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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Treetotal on Monday 25 November 13 17:51 GMT (UK)

Title: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 25 November 13 17:51 GMT (UK)
Okay...as this has created a lot of interest and with Christmas fast approaching....here is the continuing thread for your amusement and nostalgia.
Link to old thread for continuity:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=668732.msg5142943

Thanks for sharing your memories and I hope you continue to enjoy revisiting your childhood  ;)

Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 25 November 13 18:58 GMT (UK)
Did anyone else have a Golly...one of my favourite soft toys that is now very Un-PC....I used to collect the tokens from jam jars to send for the badges...I never realised the racial implications until I was much older...I just saw it as a colourful, happy character that was fun to have.

Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Monday 25 November 13 20:27 GMT (UK)
So did I Carol, I think I had most of those badges - weren't they from Robinson's Marmalade or did the jam do them as well? I also had a golly and like you just regarded it as a doll. I think mine was based on the one from the Noddy books. They are also considered Un-PC now as well and I believe were rewritten when they were republished.

Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 20:37 GMT (UK)
Good for starting another thread

I loved Gollys!!

 - and do you remember the book Epaminondas - oh that was great!   The tiger walked round and round the tree until it turned into butter - (I think)

now will i try to find my granddaughter some clackers- or not?    ;D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Monday 25 November 13 20:44 GMT (UK)
This one, Wiggy?  http://images.gocomics.com/images/uu_com/samples/tellmeastory/story1.pdf
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 20:54 GMT (UK)
Sort of - but the one we had had an illustration on every page and   though the refrain was the same every time it was written differently . . . .  ;)     And there was a series of picture story books - but yes  . . . ;D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Monday 25 November 13 20:57 GMT (UK)
From some of the illustrations on the web, that is probably Un-PC as well now. I think the original was written in 1911 or there abouts.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Monday 25 November 13 21:24 GMT (UK)
I didn't have the Golly Dolly, but my sister and I both had the cast iron mechanical Golly money boxes.   Still have them.

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 21:39 GMT (UK)
Can't remember - but has anyone mentioned Strewel Peter? and the hoffific tales about what happened if you didn't do as you were told?
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Monday 25 November 13 21:48 GMT (UK)
Those were terrifying stories, Wiggy, weren't they?  And the Grimm fairytales weren't much better.  When you think of a lot of the stories we were told, it's a wonder we ever slept at night.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 21:51 GMT (UK)
My kids love Peter and the Wolf - but I must say I usually sit with them to listen to the music!

Then there was Danny Kaye with Tubby the Tuba - remember that one?   We loved it and I managed to find it again for my grandchildren!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Shirleyjjj on Monday 25 November 13 21:52 GMT (UK)
if your on here with green square your missing professor river song on who do you think you are and its a good one !
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Monday 25 November 13 21:54 GMT (UK)
What was the one with the piano - oh yes Sparky.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 22:04 GMT (UK)
Oh yes - I remember Sparky

What about 'The Small One' - Story of Christmas - told by ??    Very tear jerking!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Monday 25 November 13 22:10 GMT (UK)
Wasn't it Bing Crosby?


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Monday 25 November 13 22:12 GMT (UK)
Those were terrifying stories, Wiggy, weren't they?  And the Grimm fairytales weren't much better.  When you think of a lot of the stories we were told, it's a wonder we ever slept at night.

Hansel and Gretel used to scare me rigid.  :o
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 22:22 GMT (UK)
Wasn't it Bing Crosby?


Cheers
KHP

Could well be KHP!   :)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Monday 25 November 13 22:39 GMT (UK)
Ah yes, Maggie - Hansel and Gretel.  Particularly where the witch had Hansel in a cage, fattening him up.  Surely this sort of thing wouldn't be considered suitable for children nowadays!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 25 November 13 22:42 GMT (UK)
Pity though - what a lot of fun they are missing!  ;)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Nanna52 on Monday 25 November 13 23:40 GMT (UK)
My son loved Roald Dahls Revolting Rhymes.  My granddaughters enjoyed many of his books.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 26 November 13 00:35 GMT (UK)
The one which I didn't like at all - even as an adult- was The Witches.

