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Yes, the arcade
was a right of passage. For me it
started with “Asteroids” and “Space Invaders” at
a dive-cafe frequented by leather clad bikers (of all
varieties), but did a great lunch with buttered bread
and everything. I could only watch as they crowded
round these mystical machines beeping hooting and
thumping them with gusto as Gran wolfed down
beans and slurped tea from clear Pyrex cups and
chipped saucers!
But soon it was ‘The Penny Farthing” arcade and the
mind-bending “Gyrus” accompanied by a nonplussed
Gran stacked for the Backroom Bingo and
Penny Falls! Sunday afternoon was never the same
without a blast on “BattleZone” or “SpaceWar” and
the sound of beeps and crashing of coins.
Then my holiday money was eaten by the like of
“The Pit” and later I would be drawn into the
isometric wonder that was “Marble Madness”
complete with trackball that if handled too rough
would bite back and nip your hand! Oh the happy
days of beach chips, trailer tents and Snake ‘N’
Skidney pie. If you were really lucky you got to see
the Radio 1 Roadshow. Mine’s a Kajagoogoo,
possibly a Strawberry Switchblade and ingnore the
Flock of Seagulls - they will fly away soon...
And later it was the local pub with pool table, beer
garden and sit-down cocktail “Pheonix”. Why were
there so many bras and knickers nailed to the bar?
Everyone had their place and Sue had her 17th
Birthday there, even though she’d been going there
for at least the last 2 years! I got given a black
leather jacket (that was left) and had the best fun
with four people playing “Gauntlet”... “Red Wizard
needs food badly!” and “Trog”
It all feels so... “Since Yesterday”
DARK
&
DINGY
DELICIOUS