Aug 28: Summer mornings in the 1970s

Growing up in the 60s and 70s was an interesting time to be a young person. There weren't many TV channels... and not much programming aimed at young people.

In the summer holidays there were some programmes for children. Many of them were bought in from other countries rather than being made in the UK. We had our own examples of course.

The Banana Splits are up first.

They had several short cartoons including 'The Arabian Nights'.

Robinson Crusoe - a French / German co-production in black and white.

The theme tune was excellent and instantly takes me back to a time when Lucozade bottles were wrapped in orange plastic film.

White Horses

Another French co-production.

Hair Bear Bunch

Which of these do you remember and which other programmes are part of your childhood?

Jun 29: A song you remember from your childhood

When I was a child I would often spend Saturdays at my maternal grandparents' house a few miles from home in South Yorkshire in a village called Whiston on the edge of Rotherham. I used to play records on a record player here. My grandad was a coal miner, so there would always be a coal fire lit, even on hot days, as it provided hot water for the house. 

This song stuck in my head for some reason. 

The lyrics are quite strange and mention death.

It turns out that this is a cover version of a Belgian song called 'The Dying Man' by Jacques Brel.

It also has an unusual key change towards the end.

It was a number one single in many countries including the UK.