remembering childhood

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Remembering Childhood // Pondering Parenthood

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Jules from Pondering Parenthood.

Which decade were you born in?

1980s

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

I think my earliest memory is my aunt and uncle’s wedding. I was five, and wore a peach dress with puffy sleeves and loose ribbons, borrowed from a friend. My only memory of the day is my gran being helped down some steps to a car; I think I was worried she would fall. I vaguely remember a conga line from the reception too! 

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

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- Sarah 2 Comments

Remembering Childhood // Mummy To My Cheeky Little Monkey

We’ve had a bit of a break over Christmas but I’m back with another Remembering Childhood post.This week it’s the turn of Vicki from Mummy to My Cheeky Little Monkey

Which decade were you born in?

I was born in the mid eighties – 1985 to be exact!

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

I can remember looking out of my great aunt’s bedroom window at the crane ‘Big Geordie’ on the opencast mining.

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

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- Sarah 1 Comment

Remembering Childhood // A mother’s ramblings

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Pippa from A Mother’s Ramblings.

Which decade were you born in?

I was born in the 1970’s, just, but it was a great decade to be born in!

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

My earliest memory that I can date is actually the morning of my fifth birthday. I got a fishing rod and my Dad took me fishing at this beautiful spot. The sunlight dappled over the water and the grass blew lightly in the breeze. It was absolutely perfect and I even caught a fish! It was so amazing and then we went home to my birthday party, but I never went fishing again… Apparently five year olds talk too much for successful fishing trips!

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

At 5 I loved my playdoh, I would constantly make little cakes and treats and put them in what I pretended was my display window (it was my wardrobe). The hours spent playing with the playdoh was some of the best time I’ve ever spent! At ten my favourite toy was probably my bike. I used to ride around the estate I lived on  making a map of the alleyways that connected all the houses. I really loved being on my own!

Saying that, I also loved my Sindy’s and Sindy house at both ages. I had a four storey house and it had it’s own light system which I used as a nightlight! I still have it now in my loft and get it down every so often to play with it with my children.
a-mothers-ramblings-age-10
Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

Yes, I have a cuddly toy Bambi. He was given to my at my First Christmas by my Dad, when I was seven months old and he still has pride of place on my bed. My husband has learnt to love him too! I really wish I’d kept my Dusty Bin from a year or two later because he was wicked!

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

I loved Bros. I had a giant poster on the wall, which used to freak my Grandparents out when they stayed in my room, as it looked like two men were breaking into my bedroom to kill them. I’m ashamed/pleased to say however that I didn’t really do “pop music”, I was more a listen to classical music and the classics… My parents had me listening to Simon and Garfunkel, Abba, Dean Martin, Dolly Parton and other Country and Western performers. Honestly it’s probably why I can sing almost anything from memory!

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

I LOVED The Pink Windmill, it was my most favourite show. I also liked cartoons like The Flintstones and Dungeons and Dragons. I remember watching Knightrider and Blind Date reguarly too! My children still think it is amazing that we didn’t have 24 hour children’s TV available to us.

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

The first film I remember seeing is a rerun of Disney’s Robin Hood. I remember coming out of the cinema and it being dark and thinking I was really grown up. It was probably only about 5 pm however! I wish that Disney would re-release some more old movies at the Cinema, I’d love to see some more on the big screen.

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?
Why would you bring that up?! I had a black and fluorescent pink ensemble that I purchased from a car boot in the 80’s. I’m sure I thought I was absolutely beautiful but looking back now I hold my head in my hands! I also let my Mum talk me into having a perm when I was about 13. I had curly hair, but it was quite frizzy with a natural wave and curls and so the thinking was a perm would help my hair.
My hair was not helped. Instead I had tight corkscrew curls and my hair has been super curly ever since! The of course there was the time I accidentally dyed my hair bright yellow…
a-mothers-ramblings-age-13
What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a Teacher. I still do, but I’ve realised that I only like a few children and could never be a full time teacher! I also wanted to be an actor, but I wasn’t good enough.

