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Childhood disappointments

(114 Posts)
sparkly1000 Tue 22-Apr-25 16:55:18

I would have been about 5 years old, Grandma had just got a telly, Davey Crockett was my hero, King of the First Frontier,

Mum took me to a circus featuring him. Big disappointment?

Dave had no front ear, just a nose in the front of his face.

Allira Thu 01-May-25 18:39:53

I disliked our bottle green blazers but the gym slips were navy, at least, although they were awful, unflattering garments.

Maggiemaybe Thu 01-May-25 18:10:15

I’d have loved the dark green uniform. Ours was also navy with a pale blue blouse. Very boring.

silverlining48 Thu 01-May-25 17:43:14

I prefer the sound of navy. Always smart. Yellow and green doesn’t do it for me, but the grey and maize yellow at my sec mod in 1959, was very trendy. still is. Pity I only had part of the uniform . Mow that was disappointing. As well as failing my 11 plus of course grin

JamesandJon33 Thu 01-May-25 17:14:22

1954 and I was due to go to grammar school. Wonderful uniform. A dark green, box pleated gymslop, with a woven yellow and green belt. Loved it. We moved . The uniform at the new grammar school was navy. I was so disappointed

Magenta8 Thu 01-May-25 16:52:41

I desperately wanted a pair of proper levi jeans. I pestered my mother and she said she would get some for my birthday.

Come the day and I unwrapped my present excitedly only to find a baggy pair of elastic waisted trousers in thin, blue denim that looked pyjama trousers. My aunt had very kindly run them up for me on her Singer sewing machine.

I see the funny side of it now but at the time........

silverlining48 Thu 01-May-25 11:40:30

On thinking about it I didn’t really like them because they tasted ‘odd’ but there was littke in the way of snacks in those far off days.

silverlining48 Thu 01-May-25 11:37:47

Grammaretto You got 15 bob to work a morning ? I had to do a whole day 8.30 - 5.30 for that when I started full time work in 1963.
I can remember ski yoghurt! It was new to us . I worked in the Strand and used to buy one for my lunch from a shop opposite. Coukdnt afford any bread smile

Grammaretto Tue 29-Apr-25 21:08:27

My first pay packet 15/- , - I worked in the invoice office at Peter Jones in Sloane Square on Saturday mornings from age 15 for about a year- was spent immediately at the new supermarket in the King's Road. (Safeway? Gardeners?) 1962
I was starving and bought ski yoghurt with that real fruit, and granary bread. It probably cost me half my wage.

elleks Tue 29-Apr-25 20:41:20

Maggiemaybe

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. envy

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

The first yogurt I ever had was hazelnut flavour, and smelled like sick, Put me off yogurt for years.

watermeadow Tue 29-Apr-25 16:19:33

I was frequently disappointed by not getting exactly what I wanted. Perhaps my parents couldn’t get what I had specified but it seemed they didn’t think it mattered if my name tapes had full name on instead of initials, if my pencil box was green (I hated green), if my homemade uniform was different from everyone else’s.
I wasn’t a greedy child, just very fussy!

Esmay Tue 29-Apr-25 07:25:43

I learnt to ride on an incredible horse -a beautiful dapple grey stallion .
I was eight years old and he was 18.2 hands high .
In those days because I did so much ballet my core and sense of balance were excellent .He was such a joy to ride-so quiet and gentle .

When we returned to London I was so excited about going to the local riding school.
Then I was acutely disappointed with my ride .
The poor old boy was very old and really needed to retire.
His mouth was hard and it was difficult to control him .
He basically just followed at the back of the line snatching grass whenever he could.
When we galloped I could hardly get a canter out of him .
Later I was entrusted with riding the thoroughbred livery horses - both beautiful but not a patch on the stallion .
I'd take apples for my old pony -food was the only thing that stimulated him .

Allira Sat 26-Apr-25 20:03:07

Oh dear, did you tell him Rudolph accidentally knocked all the batteries off the sleigh?

