Childhood disappointments

Roy Rogers was my heartthrob Grannylynj.

I was in love with the Lone Ranger

I was twelve when my school organised a trip to the Festival of Britain. My aunt/ guardian wouldn’t let me go. She was a mean spirited person. Then my adult cousin was going and said he would take me. Again NO. I was one of the few that didn’t go. The ones that didn’t go were mainly going later with parents.The aunt in question was - I found out - not a blood relation. That was much later. My father and grandfather were different people. Naughty ,y Mum and Grandma.

I loved The Bobsey Twins books. I had the annual one Christmas and read every one of their books in my local library. My brother had a Davey Crockett hat. It had a tail down the back. Think it might have been modeled on a racoon! Even though in our 70's now, we can still sing the theme tune. Also, the first line if Champion the Wonder Horse - but that's for another thread. TV tunes we remember!

My parents and brother were my biggest childhood disappointments.
Two aggressive bullies and a narcissist.

My DH had a similar childhood ilovedragonflies.
Like yours some childhoods were and still are so tough. It is so sad.

When I was young we were dirt poor. Dad had died. Mum bought me a pair of shoes for school that were flat and had pointy fronts, nothing like the shoes the other kids wore and, of course, the other girls looked down their noses at them/me. I hated those shoes on sight, they pinched my feet, but I wore them nonetheless because mum had bought them. When they fell apart and I outgrew them (oh, happy day!) mum said she'd get me some new ones. I have no idea why she didn't take me to the shops (and didn't query it) but she came home with the exact same shoes in a bigger size.

I sobbed. Mum was furious when I finally told her just how much I hated those shoes but the upside was that I was allowed to choose my own shoes after that.

Princess ( Alexandra ) doing a school visit, I truly expected to see a Tiaras and ballgowns and Cinderella style person arrive!

Oh so many memories of disappointments but happily for me I did get the white Lacey tights and black patent shoes mentioned up-thread. Lucky me I suppose I was “the baby”

Also I remember Mrs Dales Diary on the kitchen radio also Wagoners Walk!

I remember the Bobbsey twins books. I think they were Canadian. I enjoyed them. Books were my favourite present.

I was 4 or 5, living in Chester. TheQueen Mother came to visit - I was so excited, I'd never seen a real Queen before. We all went to see here, I've never been so disappointed, she looked like an ordinary lady - no crown, no flowing robes, not even wings!! I remembewr consoling myself that she must have had her crown folded in her handbag!!

I received a birthday present from my godmother when I was about 8.
My mum was as excited as I was to open the small box. "I wonder what she's sent you, they are very rich" said DM.
I opened the box and instead of the special gift I was suddenly hoping for, it was a cheap biro. "That's why they are rich", explained mum. "They are careful with money".

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.

I was around 10 years old and desperate for Sindy Horse for Christmas. The correct sized present appeared under the tree on Christmas morning and I spent all day eyeing it up (we didn't open our 'main' presents until after the Queen's speech).

It turned out to be a small suitcase, suitable for a school trip I was going on in the Spring.................

I remember thinking that marriage would be a fairy tale ending once I grew up and met Mr Right. Then I read my Mum's eggcup saucer: "It starts when you sink in his arms and ends with your arms in the sink!" It put me right off.

Allira

^*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!

Mrs Dale’s Diary was usually on the kitchen radio (sorry, wireless) when I came home from school.

I believe the music for Dick Barton was called The Devil’s Gallop. My brother was always glued to Dick Barton. I remember in one episode they drove twice round a roundabout to shake off a pursuer. We used to beg my father to do the same, and once, when no one else was around, he actually did!

This is off-topic really, but it’s so enjoyable to reminisce.

This is a nice thread. I have to admit I was expecting a bit of doom and gloom, but this has stayed rather lighthearted.

I didn't really have too many disappointments, but I do remember a man coming to our house with an accordion: I guess he was promoting music lessons. After testing myself and my sister, it was deemed that she didn't have much natural ability, but I had potential. It was discussed at dinnertime that it wouldn't be fair for one and not the other to have lessons, so neither of us ever did! I' not sure if my sister remembers this, and how this must have impacted her confidence.

So no lessons for us, but to be honest, I don't think I really have any natural ability. The recorder lessons in elementary school told the tale!

As a small child, I always wanted a pair of white lacy tights and black patent leather shoes, which were all the rage for little girls to wear for parties in the early seventies. I never had them. I expect they were too expensive and my mother told me that once patent leather was scuffed the shoes were ruined. I understood, of course, but have treated myself to several pairs of patent leather shoes once I was able to buy them for myself.

My mother booked "Breakfast with Santa" in a local hotel for me and my mother, and my best friend and her mother, when we were five. We were terribly excited and didn't know how on earth my mother had managed to arrange for Santa to have breakfast with just us, when so many children must have wanted exactly the same thing!
When we arrived at the hotel restaurant, I remember becoming speechless with shock and feeling more than a bit let down when I saw how crowded it was with other children and grown ups. Santa was even seated on a separate table, a long way from us! My friend must have felt the same, but strangely, although we remained friends for many years, we never discussed our disappointment.

I was so disappointed that my Mum couldn’t be the queen despite the fact that she had a similar hairstyle and had bought a new winter coat.

Reading (and chuckling) at these, but also thinking how sad that so many of us were disappointed with presents.

Boots and bicycles particularly.

We weren’t wrong to want fancy ones, but parents were being practical and probably wanting best value for their money.,,

But oh, the disappointment we still feel so many years later.

😥

I noticed but didn’t want to correct, but yes it was the wild frontier, I am humming the song now. How do I remember something from nearly 70 years ago yet forget what I did the other day.

SPARKLY 1000 - just have to say it was Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. 🥴

Ferry 23 What a cruel thing to happen to a child.

When some of my friends joined the Brownies I asked my Mum & Dad if I could join. My Mum duly took me along to the church hall, I was so excited.

We started the joining process and they asked my Mum which church we attended. She explained we didn't go to church as we were Jewish and the lady then said I couldn't join if we weren't C of E.

I was dreadfully upset and my Mum & Dad were too.

A lesson for real life unfortunately.

Gogo84

Old Radio shows have been mentioned but not Toytown with Larry the lamb. ( Mr Maaaaayor!) I used to have to keep turning the Radio off when listening to " Journey into Space". It was so frightening. My chilhood disappointment was not hearing my letter being read out on the Children's Hour programme Nature Parliament, and being told about it by a friend!

Journey into Space is regularly on Radio 4 Extra now.