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?
I would go back to any age if I’m honest, and I didn’t have to stay there but when I was 13 I was doing something quite amazing. I was in the West End Production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat as part of the children’s choir and I would love to relive all that again. I was hanging out at the Palladium theatre, talking with grown ups who were doing a job I wanted to do (acting) and being treated as a grown up. If I was going back to change things however I’d be seven and instead of vowing that my new school would never change my messy handwriting, I’d work hard… maybe that would have made a difference to my GCSE results!
Thank you for sharing your childhood memories Pippa – how exciting that you were in Joseph! I would have loved that – I saw it nine times when I was a teenager!
If you enjoyed this post then please come back next week when another blogger will be Remembering Childhood.
- Sarah 1 Comment

Remembering Childhood // Dear Bear and Beany

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Laura from Dear Bear and Beany.

Which decade were you born in?

I was born in the 1970’s, the later part!

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

My earliest memory is when I was two years old at my birthday party and I ended up in tears. Turned out the next day I had chicken pox!

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?
My favourite toy when I was 5 years old was my Barbie and Ken dolls. I remember I had Crystal and she had this gorgeous white dress.
At ten years old my favourite toy was my fashion wheel. I used to spend hours making pictures with it. I can’t wait for my girls to be old enough and I can get it for them (me!).
Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

My parents still have my dolls pushchair and highchair, My girls love playing with them when they visit. It’s really strange to see them playing with my toys.

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

I loved (and still do) Take That. Robbie was my favourite and I was obsessed. My bedroom was covered in posters and I used to tape every single appearance they made on the TV.

My wonderful dad took me and my friend to their concert, he patiently waited outside for us.

What was your favourite TV show(s)?
Definitely Neighbours, every day my brother and I would watch it. For my honeymoon we went to Australia and did the Neighbours tour, it was brilliant going to Ramsey Street. Which in actual fact is called Pin Oak!
dear-bear-and-beany-at-ramsey-street
What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

I think it was 101 Dalmatians, the original one at a Saturday club they ran at the weekend. I still love this movie and have it on DVD, Alice loves it too.

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

I have lots of outfit memories I would rather forget. I had this bright red pixie boots, that I wore with everything. Even if they didn’t match my outfit, I would wear them!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be teacher and I used to play schools all day long. I had my own register and I would sit all my teddies in a circle as my pupils.

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?
Good Question! I would go back to being ten years old. Old enough to get to do lots of fun things, but still young enough to want a hug from my mum.
That time just before you start secondary school and you are opened up to a whole new world and it’s no longer cool to be seen with your parents.
Thanks Laura – it sounds like we had some very similar interests growing up, I loved Neighbours and Take That too. And I had some red pixie boots – I’d forgotten about those!
- Sarah 3 Comments

Remembering Childhood // Chocolate and Wine and I’ll be Fine

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Samantha from Chocolate and Wine and I’ll be Fine.

Which decade were you born in?

The 1980’s (1985 to be precise)! I am now in my 32nd year – scary stuff!

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

This is a tricky one – a lot of the memories I have I think I have because I have seen photos or home video that have triggered something. I would probably say that my earliest memory is of my auntie and uncle’s wedding. I was 2 (nearly 3), and a (very serious) bridesmaid/flower girl. I have watched the wedding video thousands of times so it may be that that has triggered the memories, but I do feel I remember the day in significant detail (more detail than shown on the video). I forgot to throw my confetti, I didn’t smile, my baby sister had to be taken out of the church, the line-up took FOREVER and I got so fed up of being kissed! It is still my favourite video to this day!

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

I don’t think I can actually remember. At 7 years old I got a doll (the boy version of “Tiny Tears” that I named Timmy) and that doll was my favourite thing in the world for many years (so much so that I have little recollection of any others). At 5 years old it was probably Cindy (no Barbie’s allowed in our house) or a My Little Pony?

At 10 years old it was still Timmy, but Winnie the Pooh had also joined the gang (see below).

