Orna-mental

Not toys at all - but all the more appealing for that. 

Delicate little creatures of glass or wood, brought to life in my imagination. 

They've survived in pretty good condition, all things considered. 

Photo Album

Significant not because of the retro status of photo albums these days, but because of its design - that particular 70s or 80s style of illustration-for-girls that strikes such a familiar chord for me... 

Ummm... Yes, well...

I studied Japanese in high school and although I didn't take part in a school trip to Japan, I gave a friend some money and asked her to bring me back some souvenirs. 

This was one of the things she brought back. It's a fairly innocuous, cutesy-bordering-on-twee, little thing, whose main purpose is to hang around and look cute. 

And hang around it did. 

I had no idea what the Japanese words on the removable wooden card say, although I think "Genki" in the thought bubble means 'healthy'. 

I never noticed it at the time, but if you remove the wooden card, you get ... 

This:

Yes. 

Yes, I know. 

Healthy is one word for it.

The Doll that was Bigger than Me

This is a doll that is taller than a 3-year-old. 

She used to have her own special dress, but it's gotten a little worse for wear over the years. 

As a kid, I couldn't wait until I grew taller than her. I'm pretty sure I gloated the day it finally happened. The doll didn't seem too fussed about it though. 

Classic 80s English Comics

From the 1980s and the absolute golden age of these comics. 

The Beano, featuring Dennis the Menace and Gnasher (or, as I used to pronounce it, Guh-nasher), the Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, Billy Whizz and all the other classic regulars. 

Then we had The Dandy, with Desperate Dan and Korky the Cat. 

Good old Beezer, with Ginger, The Numbskulls and others:

And of course Buster, with X-Ray Specs, Ivor Lott and Tony Broke, and others

Not forgetting Whizzer and Chips, The Topper and others:

Three decades old and as beloved as ever!

In a Previous Life, it was a Hair Bauble

This little plastic flower used to be a hair bauble - a girly, decorative ornament in plastic attached to the elastic band that ties the hair back. 

I had many of these in all sorts of designs over the years - and I've just realised that I managed to lose many over the years too. 

But I saved this one after the elastic broke because I liked it so much. I thought of it as being the colour of pineapple in the sun - albeit translucent. And shaped like a flower too - so pretty!

It now sits as a bracelet on one of my doll's arms. 

Pencil Case

The most beautiful (and elaborate) pencil case I'd ever seen. 

I was used to the single, clip-open style. To have one with such a pretty drawing (I didn't learn about the manga style of drawing unil the 90s), with its cute little extra pocket was awesome. 

To have an extra whole case to open on the obverse side was just special:

What the photos don't show is the little pièce de résistance - a little timer with pink sand. It got detached by a curious member of the next generation. 

Not in bad nick for something from the mid-80s!

British Airways Stewardess

This was probably intended as a collectible rather than a toy, but she took part in my childhood games and was the closest thing I had to a Barbie-type doll (ie, adult-type doll). 

The doll itself is in pretty good condition, although the box has definitely seen better days!

The Colour Kittens Golden Book

I still remember how much I loved and re-read this book. 

The kittens go through many experiments trying to mix paints to make the colour green, and discover other lovely colours along the way. 

I think this is the book where I learnt which colour combos produce which colours. 

Simple and beloved little book!

Indian Sculpture

Less of a sculpture and more of a mold, I grew up with two of these. They would usually face each other serenely across a crowded bookcase shelf. 

I knew better than to play with these, and I admired them tremendously and at a safe distance. 

Beautiful detail. 

Daisy Duck Sharpener

Good ole Daisy Duck! You gotta put her on a pedestal. 

Or, in this case, a pencil sharpener. 

A beloved little piece of stationery this is too. 

Little treasures like these made a big difference in relieving the (sometimes sulky) tedium of going to school.

Boule et Bill albums

The Boule et Bill albums (or "BD" - Bandes Dessines - as the French call them), by Jean Roba and published by Dupuis, are the basis of some of my favourite childhood memories. 

