as i'm getting sound blasted with fireworks going off all round my flat i thought id'e bring the topic up.

is it me getting old or as the spirit gone like in most things these days

when i was a kid we used to go loggin all over the place, loggin meaning collecting fire wood.

we used to walk down the old railway lines on the estate and nab the wooden rail sleepers that were piled up everywhere, and they weighed a ton

we also used to raid a pallet factory and walk miles back up the rail tracks dragging the things behind us lol.

it was great as it was always a competition on the estate as to who could build the biggest bonfire

if the gang down the road had a bigger bonfire we would burn there's down on the night of the 4th so they could'nt rebuild in a day lol and vise versa.

we always used to have a few sofas that we sat on as we watched the fire and then lob them on right at the end.

ya just don't see this happen anymore, i think kids these days find it too hard carrying an ipod round lol

happy days.....

too true Lee, i suppose we have to blame the older generation for all this technology, it's taken the real meaning of life away for most kids these days, shame.

my son lives on xbox live, hes also talking to all of his mates online through it so its not all bad.

i would rather he went out more like we did but its different nowadays.

yeah i suppose we just gotta go with the times and accept it really, times sure have changed

i forgot you worked on the railways when i posted stealing the sleepers bit Andy lol

They're not all boring...my son is always out. Him and his mates just wander off in to the countryside with minimal camping gear and camp out any where they reckon the farmer won't spot them. They build camp fires, cook sausages on the fire, skin rabbits, and drink beer...sounds good to me. They have been known to scare the locals as he's 6 foot 2 and 15 stone, dressed in combat gear and army boots it's not a sight you want to see wandering round your field at 3 in the morning He's just turned 17 now but they've been doing these campouts for years

sounds great that Si, something i did a lot with mates was camp out regular and it was great

my 3 kids are a little too young for that yet but i'm gonna do my best to make sure they love the outdoors.

when i lived in manchester we were surrounded by pennines especially on the north side where i lived, it was easy access to the great outdoors.

now here in lincolnshire it's all flat with farms so not much hiking to do.

still i have the beach and on nice days walk for miles with the kids

not sure where you are think your richmond way yes?

i have been that way once or twice, not too sure but been to white scar caves and i'm sure that was north yorks, lovely place Si

the pennines and valleys i used to walk was on my doorstep, i'm talking more rochdale way in lancs.

nice offer Si but the bitter phew not sure i could stomache that stuff lol, if i ever get up that way il'e be sure to let ya know mate

thought so, your very lucky to live in such a nice place, and the lake district is not too far from you either, lucky sod

ahh can't be bad, my fave part of the country the lakes, especially ambleside and windermere, beautiful place