Were You Popular At School?

[poodicat]

I moved around, due to my fathers postings,and got a bit of a hard time,so hardly had time to find out...

[China Doll]

Low attention span but quite bright, smart mouth, ambiguous about religion and attending a catholic school, bit of a bad dresser... I was generally more respected than I was liked. I was pretty happy with that.

[Bobbisox]

can you all remember your uniform?
mine was a dark green blazer, grey box pleated skirt , white shirt and dark green tie with a badge representing the colour of the house you were in, same as domestic science, we made our own aprons and it had to have check gingham on the bib part, the same colour, yellow in my case

[TTG]

Had a good time. Had some great mates who I still keep in contact with. Fell in love with a few girls. I like to think I was good to everyone.

[granny grump]

Like you poodicat I moved around as my dad was in the army - I had 5 brothers & sisters and we all had our own set of friends. I was a bit of a clown at school and didn't do as well as I should have done. As a family we did make the local papers as a family with all children at grammar school. Funnily enough looking back I did enjoy my time and despite being the fat girl I had a lot of friends and was never bullied - Perhaps it is only with hindsight that I remember enjoying it

[poodicat]

Good reply granny...

[rowanwitch]

fat, specs, hand knitted school sweaters, no dad,crap at sports ,,had bully here written all over me...l learned to be a gobby joker to survive....for some reason they made me house captain.... felt sorry for me I guess...

[Bobbisox]

it obviously stood you in good stead Rowan for what you've achieved

[Andyvon]

I wasn't. I had nothing to do with the other kids in the UK and they didn't with me.

I'm 48 now and I moved schools until I was 12. My father was an airline flight engineer and we lived in various countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. I used to go to the English Schools where most of my schoolmates were children of local weathy Indian and Chinese families who wanted their children to have an English education. I grew up mostly amongst Indians and Chinese (it was the Chinese kids who started me smoking in Hong Kong when I was 9!)

We moved back to the UK in 1974 when I was 12 for my secondary schooling. I never fitted in. My schoolmates were jealous of my having lived abroad and of my father's occupation. They didn't like me crawling around aircraft and flying with my father every weekend when all they did was watch Tiswas! Not only that, the teachers felt uncomfortable too, especially when I could correct them about various things (the capital of Uganda is Kampala, not Entebbe!). The teachers made things very difficult for me (don't talk about 'professionals' treating all kids the same!).

I never understood British kids - how they thought, what they were doing or saying and the way they expected me to act. In the nend, I withdrew into myself, stopped talking and stopped going to school altogether when I was 14. I didn't even speak to my parents for 6 months. I spent my time by myself, usually walking in the country or along the canal. I recognise now that I'd had what would today be classed as a massive breakdown. Of course, everyone said I was 'a truant', being 'lazy', 'uncooperative' etc. No one ever said "What's wrong with this kid?"

I never fitted in with my own people and that's been the case up to today. As I never sat an exam, I was forced into business. I was lucky to be successful, despite several other times when I've disappeared from the world and come to months later. I now travel a

[Andyvon]

That cut off!

I finished by saying I travel abroad several times a year now as it's only amognst foreigners that I feel comfortable. I never have understood my own collapsed culture of people.

No, is the answer to the question.

[ttfn]

Hi Andrew. Gosh that was a lot for a young lad to cope with by himself - well done to you. Good you can join in with us here - what a disparate bunch we are! Keep looking in Andrew there is usually a good post or two to join in most nights.

[ttfn]

Poodi! Now look what you made me do - I have insulted mamya! She is super and can be silly too but never supercilious - sincere apologies mamya - I am sure you would have been an exemplary Head Girl ♥

[Prudentia]

I went to a girls public school and also had home tuition and a governess. Privileged, probably so, but I new of no other alternative until I was about 12 or 13.

[Mamyalynne]

Ena would expect nothing less from you, in truth I suppose I declined as did not want to be seen so.

[usathome]

Hi, I was just the same as you greedyfly, moved house quite a lot, and like you askyourgran went to all girls schools, I have found it impossible to find any old school friends, most have married and so changed their names, what few I did have anyway, maybe thats why we are all on here now?

[Andyvon]

Hi ttfn,

I surprised myself there. The question just caused it all to just flow out. I usually keep quiet.

I had a hell of a time at school. I was fine abroad as it was the only time I was accepted. I never interacted with any children here though and it's been the same ever since. I go abroad now - and I'm accepted again! Especially when I make efforts to speak the local language.

Hope you are well ttfn!

[ttfn]

Andrew - I never step foot outside the UK and have lived all my life In Bournemouth, so I really cant imagine living abroad. My horizon is quite narrow! Having said that I make the most of the one I can see and as we have said before it is a beautiful part of the country in which to live. Health is up and down a bit at the mo but still here to moan so I am winning thanks ♥

[Andyvon]

It's a beautiful part of the country ttfn.

Both my mother and father have relatives in Bournemouth so I have visited since childhood (we used to come home when my father had leave) and I know the area very well. My cousin has several student houses in Winton and Moordown and we housesit occasionally when a house is empty. I love Winton Road, all those little independent shops. High Streets like that have gone from my area in the Chilterns. I have an aunt who lives in Ferndown, one in Kinson and another in Boscombe so we are there often. We also go to Monkey World a lot too and we always have dinner in the carvery in Kinson before driving home. You are lucky to live in Bournemouth.

[ttfn]

The Old Vicarage Andrew? Had many a happy meal there

[Andyvon]

I'm not sure I know that ttfn. We've also been to the Harvester beside the A338 flyover and go shopping at Castlepoint. When we want things for our budgies we don't bother with the pet shops here (we've only got two) but we wait and go to Southern Aquatics in Northmead Drive (I think?) in Poole.

[ELVIS68]

Not popular as in loads of friends, popular as in classroom joker, i found making people laugh stopped me getting a kicking