Consisting of gentle, family-friendly-humoured, one-page comics in hardcover collections, they centre on the life and adventures of a boy, Boule, his dog, Bill, and his parents and friends. 

Sweet and gentle and they still please adults and kids. 

See what I mean?? You don't even have to read it to understand it.

There is a lovely tradition of beautifully-produced BDs in France, some in the vein of what now get called graphic novels, some aimed directly at kids (and their parents), and everything in between. Often hard cover and beautifully drawn.

I can't quite think of an English equivalent, but please let me know if I'm wrong!

A Dolly with Stories to Tell

This poor little doll has been through the wars. And it shows!

She was my favourite all-purpose doll. Her original dress is long-gone and I don't even remember what it looked like. 

One of the best things about her was that her limbs weren't connected via joints. Yes, her limbs had limited/no movement, but they also couldn't break or get detached.

She had golden curls once, but this quickly deteriorated into hardened, sandy frizz. 

I think I used to draw on her face - scribbles usually (don't ask me why), and with pens which washed off. Then one night, I grabbed a permanent marker (not realising it was permanent) and graffiti-ed her forehead in a few bold strokes. Poor dolly. That didn't come off for years after. Although you wouldn't know it now to look at her. 

On another occasion as a kid, after having to get some obligatory injection in the rear cheek, I went home and gave the doll her injection in her rear cheek too. The doll still has that little scar...

She's survived pretty well, when I think about it. 

Read it Yourself Books

Ladybird's Read it Yourself books - my earliest memories of learning to read were from these books!! 

I used to say "Read it Yourself" as though it was one word, and before I knew what it even meant. 

The oh-so-heart-quickeningly familiar inside cover:

One of the earliest ones I remember learning to read, with my mother helping me is The Elves and the Shoemaker. 

The Enormous Turnip is another book that brought me great joy. 

The thought of a dog, cat and mouse being called on to help pull the turnip out of the ground always made me laugh. 

It's interesting that the illustrations aren't the standard primary colours and single lines. Somehow, the illustrations used to contribute to the grown-up sensation of what reading was about. 

And it's another clue about my anthropomorphising of animals - see how happy the mouse in the middle of the table is! 

Pink Panther on a Bike

The Pink Panther doesn't just ride any old bike, mind you.

Just one that makes him look effortlessly cool, of course. 

In true Pink Panther style: wordlessly cool. 

Enid Blytons Of Course!!

I absolutely cannot go through my childhood treasures without including Enid Blyton!

Especially her "Mystery" series, or her "Five Find-Outers And Dog" series. 

As you can see in the photo of part of the series, the books were well-read, battered and well-loved: 

They were my favourite series. I know everyone else drifts through a Famous Five or Secret Seven moment in their childhood. But this was my preferred series by far. 

Some of the books are:

The adventures of Fatty, Larry, Daisy, Pip, Bets and Buster the dog. There were disguises, thwarting of the bumbling village policeman Mr Goon, macaroons, holidays, and mysteries to solve. 

One of my favourites was The Mystery of the Invisible Thief. Clever plot that had our detectives stumped. 

Ahhh joy!

Penguin from an Ice Cream

A long time ago, a little girl was on holiday with her family. They sat down to have afternoon tea at a café. 

As children are wont to do (and get away with while on holiday), the girl asked for ice cream. 

You can imagine her delight when the ice cream arrived, with this little penguin perched on top. 

At first thinking it was edible and wondering how she would ever be able to eat such a delight, she was very happy to realise it was made of carefully, niftily crafted sponge. 

She insisted on going back the next day, this time urging her brother to get the same ice cream dish in order to triple their penguin collection. 

At least 2 of the penguins survived into the new millennia (possibly even outliving the café they were from?)

And now, one still remains. 

Fabulands!!!

Oh my God! Fabulands!! 

I LOOOOOVED my Fabulands when I was younger! And I still have a soft spot for them now. 

Produced by Lego (as you can see), Fabulands are like Lego-people but with animal faces. I adored them. I think they were intended as a transition point between the toddler-Duplos and the older-Legos. But it's always surprised me that Fabulands aren't more widely available. I'm guessing it's because they were never as popular. Although why they wouldn't be popular is beyond my comprehension. Have I mentioned that I adored them??