 I think that far outdoes Hansel and Gretel as scary.     :o :o

Just thinking - at least they kept you reading though didn't they - to get to the end and make sure the hero/ines were OK!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Nanna52 on Tuesday 26 November 13 01:27 GMT (UK)
Don't think they have read that Wiggy.  They started with James and the Giant Peach, BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (after seeing the movie).
The younger one, who is  eleven, is now reading all sorts of science fiction stories and loves The Hunger Games.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Tuesday 26 November 13 09:48 GMT (UK)
I agree, Wiggy, The Witches is scary, especially as it doesn't end as you hoped it would. However, children love it.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Tuesday 26 November 13 10:54 GMT (UK)
I loved watching The Railway Children...and Four Feather Falls...when I look back and see the old footage it makes me all fuzzy and warm  ;D
Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Meezer on Tuesday 26 November 13 10:55 GMT (UK)
What about the Grimm's fairy tale where a horse had it's head cut off? Seem to remember that it was then nailed up over a gateway or something from where it spoke to people! And these were considered nice stories for us?!!  ::)

Isn't it strange though, all the gruesome tales we listened to and the dangerous activities we engaged in - I don't think any of us are scarred for life? (Can't vouch for our sanity though  ;D)

Loving these threads, so many memories!!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Meezer on Tuesday 26 November 13 10:56 GMT (UK)
I loved watching The Railway Children...and Four Feather Falls...when I look back and see the old footage it makes me all fuzzy and warm  ;D
Carol

Did you see a recent article where someone wanted the film and book of The Railway Children banning as it would "encourage children to play on the railway"?!!!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Tuesday 26 November 13 10:59 GMT (UK)
Yes I did Meezer...how times have changed  ::)
talking of scary books my Daughter couldn't sleep after I read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and she still remembers being scared by it...I had to get rid of it as she didn't even like seeing the cover of it.
Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Tuesday 26 November 13 11:12 GMT (UK)
I remember when I was very small that my father read a bed-time story to me and my brother which involved jungle animals.  When we went to bed, my brother told me he could see a hippo under my bed - I was terrified and it was weeks before I could sleep soundly again.  Indeed, I still have a light on on the landing just in case....  And I always buy divan beds so that those pesky jungle animals will have nowhere to hide.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Tuesday 26 November 13 11:31 GMT (UK)
I remember reading The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley, I think I was given it as a Sunday School prize. There was Tom, the poor boy who was sent up the chimney and Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid. I see it fell out of favour due to its prejudices against a lot of races and religions.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: stevew101 on Tuesday 26 November 13 13:02 GMT (UK)
Did anyone else have a Golly...one of my favourite soft toys that is now very Un-PC....I used to collect the tokens from jam jars to send for the badges...I never realised the racial implications until I was much older...I just saw it as a colourful, happy character that was fun to have.

Carol

Remember collecting the tokens for badges - While on badges - Did anyone join the Butlins Beaver Club?  I still have the badge somewhere!

Steve
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: candleflame on Tuesday 26 November 13 13:39 GMT (UK)
I had a cuddly knitted Golly and all the Golly badges.
Haven't heard of some of wiggy's books. Like others here I found some of the old tales a bit scary.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: ann255 on Tuesday 26 November 13 15:02 GMT (UK)
I used to have an aunt who would collect the labels and send off for the little china figures of golly for me. It was the only time the postman would call with a parcel with my name on it and I used to get so excited when one arrived.  They made up sets, like playing different musical instruments.

I also loved Noddy and Big Ears and when older all the Enid Blyton books. I used to have a weekly/monthly? magazine of hers, but I cannot remember what it was called. Roughly A5 size and with an orange cover, and I would devour it as soon as it arrived.

Favourite book of all time was The Secret Garden, and I used to so wish I could have a secret garden all of my own.  I still love visiting walled gardens when I go to NT places.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Tuesday 26 November 13 15:08 GMT (UK)
I think this has cropped up on another thread, but Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Samuel Whiskers scared me when I was very small.  The pictures in the book are quite terrifying.  I still have a copy of the book and I was looking at it the other day with my 43 year old son.  He told me the story and pictures still disturbed him.......... mind you, this over 6ft tall son still requires help in getting a spider out of the bath.  ::)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Samuel_Whiskers_or_The_Roly-Poly_Pudding
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Tuesday 26 November 13 15:13 GMT (UK)
Ann - was the Enid Blyton magazine this one:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/enid-blytons-magazine.php

I used to read it too.

