Christmas presents when you were young

I had the greenhouse too GrammaH and Deeda I also had the cold frame and the pond. I looked on eBay with a thought to buying some vintage but it's very pricy!
My sewing machine was a 'Little Betty' I used to make dolls clothes with it. I also had Tressy but I didn't get to play with her until Boxing Day as my mother and aunt were 'playing hairdresser'!!

Oh, well spotted on the stove, Jalima! Mine had a back too and a fireplace in the middle with coals that lit up, but the name Vulcan rang a bell as soon as I saw it. You've made my day, as I was starting to think I'd dreamt it too (helped along by DH's reaction when I described the fire hazard to him and insisted I was only 7 or 8 when Santa gave me the wherewithal to burn the house down...).

I doubt they'd even sell Bayko these days without a few adjustments. Those metal rods could have had a child's eye out! It's interesting that so many girls were given it, as these days it would probably have to be coloured pink and adorned with flowers and glitter before it made it to the "girls'" shelves. Even Lego sets seems to be aimed towards either boys or girls now

One of my Xmas presents was a childs Vulcan sewing machine. I was about 8/9 years old.
I absolutely adored it. Just one problem though, it only did chain stitching so you had to make sure that you secured the end threads really well otherwise the whole lot would unravel. Even my mum used it to make little dresses for my dolls.
Happy Days

1974 a while ago I bought a vintage Vulcan sewing machine for my GD. It was still in its box. It didn't have the clamp, so it moved when she sewed. I refurbished my old hand Singer for her instead.

I had a little sewing machine too, but I can't remember the make. It was blue.

I do remember my dad making me a cot for a little doll I loved. But I remember my favourite things I received was a Christmas annual, plastersine and a bottle of Nulon hand cream. I was very happy

I have just checked, there are several Bayko building sets on eBay. Pricey, mind you, but I am sorely tempted to get one for my DGD!

I loved getting painting sets and colouring books , one year I got one of those colouring books which has the paint in the picture and you add water to make the colour appear . I had a Rosebud doll too . One year a Raleigh? bike in blue , my Mum said I had to ride it on the pavement and if a police man stopped me to say my Mum said I was not to go on the road ! . I remember a beautiful white yoyo , roller skates and skipping ropes one year . I loved Jacks too and can still play them now up to ten , those gorgeous little orange bouncy balls which smelled of rubber !!

No, scrap that, the DGS wouldn't get a look in, I would keep it!

Can I come round and play, Antonia? Pleeese pleeese??

I had the book 'Black Beauty' I haven't got round to reading it yet!

Greyduster, yes of course! I'll let you know if I actually go for it, but at $150 plus postage it's probably a no no! I am thinking about it though, the DGC would really love it. Makes a change from all those boxes of Lego they have.

Greyduster, I've done it! I found one on Etsy for $44 plus postage so I've gone for it. The DGC are going to love it when they next visit us. In the meantime I'm sure I'll have lots of fun with it. (Some people just never grow up, do they!)

Antonia . Well done! Be sure and post a photo of your first build (are you sure the DGC will get a look in? )!

I'm sure I have quite a lot of it in the attic. It belonged to my brother so I don't suppose I should put it on Ebay, he mgiht want it back. Tempting though. But no box, so wouldn't get $150.

Will do! They're not coming until next Easter, so plenty of playtime for me then!

Some lovely memories here but I have very few except of disappointments. We had my dad's socks with the obligatory orange, a threepenny bit, chocolate coins, colouring book and crayons and usually a toothbrush, knickers and socks. I remember envying friends who said they had a pillow case! We then had other presents from under the tree after breakfast. I loved getting a lovely blank new drawing book and pencil with a rubber. My biggest disappointment was a small plastic cash register which I had asked for, expecting a large metal one like the one we had in school. I usually had a Girl Annual and possibly another book, usually a classic like Heidi, Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Black Beauty etc.
I also had one of those typewriters you turn the wheel for the letters, a post office set, magic painting books and a walkie talkie doll called Janet who said 'Mama'. That must have been the name on the box for I would never have picked it. I don't remember when I received these but it must have been Christmas or birthday as these were the only times we had presents.
It was my dream that I wouldn't cry on Christmas Day (or my birthday) but I always did when my mother shouted at me or hit me (not just me but also my siblings)! Looking back I realise how hard life was for her. The lack of money must have been soul destroying and she did her best, I suppose, to provide any sort of 'normal' Christmas.

I also had a little metal framed crib covered in pink muslin and a lovely black dolly
Dandy and Beano books every year,a puppet called Hank and best of all my teddy.

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Here it is, my first Bayko house in 60 odd years! So excited! I do hope the DGC like it, if they ever get a look in.

Wonderful!

Oh, my, I remember having Bayko!
All those little rods, would they be allowed now?
Fun to use though.
And another one with little bricks and actual mortar stuff to stick them. And Lego of course

I still build houses - in Minecraft!

My sister and I used to love making Bayko houses. I wish we'd kept it. Images on Google bring back memories.

I'm sure the metal rods wouldn't be allowed today. They don't have sharp points though and the DGC are sensible little things. I am hoping they will be allowed to play with it under supervision. Nobody supervised me and I played with it for hours, but then it was the late 1950s .

I enjoyed Bayko too but my favourite present one year was a 'wetting' doll. I didn't think I'd get one because by the time I'd got to the bottom of the pillowcase there was only one large box left - too big for a doll. But when I opened it there she was complete with bath and potty. I was thrilled to bits and think I've still got her in the attic. I remember that we had her in the garage at our last house and her arm got nibbled by mice but somehow DH managed to get a replacement. I too had a stove with methylated spirit tablets but wasn't allowed to use them. I also received Girl annuals which I've still got though my 12 year old GD doesn't find them interesting. I've also kept a Girl book of careers - VERY unPC but fascinating