The Big Lunch

Did you know that tomorrow we're all supposed to be holding street parties under the above title? No, me neither. It's supposed to invoke the spirit of 1977 and the Jubilee apparently. People interviewed on the television were bemoaning the fact that few people these days know anybody in their street other than their immediate neighbours, and that children don't play in the street like they used to. As regards children, I think the difference is down to technology. I would imagine we were a pretty typical family, and back in 1977 there was little entertainment for children in the house - we had just the one television so for the most part they had to watch what we adults were watching, and there were only three channels at that. Today my grandchildren all have TV or a computer in their room, and masses of stuff available to them aimed specifically at children. And then of course there are the Xboxes, PSPs and Lord knows what else. So there's plenty to entertain them without stepping outdoors. I don't think they play any less than back in 1977 - it's just that they are far more likely to go round one another's houses and play there, rather than sit on the chip-shop wall kicking their heels and gossiping as my children did.