Bakers Dozen Game

[mariana44]

6 When I was a child, my favourite present every year was my Annual, which changed over the years, depending on my age--starting with the Beano and Dandy Annuals, up to the Girls Crystal and School Friends annuals. I would wake about 6---get stuck into my albums--with a tangerine from the stocking---by the time my mum and dad woke, I had finished the book--my mum was always cross with me for that.

Now I see my friend's granddaughter with a huge bookcase full of books--and all she can say is "I'm bored !!!"

[hpooch]

7. A most unusual gift remembered was on New Years Eve 1987 which was the day my oldest son married Sabrina,
and since then have blessed us with 3 granddaughters - 2 are in college and the youngest just started high school.
The only drawback is that they have lived in New York City for the last 25 years, so we only see them twice a year.

[ROBERT M.]

Children today will have memories of tv games, mobile phones, computers.

They would need a pillow case instead of a sock for those items L&H

[Lena & Harry Smith]

8, Yes, A pillow case is more like it Robert, but not many surprises for them these days. Many children have already told their parents what they want .
Remembering how we treasured and appreciated things.
One Christnas gift that stays in my memory was a needlework box that my Aunt who was serving in the WRAC'S formerly ATS sent to me as a child. The picture on the lid of the box was a group of ladies in Crinoline dresses singing by lanterns in the snow. I didn't want to use the contents of different cottons colouerd threads, needles etc. I just wanted to keep it as it was for ever, but of course i did eventually use it.

[mariana44]

9 I was 20 years old , it was almost Christmas,and my dad was very ill, and in fact could hardly walk, he was so frail.

But somehow he got us all a Christmas present--Jill, who was then 4 years old, got a big doll--Carole had 2 reels for her reel to reel recorder, and I had 2 LPs---both Mario Lanza--"The Student Prince" and the "Great Caruso".

2 weeks later, on Jan 6th, my dad died. He was 56.

[john]

10. I have a lot of happy Christmas memories when I was a child, when I woke up on a Chistmas morning (after a restless night) there was always a large stocking in my bedroom, packed full of little gifts like Bobble hats, tangerines, chocolates etc. I always used to open them before breakfast, then after breakfast we went into the front room and the bigger presents were waiting there. I always did very well at Christmas, despite my parents not having a lot of money, they always made sure Christmas was special. I think 2 of my favourite presents were a double cassette recorder and a black and white portable TV, I still have both of them to this day and they still work as well. Can't bear to part with them. Happy Days! Wish I could go back again.

[hpooch]

John , Your Christmas memories are very similiar to mine----45 RCA Record Player, Small Portable B&W TV, A small Periscope, & Trading Cards..... Stockings filled with goodies from my "Santa" Parents. But they broke down many years ago but I still remember them
As the song goes - "Little Things Mean a Lot".....................

[mariana44]

11 I do have some happy Christmas memories when I was a child. My dad used to make our presents himself--one year we got a Doll's house each--another a toy shop---but I think the most fun one, was when he made Carole and me a scooter each.

[Marian]

When I was 3 years old I had measles and was very poorly. All I wanted was "a pink pig"! My mum searched far and wide, and I eventually got my pig, a lead farmyard animal that I kept and loved for many years, although he eventually lost his pink paint!

[hpooch]

13. My Last favorite Holiday Memory was on a Cruise Ship when I celebrated my 5oth Birthday with my wife & friends.
The ship had a costume party that night, and I wrapped a white sheet around my waist & none a banner across my shoulder & chest...
It stated in bold letters.....I'M FIFTY BUT I'M NIFTY (I got 2nd Prize....I lost out to lady who made up to be "Pregnant" with Pillow,etc.)

So my last holiday entry is this.....

[hpooch]

13. My Last favorite Holiday Memory was on a Cruise Ship when I celebrated my 5oth Birthday with my wife & friends.
The ship had a costume party that night, and I wrapped a white sheet around my waist & none a banner across my shoulder & chest...
It stated in bold letters.....I'M FIFTY BUT I'M NIFTY (I got 2nd Prize....I lost out to lady who made up to be "Pregnant" with Pillow,etc.)

So my last holiday entry is this.....

WHAT WAS THE MOST UNUSUAL HOLIDAY MEAL YOU'VE EVER EATEN??

1. A WHOLE SUCKLING PIG - While in Hawaii during Christmas, the natives cooked it with hot stones buried under the sand on the beach!
It was delicious....Especially with Hula Dancers, a few Mai-Tai drinks, & the Sunset in the background!

[mariana44]

2 Not actually a meal-but unusual, I guess, My friends and I were in USA, we had booked to see Johnny Mathis-but the concerts were cancelled-so we spent 2 weeks in New York. While shopping in Walmart--or somewhere--we could not believe our eyes when we saw cartons of milk, with Johnny Mathis picture on. We knew this would be a "different" souvenir to take home to our friends in Uk, so we bought all that they had--it was a lot of milk.!!

We did not want to waste it, so that evening decided to make cocktails with the milk--instead of cream--starting with Strawberry Daiquiri. They did not tatse good---but the more we had, the better they tasted--and we had a really fun evening. But next morning, we were all very, very ill, and lost a whole day of our holiday.

But in the end we got all the emptied, washed anf flattened cartons home---I am just glad that the customs did not check our suitcases. !

[hpooch]

Mariana, What did you do with the empty cartons?.......Sold them on E-Bay maybe?

[mariana44]

Henry--I had not thought of that--plus I was not into Ebay at that time.

They were specifically for our friends in the Johnny Mathis fan club in the Uk.

[mariana44]

3 Again in America, California this time--my friend Ann would not eat anything fancy, and went nearly a whole week without eating--until we went to a restaurant where she asked for a fried egg--plain and simple--no garnishes--just a plain fried egg--they agreed to cooking Ann just a plain fried egg--no garnishes---but when it arrived--they put a strawberry on the side of the egg !!!! Needless to say she could not eat it.

It was not until the end of the 2nd week that Ann had a meal--at a fish restaurant , on Fisherman's Wharf--and to this day, in their visitors book, you will find the note we left---"Ann ate her first meal in US, in this restaurant "