© irene waters 2015
This is the playground equipment of my youth. I can remember holding onto the bars that are under the domed hat and running like mad, gathering speed until eventually there was no need to run. We’d bend our legs at 90 degrees at the knees and fly around until eventually it slowed and we again had to put our legs to the ground and run. Always in the playground you would hear childish screams of delight as you went faster. Only in Queensland would you expect to see these old-fashioned playgrounds, this one steeped in shadows.
© irene waters 2015
Roger said he could still do it but as the area under the hat was solid he couldn’t get under to hold the bars.
© irene waters 2015
This one in Queensland is a smaller version of the one we used to play on in New York as children in the fifties. (below)
© irene waters 2015
© irene waters 2015
I was impressed with the clever use of the lay of the land in the placement of this slippery dip. These are still able to be seen in most playgrounds.
© irene waters 2015
Even in the fifties as we returned from New York to Australia via Britain the ship “The Strathnaver” had a slippery slide to keep the children happily occupied.
In response to Shadow Shot Sunday 2
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Great selection of photos.
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Thanks Raewyn.
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It’s a nice trip down memory lane, but I don’t remember the first one. I do remember a merry go round sort of thing that made some kids sick.
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The common merry-go-rounds were ones that you ran around and then as it gathered speed you jumped on and sat whilst it went around. This type was rare in my day also and the other type common.
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These playgrounds are such fun but you don’t find them here much anymore because the equipment has been deemed too dangerous for the little over-protected tykes. What happened to being a kid? I personally remember that merry-go-round thing that you and a bunch of friends would push around until it got up speed and then jumped on! Fun!
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Lots of fun and who cared about scraped knees. All I can think there must have been lots of head injuries or the like as now our playgrounds have special soft ground that the equipment sits on and locks on the gates so kids can’t get in without adult supervision. I’m glad I could grow up as a kid.
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The first photo of the merry go round (is that what it’s called?) reminds me of the paintings of Wayne Thiebaud. You must have been born with a camera attached to your hand, fingers already clicking. Should have named you Kodak. ❤
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I didn’t know the artist you mentioned so just had a quick look at some of his work and can see why you were reminded of his work.
I had a grandfather who was a photographic enthusiast. We loved spending time with him in his dark room and soon took to developing our own film as well. We both had cameras from an early age and of course my parents had one which they used for taking slide photographs. I have converted all these to photographs but it gives me a great record. I laughed at your name – kodak would have been great. I think I’ll use it as my new nickname. LOL ❤
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Some people find it hard to revisit the places of their youth, but you’re not one of them!
Shadows and Carpe Diem
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I count my blessings that I’m not. I can remember going home after a particularly bad run in Intensive Care of attempted suicides as a result of child abuse and thanking my parents for treating me so well. It seemed to be the abnormal rather than the normal just at that time.
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Great photos–especially that last one. I love shadow shots. I should collect my favs and post them sometime.
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Something to do in all that spare time you have (in your dreams). Great idea for when you do have time – I love shadows too.
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True. “I should…sometime” is code for “I’d like to but I never will”. *sigh* I’ll just enjoy yours. 🙂
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Haha. Glad to share them with you. 🙂
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Kids today don’t know what fun is! It was a right of passage to have blisters on your hands from the monkey bars and traversing across them one rung at a time! The joy we felt when we could finally make it all the way across them without falling off, dangling by our hands clenched tightly to each rung! Spinning on the Merry-go-round until your lunch came up! Scraped knees, bruised and dirty. How in the world did we survive?!
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You make it sound like the fun it was Deb. Obviously many of us didn’t survive as modern playgrounds are wrapped in cotton wool.
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Oh Irene, I just love that photo of you on the slide…I know I always say that about your family photos, but it’s wonderful to read more of your earlier life. I remember the old playgrounds. Nowadays they are so safety conscience, that I wonder how we survived at all back in the day…yet, here we are 😉 Great post, love it 🙂
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Thanks Sherri. I know every generation says it but I have to say I think I grew up at the perfect time. (mind you I think I’d prefer to go to school now than when I did). We weren’t overlegislated and kids were allowed to be kids probably because there were not the dangers that lurk around corners these days. Yes we survived and have lived to tell the tale (if we get moving). 🙂 ❤
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Haha…yes…if we get moving indeed 🙂 ❤
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I don’t know why, but old playgrounds seem to be so much fun. The last time we stopped at one I played on the merry-go-round that was tilted but still working!
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They seem to have the ghosts of children past possibly because they resonate in our memories.
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