Here are my answers to this week’s questions from pensitivity10

1. Regardless of whether you had them or not, can you remember three popular toys from when you were a child?

Tinkertoy, Meccano and Walkie-talkie dolls come to mind.

I remember that the ultimate toy for girls was a ‘walkie-talkie’ doll. For boys – Dinkie cars were the rage. My brother had many and when he deigned to play with my sister and me he shared them out equally – one for sister 1, one for brother, one for sister 2 one for brother, one for sister 1, one for brother, and so on. We could not figure out how he ended up with more! He was the smart one in the family!

In 1959, I was six years old but was quite unaware of the launch of Barbie! She became a thing when I was in my teens and my younger cousin had an array of Barbies. My sister and I would go and play with her so that we had an excuse to play with dolls which, of course, we had outgrown years before!

2. Did you ever want something specific as a child, but never had it?

We did not grow up with many toys but in retrospect, I realise what an awesome childhood I had. More than games and toys we had freedom, a mountain, and a beach. There were a few things I really wanted and in the end, I usually got them. When I was twelve I begged for a tiny transistor radio and my dad got it for me for my thirteenth birthday. It was my prized possession for many years.

3. Do you still have any toys or games from your childhood?

I don’t. The baby dolls that my sister and I received when our baby brother was born were with us until we were adults but I have no idea what happened to them.

My sister-in-law keeps a suitcase full of her children’s toys (they are in their 40s and 50s now). Her grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews love playing with them now.

My child adored Barbies and for a few years running, she asked for the latest one for each birthday until she was 11. I tried to persuade her not to get one for her 11th birthday as she was already losing interest in childish things. But she insisted that she would play with it until she was sixteen. Of course, I gave in and it was indeed the last one she requested. I kept many of the toys but when we packed up our family home of over 40 years I donated them all to good homes. My cousin, I think, still has hers and I believe they are worth quite a lot of money!

When my daughter was nine years we visited my brother in London. He bought her a Padding Bear. She is now in her forties and still has that bear.

4.  I think I’ve asked this before, but what was your favourite toy as a child?

In photos of myself as a very young child, I am holding a teddy bear so I guess that was my favourite. As a primary school child, I loved playing with cut-out dolls. My needs were simple! I was a bookworm and if I was not outside riding bikes or playing on the beach, I would be curled up with Enid Blyton.

Gratitude:
Memories are with us forever. May the good ones far outnumber those not so good.

For many years I have kept a journal and it is full of all the good and all the bad times. The good times certainly outnumber the bad, and for this, I am eternally grateful.