DID YOU GET MOST OF YOUR NEW TOYS AT CHRISTMAS?

Did you get most of your toys at Christmas? Or did you get more during the year?

For me Christmas was the number one toy bounty, when I re-stocked the toybox with all the new stuff. It was also the time for a couple of big things like a new bike or a go-kart.

I did get a few things during the course of the year but not the boon I received on December 25th.

Was this your experience readers or not?

DO YOU STILL GET XMAS PRESENTS?

Now that we're all growed up, us baby boomers, do you still ask for Christmas presents from your nearest and dearest?

I don't mean those impromptu Xmas gifts that you never asked for but do you still issue a wants list or drop big hints?

Now I'm typing I suppose another questions is whether you actually still expect anything at Christmas?

The Missus and me have for the last few years just got each other a book to unwrap on the big day - to a maximum of £10.  This year with belts tightening it feels right.

As usual, any spare cash we have will go on gifts for our Grandchildren and Godchildren.

What do you do readers?

SANTA NEEDS YOU!

As always the Missus and me will get each other a book at Christmas. Each orders a book that the other wants.

The Missus wants UK comedian Bob Mortimer's autobiography And Away and I want a book on Superfast.

Needing to be inexpensive I've seen this softback book by Charlie Mack online and wondered if anyone has it already? 

I want lots of colour photographs of the toys but can't tell if this one has them. It's also a Schiffer book from the USA. Will there be UK Superfast toys not covered do you think?

Any advice would be welcomed before I send the Missus the link.

PREZZIES FOR YOUR FAMILY BACK IN THE DAY?

Did you buy your family Chrissie Prezzies when you were a kid?

I know I did but I've no idea where or how/ I must have had a tiny bit of cash. Maybe pocket money. I can remember getting my family members items that sort of fitted them like this:

Mum - little book on silver 

Dad - car sponge set

Older Brother 1 - Hai Karate After Shave

Older Brother 2 - Avon Old Timer car After Shave

Older Sister 1 - plastic framed Old Masters

Older Sister 2 - metal tree of family photos

What did you buy?

DID SANTA FORGET SOMETHING?

Was there something that you didn't get for Christmas as a kid that you really wanted? Something you had on your Christmas list?

Maybe a space toy, a monster model, a shirt, a tank top, a board game, a bike, a pedal car, something you just wanted!

I've been trying to remember if there was for me but I'm struggling. I'm sure there must have been but I just can't recall!

I must have known about the Nuclear Ferry for instance as it was illustrated in the Project SWORD Manual I had from other SWORD toys but whether I asked for one who knows. Whether my parents could have found one is another question as well!

I was pretty jealous of my cousin's Strange Change machine, which he'd been given through American ties. Not sure if it was available in the UK anyway. 

There were a couple of rock LP's I wanted but never got, namely Lou Reed and Gryphon, but these were in my teenage years towards the end of my time with my parents. I've since got the Lou Reed album but Gryphon can wait.

So readers, what did Santa forget of yours?

did you give your parents christmas gifts?

I recently found an old Christmas list of presents I was planning on buying my family one year in the  early 1970's.

I must admit I was amazed how much thought I put into it.

Each present seemed personally pitched: the novel SHOGUN for my Mum, a Car Waxing kit for my Dad, Sports car Soap on a Rope for my two older brothers and so on. I don't think there was anything home-made, which I'm surprised about.

My memory is shot though and I don't recall how and when I got pocket money  as a kid but I must have done to pay for all this lot.

I do have another old list which details records I was selling to my mates at school, mostly singles, so maybe that's how I paid for people's Christmas gifts. I just can't recall, dammit.

I know one year I got my old Mum a book on how to recognise hallmarks on silver and my brother a novel called The Dark by Stephen King.

Somewhere I even have a home made Christmas label I made for my folks' gift. It has a hand drawn Samurai on it. Typical of me to foist my early teenage obsession with the Orient on my family, even at Christmas! ha ha.

I wish I could remember much more than I do.

Did you give your parents and siblings Christmas gifts when you were small?

have you written to santa yet?

Like my daughter did when she was a kid, its time to write to Santa again.

This year I shall be asking the big bearded fella for:

1. Three Walnut Whips

2. A Hover Probe Force 3

3. A Mego Space Tract Glider

4. World Peace

The first one is a dead cert as its traditional to get Dad a box of the creamy whips. It powers me through the next 12 months.

The Space Tract has been organised by Santa's little helper already [thanks Ed!] and the Probe Force 3 is hopefully being guarded by Rudolf as we speak.

World Peace is the most difficult. Amazon don't sell it but I'll keep asking.

What's on your letter to Santa readers? did you write when you were a kid?