Childhood disappointments

Allira I remember Dick Barton, Dan Dare...pilot of the future, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Educating Archie, The Archers, when Dan and Dorris were still youngish. Also, The Man in Black, presented by Valentine Dyall.
I could go on, the radio was a vital form of entertainment when I was growing up.

Yes, the radio was our source of news and entertainment.
And the football results!

I was sent to stay with a friend whose parents lived in a Mansion Block type flat in London, it was just after Christmas and the flat had central heating, something I had never experienced, and the friend used to run around in her vest and pants! I think it must have unsettled me as I became very homesick, the mother spoke to my father who worked in London, and told me that he would call round to see me after work......he never turned up! I was so disappointed and deep down I don't think I ever forgave him, of course thinking about it she may not even have spoken to him and actually I got over being homesick and really enjoyed my three or four days in London!

As a child I was horse mad. I got a pair of jodhpurs from a jumble sale and would pretend my bike was a pony. We moved to the country when I was 11 and my dad promised me that I could have riding lessons. Eventually he took me to the local riding stables. I was so excited. He asked how much a session cost and was told 10 shillings. He said he couldn’t afford it so that was that.

ViceVersa and Nanna8💐.

Not me but my youngest DD. She was so excited to start school and had heard so much about it from her (4 years) older sister. I picked her up after her first morning and she didn’t look happy. When I asked what was wrong she said “we didn’t do PE and I can’t read!!”.

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!

Another boots disappointment here. They were to be my birthday present when I was eleven in 1970. I tried on the most gorgeous pair, shiny black, 2" heel, black Criss cross laces through silver eyelets, I adored them. My mother didn't like the heel, so I got brown, furry lined, waterproof plastic, flat as a pancake heels, ugly things from M&S. Great birthday present. For Christmas that year I got a brown umbrella as my only present 🤣.

I never had a bicycle but dreamt I had one once and was so disappointed to rush downstairs and look out the garden and realise it was only a dream.

Vintagegirl that's so awful 😖 .
I was a mean parent as we always seemed to be poor and I had 4 DC. My older sons were uncomplaining but one time their DGM came to stay and took them shopping. They saw trainers in a shoe shop and granny asked them if they'd like a pair? I have never seen such sheer delight in those boys' eyes when they came home with their new snazzy trainers.

My childhood disappointment was not being allowed a pair of roller skates. My parents said that the paths in our garden were not suitable for roller skates.

Even to a child of six this was patently a fib - we had one path that was crazy paving, one that was asphalted, and a tiled square that measure about 4" x 6"

I was not even allowed to borrow a friend's roller skates and skate in the park.

My childhood disappointment was when I was six years old. It was after I had surgery. The Consultant said that I’d been so good and asked what I’d most like him to give me. “A pony, please”, I replied. With that, he sat down and drew a picture of a pony and gave it to me! 😂 To be fair, it was a very good drawing! 🐎

When I was about 4 I heard about Premium Bonds and decided I must have one, I nagged my parents for one for weeks even though my mum told me they weren’t interesting and that I wouldn’t be able to do anything with one. Eventually my dad came home with one - Oh the disappointment! I thought they were called Premium Wands and that they would look like a fairies wand!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.