Nice and Really Sorry about Laying me off! in fact he gave me More Wages than I should have had, plus he gave me (and the others) a Food Hamper, it had loads of different Meats , Drink etc etc!
And to Top it all off, he said I'll give you a Lift Home with all your Stuff, but I had a Bike at that time, and when I told him this, he said that's alright and put the the Bike in the Boot of his Car!
What a Shock that all was, so we ended up having a Decent Christmas after all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Checkout the photos of Natalie, one on the Settee in the Flat (above) and the one to the Left is Natalie with Susan (at Susan's Mothers House) as I have said Previously these are the Earliest/First Photos we have, read my Earlier Blog Entry!
Music around this time, I remember the Album "Turn Up The Music" by Mass Production That was a Great Album as were all of their 8 Releases between the Years of 1976 and 1983, plus at a "Best Of" Album in 1996.
The Best Track on the Album was the Title Track, Have a Listen! "Turn Up The Music"