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

I still have Timmy somewhere and all of his paraphernalia as I want to give him to my daughter in a year or two. She will probably hate him but never mind. I also have a Winnie the Pooh teddy that I have had since I was 9, and my children are starting to love him (I am not sure I approve of this).

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

A1 (ahem, moving on…)

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

As a teenager it was Funhouse. All I ever wanted to do was be a contestant. I also liked Get Your Own Back and Finder Keepers, and Round the Twist, and Byker Grove. I think I watched too much TV. When I was slightly younger I liked Bodger and Badger and Art Attack. I can’t remember much TV from before that as my mum was quite strict with screen time. Maybe that’s why I watched so much as a teenager!

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

The Rescuers Down Under. My sister cried the whole way through. I don’t remember much of it and have never seen it since. I remember it being quite sad!

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

Yes, many! Shell suits and knickerbockers (not together of course). Hair-wise, I had a pretty standard full on fringe and short bob until secondary school – it was terrifying. I am the one on the right in the picture.

chocolate-and-wine

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A mum. Literally, nothing else. This is still what I wanted at age 16 so I found choosing my A-levels and onward career rather difficult. I am very lucky that my dream came true (sorry, that’s a bit soppy).

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

Age 7. We lived in Germany (my dad was in the RAF) and it was the most amazing experience, and one that I still think about a lot. I loved my schools, the area we lived, the places we got to visit. And I had Timmy. And my parents still liked each other at that point (I think). I have a lot of happy memories from that age!

Thanks Samantha for sharing your childhood memories – I loved Round the Twist too, I bet I could still sing the whole theme tune! If you enjoyed this post then do come back next week when another blogger will be remembering their childhood.

- Sarah 1 Comment

Remembering Childhood // Bell and Bear

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s the turn of Bell and Bear.

remembering-childhood-logo

Which decade were you born in?

I was born in the 80’s (1983)

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

My earliest memory is lying on a hospital bed with a broken leg I must have been about 4 years old.

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

Sylvanian families when I was five and Barbies at ten.

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

I have a doll which was my mum’s and is now mine but I will be passing it down to Bell when she is older.

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

Spice Girls and Take That.

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

Rosie and Jim, Raggy dolls and Blossom.

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

I can’t remember the name, but I know it was a Disney film as everyone was excited we were seeing a film by Disney.

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

Myself, my cousin and a family friend all had the same bomber jackets which were all the rage!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to work with children.

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

I would actually pay more attention in school if I could go back in time.

 

Thank you for sharing your memories – I think it’s lovely that you have a doll to pass down through the generations.

If you enjoyed this post please do come back next week when another blogger will be remembering their childhood.

- Sarah Leave a comment

Remembering Childhood // Mum’s The Nerd

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Karina from Mum’s The Nerd.

Which decade were you born in?

I’m an 80s child.

Mum's the Nerd

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

I think I was 2, maybe 3 on my first family holiday abroad.

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

At 5 years old I had a rubber hand puppet of Ducky from The Land Before Time, I took her everywhere with me. At 10 years old, I was very much in to roller discos so adored my roller skates, they had different coloured wheels, I thought I was amazing.

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

I still have my GameBoy.

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

Nirvana, I was your typical angsty teen.

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

As a child I was obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thundercats and Captain Planet. As a teen it was Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

Home Alone, I was 5.

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

In my teenage years it was all about the overly baggy jeans and excessive eyeliner.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I spent a large part of my childhood wanting to be a vet (or a ninja turtle).

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

I’d like to revisit my teenage years, I had a lot of awkward teenage moments so I think I could do a lot better a second time around.

 

Thanks for sharing your memories Karina – I love that furry hat, very 80s!! Do come back next week when another blogger will be remembering their childhood.

- Sarah 1 Comment

Remembering Childhood // Five Little Doves

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Laura from Five Little Doves.           .

Which decade were you born in?

1980s

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

My earliest memory is being three years old with my leg in a cast. I had broken my ankle and had to stay at my Nan’s house while my mum took my brother to school. When she came back she had bought me a Fabuland toy to cheer me up!

