Northern Ireland, 1990s
The army check points that were everywhere back then seem so much more sinister to me now than when I was wee.

Anytime we were driving and came across one, my parents would spot it up ahead and sternly tell us kids in the back to make sure we were wearing our seatbelts. For years I genuinely believed that the checkpoints were set up with the sole purpose of ensuring children were belted up and obeying their parents. Pretty genius trick of the folks really, cos it
a) got us to do as we were told
b) stopped us freaking out
c)it made sure we wore our seat belts, and considering the way people drive (especially in Derry!) then it's pretty bloody important!

It was only years after they'd pretty much disappeared that I thought about it and was quite freaked out at the real meaning behind happy childhood memories travelling around.
(Bambola, Tue 5 Jun 2012, 20:44, Reply)