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Original poster

Random childhood stuff you have no explanation for.

307 replies

Wheelchairbarbie · 24/07/2026 18:15

This can be either something that a lot of us will remember like "where did white dog poo go", or something specific that happened that you can't explain.

Maybe we can also all explain each others wired stuff!

I'll start. How come most people I know remember that now and then a random dog would get into the school playground and just run around and everyone would get excited and run to the windows? Where did these random dogs come from, were there just more strays back then?

My kids haven't experienced this at all.

OP posts:
PrayForPlagues · 26/07/2026 15:14

Cobrakainerd · 24/07/2026 20:10

The number plates thing, on journeys as a kid we looked for number plates that could spell words, either accurate or with a big of imagination, probably to stop the 'how much longer ' whines lol

My husband and I still do this 🤣 we don’t even have kids 🤣

JennyChawleigh · 26/07/2026 15:10

Possiblyfamous · 25/07/2026 17:34

In primary school we would sit in a group of about six girls around a friend who was laying on the grass - we’d each repeat several phrases such as ‘ we’re in a cave ‘ and then we could pick this person up using one hand each ? As I’m writing this it doesn’t seem feasible but I’m sure it was a phase for a while in playgrounds .

We did this (late 1960s) but the chant was something like "this is the art of levitation and the ring of magic must not be broken".

Mariettta · 26/07/2026 15:01

A tramp called Mr Eagle used to come to our house about once a month in the early 60s. My mum gave him a hot meal which he ate on our front step and some bread and cheese to take away. My mum inherited him from the previous occupants of the house. He didn't take the piss and come too often. He had a round.

JesseDavisGonnaHangOnInThereNSoul · 26/07/2026 14:51

Floatlikeafeather2 · 26/07/2026 14:45

Not really. There was no one around to pick up their poo so that was everywhere, and, if you're scared of dogs, or even just wary of them, it's really not nice to see a whole pack of them coming towards you. I used to have to take so many detours when I was a kid.
Also, dog packs are not necessarily happy little gangs. There was fighting and there was always the poor underdog.

Show quote history

The packs of roaming dogs is probably where I picked up my fear of dogs as a kid

Move22 · 26/07/2026 14:50

MyThreeWords · 24/07/2026 19:32

Collecting number plates.

When my mum wanted us out of her hair she would suggest we went out into the front garden and wrote down the number plates of passing cars. As if this had any interest or value whatsoever.

And we did it, And it was kind of almost just about fun.

We did this too! Had big lists of number plates! Why?!!

ilovepixie · 26/07/2026 14:48

MyThreeWords · 25/07/2026 17:28

We used to enjoy falling all over the place on the back seat too, @asparagusheaven .

I also remember my dad steering with his knees whenever he wanted to light a cigarette (which was frequently, as he was a 60-a-day man). If my mum was in the car too, he would get her to steer.

I used to steer for my Dad when he was lighting up!

ilovepixie · 26/07/2026 14:46

Aliceinwonderland75 · 25/07/2026 17:29

We used to count the number of new cars on new car day.
Always a competition as to who spots the sea first. We still do that now, even though we're in our 50's.
Counting the number of Xmas trees we could see in lounge windows, when they first start going up.

We use to shout I see the sea, and the sea sees me!

Floatlikeafeather2 · 26/07/2026 14:45

Kate8889 · 26/07/2026 09:04

That's so wholesome

Show quote history

Not really. There was no one around to pick up their poo so that was everywhere, and, if you're scared of dogs, or even just wary of them, it's really not nice to see a whole pack of them coming towards you. I used to have to take so many detours when I was a kid.
Also, dog packs are not necessarily happy little gangs. There was fighting and there was always the poor underdog.

JesseDavisGonnaHangOnInThereNSoul · 26/07/2026 14:38

The wee cards with the shiny surface and the image would appear to move when you moved the card
No idea what they were called or what they were in to obtain them.
70s kid.

Allseeingallknowing · 26/07/2026 14:30

Blavk · 26/07/2026 08:05

My mother used to buy me these transfer type things, you’d have a flat scene that would fold open like a book and a page of little sticker type things that you’d have to use a coin to rub over where you wanted to place the sticker. I remember always asking for one when she went to town. I’d either have one of those or one of the ‘Read it Yourself’ books.

Remember magic painting books where you wet a brush with water, and when you started painting, colours would mysteriously appear?

Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 26/07/2026 14:08

BigWig78 · 26/07/2026 09:29

My friend had a similar thing where her dad “took the hamster to heaven” (ie went to the tip probably) and when he came home he brought them a chippy tea. So after that she always imagined heaven was at the chip shop… fair I reckon.

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A less morbid version of that story is that I once brought home doughnuts from work when my son was about 3. He decided people get doughnuts when they go to work and kept acting out a game where he would put on a tie and a back pack, often with wellies because that what you wear to work apparently, then do a couple of laps of the garden, come in and sigh "long day, but here's the doughnuts!!" And hand out imaginary doughnuts 💕

OP posts:
Silverbirchleaf · 26/07/2026 12:32

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 26/07/2026 09:12

I still do this now…it’s like a compulsion that I cannot stop rather than something I actively enjoy!