Also Sunny Stories : http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/enid-blytons-sunny-stories.php

And: http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/sunny-stories-for-little-folks.php
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Tuesday 26 November 13 16:22 GMT (UK)
Oh gosh Maggie, I had forgotten all about Sunny Stories - my first comic, if I remember correctly.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Tuesday 26 November 13 16:30 GMT (UK)
How many people remember the Coronation?  That was just so exciting.  My mother bought me a dress in red, white and blue, and we had what seemed like an endless round of parties and other celebrations.  At our school - Watton Primary in Norfolk - we had a day of maypole dancing and singing and making a dreadful noise on our recorders and drums for local dignitaries, and we were all presented with a tin of smarties with a picture of the Queen on a horse on front, and then we lined up to be each given a New Testament with our names inscribed therein.

Then we had  another party where we had the most wonderful food and were each presented with a Coronation Mug - I immediately dropped mine and it smashed.  Despite crying long and loud, I wasn't given another one.

And just when we were almost sated by it all, the film of it came out and we were all taken to the cinema to see the gold coach and the pomp of the ceremony itself.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Tuesday 26 November 13 16:46 GMT (UK)
I had a red white and blue dress for the Coronation that had come all the way from America - I felt quite important in that. 

I still have my Coronation mug inscribed with the name of a local mill owner who donated the mugs to all the school children of the town.  I didn't smash mine GS - in fact I've still got it.  ;D  ;D   I also remember we were all given a long thin tin box filled with Cadbury's Neopolitan chocolates all laid neatly side by side.  The box was purple with lots of fleur-de-lis surrounding an image of the Queen's head.  The box doubled up as a pencil box once all the chocs had been eaten.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: mare on Tuesday 26 November 13 16:46 GMT (UK)
Going back to Gollies for a moment ... and to mark the thread  :D I made one at school about year 8, a class project. There is often a trade stall I go to at craft shows that feature beautiful gollies, allowed to use the shortened version of previous name of course.


Does anyone remember the Gonk? somewhere in the 60's a bit of a craze. Several friends had one, just a humpty dumpty shape. I hadn't the pocket money to get the real thing but made one in miniature  :)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: radstockjeff on Tuesday 26 November 13 17:08 GMT (UK)
How about Milly Molly Mandy?  Can't remember who wrote it though.

radstockjeff
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: candleflame on Tuesday 26 November 13 18:24 GMT (UK)
Not born when the Coronation was on I'm afraid. OH says they went to a neighbours house to watch it as they had a tv and he didn't/

Yes I remember Gonks!! Think ours was home made too :)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Tuesday 26 November 13 18:40 GMT (UK)
I remember Gonks.  Our son aged just two won one at a fair.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Tuesday 26 November 13 19:18 GMT (UK)
I can't remember the Coronation, just what I was told we did. There was a party in our street and somewhere I have a photo of us seated at a long table. We were given Coronation money boxes which looked like a book and had a key, like this one, but mine was white. It is still upstairs, and I still have the key.  ;D ;D

I looked it up and they are selling for at least £4.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Tuesday 26 November 13 21:52 GMT (UK)
I remember when I was very small that my father read a bed-time story to me and my brother which involved jungle animals.

Anyone remember the Just So stories by Rudyard Kipling

Specially the Elephants Child going to 'the Great grey Greasy Limpopo River all set about with Fever trees'   Loved that story!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Tuesday 26 November 13 22:38 GMT (UK)
For some reason, Jan's picture of the money-box reminded me of National Savings stamps.  We used to have to take 3d or 6d (can't remember which) to school each week out of our pocket money to buy a savings stamp which was put in a book.  I think once you got a full page, you could cash it in.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Tuesday 26 November 13 22:39 GMT (UK)
For those in the UK this might bring back some memories of Christmas past http://ukchristmastv.weebly.com/

My brother found his old school savings book recently, it was interesting as he obviously saved up to Christmas and then drew it all out. After Christmas he put quite a bit in - presumably money he'd been given for Christmas and then drew it all out again in July ready for the Summer holidays.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Tuesday 26 November 13 22:48 GMT (UK)
How interesting Jan - thanks for posting that.  My birth year us not listed but the nearest year (1946) looks a bit dire for Christmas viewing.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Meezer on Tuesday 26 November 13 23:08 GMT (UK)
I remember the savings stamps - someone used to come to the door selling them every week, we never knew her name she was always "the stamp lady" poor woman! I seem to remember that there were 6d stamps with a picture of a young Princess Anne on and Price Charles was worth 1/- !
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: missmolly on Wednesday 27 November 13 00:01 GMT (UK)
For those in the UK this might bring back some memories of Christmas past http://ukchristmastv.weebly.com/

