My childhood was spent in one of those monstrosities known as a "newtown", created as a kind of experimental sin bin for those of us livingin overcrowded cities. It was a soulless place to grow up, and I wasglad to move to a more rural area in my teens.
It was years before I realised that not all play equipment was made ofconcrete, like the slide in the middle of our estate. I acquired thenickname Rawhide after a particularly energetic play session. I couldn'tsit down for days because of the blisters.
How life changes. I went to Dartmoor with a friend and her kidsrecently. Ambling along the river, I marvelled at the hordes of familiesenjoying the sunshine and the simple beauty of nature. It was idyllic.Barbeques smoking, sunblock being smeared on little shoulders, granniesand babies alike enjoying the peaceful beauty. Kids running aroundlaughing, paddling nervously in the shallows, hands glued tight to thoseof the adults with them.
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