Five Little Doves

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

At five it was a soft toy, a monkey who I called “Little Professor Monkey”. He went EVERYWHERE with me! At 10 it was a Cabbage Patch Kid, she talked and drank from a cup and I had never seen anything like it. She came with a birth certificate and her name was Anastasia Octavia. I always pledged to name my first daughter after her, obviously I never did!

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

I have most of them in the attic at my parents’! We brought a few here for the girls, my Barbies and Sindys and some My Little Ponies. They love them just as much as I did! I also have Little Professor Monkey in my bedside drawer, he is so worn and grubby but too precious to ever throw away!

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

Take That! I used to pretend that I fancied Mark like all of my friends did where as really I liked Howard the best!

Laura from Five Little Doves in Guides

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

Captain Planet! I LOVED that programme and knew all of the words to the theme tune, I still do!

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

The Addams Family. I went aged ten with a friend and her Mum sneaked us both in a bag of Maltesers.

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

Far too many! I had a really dodgy layered look in my last year of primary school before getting the frizziest perm when I went to high school. My dodgiest look was when I discovered sun-in and Wella colour mousse, the two combined resulted in a horrific two tone look – as seen in the photo below! My outfit choices were no better, not to mention the discovery of bronzing pearls and Heather shimmer lipstick! I look back now and cringe at how awful I looked, at the time I thought it was amazing!

Laura with two tone hair

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher, probably because I loved bossing people about!

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

I would go back to being four and starting primary school, so I could remember that time a little clearer and be able to help my daughter who is really struggling to settle into her first year of school. I loved school, definitely some of the best years of my life, and I wish I could help her to realise that there is so much more to come.

 

Thanks to Laura for sharing her memories – I think every girl in my school probably had bronzing pearls and Heather shimmer lipstick!

If you’ve enjoyed this post please do come back next week when another blogger will be Remembering Childhood.

- Sarah 1 Comment

Remembering Childhood // Arthur Wears

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Sarah from Arthur Wears.

sarah-arthur-wears

Which decade were you born in?

The 80’s! (Cue the rest of today spent singing “I’ve got love for you if you were born in the 80’s…”)

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

When I was a toddler (pre nursery) I used to have breath holding attacks if I got upset and my parents would bring me round by putting my head under a tap of cold water. I didn’t know about this until I was older and it made one of my earliest memories make much more sense: I remember walking towards our dog, Tilly, who was lying down in the garden. I decided to close my eyes as I was walking and see whether I would walk into her or miss her. The next thing I could feel was my eyes were closed and I couldn’t open them. I could feel myself being carried and tried to cry but wasn’t able to. I could hear voices saying my name but I couldn’t see them…..I now know that our dog had snapped at me which resulted in a breath holding attack!

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

At 5 years old I was a real girly girl, I loved pink and my favourite toy was a Barbie doll. I was desperate for the ‘Barbie makeup counter’ – I never got it. To this day I still think about how much fun it would have been to play with and I’m convinced this is why I am so obsessed with makeup and have a such a massive stash! At 10 I had a Girls World – basically the head of a doll that you could put makeup on, style her hair and make parts of her blonde hair pink/lilac. I’ve had pink/lilac streaks in my own hair numerous times over the years and again, I’m pretty convinced I can trace this back!

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

My dad threw away most of my belongings when he split up with my mum, but I did manage to salvage a box of Barbie dolls which I have recently given Arthur to play with (promise this was for his benefit and not mine lol!)

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

My tastes really changed during my teenage years I started out as a young teenager loving Peter Andre just because I fancied him! By the time I was 15/16 I’d discovered a band called Haven who sung a song with lyrics “and believe me now I’ll only lie to you” which at that age I thought was ironic and clever. When I was 18/19 I’d discovered Tori Amos at university, mainly her song “Sorta Fairytale” and it’s still one of my favourites now!

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

Saved by the Bell and California Dreams. I used to tape the songs from California dreams and can still reel some of them off now…wish I knew where that tape was!!

