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Things you remember from your mum's handbag?

108 replies

TitaniasAss · 16/04/2022 13:29

From when you were little?

I remember her purse, she always had the same leather purse since I could remember til when she died (when I was in early 40s)

Sweets in case anyone needed a wee treat

A tissue with lipstick on it where she'd blotted her lipstick

Half a million pens

Her lucky charm

SO many receipts

Loads of other random nonsense.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 16/04/2022 13:32

A lipstick 💄 She always had a bright red or pink lipstick.

CaptainMyCaptain · 16/04/2022 13:36

Mascara in a block with a brush that you had to wet first. People used to use spit!

SmolCat · 16/04/2022 13:37

This thread reminds me of the Ruth Fainlight poem.

Things you remember from your mum's handbag?
Comedycook · 16/04/2022 13:39

Chequebook
Cigarettes
Lighter
Lancome lipstick

TheChurchOfEli · 16/04/2022 13:39

A Stanley knife.

Boring though, worked in a factory and used it to open boxes quickly. I told her I didn’t think it should be in her handbag though 🙈

MyGirlDaisy · 16/04/2022 13:41

Cotton Hanky, Lipstick, Purse with a clasp at the top and it always smelt of Yardley Bond Street perfume.

Scarby9 · 16/04/2022 13:46

My mum's handbag had everything. For her, the whole family and anyone passing who needed anything. As well as the usual purse, lipstick, house keys etc, other random items included:

  • small screwdriver
  • tape measure
  • sewing kit
  • box of matches
  • plasters
  • Savlon
  • notebook
-secateurs
  • everybody's passports and tickets when we went abroad
It weighed a ton.
Squiff70 · 16/04/2022 13:53

@Scarby9

My mum's handbag had everything. For her, the whole family and anyone passing who needed anything. As well as the usual purse, lipstick, house keys etc, other random items included:
  • small screwdriver
  • tape measure
  • sewing kit
  • box of matches
  • plasters
  • Savlon
  • notebook
-secateurs
  • everybody's passports and tickets when we went abroad
It weighed a ton.
Your post made me smile so much. That's more or less exactly what my mum lugs around to the present day. One thing not on your list though is what my mum affectionately calls her 'brain'. It's a notebook full of curtain measurements and othersuch mumstuff that she wouldn't possibly be able to remember so has to write it down Smile
Scarby9 · 16/04/2022 14:03

Oh yes, @Squiff70!
Not called the brain in our case, but various backs of Christmas cards with useful info on eg.

  • the name of their every day crockery (out of production) with a list of what needed replacing, in case there was any in a second hand shop
  • dimensions of alcoves in case a great bit of furniture appeared in a sale room
  • possible present ideas for friends and relations
lollipoprainbow · 16/04/2022 14:09

Bright pink Lipstick, hankie, extra strong mints !

2ButteredOvarysPlease · 16/04/2022 14:14

Pan drops . Atrixo handcream . In love perfume. Can smell them all now.

DFOD · 16/04/2022 14:15

Heated rollers and their pins. She was always running late - left her heated rollers in when driving and took them out just before she arrived at work / night out - put them in her bag.

BlossomWood · 16/04/2022 14:18

She always kept a broach in her purse. It was of a kiwi bird made out of paua. I've now got that in my jewellery box.
Also her fags and many lighters

blackberriesaretheonlyfruit · 16/04/2022 14:20

Those tubs of Avon scented cream. Moonwind and Tempest and a blue comb.

SalterScales · 16/04/2022 14:25

I can remember the smell of it more than what was in it, it smelled of make up if that makes sense, particularly a foundation she used to use. Slightly reminiscent of roses and if I ever catch a whiff of that type of smell it takes me right back.

Letsnotargue · 16/04/2022 14:25

Dentene chewing gum. Ex-lax laxatives, explained as sweets only for grown ups. How I wanted those sweets!

Sparklingbrook · 16/04/2022 14:25

Powder compact with mirror and lipstick.

Bedsheets4knickers · 16/04/2022 14:28

Bingo Dabbers

Gonegrey31 · 16/04/2022 14:28

Cyclax lipsticks
Hair pins
Cotton hanky
Kid gloves

WellTidy · 16/04/2022 14:28

My mum has a small flat hard plastic case with a sliding lid that has individual compartments for nine paracetamol in a 3 x 3 formation. It is at least 45 years old, probably more.

Probably not needed now as paracetamol comes in blister packs, but it would have been really useful to carry some around when they only came in bottles.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 16/04/2022 14:28

Plastic rain hood in a bag.

FreezyFreezy · 16/04/2022 14:29

Fags or baccy, lighters, rolling tin

Purse

Cheque book and cashing-in book

Pen

Wet wipes and tissues

Her bag was massive and always full but no idea what else filled it

As a child I used to imagine my adult handbag and the stuff I'd put in it.

Dora26 · 16/04/2022 14:33

Max Factor compact - still smells the same and transports me back!

Blert · 16/04/2022 14:33

Smelling salts (what even were smelling salts?)

Bright red lipstick. She never wore any make up other than lipstick, which absolutely had to be worn if going out.

Handkerchiefs.

Book of telephone numbers and a pocket diary. Change for the phone (phone boxes).

Holidaypls2022 · 16/04/2022 14:36

My mum was a teacher from the early 80s on, and always had bits of chalk in her handbag, and polo's.