TO placate those TRM readers who accuse me of being biased in favour of Milford's fishing industry history, and, for all my Pill diehard compatriots, who egg me on to include more ‘Gunkle days’ memories, here's a TRM which, I hope, will bring both some satisfaction.

Just before Xmas, during my ‘talk’ to the ladies of Probus, it was obvious that one of the main points of interest, was the recollection of the number of different shops that there were in Milford, before the days of superstores and megamarkets.

I decided that, with the aid of pictorial enhancement from these few photos, which I've since been given, I'd resurrect a list of shops, from those olden, golden days, which originally appeared in one of my columns nearly 20 years ago.

It was a time when purchases were almost exclusively cash from the purse…before credit cards and pin numbers…and shoppers weren't walking round with phones stuck in their ears.

So, dig out those comfy shoes, pick up your shopping basket, leave a note on the back door for the coalman, saying you want a hundredweight of nutty slack, and let's take a walk to the shops.

And here's the list of some of them.

Cash & Co shoes...

Milford Mercury:

Hellings and Cornwall butchers…Shepherds sweet shop…Charlie Hales, grocery and wine…Yarmouth Stores…Sandel and Miller, tobacconists…Davies the paper shop…Bee Hive eggs and butter...Rowland ironmongers...Olivers shoe shop...Stanfords cake shop…Johnsons cleaners...Meyler the chemist...Cole high class shoes…Powell jewellers…Greens clothes shop…Whicher & Jamieson…Munt jewellers…

Milford Mercury:

Hatfield photo frames…Hughes drapers…Charlie Whicher menswear...Johnson the chemist...Ikey Williams cold meats…Francis the ironmonger...Backhouse music…

Milford Mercury:

Mrs Heath fruit & veg…Ivor Reynolds bread and grocery…Mrs Martin fruit & veg…Costello ice cream…Oakes sweet shop…indoor market (Greens/Swift/Shuttlebottom)…Jim Jenkins grocer…James the butcher…Jones ironmongers...Lumsden fruit & veg...the Co-op...Philpins men and boys…Hart butcher…Tom Pricket medicinals…Lewis wools, hats and baby wear…Millars sweet shop…Morgan butcher…Farrows grocer…Jones fruit and veg…Cobbs fancy gifts…Llewellyn ironmongers…Miss Garrett wool shop…Thomas florists…Vernon Powell toys and cards…Edwards drapers…Foster Powell toys and bikes…Marchants hairdressers…Rabaiottis.

The lady who sent me the list said…"It's not complete…and there may be some errors," so if anyone would care to add to it, please get in touch.

Last week I was reminded that this year is the 25th anniversary of my first ever ‘book,’ which was in aid of Cancer Research, and called Giggles on the Gunkle, a collection of memories from my childhood days living down Pill.

The Gunkle, of course, was a kid's paradise, and played a significant part in many of our escapades.

I was amazed at how well received it was, and that it sold out within weeks.

I also recall, in the Waterloo Club, a senior citizen, who'd bought, and read the book, saying…"The Gunkle wasn't just a playground for snotty nosed kids, either. It was always one of the town's must popular…and well used…’courting spots’.

“Even back in the 1920s it was renowned for providing outdoor biology lessons...but don't mention it to the missus!"

Now for our teaser, the answer to last week's was..."He was as bald as a coot!"…and all these who got it right were…Joyce Layton, Brian Phillips, Martin at Todaro's, Les Haynes, Anne and Jets Llewellyn, Elinor Jones, Pat Farrar, and Margaret Jones.

Many thanks to all who took part.

Try this maths one (firstly without a pencil and paper) Take a 1,000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1,000. Now add 30. Add another 1,000.

Now add 20. Now add another 1,000. Now add 10.

And the total is....?

Time for me to scarper, if I can dredge up more of the same drivel to help you swig your coffee, I'll be back next week.