Australia Blog: Blast from the Past

October 31, 2003

Blast from the Past

On the way home from the gym today I stopped off at a corner store to pick up some milk. I used to go to this corner store almost every day after primary school to spend pocket money on video games (Gyruss and 1942) and mixed lollies.

Since it was hot out I decided to treat myself to an ice-cream/ice-block and saw one I haven't had in maybe 20 years (crap, am I that old?). The Golden Gaytime is unlike any other ice-cream bar I've ever had, not least because of it's unusual name. You'd think, in these days of political correctness that at some point the Golden Gaytime would have changed its name to something else. I mean, what self-respecting kid aged 6-15 is going to been seen dead eating a "Golden Gaytime". You're just asking for ridicule and thereby cutting off 50% of your market right there.

And yet it survives. I bought one and, ignoring the fingerpointing and laughing from the school kids outside the store, came home and ate it. If I'd thought ahead, I would have taken a photo of it, but like I said, it was hot out and they do taste bloody good.

Posted by Chris on October 31, 2003 04:30 PM Brisbane Time
Category: Australiana, Brisbane, History

Comments

Taste counts.

Have you suggested to the owner that a name change might be in order?

Posted by: Mary on November 1, 2003 12:42 AM

I would have thought Golden Gaytime was a big seller in Sydney.

Posted by: Chris on November 1, 2003 08:09 AM

They've chocolate 'gaytimes' now, which is, well, even worse in the name department, but really no comparison for taste either... The original and the best I say...

Now that you've got me reminiscing though... do you remember Jelly Tips?!!! And those 'rocket' ones that would break into two sticks and those Hazelnut Logs/Rolls or something? Yumbarama - summer is here! Though I can barely go past Magnums... Mmm, almond magnum...

Dairy Ging

Posted by: Ging on November 3, 2003 11:25 AM

Oooooh yeah! Those rocket two stickers were the best. Paddle Pops were always pretty good, I think banana was my fave. And what where those solid pyramid ones called? You had to cut off a corner of the pyramid and suck the flavoured ice out. Sunny Boy's or something?

Posted by: Chris on November 3, 2003 03:09 PM

Yup, Sunnyboys - you can still get 'em in the ubermache methinks! Paddlepops good - me chocolate girl, BUT, the one that beat that, back in primary school and I've never seen 'em again, were by Peters Icecream, called Peter's Pals or something - and they were like Billabongs [as in rectangular, not rounded], but... CARAMEL. They. Were. Divine.

Redskin or Pine Lime Splits? I was a Pine Lime girl...

Childhood Ging

Posted by: Ging on November 3, 2003 04:14 PM

Ooooh Splits! I had a primary school mate who's mum worked at the place they made them and he would always have plenty in the fridge. I was ambidextrous on those, either was fantastic. 'Course, Redskins is another non-PC name these days so I don't even know if they're still out there.

Posted by: Chris on November 3, 2003 04:18 PM

There's a lot of oohing coming from you Chris - p'aps you should get thee down to the 'milk bar'...

and well politically incorrect names for foods, that's a whole 'nother post in itself... 'Golliwogs now Scalliwags'... and there's still the 'redsksins' as in 'redskins and milkos'! Oh, milkos!!! And those toffee apples and white knights - COMPLETE jaw breakers!

Oh, and back to your 'space invaders' reference - it's all about Galaga for me [and you can still play it at Milton Bowl!] and before THAT, it was Moon Cresta! Man...

Regressed to Ten-year-old Ging

Posted by: Ging on November 3, 2003 04:27 PM