Childhood disappointments

When I was about 7, my mum’s best friend had a daughter I was made to play with, although I couldn’t stand her. (I’ll call her Fran). Mum was an excellent knitter and, at the request of her friend, knitted a jumper for Fran, in a beautiful soft pale green Angora wool. I thought it was beautiful and begged her to knit me one as well.
She did, in grey!!
Every year, I stayed with my grandparents in Wales for the whole Summer. I was so happy there. One year, around that same time as the jumper episode, my mother told me that Fran wasn’t able to have a holiday this year as her parents couldn’t afford it, so she would be spending the holiday with me in Wales. I sobbed and begged but to no avail!
The whole 7 week holiday!
And we had to share a double bed, so she kept kicking me.
And she snored!
Near the end of the holiday, Fran’s parents took her to Ireland as they had suddenly found the funds. They didn’t invite me! (Even my mother thought that was a bit out of order, even though I wouldn’t have wanted any more time with her and wouldn’t have gone in any case). So she got an extra holiday after ruining mine! Uncharitable it may be, but I absolutely loathed her after that and refused to play with her. Uncharacteristically, I made a dreadful scene when another holiday with Fran was mentioned, (even throwing up), so much so that my parents saw sense in the end and gave up.
Over the years, I bumped into Fran now and again, but could barely be civil! The poor girl had no idea why, just as I hadn’t appreciated at the time that none of the holiday fiascos were her fault!

Popeye on tv ate spinach and became very strong so we couldn't wait to try a tin. (My parents did grow veg but not spinach.) Eventually my mother got a tin of this wonderful stuff but, yuk, it was sloppy, sour tasting mush. And the little bit my sister and brother and I tasted didn't make us super strong. Disappointing!

Teetime, I had a similar disappointment with boots.

In the mid 60s I asked for a pair of trendy boots ie knee length, preferably black patent 'leather' and a Cuban heel.

I got ankle length, brown lace ups - not the same at all.

Oh yes Pixie boots with a heel. Like my best friend had. I got flat brown leather boots with fur inside. When I think back to them now they were probably really nice. And warm. I would like them now at 76, but not at 13.
And the Pink Witch. I wanted one too so much. I think they were made by Raleigh. I will Google it and remind myself. At 11 I got a BSA bike in red and blue. Maybe not even new. But I eventually did love it and spent many hours cycling everywhere. I don't think I would want it now, unlike my boots, our roads are too busy, but I have cast envious looks at a tricycle ridden locally!!

Being 4, going to Buckingham Palace and being so disappointed that it was not a picture book castle.

My disappointment was when I was around 5 yrs old on our annual family holiday at my maternal grandparents farm in Ireland. I saw my grandpa getting on his big black bike carrying a shiny metal bucket.

As he was cycling away I asked where he was going. He told me he was going for a bucket of ice cream. I sat myself on the wall and waited in anticipation for him to come back. The farmhouse had no running water never mind a fridge and I quickly worked out that when grandpa returned with the bucket of ice cream we’d have to eat it all straight away before it melted. I was so excited .

About 20 mins later I could see him in the distance cycling back with one hand on the handlebars and the other dangling by his side clutching a very heavy looking bucket.

I was so disappointed when he arrived with a bucket of water. He’d cycled to the spring well a mile away for fresh drinking water 😆

I was always a great reader and there was something about diamonds in a book. I said to my mother One day when I am rich I will buy you a diamond mummy. She said she already had a diamond in her engagement ring in fact 3 in a row. Oh could I see them. She showed them to me and how disappointed I was. I was sure that diamonds would be all sorts of bright colours , like the smarties were. These little things looked nothing like my ideas at all . I still am not impressed with diamonds and would prefer an emerald or opals !

I was told I would get a scooter for Christmas but when I actually got it it was a small dark green wooden thing with wonky wheels that never scooted along properly. Sometimes my aunties would give me money for birthdays and I stashed it away to save it. When I went to get it it was gone- my Mum had taken it. She had no concept that I was upset whatsoever. I learnt to live with that kind of thing but left home asap.

Your icecream story grannynannywanny reminded me of when we first arrived in the UK from NZ.

It was mid winter here and we were living in a freezing cold B&B.
Breakfast was thin porridge and watery milk, so watery that my sister and I spied on the landlady to see when she filled the milk jug with water!

We didn't catch her and our mum explained that London milk wasn't like our NZ milk, creamy and rich from the cow. 😔

I’d be around 8 when Ski yoghurts appeared in our local Co-op. After much ardent begging from me, my mother gave in and bought me one. Well, it was foul. A horribly sickly thick pink strawberry crust with the sourest yoghurt underneath. And because I’d been warned of course that I wouldn’t like it and it was expensive, apparently, I’d to force it down, pretending to enjoy it.

