Throwback Thursday #11 – Toys and Pastimes

Maggie, who alternates with Lauren, is our hostess for the Throwback Thursday series.
You can find out more here

This week’s prompt is: Toys and Pastimes

I suppose I was luckier than a lot of kids as I had quite a few dollies, a dolls pram, and a three wheeler bicycle. I also had a toy piano (only the white keys worked) which I am ashamed to say I defaced with my name using a pair of compasses and always regretted it.
I’d always wanted a Bride Doll and Bro and his first wife bought me one. It was so lovely, I didn’t play with it, but she sat on my dressing table in all her finery.
My favourite toy was my teddy bear. He was my best friend and a keeper of all my secrets.
He was not my first bear though, as that was stolen off my pram when I was a few weeks old. Poor bear, he had an identity crisis for years as he wore a purple net petticoat tutu, though was no ballerina! I call him Grandad now as he was the oldest bear in our Hug, sadly most of which were given to charity in 2014 when we downsized and ended up on the boat.

The above are all that are left and Grandad is the one sporting the checkered pants as made for him by my great grandmother on one of her Summer visits. She made my sister and I dresses, and outfits for our dolls from the remnants. We had the best dressed dollies in the neighbourhood.
Hubby lovingly repaired Grandad’s paws and feet which you can read about here

I always wanted a typewriter and got very excited one Christmas when my present was the right shape. I was disappointed though as it was a piano accordion. I was musically minded and taught myself to play, and would often take it to school when we had music lessons. As I got older though I lost interest and concentrated on the piano, so asked my parents permission to sell it.

I did save my money for something special though, but it wasn’t a toy.  I was about 13 and my friend had had a new record player for her birthday. I asked my parents if I could have one too and my Dad said I could have anything I wanted, provided I saved for it. So I did.
It cost me £17/10s and I’d paid off so much a week until it was paid for, then brought it home on the bus. We didn’t have the right fuse though, so I had to wait until the following day when Dad could get one for me. I started buying a lot of records after that.