So, I know you will have to be of a certain age to link the title with that TV advert for Black Magic Chocolates, but then if you can, you may well be the person we are interested in, because it is of the forgotten gems, carefully put away in the box room or the attic which could be the subject of our new book.*
It started when Peter brought down box loads of stuff which had been stored in the attic, gathering dust and almost sliding out of recorded memory.
There was a collection of military cap badges, from both world wars, assorted old computers, and electronic games, along with a packet of Edwardian tea, and an empty carton of Player's Weights.
Nothing you might think as valuable, but each offered up clues to how we used to live during the last century.
Having got hold of some of the treasures I wrote the story with a promise of more to come, and then Peter came up with the idea of asking to look into other people’s attics, spare rooms and garages.**
Now I know that the idea is not new and one TV channel specialized in programmes rummaging around in the attics of celebrities, but what makes Peter’s idea a tad different is that we will be looking into the homes of people from across south Manchester and ignoring “celebs”.
And having been given permission to unearth the boxes of promise, we intend to tell stories of what those boxes contain, with the firm expectation that the bits and pieces will offer up a slice of our collective past.
Looking again at Peter’s cornucopia of forgotten interests, I fastened on all those old 1980s computers and the games which went with them, remembering the hours our kids spent playng on Sim City, Tetris, Dungeon Master and Prince of Persis.
At which I could explore the power of this new form of entertainment and its impact on how we did leisure, but instead that’s for the book.
For now, here is the challenge which “ should you choose to accept”, is to go rummaging amongst your old and neglected store of half-forgotten objects and get in touch with us. We will come around, take the pictures and in consultation with you choose some which tell a story.
Unlike Mission Impossible this story and your stories will not “auto destruct in 5 seconds” but will linger long enough for lots of people to become inspired by the project.
And in the fullness of time become another book which Peter Topping and I offer up to the world.
Leaving you to leave comment on the blog or contact us through social media.
Location; your attic, garage, or spare room,
Pictures; things that have sat in Peter’s attic for decades, courtesy of Peter and Linda Topping
*Who knows The Secret of The Black Magic Box? was an TV advertising campaign from the 1970s
**The time capsule that is Peter’s attic …….. part 1, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-time-capsule-that-is-peters-attic.html
There was a collection of military cap badges, from both world wars, assorted old computers, and electronic games, along with a packet of Edwardian tea, and an empty carton of Player's Weights.
Nothing you might think as valuable, but each offered up clues to how we used to live during the last century.
Having got hold of some of the treasures I wrote the story with a promise of more to come, and then Peter came up with the idea of asking to look into other people’s attics, spare rooms and garages.**
And having been given permission to unearth the boxes of promise, we intend to tell stories of what those boxes contain, with the firm expectation that the bits and pieces will offer up a slice of our collective past.
Looking again at Peter’s cornucopia of forgotten interests, I fastened on all those old 1980s computers and the games which went with them, remembering the hours our kids spent playng on Sim City, Tetris, Dungeon Master and Prince of Persis.
For now, here is the challenge which “ should you choose to accept”, is to go rummaging amongst your old and neglected store of half-forgotten objects and get in touch with us. We will come around, take the pictures and in consultation with you choose some which tell a story.
Unlike Mission Impossible this story and your stories will not “auto destruct in 5 seconds” but will linger long enough for lots of people to become inspired by the project.
Leaving you to leave comment on the blog or contact us through social media.
Location; your attic, garage, or spare room,
Pictures; things that have sat in Peter’s attic for decades, courtesy of Peter and Linda Topping
*Who knows The Secret of The Black Magic Box? was an TV advertising campaign from the 1970s
**The time capsule that is Peter’s attic …….. part 1, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-time-capsule-that-is-peters-attic.html
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