Comments

'And finally, not everyone’s being doing topical. In fact, here’s the rather lovely 6 Oxgangs Avenue devoted to the history of the development of the area, this week highlighting how the block of flats came into being. Could have been prompted by Who do you think you are? Or just a timely reminder that not everything worth blogging about is in the here and now.'

Kate Higgins, Scottish Roundup 26/08/2012



Friday, 24 August 2012

Ken Hoffmann Being Different, No 1


In many respects my father was quite different from the other fathers in The Stair. For one thing, he smoked French cigarettes - either Disque Bleu or  Gauloises. It’s a long time since I’ve smelt the smoke, but I would recognise it instantly as it pervaded the house.


If he’d run out of cigarettes I would be sent on a little adventure on the number 16 bus to either Morningside or the century old Boroughmuirhead Post Office to buy him a packet. They weren’t sold locally. Also, in the 1960s it was very rare for any shop to remain open in the evening. 

Dave Henniker

When I returned home with the cigarettes, it was almost the only time he seemed to be pleased with me.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

i can remember the disque blue only to well,dad let me smoke one in his company,he thought this would make me sick, it didnt,unfortunatly i am a seasoned smoker now.

Peter Hoffmann said...

Unc, glad it ain't only me getting the blame! I may be wrong but I seem to recall some of the girls in the stair smoking Consulate menthol cigarettes. Any smokers in the Main Cast?