D34 #100WorkingDays A hole in the wall

 This is not about Pink Floyd though another hole in the wall might be arriving near you soon. A reflection of the changing times for me must include the way technology has changed in working life time, so far. I’ve often marvelled at the changes that those born at the end of the 19th and early 20th century had seen. I’m conscious though that the generations following mine, will need to know at least a little of the way life has changed in the last 6 decades or so. 

Our high streets are a place that has seen much change in the kind of shops that occupy them, where there’s still a high street to visit. Even smaller local groups of shops had separate green grocers, a butcher and a general store. These were supported by a newsagent and a post office. All a relatively short walk from home. The superstores we know now were far off.

Many transactions were conducted with cash, and prior to decimalisation (Google it - no space to say more here), there were multiple heads of kings and queens on the coinage. For larger spends cheques we’re used. Hand written they were one way of transmitting money. To get cash however you’d need to go to the bank and make a withdrawal. Banks were often only open on weekdays and at times that suited them rather than many customers. The bank was usually well staffed and eventually some did open on Saturday mornings. A revolution occurred when the early cash machines (late 1960s) we’re replaced in the late 1970s by the first iteration of what we know as ATMs. It was the bank’s response to a society more used to 24 hour living. 

At around the mid 1970s McDonald’s came to the UK, bringing with it a challenge to Wimpy and eventually the hole in their wall as we learned to drive through. The long opening hours led the fast food revolution, and launched the idea we could get a take away or ‘fast food’ any time we wanted it. There’s been many more changes too, in travel and access to electronic devices. Without the internet, little silicone chips, and adventurous designers I wouldn’t be able to use internet banking, or be blogging just now.