Great site, just looked at 1959 and saw that Quatermass and the Pit was showing, it used to frighten me to death and I was in my 20's then

Mo
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Wednesday 27 November 13 01:02 GMT (UK)
How about Milly Molly Mandy?  Can't remember who wrote it though.

radstockjeff

Can't remember who wrote it- but on my very first night in England I stayed in a Milly Molly Mandy house in the gable room with a view down over the water meadow!   :D

The Coronation - Dad and I stayed up very late at night to listen to it on the radio - and every time the queen went round another corner they played the national anthem again!   That's all I can remember!!   ;D ::)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: stevew101 on Wednesday 27 November 13 06:19 GMT (UK)
For those in the UK this might bring back some memories of Christmas past http://ukchristmastv.weebly.com/

Great site, just looked at 1959 and saw that Quatermass and the Pit was showing, it used to frighten me to death and I was in my 20's then

Mo

Watched Quatermass and the Pit from behind the settee.   :o :o :o
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Ringrose on Wednesday 27 November 13 09:54 GMT (UK)
My grandmother used to make gollys and her sewing room was full of them in various stages of being made.She used up all sorts of material and probably only bought the black material.They were so colourful and she sold a lot.
Memories .....
Ringrose
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 27 November 13 10:01 GMT (UK)
When I was small, my mother made me a huge dark brown teddy-bear from an old coat of hers.  He was bigger than me and had orange trousers.  I used to cuddle up to him and I called him Timothy Rupert Sedgwick Bear.  By the time I was eight, he was falling apart and when we moved from Yorkshire to Huntingdonshire, he was thrown out, much to my dismay, along with my old rag doll, Rosemary.  Not sure I ever forgave my parents for throwing my friends out so callously - particularly as I was leaving all my human friends behind to go and live in yet another strange place.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: ann255 on Wednesday 27 November 13 10:54 GMT (UK)
Ann - was the Enid Blyton magazine this one:
http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/enid-blytons-magazine.php
I used to read it too.

Yes it was, thank you Maggie
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: LizzieW on Wednesday 27 November 13 11:45 GMT (UK)
I remember Strewel Peter.  When I was a young girl I used to get a book out of the library quite frequently with him and other stories in it.  In fact I have a book that my young grandchildren love and it has all those type of stories.  I've also got the book Little Black Sambo, where his mother makes him lovely clothes and when he goes out he meets various tigers who all want a piece of his clothing or they will eat him up.  Near the end they get cross with each other and run round and round a tree holding each others tails until they turn to ghee (butter).  The little boy gets his clothes back, his daddy finds the ghee and takes it home to his mother who makes hundreds of pancakes.  Much to my surprise I found the book on sale in a shop about 10 years ago and bought it.  When I read it to my grandchildren, I always say "the little boy" and "his mummy" and "his daddy" rather than the phrases in the book.  I'd hate my grandchildren to use them and be thought of as racist.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Wednesday 27 November 13 18:54 GMT (UK)


Does anyone remember the Gonk? somewhere in the 60's a bit of a craze. Several friends had one, just a humpty dumpty shape. I hadn't the pocket money to get the real thing but made one in miniature  :)

I remember Gonks!!  ;D

And trolls...................  (why oh why were these ugly creatures so loved though?  ???)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Wednesday 27 November 13 18:56 GMT (UK)
and come to think of it - why were Gonks?!! ::)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Wednesday 27 November 13 19:08 GMT (UK)
Have both of those and one on the Wombles.    A friend used to make the latter and sell them.

Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 27 November 13 19:34 GMT (UK)
I used to like Sooty and Sweep.  I remember one Christmas  my brother and I sent some money for a charity they were promoting, and we were so thrilled to get a letter back, with a picture of Sooty holding his wand. 

Another programme I loved was Crackerjack, with the game Double Or Drop.  Used to really enjoy watching that when we got home from school.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: stevew101 on Wednesday 27 November 13 19:48 GMT (UK)
Not forgetting the Crackerjack Pencil  :)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Wednesday 27 November 13 19:51 GMT (UK)
Or the a Blue Peter badge.  ;D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: stevew101 on Wednesday 27 November 13 19:55 GMT (UK)
With Christmas just around the corner, did anyone try to make the Blue Peter Advent Crown with two wire coat hangars?   I think they made one every year.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Wednesday 27 November 13 20:06 GMT (UK)
Have both of those and one on the Wombles.    A friend used to make the latter and sell them.

