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Memorable childhood birthday presents?

(26 Posts)
Witzend Sat 13-Jul-24 10:38:17

An offshoot of my other thread!

The only memorable one I remember from my folks was a pogo stick.

Others were a goldfish bowl* with two goldfish from cousins - first pets I ever had - and a FF book - Five Go To Smugglers’ Top - enthralling!! - from a schoolfriend invited to my party.

The other was a teddy given by a granny on my first birthday, which I vividly remembered for a long time, because I was in the bath when she arrived and bestowed it.
*I very soon used my birthday money to upgrade them to a small tank, with gravel and plants. šŸ™‚

henetha Sat 13-Jul-24 10:40:25

I'm wearing on my wrist this morning a little silver watch that I was given for my tenth birthday. It still keeps perfect time after 76 years.

AskAlice Sat 13-Jul-24 10:43:44

A tortoise for my fifth birthday, which I chose from a selection in a cardboard box under the fruit and veg stall in our local market. She cost 2/6d in old money.

Memorable because I still have her after nearly 62 years!

aggie Sat 13-Jul-24 10:46:07

Not really a childhood present !
For my 21st my Aunt gave me a small fold up bookcase ! It held about half a dozen books , my course books were large and numerous !
I did thank her politely

Aldom Sat 13-Jul-24 10:55:14

AskAlice that is amazing. I would love to know more about your tortoise and how you have cared for it over so many years. Hibernation would be particularly interesting.
henetha how lovely to still be wearing your watch. smile

Aldom Sat 13-Jul-24 11:09:19

In my case, not a gift but a birthday card, which over seventy years on I still treasure.
The card was for my tenth birthday. It was signed by my daddy who was terminally ill at the time. He died six weeks later.

Romola Sat 13-Jul-24 11:27:14

My bicycle when I was 8. It was green and a Hercules. I loved it and was sad when I grew out of it. (My sister had it later.)
I fell in love with my current bike because it reminds me of Hercules. I got it through Gumtree when the local cycle repair shop said that my previous bike was worn out.

Shelflife Sat 13-Jul-24 11:28:20

AskAlice, how wonderful is that , never had a tortoise but they fascinate me. Your companion for 62 years - WOW!! Thanks for your post .

Athrawes Sat 13-Jul-24 11:32:34

It was my 3rd birthday and we'd just moved into a School House and the caretaker came along with a present for me - a teddy bear. I was thrilled to bits and from then on it went everywhere with me - and I've still got her [though I nearly lost her when I accidentally left her on the top front deck of a bus and I and my Nana ran down the hill we were plodding up back to the bus area and thankfully 'she' was still there!] I called her Mrs Tubby and she's kept that name ever since. She hasn't much fur left now and I must sew a new pad on her paw as the stuffing is beginning to ooze out somehow!

Summerfly Sat 13-Jul-24 11:37:44

The book Little Women, given to me one birthday by my godmother.

midgey Sat 13-Jul-24 11:41:51

My walking talking doll, mum made her a jumper and a kilt. I loved her dearly and called her Ruth.

Grandma70s Sat 13-Jul-24 11:49:14

A toy farmyard with all the animals and a milkmaid, from my grandfather. I think I was nine.

For my tenth birthday, a light brown leather shoulder bag from one of my aunts. She had made it herself in craft classes. It was my first proper bag.

teabagwoman Sat 13-Jul-24 12:20:29

My most exciting present, as a child, was a toy farmyard, made by my father, with all the animals and people. I loved it dearly. Not so exciting, but very memorable, where a two pairs of huge navy blue snickers from a great aunt. They came complete with pockets and ended up being used to make part of a costume for a Shakespeare play.

BigMamma Sat 13-Jul-24 12:27:58

When I was 11 years old I received a portable typewriter I had talked about. I became a shorthand/typist. I can still see, in my mind's eye, the moment I unwrapped my present. I felt so grown up.

Granmarderby10 Sat 13-Jul-24 12:44:56

7th birthday šŸŽ‚ first party at home with loads of school friends.

My Mum and older sister arranged it all, games and everything.

I’d been to others’ parties but wasn’t expecting this so it was a surprise.
We were all easily pleased in those days so cocktail sausages and cheese and pineapple with lashings of dandelion &burdock or cherry pop etc were where it was at with musical bumps, pass the parcel and a game called ā€œ Murder In The Darkā€ that my sister devised the others loved in.
It remains one my best memories. šŸ˜

aonk Sat 13-Jul-24 12:51:06

A dolls pram from my grandparents and a doll from my parents with clothes and blankets made by my mother for my 5th birthday. I have some wonderful pictures of me with the pram in our back garden.

MayBee70 Sat 13-Jul-24 12:56:36

A black bear that was in a local department store window in the run up to Christmas that miraculously appeared in my bedroom on Christmas Day. Sadly my mum got rid of all of my toys when I left home: even a photo I’d taken of all my teddies and dolls disappeared. I don’t think she ever realised what a wonderful childhood they’d given me considering how poor we were sad

shysal Sat 13-Jul-24 16:17:52

There was a meadow in our village, which flooded every winter, then froze. I was desperate for some ice skates and was delighted with the white booted ones which I was given in June for my birthday. I had a long wait before I could wear them, by which time my feet had grown. I managed to squeeze into them , but put up with pinched toes when I got around to skating.
I don't remember any other presents from my childhood.

MissInterpreted Sat 13-Jul-24 16:25:05

I can't really think of anything. I must have had a very boring childhood.

petra Sat 13-Jul-24 16:39:04

I don’t know if it was the MOBO roundabout or the roller skates with ball bearing wheels which my father brought back from America.
This is a MOBO roundabout.

crazyH Sat 13-Jul-24 16:45:18

I remember one particular birthday, my Mum got me a yellow seersucker dress, with a wide umbrella skirt, lined with ā€˜buckram’. I think there was always a ā€˜tea party’ for my friends.

watermeadow Sun 14-Jul-24 18:53:59

Another Mobo one. For my third birthday I got a Mobo horse. You pushed down on his stirrups and he lurched along. I loved him but at my birthday party I didn’t want anyone else to have a go, got told off and cried. I remember it so clearly.

flappergirl Sun 14-Jul-24 22:34:37

Aldom

In my case, not a gift but a birthday card, which over seventy years on I still treasure.
The card was for my tenth birthday. It was signed by my daddy who was terminally ill at the time. He died six weeks later.

Oh Aldom, that is truly precious.

Grammaretto Sun 14-Jul-24 22:48:07

Aldom flowers such a treasure

Keeping your tortoise for all these years AskAlice is amazing.

My DS and his DC have a tortoise 🐢 .
He gets put in the salad compartment of their fridge to hibernate. It seems to work well. He's about 6.

My most memorable birthday was my 9th. I had flu but the party wasn't cancelled so my big sister entertained my friends. Only one friend came to see me in my bed. I love her to this day!

keepingquiet Sun 14-Jul-24 23:07:44

We never really had them, but in August (on my birthday) my brothers used to go away to a camp for poor kids. One year they brought me back a Robin Hood doll. It was very cheap and broke after a couple of days but I still have the memory of how much my brother's loved me.