Supernana1 Sat 26-Apr-25 18:24:25

My 53 year old son claims to be still traumatised because at age 7 Santa brought him he fire engine he wanted - without any batteries!

Christmas time back then all shops were closed.

He still blames me..............oh dear.

Kate1949 Sat 26-Apr-25 16:00:31

Thank you. Unfortunately it was just one of many childhood traumas.

Aldom Sat 26-Apr-25 15:43:54

Kate flowers that was beyond cruel. So sorry this happened to you.

Toetoe Sat 26-Apr-25 15:37:02

Age about 3 remember feeling I had been born into a fairy land and this land was full of beauty and love . I was so excited to be here . I longed to grow big to experience this glorious fairy world . It was a crushing blow as I did grow big to watch and hear unpleasant things around me . Always a highly sensitive child and young woman I've smiled back at the child I was and why would I have believed I had come into a world of fantasy . Sadly it's always been a disapointment.

Kate1949 Sat 26-Apr-25 14:59:08

They were indeed.

Grammaretto Sat 26-Apr-25 14:53:59

That's awful Kate!. What cruel thoughtless people.

Kate1949 Sat 26-Apr-25 14:40:24

Where to start! One occasion was a promised trip to the pantomime. We never had holidays or days out. I was so envious of children who went on trips to the pantomime with their dads' work, especially since they told me they were all given a box of chocolates.

When I was about 10, a friend was going on such a trip and told me I could go along. I was thrilled. We got on the coach and some of the parents who realised they were one seat short. My friend's mum pointed at me and said 'You'll have to get off. You're not part of this group.'. They put me off, in the dark, alone and I had to find my own way home.

SusieB50 Sat 26-Apr-25 14:16:07

One Christmas,I was about 10 and I received six different manicure sets from various relatives. I remember being really upset and my parents took me out after Christmas to buy some “Chalet school” books as compensation.
Also remember listening to Mrs Dale’s diary on the wireless in my darkened bedroom when I had measles quite badly and wasn’t allowed to read ..

Aldom Sat 26-Apr-25 12:56:32

A family friend returned from a long trip abroad. He brought my mother a beautiful Snowstorm from Genoa. My young twin brothers recieved Davy Crocket outfits. I was given a black board and easel!! I was ten years old!! My disappointment was beyond words. Especially when our friend said he almost bought me a life size (American) walking, talking doll, but he thought I was too old for a doll.

TattyBluebell Sat 26-Apr-25 07:51:13

boheminan

For my 10th birthday I wanted a bike, more than 'wanted', I was desperate for a 'Pink Witch' bike, which were the rage at the time. I was duly given an obviously very much used black bike, I still remember the disappointment.

I feel your pain. I desperately wanted a BMX bike for so long. My parents wouldn't let me because they "were for boys".
I should be grateful, I know, but I ended up being bought a blue shopper type bike. 😞😞
I treated it like I would have done with a BMX, rode it on the track and did stunts on it. Needless to say it didn't last very long!

sazz1 Sat 26-Apr-25 01:19:07

Some of my friends at school were saying how nice yoghurt was and I'd never had it. I asked my granny if she could buy it for me. It tasted terrible and sour, as it was plain yoghurt not the nice fruit ones that she bought.

Macadia Fri 25-Apr-25 20:12:20

Whingey

How many ears has Dr Spock got? 3 the right ear the left ear and the final front ear

Funny !

(but dont get Dr. Spock and Mr. Spock mixed up).

sparkly1000 Fri 25-Apr-25 19:54:49

I was about 4 years old, I always looked forward to Thursday nights when my weekly babysitter Elaine would come to sit for my parents weekly night out.
Imagine my excitement when I was told that Elaine was bringing her boyfriend a “Teddy Boy” with her.

I spent ages watching and waiting at the window for Elaine and her Teddy Boy.

What a disappointment when this greasy, spotty lad in a long jacket and drainpipe trousers turned up.

He wasn’t all yellow and fluffy at all.