Cheers
KHP

I have the DVDs of the Wombles - and the grandchildren love them - their mother can't see why - but we don't care and we watch them  for a little while when they visit!   ;)    We like the originals with Bernard Cribbins voice best!   (but they are memories of my children's childhood rather than mine - we didn't have TV until the men went to the moon!)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Wednesday 27 November 13 20:10 GMT (UK)
I always think of Basil Brush when I see Derek Fowlds on Heartbeat. :D

Cheers
KHP


Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 27 November 13 21:43 GMT (UK)
The good thing about Basil Brush was that his jokes were on two levels - the children liked them but the adults could also pick up other meanings.  He was great fun - boom, boom!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Wednesday 27 November 13 21:50 GMT (UK)
I remember making ginger beer.  The process was full of mystery as you would be given what was referred to amongst my friends as 'a plant'?  I now suppose this was yeast.  You then mixed it up with the ginger and put it in a capped bottle in the cylinder cupboard, where invariably it exploded.

Great fun.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Wednesday 27 November 13 21:57 GMT (UK)
Oh ha! ha! Maggie - I had forgotten about ginger beer plants.  I remember my brother's brew exploding in the airing cupboard - my mother went mad.  Those were the days of white cotton sheets, all starched and ironed until they were like cardboard so must have been an awful lot of work to wash them all again to get the brown stains out.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Wednesday 27 November 13 21:57 GMT (UK)
I remember that Maggie, you had to feed it for about two weeks then make it up. You then split the plant and gave half to someone else. The problem was it seemed that everyone had one and it became harder and harder to give it away. We had lots of explosions as well, but it was nice.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Wednesday 27 November 13 21:59 GMT (UK)
You soon learnt never to take home made Ginger Beer on a school bus trip .... ;D


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Janette on Wednesday 27 November 13 22:01 GMT (UK)
For some reason we called them ginger beer bugs
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Thursday 28 November 13 04:45 GMT (UK)
I remember making ginger beer.  The process was full of mystery as you would be given what was referred to amongst my friends as 'a plant'?  I now suppose this was yeast.  You then mixed it up with the ginger and put it in a capped bottle in the cylinder cupboard, where invariably it exploded.

Great fun.
Yep I remember making our own Ginger peer - great fun and wonderful taste!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: youngtug on Thursday 28 November 13 07:31 GMT (UK)
And alcoholic.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: wini on Thursday 28 November 13 10:54 GMT (UK)
I loved Strewell Peter, with the Scissor man and all the other terrible things that could happen to you.
I don't suppose children are allowed books like that any more.
I think the author was German.

Does anyone remember listening to Dick Barton, Special Agent, came on at a quarter to six.

wini
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Thursday 28 November 13 21:53 GMT (UK)
Ah yes, wini, Dick Barton, Special Agent - and who can forget Journey Into Space?  Used to love that too.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: joboy on Friday 29 November 13 08:46 GMT (UK)
Remember when we had sticky flypapers hanging from the ceiling?
Joe
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: kiwihalfpint on Friday 29 November 13 08:57 GMT (UK)
Remember when we had sticky flypapers hanging from the ceiling?
Joe

Still available here  ;D


Cheers
KHP
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: deeiluka on Friday 29 November 13 09:02 GMT (UK)
How about Milly Molly Mandy?  Can't remember who wrote it though.

radstockjeff

I'm reading my original Milly Molly Mandy book to my 5 year old grandaughter at the moment. It says "told and drawn by Joyce Lankester Brisley". My little grandaughter just loves the illustrations.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: stevew101 on Friday 29 November 13 12:50 GMT (UK)
Also the Janet and John series of books
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: jess5athome on Friday 29 November 13 13:42 GMT (UK)
Remember when we had sticky flypapers hanging from the ceiling?
Joe

Hi, I still use them in the greenhouse, I don't know why but chilly pepper plants always seem to attract flies,  ???
Frank.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 29 November 13 14:04 GMT (UK)
Did anyone else have a John Bull Printing Outfit...little rubber letters that you used a pair of tweezers to line them up?....I seem to remember wanting a Petite typewriter that year  ::) I did get one though but maybe it was the following year...I seem to remember that it had a dial that you twisted to get the right letter and the ribbon was blue at the top and red at the bottom half :D

Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Friday 29 November 13 17:21 GMT (UK)
I remember having both of those. This thread is certainly bringing back memories of Christmas past.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: ann255 on Friday 29 November 13 18:15 GMT (UK)
Yes treetotal, I too had the John Bull printing set,and the Petite typewriter.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Friday 29 November 13 18:30 GMT (UK)
I remember having both of those. This thread is certainly bringing back memories of Christmas past.

