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Original poster

What did you want when you were a child?

218 replies

Twigaletta · 15/09/2020 19:51

Inspired by an article I read about a benevolent boss giving every employee their childhood dream. What did you dream of owning/having as a child?

Mine would have been a swimming pool. There were neighbours whose pool I could see from my bedroom window and I was always envious of them having fun in it. We were NEVER invited to play in it. I still want a garden big enough to get one of those solid sided above ground pools with steps, filter, cover, chemicals etc. I bet it would be an absolute expensive pain in the bum. But for one glorious summer I would love it! What was your childhood fantasy item?

OP posts:
Miljea · 15/09/2020 22:18

@LongPauseNoAnswer

You don’t want a swimming pool. The upkeep is unreal. Faffing about with filters, chemicals and here in France you must have a cover for them. If someone breaks into your home and drowns in your pool you’re legally liable if it wasn’t covered. Confused

Another Mr. Frosty wanted here! I asked for one every year but for whatever reason never got one. I did hear they were crap so probably dodged a bullet Grin

We had a swimming pool in Queensland. Maybe that's the difference, as having one was really common, thus no end of pool-maintenance people and pool shops.

I did our maintenance and it was easy.

Regarding uninvited people drowning 😳 you had to have a 4' fence and locked gate, so if an illegal drowned in it, they'd've had to have made a real effort to enter, those bore a hefty slab of liability.

Sorry to derail, but, in the right climate, a pool is fantastic.

Littlepond · 15/09/2020 22:20

I wanted one of those things that look like Saturn - the bouncy ball with the plastic ring around it that you stand on and bounce. I can’t remember what they were called

Original poster
Twigaletta · 15/09/2020 22:21

@DipSwimSwoosh

OP we got one of those pools at the start of lockdown, second hand. It isn't expensive or hard to run. As a child I wanted exactly what I want now. Space. I shared a room until age 14 and hated it. Now my kids have a room each which I think is lovely for them. And I have to share with dh!
My garden is steeply sloped. With not a huge amount of room with the shed, trampoline and outdoor table/chairs. I dream of a flat garden!!
OP posts:
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 15/09/2020 22:21

Mr Frosty and the Playdoh Mop Stop Hair Shop

CorianderLord · 15/09/2020 22:23

A dog. Eventually got one at age 9 Grin

LesLavandes · 15/09/2020 22:26

I wanted to go on Blue Peter

Miljea · 15/09/2020 22:26

I wanted a dolls house. A wooden one (as that was all that was on offer in 1967). With a front that opened. And stairs.

Sigh.

I had a local friend a year younger than me, Lisa, and she had a toy farm. I had a big three wheeler bike which she loved. It even had its own metal boot, with a lid. I mean!

We swapped, I so wanted her wooden model farm. Complete with a selection of oddly scaled wooden and new fangled plastic animals.

Our parents couldn't grasp the finer points of capitalism among the 4-5 age range thus vetoed the transaction.

😤

RunningWaterfall · 15/09/2020 22:27

@Littlepond

I wanted one of those things that look like Saturn - the bouncy ball with the plastic ring around it that you stand on and bounce. I can’t remember what they were called
Lo-lo balls? I had one of those, amazed I didn’t injure myself!
BooFuckingHoo2 · 15/09/2020 22:27

I knew everyone would say Mr Frosty Grin

Lazt · 15/09/2020 22:28

Books Sad no library or school books available to me.

My children have loads, wonder why Grin

Megan2018 · 15/09/2020 22:28

A pony.
I got one eventually!

Ellmau · 15/09/2020 22:29

I wanted a dolls house.

Me too. And a balcony for my bedroom.

Shannith · 15/09/2020 22:29

A pony. A grey one or a chestnut Arab or a black stallion.

Decades and decades later I finally have an opinionated bay cob Smile

Original poster
Twigaletta · 15/09/2020 22:29

I was banned from having patent shoes because they'd wear out more quickly than normal leather. Except I've let my DDs have both and I would definitely say the patent last longer at £49.50 a time they better bloody had do

Those magic key shoes. Oh the envy! And the diamond in the sole!

OP posts:
Shannith · 15/09/2020 22:32

@Megan2018 worth the wait isn't it. Most days...

Doodar · 15/09/2020 22:34

I really wanted a Mr Frosty. Bought one for my niece and it was shite.

SingingSands · 15/09/2020 22:35

I remember really, really wanting to go on an aeroplane. We never went abroad when we were kids, our family holidays were spent in Scotland.

Well, when I was 10, we went to Ibiza! We had a 7hr delay flying out and when we finally stepped on to the plane I didn't like the smell (it smelt like school dinners) and thought it was dirty and rubbish. We had 2 weeks in Ibiza, it was too hot, my brother and I had to share a horrible dark little bedroom with no window that was as hot as hell, we missed our dog, my brother got knocked of some rocks by waves and badly lacerated his back and I nearly drowned in the hotel swimming pool.

That was our first and last family holiday abroad. 😂

YouJustDoYou · 15/09/2020 22:35

I dreamed of not being frightened all the time. That's all I wanted. Literally.

ilovebagpuss · 15/09/2020 22:36

I desperately wanted naturally curly hair 80’s Grin and suffered endless crap home perms.
I also wanted to live on a farm and have a horse and goats. We had a big garden and I remember begging for a pony.

skankingpiglet · 15/09/2020 22:39

A Lego pirate ship (black seas barracuda). I've spotted Lego currently has a pirate ship set that turns into an island. It looks amazing and I had been trying to think of a way to justify getting it into the house. Sadly DH will think I'm bonkers if I buy it for myself, and it is (for now, they are being trained up as quickly as possible) too advanced for my DCs to build.

ilovepixie · 15/09/2020 22:42

@missyB1

A doll called Pippa, she was a smaller version of Sindy. You could get a wardrobe for her with clothes. My mum said she couldn’t find her in the shops Hmm
I had a pippa doll. She looked like Ali MacGraw in Love Story. When Jenny dies in the film I cried for ages as I though it meant my doll was going to die!
ilovepixie · 15/09/2020 22:44

@Dontforgetyourbrolly

I desperately wanted to go on Jim'll Fix It. Fortunately for me that childhood wish was never granted!
Ooh me too. I wrote to him every week for years! Everyone takes the piss out of me now saying Jimmy Saville turned you down!
ilovepixie · 15/09/2020 22:50

The marketing guy for Mr Frosty must of been a genius as everyone wanted one!

Cam2020 · 15/09/2020 22:51

Mr Frosty.

A pair of Clarks shoes with the magical fairy key in the soles.

Princess Magic Step! I had those but I was very disappointed that the pavement didn't actually light up under my feet.

nevergoingoutagain · 15/09/2020 22:51

Erm....I wanted to be on jim'll fix it!! 😱