The “Adventures of the Tricycle Kid” is a warm reflection on growing up in Belfast in the Fifties and Sixties. It comes with a good dose of nostalgia as standard and looks at defining moments such as first confessions, early days in school, trips to hospitals, going to one’s first “hop”, and remembers the street games of the times such as Hopscotch, One- Two- Three Red Light and Marlbles.
Along the way you will chew Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum and blow bubbles as big as your head, drink Cream Soda and have burping competitions, buy chips from the Chippy and suck the vinegar from the paper bag until your lips go white and sting when you lick them.
You will meet characters such as Wingo Stoverman, Headlice Halligan and Stoneface O’Neill.
The central character is a mix of Denis the Menace, Our Willie, Billy Bunter and Just William. Be with him when he vomits over doctors, kills his goldfish with whiskey, sets a priest on fire, overdoses on Andrews Liver Salts and force feeds his six month old sister with Mint Imperials.
All of the adventures have elements of truth in them. Some of the characters are real, some are amalgams of various kids and grown ups who were there at the time. I have swapped some names around and made up others just in case they are still alive and come round to my door. All are products of an innocent Belfast.
The author remains a child to this day!
Along the way you will chew Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum and blow bubbles as big as your head, drink Cream Soda and have burping competitions, buy chips from the Chippy and suck the vinegar from the paper bag until your lips go white and sting when you lick them.
You will meet characters such as Wingo Stoverman, Headlice Halligan and Stoneface O’Neill.
The central character is a mix of Denis the Menace, Our Willie, Billy Bunter and Just William. Be with him when he vomits over doctors, kills his goldfish with whiskey, sets a priest on fire, overdoses on Andrews Liver Salts and force feeds his six month old sister with Mint Imperials.
All of the adventures have elements of truth in them. Some of the characters are real, some are amalgams of various kids and grown ups who were there at the time. I have swapped some names around and made up others just in case they are still alive and come round to my door. All are products of an innocent Belfast.
The author remains a child to this day!