One of my favourites was Robbie Rabbit, whose job was to deliver bread. He had a basket that went on his back and two baguettes. 

My lil collection is now being enjoyed by the next generation, which is why I have none to show in person. 

Another clue about how my tendency to anthropomorphise animals came about...

Seashells

These were picked up on the beach. But not during my childhood. Come my childhood, shells like these could no longer be readily found on beaches. 

I used to play with this little family all the time. 

Chosen as a Two-Year-Old

So the story goes, when I was given a choice of stuffed toys from a wall full of all varieties, this was my choice. 

I didn't really play with it as a kid - not because I liked it less, but more because it got put into the 'special occasions' basket - which no doubt added to its longevity!

Looking at it now, I really adore it. Quirky, different, huggable and utterly adorable!!

Eraser Wrapper!

Yes, you read that correctly! An eraser wrapper:

The wrapper used to cover the stock standard, run-of-the-mill erasers used in my childhood. 

Every kid had one: small, in bright colours, efficient standard classroom gear and made in China (Shanghai, China, I think). 

Completely forgettable except that, when you move to somewhere that doesn't sell these or anything like it, its (nostalgic/ memory) value goes up enormously. 

And so I kept my last wrapper for a couple of decades!

Lil Wabbit

This rabbit is small. Small enough to sit comfortably in a child's hands for LOTS of cuddles, careless rugby tackles, being a baby substitute, an animal in a zoo, and everything else required by a child's imagination. 

I had 2 rabbits like these. One got played with, used, went grey and dingy and eventually got loved to death. The other got kept - preserved as a clean, rare occasions-type memory. This is the clean surviving one, now slowly being loved to death by a new generation...

Illustrated Book of Fairy Tales

A number of beautifully-illustrated stories within - some well-known and not so well-known ones.  

This cover doesn't do justice to the beautiful illustrations inside. 

See what I mean?

And more!

Ice Cream Stationery

Hmmm, I'm beginning to see how my love of stationery started. 

Chocolate eraser and pencil sharpener cone - too delicious!

So much so, it looks like someone took a bite out of it!

Bugs and the Carrot Mobile

This incarnation of Bugs has aged surprisingly well. 

I did extricate Bugs out of the car - you know, because I wanted to play with Bugs while he wasn't in the car. It was only then that I found out that his full body wasn't folded inside the car...

But they've both survived, which is perfect for a nostalgic trip. Ready, Bugs?

Jack and Jill Annual 1981

Beloved and battered, my Jack and Jill Annual from 1981. 

It's not really visible in the photo, but the cover is textured as a result of the Annual being used and a resting board for umpteen bits of paper over the years. And of course, as a kid, you must write by pressing into the paper with all your might. 

ALL your might. 

Some of the panel stories within - with beautiful illustrations no less - include:

Harold Hare (love!! Good ole Harold Hare!)

Tiger Tim and the Bruin Boys

Who always try to get away with being as naughty as they can ... Delightfully vicarious mischief!

And such one-off tales as those of Leonard Lion

Who needs help being cleaned of his shaggy winter fur.

Hmmm, I'm beginning to see where my tendency to anthropomorphise animals came from...

Old School Mickey Mouse

This little Mickey has been around for as long as I can remember. From the 70s, we think, but there's no date on it. It's made in England. 

It's survived trips halfway across the world, it's been lovingly rough-housed, it's been abandoned to the dark recesses of a cupboard, and has now entered the status of venerable elder statesman on toys. 

Glad you're still around, Lil Mickey. 

July Theme: Childhood Treasures

An overdue start to my July theme, but I've finally decided that this month is going to consist of some rediscovered childhood treasures. 

This month will either feature whatever has either survived decades of rough handling and grown in sentimentality along the way, or has always been a feature or favourite since childhood. 

Books, toys, comics, annuals - anything goes. 

Best Way to Spend A Cold Day

Swinging Out Of Control