And while we're talking about Spike's bad American, that sounds like mock-Somerset to me, with the very extended R and odd vowels.

Except Spike's bad American? Pretty much how he seems to talk. It is very strange.

I also get mistaken for Canadian all the time, but I don't know why. I think it is just stupid people who think I must be foreign when I speak in a precise manner.

I love living in a neighbourhood where kids play on the streets. It's so cute! They're like little urchins or something!

Whereabouts in Melbourne are you, Angus? We had that at our old place (MIll Park), it was a newer suburb with a brand new primary school and had a lot of families with young kids.

North Melbourne, billytea. (Which does always make me wince somewhat and pray none of the kids steps on a syringe...but, you know, all part of the vibrant inner-city colour.)

North Melbourne, billytea. (Which does always make me wince somewhat and pray none of the kids steps on a syringe...but, you know, all part of the vibrant inner-city colour.)

Yeah, there is that. Not sure it's just inner-city suburbs anymore. So do you support North Melbourne in the AFL?

Certainly not! I hate North Melbourne, although not quite so much now that Wayne Carey has departed. I'm a Melbourne supporter.

When I was a kid we came home from school, dumped our books, changed out of our uniforms, and out we went with the understanding we weren't to come back until dinner. No video games yet so we played stickball, sat on the stairs talking, and street games like Red Rover and Ali Baba and stoopball and ring-o-leaveo. There were less cars on the streets, because most families had one and Dad took it to work and brought it back at night.

Where was this paradise? Well, Fort Apache itself, the Bronx in the 1970's. Albeit a relatively safe neighborhood. We're always hearing here about how peaceful and safe Europe is compared to America, so I was surprised to hear about England.

This was in my local paper a few weeks ago. Hands up billytea, Angus if any resonates with you.

Congratulations are in order if you spent your childhood in the 1960's, 70's or even early 80's. Looking back, it's hard to believe we have lived as long as we have, because:

• our baby cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paint;
• we had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets;
• we drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horror!;
• we would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we solved the problem;
• we would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back before dinner. No-one was able to reach us all day. No mobile phones. Unthinkable!;
• we played dodge ball and sometimes the ball would really hurt. We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. No-one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?;
• we had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it;
• we played footy down at the park and not everyone got picked to play. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment; and
• tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No-one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of, they actually sided with the law.

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever.

The past 50 years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

You had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and you learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of them. Congratulations! Hear, hear!

edited to show correct quoting

Certainly not! I hate North Melbourne, although not quite so much now that Wayne Carey has departed. I'm a Melbourne supporter.

Ah, the pain of living deep in enemy territory. North Melbourne are my favourite team in the AFL. Granted, I made this selection when I was about six and on the criterion that they most closely matched the colours of the rugby league team I followed. I was still pretty chuffed to see them take a couple of premierships last decade.

This was in my local paper a few weeks ago. Hands up billytea, Angus if any resonates with you.

It certainly resonates with me. The only thing I disagree with:

* we played footy down at the park and not everyone got picked to play. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment;

We didn't have enough people to turn anyone away. Plus, we weren't quite that mean.

I would love to be able to play dodge ball again.

* we would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back before dinner.

Yup!

We didn't have enough people to turn anyone away.

Yes, but somebody always got picked last (e.g. me).

I'm sure that was all very character building, but I'm not sure I'd inflict it on a child today!

But all the drinking from a hose, playing outdoors, not being entirely protected from the world at large stuff, absolutely.

Um - the UK thing is exxagerated. There is a fear of crime, but my 8-yr-old nephew is out all day every day. And my Niece, who lives in Soham where there was a particularly brutal double childmurder ast summer,plays on her own as much as I did at 4. Don't confuse the fear-mongering of the Daily Mail with real life - we don't all hate asylum seekers, either.