Firstly a boy needs a dog. It should be of an indistinguishable breed; but with a good percentage of Terrier.
A boy also needs a bike. This should possess all sorts of gadgets that do nothing, but look good. The more gadgets the better. No mudguards, of course.
What boy could exist without a fishing rod. Going fishing is an essential part of every boy's education; far more important than maths or history. (above is my grandson Finn)
A boy also needs a father who can bowl (as in Cricket). A non-bowling father, frankly, is totally useless.
He also needs a secret box, where he keep his Opinel, bits of string, semi-nude pictures of Kylie Minogue, animal skeletons, and dried frogs (this is Harvey J's box above).
He needs gumboots, plenty of old clothes, and (preferably) a Chelsea football shirt.
That's it really. Give him something to eat occasionally, and a flask of squash, and he'll grow-up all by himself.
Perfect !
ReplyDeleteHienz 57 dog with some terrier is the best, are the best.
cheers, parsnip
A scruffy Terrier mutt, is perfect for boys.
DeletePretty well sums it up. Purebred dogs are so often defective in some way.
ReplyDeleteOur Lab' Monty certainly had his problems. Better a good mix any day!
DeleteHaha, then I must've been a boy before my teens; I had all that, only not a father who could bowl but, he could kick a ball in a goal net... does that count as useful? :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
For Italians it was as essential as an English father being able to bowl.
DeleteSounds perfect.
ReplyDeleteI hope I haven't omitted anything.
DeleteWe didn't play much cricket in Snowdonia . . . but 'gumboots' . . that's a word that brings back boyhood memories.
ReplyDeleteA good supply of gumboots are essential for small boys.
DeleteWhat a lovely post Cro - absolutely perfect.
ReplyDeleteYou're too kind. Luckily, having been a 'small boy' myself, I can remember all that was needed.
DeleteLike others here, I think that this is perfect.
ReplyDeleteBoys out there are obviously the same as boys here!
DeleteMy daughter did all these things - except fishing. We're both vegans and wouldn't find hooking fish through the mouth and bringing them out of the water where they can't breath, fun. (Oh, and the Kylie pic might be Superman.)
ReplyDeleteYes, fishing isn't very kind to fish, but you could always throw them back (after the necessary treatment to lips).
DeleteBet you are a brill grandpa!
ReplyDeleteLX
I do my bit Lettuce. Sadly no grandsons here this year.
DeleteLove this... I had a Beagle... just as much fun, really... but a "Scruff" would have been better.
ReplyDeleteBut, don't exclude the girls... not thro' political correctness... but because all the girls that did these things were fun to be with.
I can't remember any of the other girls I grew up with... nor the boys that wouldn't join in!
Scruffy Terriers seem to understand that they are the dog equivalent of young boys. They were built for each other.
DeleteMwahahaha!
DeleteVery Enid Blyton & a very good philosophy. Much too much modern technology these days. XXXX
ReplyDeleteYou noticed that I didn't include iPads etc.
DeleteThis reminds me of the poem I learned in childhood. “Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails
ReplyDeleteThat's what little boys are made of”.
I had one son and found that to be very true.
We say 'Slugs and Snails'; more appropriate I think.
DeleteAnd a stick for poking things.
ReplyDeletePerfect description! I have a couple of those around here. Even describes the teenager..for this summer anyway
Our one's, who we were hoping would come for summer, are off to Turkey instead. Their loss!
DeleteNice post. I would disagree with "Feed them occasionally" Grandsons and granddaughters are always hungry.
ReplyDeleteJust a big pile of chips and fish fingers once every few days; that should be enough.
DeletePerfect....a lovely read, Cro. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure, thank you.
DeleteAnd some water to dam and sticks to throw and, like LaPré said, girls did it just as good as boys. We also had oil cans for our bikes and spanners and puncture repair kits and chains off and lots lots more.
ReplyDeleteThe gumboots are for dam building. The bits of string in the box are for mountaineering (climbing on sheds etc), and the puncture repair kit etc was always in that little leather box behind the bike seat. Life was complicated.
Deletejust so...not much different for girls either!
ReplyDeleteI would hope so. I went to all boys schools!
DeleteBoth my girls were bought up with these accoutrements (thank goodness for spell check!) though they preferred football and rounders.Like you we try to encourage our grandchildren to enjoy such simple pursuits and on the whole are pretty successful. This hot summer has been perfect, just like the summers of our youth Cro.
ReplyDeletePhew what a scorcher! And it's going to get hotter.
DeleteWhen my grandsons play games on their phones, they look totally bored. When they do outdoors, dangerous, things, they always look excited. Says a lot.
Brilliant
ReplyDeleteIt's the way things were, and the way things still should be.
Delete