To wonder what things you miss about your childhood?

[nurserywindow]

I miss old fashioned libraries where everyone had to speak quietly and there was no running around. Nowadays my local library is like a crèche and the elderly people who used to go in there to read the paper and keep warm just don't bother.

I also miss old fashioned Sundays with church bells ringing, and roast dinners, and no one playing out because it was family day, and cheese and toast beside the fire before watching the big Sunday drama.

Just wondering what other OPs remember and regret no longer exist regarding their childhood?

My grandparents.

I'd spend summers with them. I miss being at their home, waking up very early when it was still dark, listening to the beautiful dawn chorus start and grow and feeling safe and warm. Knowing that I'd spend all day with them, playing in the sun and my gran's picnic lunches. That feeling in those moments as I lay awake of hope and contentment.

I miss having 2 months summer holidays as standard, 3 at secondary level [Ireland]

I could cope with a bizzilion days off a year so long as no-one slashed my salary

I remember having to do our homework in the library cos that's where the books for study were, and my elder sister actually complaining to librarian cos I was making too
Much noise and librarian coming over and " ssshiing " in my face , I was probably about ten.

I miss jumble sales and garde fetes where the book stalls were full of old treasures: Chalet School books from the 30s and 40s, battered copies of Enid Blyton books with really old fashioned covers, Angela Brazil stories, old wartime editions of Beano etc. Nowadays you have to go online and pay a fortune for stuff like that.

The freedom of playing out, getting dirty and laughing a lot. Mostly I miss my big sister but I have some wonderful happy memories that we shared during our childhood.

I miss my Grandma. I wish I had spent more time with her and not let a feud between her and my parents drive a wedge between us.

I miss living in Germany. It was nice being a child there in the seventies and eighties, they're very child orientated, or were then at least, plus it snowed heavily every single year but summers were always glorious.

Summers with endless sunny days and winters with biting cold and lots of snow. Playing out in the street with friends, buying 4 chews for an old penny in the sweet shop, two weeks holiday in Devon, first week with grandparents, second with parents. We went by train both directions which were steam in those days. Burying my face in my Godmother's fur coat, smelling of face powder and perfume (although I loathe and abhor fur coats). My Dad buying our first car, an Austin A30 - it was the fourth car in the road.

There was still rationing when I was young and when that stopped I remember we all went mad for bananas and other fruits which we had never had before. Christmas when my Mum and her 5 brothers and sisters took it in turns to host for 3 days. I had 15 cousins and we all slept on the floor, played lots of party games, card games, babycham and lots of laughs.

I really miss looking forward to Christmas.

I didn't have the easiest of childhoods, but Christmas was always spent with extended family, everyone was happy and got along, lots of food. Lovely.

I do like Christmas now ( and it's all about my own two DC of course) but that feeling, that feeling I still so vividly recall, I so miss that.

I miss Saturday nights in with the family, renting a film from Blockbuster or watching Noel's House Party and Blind Date. On weeknights my parents would put VH1 on and we'd watch music videos from my parents era. Billy Idol, Abba, Pet Shop Boys, David Bowie. I loved music, still do, and I put it down to my parents surrounding me with loads of music when I was growing up.

We didn't have a set bedtime so we'd watch Bottom and Hale & Pace as well.

I miss the summer holidays. Playing out all day every day. Watching cartoons in my pyjamas then going to the local play centre until the afternoon. Then playing at my friends' houses after. Or playing out on the green. Making up dance routines.

I miss the excitement of Christmas. I still love Christmas, buy it's not the same feeling anymore. I get excited about cooking and making it fun for DS. But I miss the excitement I had as a child. The build up to Christmas from the end of November, when school starts talking about it and you spend the end of term colouring in Christmas pictures and making paper chain decorations. Then finishing school for the Christmas holidays and being so excited.

I miss loads of what people have mentioned and often think about those little things which I can do for my own DC to make them have the same warm memories when they grow up.

I miss the smell of imperial leather soap and my mum's hairspray, and I really miss my dad's laugh, he sounded like Sid James, I am sure I was embarrassed at the time, but would love to hear him laughing now.
To everyone who misses someone

Pottering around in the road on bikes with friends and being called in for supper by mum.

Pottering in the garden while Dad dug his veg.

Having all my meals provided! oh what a joy that would be.

The utter thrill of holidays (a week in a static caravan in Snowdonia, doesn't seem much now but it was THE utmost to me!)

I just remember being very very happy as a youngster.

Bit bored as a teenager though (rural area), retreated into my own world a bit.

One thing I loved was the "postbox" that went out in the entrance foyer at my school during the festive season. You put your cards in in the morning and then the teacher gave them out at afternoon registration.

Oh that was exciting!

I miss being allowed to stay up late on a Friday and Saturday night, falling asleep on the sofa and waking up in my own bed. My dad must have carried me up every time!

We had a beach hut when we were kids,we'd spend all summer down the beach, we left to our own devices while the adults talked and had a few drinks. I loved those summers, sand castles, body boarding, crab hunting, cricket when the tide went out. Going to bed while it was still light, smelling of shampoo, sea water, talcum powder and fresh pj's .

That exciting moment when your mum packed away your winter clothes, got out your shorts and short sleeved dresses to check which ones still fitted, and bought you a pair of sandals. And you knew that Summer had arrived!

I miss wondering what would happen to me as an adult. Dreams were big and the sky was the limit.

Taping the Top 40, then having a bath listening to Annie Nightingale with a paraffin heater in the bath room. Avon Soft Pink bubble bath (still use it now)
I miss the security of having adults around to look after me. I hate being the responsible one

The EastEnders omnibus on a Sunday after eating Sunday lunch.

I don't miss chilblains and verrucas.

Taping Top 40 on a Sunday night
Radio 1 roadshow in the summer holidays
Going out on my bike all day with my friends
Going on the beach all day with my friends
Endless sunny days
Playing the Phoenix game at the arcades on a Saturday afternoon.

I miss all the mammies walking their kids to school. There would be throngs of mammies and kids walking together and the mammies would always be having a natter. Now, lots of the mammies are working and everyone drives. It's very impersonal.

The freedom of childhood summers. Freedom to play outside all day long and only come home when we were called in for meals (or if we were hungry).

Watching the same TV programmes as everyone else because there were much fewer TV channels and no way of recording programmes. You had to wait a whole week to find out what happened next. Box sets have made things too easy. Want to find out what happens next? Just watch the next episode.

Seeing the school Christmas tree all lit up during assembly. It was always a surprise....we never knew when it would go up...one morning it would just be there. I even remember individual decorations on it...it was a real tree and had loads of gorgeous old decorations which must have been brought in by various teachers over the school's hundred odd year history. It was magical singing Christmassy songs and looking at it...even the smell of cabbage didn't detract.

Playing out ALL day and only coming home when your Mum called you for dinner. My DDs are the only chn that play outside on bikes etc, where have all the children gone? I know they live in this road!!!

Matey bubblebath, power cuts with candles, Top of The Pops, taping the top 40, Newsround, Swapshop, YES I WAS BORN IN THE 70s!

One thing I loved was the "postbox" that went out in the entrance foyer at my school during the festive season. You put your cards in in the morning and then the teacher gave them out at afternoon registration

A million times yes to this one!

I miss trips to the beach in the summer holidays and spending all the 2ps we'd saved up. And my mum!