Web Page 3036 20th January 2023 First Picture: Jelly Bunny

Second Picture: Nestle Tinned Milk

Third Picture: Felix the Cat

Forth Picture: Indoor Fireworks

Parties The other day Pam and I were talking about the birthday party food produced by our parents when we were kids. First of all we both remembered jelly bunnies. I remember my mother struggling with a bowl of warm water to free the jelly bunny from the aluminium mould. The same went for the large pink Blancmange which accompanied the jelly. The jelly bunnies were usually surrounded by chopped green jelly to represent grass. On the table there were always a plate with a collection of white and pink Sugar mice all with string tails. My grandmother, who lived with us, would always make individual Butterfly cakes with a filling made of butter cream and she would also make a jam filled Victoria jam sponge The selection of sandwiches in those days was very different from those see that we see around today. Luncheon Meat, Spam, Nutella, Shipham’s Bloater Paste, Heinz Sandwich Spread, cheese and tomato, also Chicken Paste, jam sandwiches and there nearly always was a plate of plain white bread and butter. Do you remember the Sweet Cornets, filled with marsh mellow and with hundreds and thousands sprinkled all over the top bought and from the local bakery. Cream filled meringues and eclairs were also very popular, plus packets of Dolly Mixtures and not forgetting the obligatory Birthday Cake and candles. Our parties always featured bowls of canned peaches or pears served with tinned Nestles cream or maybe Ideal Milk. Drinks featured, lemonade, cherryade, ginger beer, dandelion and burdock and ice cream, soda and orange and lemon squash plus Tizer. These party occasions called for us to wear our best clothes and party dresses with smart shoes and white socks. Then came the party entertainment, we must have all played pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey and musical statues. Plus the group games such as The Farmer wants a Wife and Ring a Ring of Roses; then, of course. there were the team games such as passing a balloon between the knees or chins along a line of children, One of our near neighbours had three children and the father, know to us as Uncle Ray, had an ancient 8mm cine projector and a selection of Felix the Cat silent films. Such films as Felix goes on Walking. Felix predated Mickey Mouse by several years but died out when talking films flooded the market. Uncle Ray would come in after work and set up the projector and stretch a sheet across the wall as a screen and off we would go. This always marked the end of the party and then everyone went home and in those days party or doggie bags were unheard of. On very rare occasions the party would end with indoor fireworks. Do you remember the appalling smell they gave out. Then after the birthday party, the following day, came the obligatory chore of writing thank you notes to all the relations who had sent you a birthday present!!!!! Stay in Touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com