Reading through both threads, and groom's replies - I think we are one and the same person  ;D

Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Friday 29 November 13 19:02 GMT (UK)
I think I must have had a John Bull Printing Set every Christmas for years.  What fun they were - but of course it didn't take long to lose those rubber letters once they were split apart so within a few weeks printing anything sensible became almost impossible.

I don't think I had one of those typewriters although I did play with ones belonging to my friends.
How about painting by numbers?  I used to love those when I got a bit older.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Friday 29 November 13 19:10 GMT (UK)
Yes, I had those as well - and of course, as I think we've mentioned elsewhere, the smoker's set. Candy cigarettes and matches, liquorice pipes, chocolate cigars and brown shredded coconut tobacco. Fancy giving that to a seven year old. Then there were the chocolate selection boxes.  ;D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 29 November 13 19:11 GMT (UK)
GS.....I had paintings by numbers too...and always got a giant paintbox with a colouring book too. ....And dot to dot books as I was always quite arty much to the teasing of my older brother and sister who classed painting and puzzle books boring.
Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Friday 29 November 13 19:14 GMT (UK)
Yes, I had those as well - and of course, as I think we've mentioned elsewhere, the smoker's set. Candy cigarettes and matches, liquorice pipes, chocolate cigars and brown shredded coconut tobacco. Fancy giving that to a seven year old. Then there were the chocolate selection boxes.  ;D


Oh yes....and didn't we love them....a chocolate tool box....it wasn't Christmas without them.....and an orange and sixpence at the bottom of the stocking too.

Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 29 November 13 20:43 GMT (UK)

How about painting by numbers?  I used to love those when I got a bit older.

oh yes I used to love those - and also the ones where you just put water on to bring up the colours - my grandchildren still love those magic books.

Our regular Christmas presents when we were little were a new bucket and spade for the forthcoming beach holiday!  And always a book . . . . . . in our stocking - maybe to try and keep us in bed just that little bit longer.  The stocking usually had peanuts in their shells and an apricot in the toe!  what a mess those peanut shells made!  (and none of us was allergic or anything!)    :D :D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Friday 29 November 13 20:51 GMT (UK)
Our stocking always had a tangerine in the toe (Christmas was the only time we had them), a sugar mouse and a packet of chocolate coins. There was usually a cheap game and a colouring book and pencils - probably for the same reason as you had the book, Wiggy. These were left on our beds to open when we woke up with perhaps one or two other presents. The rest were always left around the Christmas tree in the living room and we opened them together after breakfast.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Friday 29 November 13 20:55 GMT (UK)
Oh yes - chocolate coins - I'd forgotten about them!!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Maggie. on Friday 29 November 13 21:32 GMT (UK)
Tangerines tasted so much better back then.  They were fill of pips and always seemed to be individually wrapped in blue tissue paper.  Like Jan says they were only available at Christmas - so were dates.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Saturday 30 November 13 00:53 GMT (UK)
Dates only available at Christmas - that's a new one!!   :D  I wonder why - was it part of post war rationing?

I bet they are available all the time now?  Yes??  ::)

I bought 500gms of Tunisian dates yesterday - they are delicious - not quite as sweet either as they still have their pits in!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: deeiluka on Saturday 30 November 13 03:01 GMT (UK)
Christmas Day memories.....one that comes to mind is visiting both sets of of grandparents. We'd visit my Dad's parents during the afternoon and the most boring time was had by all. Children should be seen and not heard,  so it was sit on a chair and not speak unless spoken to. If we were lucky we'd have a glass of cordial so weak that plain water would have been preferable and a couple of pieces of broken biscuit. Just before we left, we'd each receive a Christmas gift, which was always something like a cake of soap, or a new toothbrush. My parents often received back a gift that they had previously given my grandparents!    ;D

