Early Saturday morning between 8.30am and 12.30pm, a two-deep queue of children of the 1920s, '30s, '40s and '50s snaked out from the doctors' surgery in Clifton, at the corner of Burton Stone Lane, along the pavement.

It was the start of a concerted effort by Dr Kemp and his team to administer the flu jab to their most vulnerable patients - an effort to be extended next Saturday.

The weather was fine and warm and the occasion became an enjoyable social get-together.

We were doing what we had to do in our younger days - queueing - and the rules of the game are ingrained.

We knew all the different types and reasons for queueing, which played an important part in our early lives.

Buses, pictures and shows, pork pies, bananas, cigarettes & tobacco, sweets. dole, orange juice and cod liver oil at the food office; just a few of many reasons for queueing up in those days. No pushing in, and have a chat while you're waiting.

The first few remarks set the tone of the conversations. "How long have you been here?", "What's the big picture like?", "What are we queuing for?", "Do you remember?" etc etc. The answers awakened many memories and prompted many laughs.

We were soon being "put down"........ on the list kept by the receptionists! Then we were in and out from the nurses and doctors giving time up from their weekends.

A nice way to start off the day. The chat, and of course the peace of mind that we can rely on our NHS doctors and their staff when needed.

Updated: 09:48 Tuesday, October 18, 2005