Another letdown was when the beautifully wrapped Easter chocolates I’d saved for last turned out to be bath cubes.

Grannybags

Not me but my son when he was about 7. I was surprised when he was suddenly desperate to go to church (we’re not a religious family) He was so disappointed when he couldn’t see the bells ringing in the roof!

We saw the same disappointment in our nearly three year old grandson a couple of weeks ago. He always commented on the bell ringing each Saturday at the village church opposite our house , so we popped into the church while the ringers were practising. He too was clearly disappointed that the bells were not visible.

If fact, almost next door to the church is the village hall, which was the village school in times gone by. The old bell that would once have rung out at the start of each schoolday is still there, clearly visible, and I suspect that despite my explanations, DGS thinks that is somehow involved in the ringing.

Primrose53

I was about 9. It was nearing Christmas and my Aunt in Scotland had sent my Xmas present which was under the tree. It was obviously a large book and, as I was a great reader, I was very excited.

Turned out to be a Helen Shapiro Annual. I had never heard of her and was very disappointed.

Well they didn’t know it was 🎶 The End Of The World 🎶 did they?😅

I can’t have been more than 3, probably still only 2, but I still remember the shattering disappointment after managing to get behind our big old fashioned ‘wireless’, to see the little people who were talking!*
Just a lot of wires and a little light bulb or two. 😟

*Probably Mrs Dale’s Diary! Who else remembers that?

Witzend I remember Mrs. Dale's Diary. When, as a young married woman, I went to live in the Netherlands I used to listen to the programme. It was comforting, a reminder of home. Sadly for me, after a few months the programme was discontinued. Oddly enough, for many years I've been 'Mother-in-law' to Dr. Jim.

I was about 3 and we were living in Clapham. The twin girls next door were going out (presumably onto the common) to pick up wood - I suppose for an open fire. I went with them and helped to pick up some of the wood. I was so disappointed when they disappeared into their house with the bucket of wood, including my contribution!

I'm one of three sisters. As a child, I would have loved to have dancing lessons, go to gymnastics, learn a musical instrument, join clubs, everything and anything. My dad always said, "If we can't afford for all three of you to do it, then none of you can do it." So none of us ever did anything. Hey ho.....

I don't know how old I was but I badgered my mother to buy me 'glo globs' as advertised on tv. On the ad they made all sorts of wonderful and scary ghosts and things which shone in different colours in the dark - after being exposed to light. Well, I couldn't mould the stuff into anything very exciting, and when I hung them up in the cupboard under the stairs they didn't excite or scare anybody, including me.

About two years ago my three sons were at my home, one of them said "We had a wonderful childhood here in Conwy, free as a bird to do all we wanted" What more would one want to hear from one's children? They are aged 55,57,59.

*Probably Mrs Dale’s Diary! Who else remembers that?

I remember Mrs Dale's Diary.

How many remember Dick Barton, Special Agent? My DB loved it and I used to call him when the music came on although I was only about two. Just hearing the name reminds me of the exciting music!

I really really wanted a Petite typewriter for Christmas in a light bluey green colour.
Instead my dad, who worked for Nat West Bank, bought very cheaply, one of their old office Olivetti typewriters they were getting rid of and I woke up Christmas morning to that.
Oh, the disappointment - and some of the keys stuck.

I was about 5 years old and every year my aunt sent a parcel from Australia with Christmas presents for every one. That particular year she sent me a night light in the shape of a koala, but as it had a different type of plug and the only way to rewire it would have meant destroying the lamp I never got to see it lit up. Everyone else got things they could use. Still disappointed 60 years later.

Cateq

I was about 5 years old and every year my aunt sent a parcel from Australia with Christmas presents for every one. That particular year she sent me a night light in the shape of a koala, but as it had a different type of plug and the only way to rewire it would have meant destroying the lamp I never got to see it lit up. Everyone else got things they could use. Still disappointed 60 years later.

Have you still got it? You could use it with an adapter.

I wish I still had some of my childhood toys, my mother was a declutterer.

Aged about 14 1965, I desperately wanted a red parka type jacket.
My best frend had one as did several girls at my school they were all the rage.
Mum said she would buy me one ,I was so excited.

Raced home from school hurriedly opened the bag only to find a yellow windcheater, oh the disappointment.

Gloria Hunniford told how as a child she was staring at a neighbours face. She said "where is your other face? Mummy said you're two faced". Try talking your way out of that.
My own example is singing a hymn where Jesus would wash away my sins. I thought sins was short for cinders and wondered why anyone would get covered in cinders and need them washed away.

Going to a birthday party, late fifties... Promised a tambourine to take home.
Alas, it was a tangerine. What a let down!