Oh the relief when we departed and headed for my other grandparents for Christmas night. My mother had 6 brothers and usually most of them would be there also with their families.....so lots of cousins and we'd run riot. Such fun we had. Eventually after a wonderful evening meal of delicious finger foods we'd settle around a large Christmas tree and "Santa" would arrive with a sack full of gifts for us....gifts that were always something each child was excited to receive and really appreciated. Then it was a singsong of Christmas Carols around the piano. It was a wonderful way to end Christmas Day.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Jean McGurn on Saturday 30 November 13 05:32 GMT (UK)
This thread has brought back so many memories especially the items in the stocking. In the late 40's I always had a pomegranate in mine as well as the orange. Have vague recollections of eating it with a pin to dig out the pips.

Funny thing was I only ever saw them at Christmas don't remember any others in the family eating them either but then maybe that's probably the old memory box  ;D

Jean
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: deeiluka on Saturday 30 November 13 05:38 GMT (UK)
We never had any sort of fruit in our Christmas stockings....probably because we had so many different fruit trees growing in the garden. We did always have a blown up balloon tied to them, and as we grew older an Annual such as Girls' Crystal etc.   :D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Saturday 30 November 13 06:52 GMT (UK)
All this talk of fruit reminds me of my very first introduction to the mango - when I was 22 and leaving for England on my first great adventure  (and I am having a mango for dinner tonight too!  ;))

A nursing friend in Sydney met our ship when we berthed for the day and took me home to her place and we had mango for lunch - she advised me that the very best place to eat mango was in the bath as they are so messy - I have learnt how to cope with them now!    ;D    I'd never even seen one before let alone eaten one.   Delicious.

How many new vegetables have you met in adulthood which you never saw as a child?
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: joboy on Saturday 30 November 13 07:03 GMT (UK)
All this talk of fruit reminds me of my very first introduction to the mango - when I was 22 and leaving for England on my first great adventure  (and I am having a mango for dinner tonight too!  ;))

A nursing friend in Sydney met our ship when we berthed for the day and took me home to her place and we had mango for lunch - she advised me that the very best place to eat mango was in the bath as they are so messy - I have learnt how to cope with them now!    ;D    I'd never even seen one before let alone eaten one.   Delicious.

How many new vegetables have you met in adulthood which you never saw as a child?
Snap Wiggy ......... I got here to live in 1948 ......... my wife to be introduced me to mangoes,rock melon and passion fruit ....... thought I was in heaven. :) :)
Joe
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Saturday 30 November 13 07:11 GMT (UK)
Nice selection there Joe - specially canteloupe and passionfruit together - tried that??  Funny - we nearly always had them together when we were kids.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: deeiluka on Saturday 30 November 13 08:14 GMT (UK)
Passionfruit!
We had neighbours who had a tennis court. Next door to them had a wonderful black passionfruit vine that used to hang through the wire netting to the tennis court side. Every Sunday afternoon my family and our neighbours used to play tennis, and we kids were the ball boys and girls.....when we weren't scrounging passionfruit hanging through the fence and devouring them from the skins.

It's where I got my love of passionfruit.    :D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: johncrowner on Saturday 30 November 13 08:32 GMT (UK)
Someone mentioned Streuall Peter. I had a copy of Streuall Hitler which was published , I think by the Daily Mail,in the early 40,s. Long gone now, but they appear occasionally on ebay. The original one is now worth several hundred pounds, but most now are re-prints
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Saturday 30 November 13 22:12 GMT (UK)
This thread has brought back so many memories especially the items in the stocking. In the late 40's I always had a pomegranate in mine as well as the orange. Have vague recollections of eating it with a pin to dig out the pips.

Funny thing was I only ever saw them at Christmas don't remember any others in the family eating them either but then maybe that's probably the old memory box  ;D

Jean

Pomegranates were a Christmas staple in our house too, Jean - and we always used to eat them with a pin!
We only ever had dates at Christmas as well, plus a big bowl of nuts in shells so nutcrackers were a necessity. 