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Me too.

dancehysterical22 · 26/07/2026 10:38

DobbyTheHouseElk · 24/07/2026 20:02

Definitely. We used to try to be the first to spot a new plate. D deg car whoop.

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P reg was the first one I remember! And that there was no Q plate, went straight to R. Exciting times!

DopeyS · 26/07/2026 09:34

Wheelchairbarbie · 25/07/2026 11:29

You need to tell your kids they are wrong 😆
It's "mini punch" not "yellow punch"
You punch your sibling when you see a mini

Show quote history

We used to do mini and yellow car. Was looking at a picture of me on a summer holiday with a friend when I was 16/17 and I've got a massive bruise on my arm from the game

BigWig78 · 26/07/2026 09:29

DancingonmyOwn88 · 26/07/2026 07:44

We had one!

When our pet rabbit died, my dad wrapped him in newspaper and put him on the coal bunker awaiting burial. I was about 3.5, and my mum said he’d gone to heaven. But I could see his little foot sticking out from his shroud on the coal bunker.

For a long time, I thought going to heaven meant you’d be going to a coal bunker. I couldn’t understand why Sunday school made such a big deal about heaven when it was just a coal bunker.

Edited
Show quote history

My friend had a similar thing where her dad “took the hamster to heaven” (ie went to the tip probably) and when he came home he brought them a chippy tea. So after that she always imagined heaven was at the chip shop… fair I reckon.

the80sweregreat · 26/07/2026 09:24

I did the car number plate spotting too. Many years ago the new plates came out around the beginning of August and I’d look out for them. My dad didn’t have a car or drive , but he seemed to like me pointing out other people’s new cars whilst we waited for public transport! It was a big thing back then for the showrooms to sell the latest cars and a race for people to have the first ones on the road!

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 26/07/2026 09:12

DobbyTheHouseElk · 24/07/2026 20:02

Definitely. We used to try to be the first to spot a new plate. D deg car whoop.

Show quote history

I still do this now…it’s like a compulsion that I cannot stop rather than something I actively enjoy!

WonderfulSmith · 26/07/2026 09:10

Ifeeltheneedtheneedforcoffee · 25/07/2026 20:08

Does anyone remember going to school or seeing children in school with cotton wool in one ear with something medical on it. I presume for an ear infection.
You dont see that now.
Or dettol baths when you had scraped your knees badly after falling off your bike

And you don’t see men with little bits of toilet paper stuck to their chins where they cut themselves shaving.

Kate8889 · 26/07/2026 09:04

SadiraOfTyr · 24/07/2026 19:14

Up until at least the early 80s dogs were left to roam during the day, in the same way that cats still are today. They would often congregate in packs, go to the park, and then head home for their supper.

That's so wholesome

Jannie62 · 26/07/2026 09:02

Blavk · 26/07/2026 08:05

My mother used to buy me these transfer type things, you’d have a flat scene that would fold open like a book and a page of little sticker type things that you’d have to use a coin to rub over where you wanted to place the sticker. I remember always asking for one when she went to town. I’d either have one of those or one of the ‘Read it Yourself’ books.

I absolutely loved those transfer thingys! Also the books with a cardboard printed doll. You had to cut out paper clothes shapes, with tabs on to bend over and hang different outfits over her shoulders.

Jannie62 · 26/07/2026 08:55

There is a photo in our family album of 2 of my sisters at a Pontins Holiday Park, early 1970’s. They were aged about 6 and 7, and were pictured standing mere inches away from a fully grown chimpanzee! I think it was wearing a collar and lead, but nevertheless! (They did look a bit scared, tbf!)

Blavk · 26/07/2026 08:05

My mother used to buy me these transfer type things, you’d have a flat scene that would fold open like a book and a page of little sticker type things that you’d have to use a coin to rub over where you wanted to place the sticker. I remember always asking for one when she went to town. I’d either have one of those or one of the ‘Read it Yourself’ books.

lovepets · 26/07/2026 08:05

@Wheelchairbarbiemy kids always thumped at yellow cars. My daughter and her fiancé still do it. My kids used to really thump each other hard, so I remember it usually being followed by ‘Mum!! Tell him/her!!’😂

CrowsInMyGarden · 26/07/2026 08:05

@TheCandidPoetOr getting “a leg and a wing to see the king” one person at each hand and foot and being swung

KimonoQueen · 26/07/2026 08:03

@CeliaCanth ours was

All in together girls
Never mind the weather girls
When is your birthday
Please jump in
January, February etc

And youd jump in your birthday month. And end up with every one jumping by December.

Also
One girl starts jumping
'Mothers in the kitchen doing a bit of stitching. In comes a burglar '(new girl in) 'and out goes she' (Original girl out)

Im sure the chants all had the same basic tune...