Do you remember the joy ?

Well, it has been a joy to read so many beautiful, happy memories of days spent with children and grandchildren.

WE had a slide into a paddling pool, geat fun for all the kids around. After school on the local beach too, and I didn't have to pay for parking !!!
Lovely memories

I was brought up on the Isle of Wight and used to cycle a lot from when I was about 7 - the roads weren't so busy then. My favourite activity was cycling onto the Downs on my own with some food in my bag and a book - perfection! I don't think it would be considered safe these days

Picking up my three sons from school and going to the park with a picnic, footballs etc.
Three tired and dirty children straight in the bath & to bed after.
And no washing up or crumbs to clear!
Joy!

My friends and I used to hike through woods and across fields and climb slag heaps, with a sandwich and my famous collapsible cup in case we found a stream or a pond. “Be back by teatime” and “Don’t talk to strangers” were the only instructions.

When mine were really tiny I used to get them bathed and into their pyjamas and then we'd go down to the beach and read a bedtime story. By the time they'd been wheeled back in their double buggy, after all that fresh air they'd be asleep and I'd put them straight to bed.

Happy summer days of long ago, starting when I was very small with grandparents punt by the Thames, later, days at Mudeford with my own youngsters and my mother, swimming in the Solido swimming pool my parents had, particularly 1976. Picnics by the river when we lived close by. Simple pleasures were perfectly adequate in those far off days.

HelterSlelter , my memories too. Mum and Dad bought me a lovely Silver Cross pram which did good service for our three children. Had a lovely sun canopy complete with fringe, - perfect! Tiny babies are now scrunched up in buggies!!! They must be so hot.
My happy memory is being aware that our 3 children were fed and bathed and safely tucked into their beds and sleeping soundly . Perfect satisfaction!

Faxgran

Picking up my three sons from school and going to the park with a picnic, footballs etc.
Three tired and dirty children straight in the bath & to bed after.
And no washing up or crumbs to clear!
Joy!

I love you post!
I too had a brood! All little boy's (a set of twns as the last) & they were all such a joy to bring -up. 😊

M0nica, cherish the joy of today. I think you are aware, as I was, that there may not be too many more.

Eddiecat...

You have just reminded me of growing up on a Farm.
Long hot summers, Me and my sisters loved the Combine season.
Jumping in the straw and throwing it about.
Climbing on the bales ,we were so happy.
Then of course the picnic and trailer ride end of the day.
Never any mishaps.

I used to take my kids and their 3 cousins camping. We had a big tent with bedrooms and a kitchen. We stayed on a campsite with just a toilet block. No amusements, nothing but they loved it. Walking over the marshes, crabbing, swimming in the creeks and making mud slides.

They all got on well, ate everything I cooked and had a great time. I made them all daft little certificates on the last day of each trip and I was amazed that they have all still got them and they are all in their 40s!

Happy days, Primrose!

Yes, we had a tent with a separate kitchen. My DC always seemed to make friends with other children on the campsite; their cousins are all older than them.

A couple of times we went to France and hired those tents that were already set up - easy camping! Was it Eurocamp?

It was just me and my son and daughter in the ‘70s, enjoying the simple things in life. Bike rides, picnics, walks, swimming, camping in the woods, picking wild blackberries.

Euro amp for two weeks in France,then home to play in the garden with sandpit,cups and saucers(plastic), climbing frame, paddling pool,clothes maiden with sheet over for tent, home made ice lollies,picnics, bath and bed later in the evening….a joyous, carefree time.

home made ice lollies

Tupperware lolly makers!!

The sweet aroma of fresh apples and blackberries gently simmering before making a pie 🥧

Oh!

Must buy some apples, we have the blackberries.
A crumble beckons 🙂

Euro Camp! Oh yes, the pleasure of not having to set up or collapse and a bigger tent than we could have bought or transported.
My funniest memory when camping prior to that was packing up our tent in the pouring rain at the end of a holiday, with the helpful neighbours pointing out that you should never pack your tent away wet.

Then there was the new tent that blew away in a gale - in August! That was BC (Before Children.)

With you in it Allira?

Mollygo

With you in it Allira?

I'd just stepped out of it, with the dog, Mollygo. We were the only things left holding it down as DH frantically packed everything into the car!

Helping my youngest son making a camp and then having a picnic on a warm sunny day.
Walking home and getting some chips.