Our Christmas presents from Santa were always left in those large plastic drawstring bags mysteriously during the night - oh the excitement to wake in the morning and find one at the bottom of my bed!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Greensleeves on Sunday 01 December 13 12:29 GMT (UK)
Our fruit options were always very limited in the 1950s, and consisted generally of apples and oranges, the latter being cut in quarters and shared.  When I was about four my grandparents came to stay and brought a pineapple with them.  What excitement that caused, I can tell you!  And as Jan and Maggie have said, dates were for Christmas, as were figs and nuts, other than chestnuts which could be roasted whenever you could find or buy them.  My father used to split the skins and put them by the fire to roast.  Great fun!  I remember the excitement of going to London near Christmas, seeing great gaps between buildings which my parents told me were 'bomb sites', and seeing hot chestnut sellers on almost every street corner.

Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: ann255 on Sunday 01 December 13 16:31 GMT (UK)
Taling of cutting things up and sharing to eat.  I can recall that my mother did this with a mars bar, cut it into slices and we shared it between us!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 01 December 13 16:56 GMT (UK)
 ;D ;D ;D ;D...There was a lot of it about then Ann...."Eat Me" dates..."Newberry Fruits" and "Turkish Delight"....and "Ye Olde Oak Ham"...always came with a Christmas Hamper that Mum paid all year round for in a hamper club!!!

Drinks were always..Tizer, Dandelion and Burdock and American Cream Soda... :D

Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: stevew101 on Sunday 01 December 13 17:46 GMT (UK)
 :) Pickled onions - tinned salmon - turkish delight  :)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: groom on Sunday 01 December 13 18:01 GMT (UK)
Newberry Fruits - I'd forgotten those. I used to try and bite/suck all the jelly off without breaking the liquid centre. Christmas was always a special time as we had foods and drink that we didn't have during the rest of the year. Nowadays we can get them all year round.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 01 December 13 18:46 GMT (UK)
That brought memories Groom...I did too...and threepenny bits in the Christmas Pudding  :D :D
Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Sunday 01 December 13 20:30 GMT (UK)
Newberry Fruits - I'd forgotten those. I used to try and bite/suck all the jelly off without breaking the liquid centre. Christmas was always a special time as we had foods and drink that we didn't have during the rest of the year. Nowadays we can get them all year round.

Personally, I think that takes away from the excitement of it a bit.    I used not to buy ham at any other time of the year so keep it special - but I've given up on that now!    Christmas cake and properly made Christmas pudding are the only really special Christmas only foods now!   ;)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: deeiluka on Monday 02 December 13 09:20 GMT (UK)
That brought memories Groom...I did too...and threepenny bits in the Christmas Pudding :D :D
Carol

Oooh yes.....and one year my young brother ....probably aged about 7....swallowed a threepenny bit! That caused some consternation for sure . The end of the story is that Mrs Dee had to "keep watch" to make sure it passed through.    ::)   ;D

And when decimal currency came in, Mrs Dee kept a whole heap of threepenny bits just to use in the Christmas Pudding......when you found them, you had to give them back to be used the next year.....and you were given 5 cent coins in exchange.   :D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Wiggy on Monday 02 December 13 09:56 GMT (UK)
his decimal currency has a lot to answer for doesn't it!   Just think though - 5c sounds like more than 3d   ;)
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: mrs.tenacious on Monday 02 December 13 16:42 GMT (UK)
The threepenny bit was my one-way bus fare to school if the weather was so awful it meant I couldn't walk the mile and a half uphill - funny but I cannot ever remember going by bus!
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: candleflame on Monday 02 December 13 20:27 GMT (UK)
The threepenny bit was my pocket money for many years.
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: deeiluka on Monday 02 December 13 22:19 GMT (UK)
I didn't get pocket money from my parents, but the threepenny bit was what I earnt from a neighbour every Monday afternoon for going and fetching cats' meat from the local butcher.

First time I've thought of that for many a year.....it's amazing what memories this thread is dragging back!    :D    ;D
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 04 December 13 12:30 GMT (UK)
The threepenny bit was my one-way bus fare to school if the weather was so awful it meant I couldn't walk the mile and a half uphill - funny but I cannot ever remember going by bus!

Those were the days.... when kids walked to and from school and spent their bus fares...most would rather brave the weather with a bag of Midget gems...I was good at sharing...but only after I had picked out all the black ones  :D :D :D

Carol
Title: Re: Remember when again...
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 22 September 19 23:24 BST (UK)
I couldn't resist raising this post as my Granddaughter has asked me to make a list of the games that we played when we were young!!
I think it has something to do with the interest in "playing out".
I have really enjoyed reading through the posts all over again...six years later  ;D
Thanks for the memories  ;D
Carol