I’m enjoying taking part in ‘Bloganuary‘. Day 4 today and the topic is:
‘What was your favourite toy as a child?‘
Not a toy as such, but a desk I could keep my papers, pens, exercise books and diary in and write away to my heart’s content. The picture below is not my original desk, but the one I had looked exactly the same apart from the fact that the seat and desk legs were red.
It was great for playing at ‘schools’ with my best friend Marie as well. We took it in turns to be the teacher and when Marie set work for me to do it was a hundred times easier than the the work I had to do in class. In the summer we would take the desk out into my garden and enjoy ‘al fresco’ lessons.
I lost contact with Marie when I was 13 when we moved from East London across the river to Kidbrooke (South East London). By that time I had outgrown the desk and now in my new bedroom stood a rather flash bureau containing lots of nooks and crannies, a lock and key, bookshelves underneath, and a fold-down table where I could sit and write and do the hated school homework.
There’s something about a desk which I love. Perhaps because it’s mine, it’s in my ‘space’ (the ‘only child syndrome’ strikes again), and contains just my own personal possessions. I now have 2 desks at home that sit opposite each other in my front room; one I use for my paid NHS work which I do in the mornings, and the other one is the desk where I write my novels and blogs in the afternoons.
I had lots of toys as a child, but that little wooden desk is the one I loved the most. Second on the list would have been my Spirograph, and third maybe my roller skates or my Etch-a-Sketch. Note the lack of video games, iPhones or computers! Yes, I’m an old girl, but hey, despite the lack of electronic distractions my childhood was a happy one.
petespringerauthor said:
Funny, I don’t remember playing teacher/student as a child, but I made up for it when I became an adult.
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Stevie Turner said:
You were probably climbing trees or riding your bike, lol.
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dgkaye said:
Your writing urge was calling you. 🙂 Me, I loved my Easy Bake Oven, lol. How did I end up on this page, it doesn’t have your name on the blog, lol xx
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Stevie Turner said:
I never remember doing any cooking as a child, probably because my mother hated cooking as well. x
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dgkaye said:
Ha! So did mine, so I became the cook. 😦
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Stevie Turner said:
I’ve just realised it’s a whole new WordPress group. I’ve added the ‘Bloganuary’ badge and link on my sidebar, so do check it out in case you want to take part? x
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dgkaye said:
Yes, thanks Stevie. I did add it to from a WP email. 🙂 x
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beetleypete said:
Because so many bloggers are doing this challenge, I am changing my ‘time period’ for each answer. On to when I was around 9 years old, and like you, not a ‘toy’. A 1930s Adler typewriter I was given, and loved to write on.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Stevie Turner said:
Yes, I remember a toy typewriter too, and also my mother’s huge electric typewriter that I was forbidden to touch.
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Leon Stevens said:
Ahh, Spirograph and Etch-a-Sketch. One that could make a perfect circle and the other . . . well let’s just say I was great at drawing stairs.
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Stevie Turner said:
Lol, I never managed a circle with it either. I remember you shook it and your work of art disappeared.
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Leon Stevens said:
Usually shook out of frustration.
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OIKOS™- Art, Books & more said:
Wow! Now i know, why you became a writer too, Stevie! 😉 It makes an impression on a child when it has its own space for creative activities. xx Michael
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Stevie Turner said:
Indeed. I preferred sitting at my desk and writing most of all, although I did play outside too.
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OIKOS™- Art, Books & more said:
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks for the re-blog, Michael.
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CarolCooks2 said:
What a lovely memory of your desk, Stevie…Thank you for the link back to my blog … I have loved the prompts so far only 27 days to go until the end …Have a lovely week 🙂 x
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Stevie Turner said:
I wait with anticipation as to the topic tomorrow, lol.
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CarolCooks2 said:
As do I Stevie it comes every morning… 😀 x
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Stevie Turner said:
Hi Carol, I’ve joined the Bloganuary site now, as I didn’t realise it existed until I followed tags on your blog. I thought it was you who thought up the topics!
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CarolCooks2 said:
No it wasn’t me at all its a WP incentive :)…Happy you are on board 🙂 x
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Darlene said:
I understand how that desk would have been your favourite. I had a desk too. It was very special as my dad made it. He was a farmer, not a carpenter but he lovingly built a wooden desk for me. It went with me when I left home and to every place I have lived except here in Spain. It is now in my daughter´s house. So many good memories are attached to that desk. The best gift for a would-be writer.
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Stevie Turner said:
You should put a photo of it on your website, Darlene. I’d love to see it.
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Darlene said:
I’ll get my daughter to take a picture of it. It must be 60 years old!
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Stevie Turner said:
Like the one I have here that I use for my NHS work. I think it’s Edwardian.
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