They've not even broken up yet but already some shops have the dreaded 'back to school' displays in their windows.
Remember how ghastly it was to see that as the summer came to a close. Well imagine it now and you've not even begun your summer holidays yet. Junior mannequins decked out in generic school uniforms - it still sends a shudder. Not that I didn't like school per se, but you'd much rather not be in it than be in it, wouldn't you?
What was your uniform like? Did you have a uniform at all? I recall four hideous ensembles:
Flannel grey blazer with royal blue piping, with cap to match which I was made to wear.
Flannel grey blazer with red piping, with catch to mach. Again, made to wear it.
Plop brown with gold piping, including the long socks and cap. Shorts until the fourth year. I remember the day of the new term when they were allowed. Obviously I wasn't allowed them quite so soon, and schoolmates who were stood at the gates checking everyone out. I went home that day and demanded them. They came pretty quickly after that, to my great relief. I wanted to be one of the big boys.
Then finally navy blue jumper, navy blue shirt, no blazer to speak of. By this time (secondary school), it was modified to whatever fashion was around. Thankfully a Harrington jacket was allowed, so along with your tasselled loafter and Sta-prest black or grey slacks, it was actually quite bearable, what with it being 1979 and all that.
But caps. How embarrassing are they, making your ears more prominent than they need be. Most people look like a simpleton in them, and even when I was on my way home from school I still kept it on. I hated it but it never occurred to me to take it off. I'm amazed I never got beaten up. My mum went to a school where the spies were carefully placed along the route home, and if you weren't wearing your white gloves or your boaters then punishment was severe. Naturally it was a convent school. Mine wasn't that bad, but whatever school you were at you had it drummed into you that you were an ambassador for it.
The brown and gold school was far from home, and involved two bus rides which I did aged eight. Imagine letting an eight year old do that today!
The grey and blue school involved a longish walk home by a secluded stream and across waste ground - aged six! But was there a paedophile lurking behind every hillock? I think not. Of course when I remind my mum about this walk home she denies all knowledge that she could ever have placed me in such danger, but here I am.
You don't see many uniforms in the traditional style, but then I'm not really looking. All friends' kids seem to wear sweatshirts with the school name on. But at least they wear a uniform. I think they're a good thing - less fashion competition. I suppose caps if they are worn at all are now baseball caps. Why didn't we ever turn them backwards?
Now, where did I put my shoebag...