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

Now this is a hard one. I have a vague memory of seeing a cartoon when I was very young – possibly Lady and the Tramp… Apart from that it was Mickey Blue Eyes when I was 14 and was allowed to go without my parents!

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

Oh yes!! When I was 12 my Aunty took me shopping for my birthday and I was allowed to choose whatever I wanted as an outfit (this had never happened to me before!) I picked a short  and stretchy bodycon dress which was lime green at the top (no sleeves) and black on the (very tight) skirt with a silver chain across it. I’d also chosen some bright blue wedge shoes. I planned to wear them to the school disco but my mum and dad were so furious with the outfit they made me wear cycling shorts underneath. I remember the teachers at the disco looking at me disapprovingly and the other kids laughing at my shorts/skirt combo so I hid in the corner all night lol!!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child, I loved my reception teacher and always wanted to be a teacher just like her. I didn’t start out in my career like that, but I did go back and retrain as a primary teacher after the 2008 recession and specialised in Early Years, securing a job teaching Reception so I guess you could say my dream kind of came true! I’ve recently got in touch with my old teacher on Facebook and I loved being able to tell her I was a teacher too – she was my idol.

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

Infant school – before the hormones kicked in, before adults worried about boys and girls being good friends, before exams, before responsibility, when looking forward to being a ‘grown up’ seemed like the best thing in the world and everything was so carefree. Oh and I had lots of friends. And of course that amazing teacher….those are the times I wanted to create for my own class when I was teaching and the kind of life I try to create for Arthur now. Fun, playful, exciting and happy.

 

Big thanks to Sarah for sharing her childhood memories – I always wanted a Girls World but was never allowed one!

Please do come back next week when another blogger will be Remembering Childhood

- Sarah 1 Comment

Remembering Childhood // Candyfloss & Dreams

It’s that time of week when another blogger is going to be sharing their childhood memories. This week it’s Kat from Candyfloss & Dreams.

kat-candyfloss-dreams

Which decade were you born in?

1980’s

What is your earliest memory? How old were you?

I think part of this is because I was told about it but also I have flashes in my mind when I remember it. I think I was around two and a half, we were on holiday in Ibiza and went to the beach. My memory is of toddling off. I have flashes of being toddler height and climbing some steps before a lady I didn’t know picked me up. My mum’s version is me running away from the beach and her thinking I’d drowned in the sea. Oops.

One I remember more clearly was asking for a bouncy carpet because I kept falling out of bed.

What was your favourite toy at 5 years old? At 10?

At five it must have been books. At ten I had a PlayStation and spent hours on Spyro the Dragon.

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

No I don’t which is a shame. I wish I had kept some of my favourite books. They’re all really expensive now and hard to find!

Who was your favourite pop group/artist as a teenager?

Taking Back Sunday were (still are) a favourite of mine when I was around 15. Green Day were the first band I saw at 13 with my dad.

What was your favourite TV show(s)?

I loved Pokemon and Digimon – total nerd. But before that The Demon Headmaster, The Queen’s Nose and Blind Date kept me happy. I had a time in secondary school where I obsessively watched Neighbours and Home and Away too.

What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

Oh gosh, I think it was 101 Dalmations.

Do you have any dodgy haircut/ outfit memories that you’d rather forget?

90’s kids’ fashion wasn’t really on trend to be honest. My mum insisted I had a bob cut all through school until I got to Year Six when I stopped letting her and stood my ground. I had hardly any hair until I was about five, so that was a bad stage for me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

First an astronaut and then a journalist.

If you could go back to being a child again what age would you choose and why?

I don’t think I would go back to be honest. I wouldn’t want to experience some things again but I think the memories I have have made me who I am. But I would love to get inside my daughter’s brain. At six, she is fascinating and it would be awesome to remember how and why she thinks and says the stuff she does!

 

Thanks Kat for remembering your childhood – a PlayStation at 10 though, you’re making me feel old!

Please do come back next week when another blogger will be sharing their childhood memories.