I think it was common with the era Len because my mum came out with stuff like this. It took me years to understand that 'swing for us' was a reference to hanging? In other words - she'd be hung for killing us, despite the fact they stopped hanging women in this country in about 1955? My initial thought was that she meant swinging as in a child's swing, which was confusing but preferable to hanging.
Obviously they were meaningless words on her part, and when my brother and I got going (fighting) I can see now how we must have done her head in?
Someone told me of how their parents drove them to an actual children's home and told their kid, 'This is where you're coming to live if you don't behave!'.
I've known parents get their mates to pretend to be coppers and all sorts. In my era, when a smack didn't work, parents had to get creative. I know someone who's daughter called the police when the mother' threatened' to kill her. The girl knew it was meaningless but she'd also been grounded for a few weeks for bad behaviour so she decided to pay her mother back with a visit from the cops! So she was grounded some more!
Then there was the time when I was about 7 and my uncle told me a bedtime story of a monk who hung himself in the forest. I couldn't sleep for months! What kind of @rseholerly is that when you tell a little kid that kind of tale?
Only he said it was a true story!
My mum's top ten of confusing shite.
1. I'll give you what for. (that made for some interesting questions on my part)
2. Come back here! (When I've just deliberately cheeked her? As if!)
3. You'll be the death of me. (Cause of death said Kidney Failure, not 'Nora')
4. You're enough to make a bloody saint swear. (I'll give her that one)
5. I'll do for you pair!
6. Wait till your father get's home! (I was my daddy's pride and joy - so this
always backfired on her)
7. I'll swing for you pair one day! (mother on a swing?)
8. I'll wipe that smile off your face! ( I was looking for the flannel?)
9. I'll wash your mouth out with soap and water. (never happened)
10. Tidy your room or I will put it all into plastic sacks and throw it out. (this was always aimed at my Bro)
Number 10 did actually happen because my brother was a massive slob and Mum found something unidentifiable festering under his bed one day. I think she was going through the menopause at this stage because it was around this time when my
Combat Rock album went flying through the bedroom window? But yes, she followed through on this well trawled out threat and my brother came home to find several black sacks on the front lawn!