Childhood longings

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

Was there something you wanted so much as a child, that it spills over into adulthood? It seems to be a sufficiently common experience that people can tap into it as shared frame-of-reference.

What was/is yours?

Mine is Party Popple. YOu remember? They were weird animal things that curled up into a ball. I had Prize, and loved her, but Party was bigger.

I mean, I wanted other things too, like technic lego and a really nice chess set, but they're not so childish.

Comments

[nevboo.livejournal.com]

A pony. I fear one day Santa will bring me a shetland pony! I think my insane craving for stationery started in childhood. And the urge to collect cuddly toys in order to cuddle them.

what is a party popple?

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

In case anybody else is wondering too, this appears to be the link.

http://www.puppetstudio.com/Popples2.html

So, I think you just need some money?

Can't think of anything I wanted, but I suppose there must. I still want a jewel box with a little ballerina and music, but not badly enough to go out and buy one. I also want it to fit in my wardrobe, even though the one that fits into my wardrobe doesn't have the ballerina and the music. I'm quite good at being unreasonable.

[chess]

I had a Popple, but I don't know which one. (It went to a charity shop a long time ago, with most of my cuddly toy collection.)

[kiaransalyn.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted a copy of my favourite childhood library book. Unfortunately I can't remember the title nor the author but I keep looking for it in bookshops.

Re: what is a party popple?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Ah, thankyou. I couldn't find a decent link.

I still want a jewel box with a little ballerina and music

I had one of those! If I'd known, I'd have offered to swap, but then, you wouldn't have because youre jewel box is lovely.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

What was it about?

I've had books like that, that I've looked for and looked for, and sometimes eventually found. In a Blue Velvet Dress</> by Catherine Sefton is the most notable, but I spent ages re-searching for My Sister Sif by Ruth Park, and The Silver Crown by Robert O'Brien.

Actually, if you know the book, it was kept near John Wyndham, but may not have been him, which involved telepaths and a ring of fire, that'd be great. It's not The Chrysalids, but kind of similar.

[kiaransalyn.livejournal.com]

It was a long time ago but the book had a very strong environmental theme and was predominantly pictures. I think there was some text but I can't remember.

Anyway the story went like this:

A small green planet populated by creatures that looked like capybaru's (spelt wrong I'm sure, sorry).

Then an alien race landed, who built cities and exploited the world's resources forcing the natives to live underground and eat fungi.

Soon the entire planet was covered in cities and freeways with the exception of one park.

Eventually, the invaders left having 'used up' the world and the natives, via the one park creapt out to reclaim their world.

It's not high fiction but I loved browsing it as a small boy and I'd like to own a copy.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I actually had a Party Popple, but it was the small one as opposed to the large one, so don't be too envious. ;)

I wanted Rupert the Bear.

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

Have faith. For 15 years I looked for a book of Haitiain ghost stories called "Mout' Open, Story Jump Out" (I couldn't remember the rather unusual title.) and then managed to track it down in a rare book shop a couple of years ago.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kent/]

Is that a 24 Hour Party Popple?

[firinel.livejournal.com]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1985-Large-PINK-Popples-Popple-Plush_W0QQitemZ220023083300QQihZ012QQcategoryZ95264QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'd always wanted an American Girl Doll. Luckily I've a floatyfish who bought me one for Christmas a few Christmases ago. (Also, Marn doesn't mind that I still collect Rainbow Brite dolls and bought me Moonglo from Germany for a ridiculous amount of money one Christmas.)

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

:) I should just go ahead annd buy one one day, it's true.

There are lots of cute knitting patterns for American Girl dolls, but I've never seen a real one - I guess we just don't have them.

[firinel.livejournal.com]

That would make sense. There are cheaper versions of them that don't revolve around being "American" in any way, but perhaps if there's not the original main thing to rip off, it's not so worth it. If you're interested, I could take photos of Riordon's and mine for you.

[lisekit.livejournal.com]

That's what Shaun Ryder was on about! All these years, I've wondered.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I remember an amusing modern fairytale where a well-meaning but absent-minded fairy godmother wished a princess would have everything she ever wished for, which sounded lovely until they realsied what odd things she'd wished for when she was little.

[badriya.livejournal.com]

A pony, like nevboo. But I don't want one anymore. It wouldn't be big enough :).

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

I always wanted a Mr Frosty. So I bought one when I went to university. It's good for Bailey's slush puppies. Or it would be if I had the energy to drink.

Re: what is a party popple?

[alison-lees.livejournal.com]

I had 2, which I no longer seem to have. I abandoned one in favour of my late mother-in-law's but then discovered that all the felty stuff is disintegrating. so I will probably buy a brand new one, one day.