A TRIP TO THE UK!!!

Reader Lucy from Czech Republic recently visited the UK with her boyfriend Tom as part of a school trip… she tells us all about it!

Lucy says:
First of all, we stopped off in Paris… I had visited before so it wasn't a surprise, but I love the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur and the Champs Elysees… I am really into Paris! We slept overnight in Calais and took a ferry to Dover next morning. I had never been on a ship before, so this was a new experience for me! We spent the first few hours in England at Beachy Head, beautiful white cliffs on the edge of the ocean… but it was very windy, so then we moved on to Brighton and later Plymouth. I noticed at once that the people of Britain seem to be very proud of their houses and make them pretty in a way that is not so common in Czech Republic.

We arrived in Plymouth in the evening and met our host families… mine was so nice! We visited so many places in the next few days… Plymouth, Tintagel (the castle of King Arthur), Dartmoor, Minnack Theatre, Lands End, St Michael's Mount and many more places. I felt that the British shopkeepers were very friendly and patient with anyone browsing around - they didn't seem to get cross if you didn't buy things, which shopkeepers back home might have done! Even the red telephone boxes were different, and very cool. I spent my birthday in Plymouth and had the best time ever - I had always wanted to be by the sea on my birthday! My host family even sang me 'Happy Birthday' - we do not usually do this in Czech Republic, and it was great!

After three days we said goodbye to our host families and went to London, visiting Exeter and Glastonbury on the way. We met our new host family who were also lovely… I was surprised to see the family wearing shoes inside the house, as we never do this in Czech Republic! In London, we visited Covent Garden, Soho, Chelsea football stadium, Big Ben and the London Eye… what a day! After all that, we got on the bus ready to head for home, but I have to say that the UK really impressed me. I would love to come back again one day!

Cathy says:
Wow… how cool to see the UK through different eyes! I loved Lucy's account of her school trip… if you did too, COMMENT BELOW and share your views and experiences too!

CLASSICS YOU JUST HAVE TO READ...

Children's classics: dull and old-fashioned, or brilliant, gripping stories that have stood the test of time? We ask readers to tell us about their favourite classic books...

Lauren says:
Rudyard Kipling - best known for 'The Jungle Book', right? Well, I like 'Rewards and Fairies' better; the fairytales are sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic and sometimes rather creepy! Along with The People of The Hill (that's another name for the fairies, by the way) are historical characters like  Queen Elizabeth, so effortlessly woven into the story that it doesn't seem at all strange! These are not stories for the nursery - they are stories with darkness, like in 'The Knife and the Naked Chalk.' As Kipling himself once wrote, 'The tales had to be read by children, before people realised they were meant for adults.' Regardless of how old you are, I believe this book is well worth taking the time to read!

Isobel says:
The classic I love the most is Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery. When I was first given the book I thought it looked very old fashioned and a bit boring; then I turned to the first page and was sucked onto the world of Avonlea! The book tells the story of Anne Shirley, who is adopted by Matthew and Marilla, a brother and sister with a farm. It's happy and sad, filled with mistakes and friendship problems, boy problems too... and none of this is helped by Anne and her vivid imagination; she has her share of hair-raising adventures! I thoroughly recommend this book - I would read it over and over again!

Mina says:
My favourite classic is A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It transports you back to post Victorian England and makes you love Sara, the main character. When her father dies she faces the sorrow so bravely. Her clothes and the rich fabrics they are made from are described so beautifully you can almost feel them; then she is suddenly plunged into poverty and you can see how much she has lost. It is literally the opposite of rags to riches! It truly is a magical story, and one of my all-time favourites - I love it!

Grace says:
I would pick a book called The Children of the New Forest by Captain Marryat. It's a little old fashioned, but once you get used to that it is a beautiful story about a family of children during the English Civil War.
I love the historical setting and the story is so gripping. It's just magical - and it's the book that got me into writing. It's also one of the longest novels I have ever read - I am a fast reader but this took me two days to read. I have re-read it again and again since then and I think I don't think I will ever get tired of it.

Blue says:
I spent my childhood and early teens reading 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' by Lemony Snicket; the series chronicles the lives of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, after the death of their parents. Snicket has a writing style I absolutely adore and the books are humorous too - one minute you're tense and jittery at some unfortunate event plaguing the courageous siblings, and the next you're in hysterics. I consider the series to be modern classics - they're popular with my generation but I caught my mum reading them too! They're set in a time period that isn't quite discernible so I don't think they'll go out of fashion or lose their relevance. I love the beautiful illustrations by Brett Helquist, too. The books symbolise all that was good about my childhood and may be the reason I became such a voracious reader in the first place!


Cathy says:
I LOVE these suggestions... I've read some of them, and totally agree! What's YOUR fave classic read? COMMENT BELOW and share your views!

I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH...

More in our series of readers' problems, solved by our very own Chocolate Box Girls… and you, of course! This time, SUMMER tries to solve things…

Marla says:
I am in Year Seven at a private all-girls school where the standards are very high. We are taught that only our best is good enough, and that we can achieve anything we want to do as long as we work super-hard for it. My problem is that I am starting to fall behind in some subjects; maths, physics and chemistry are almost torture for me. My teachers in those subjects know there is a problem, and some have asked me to stay behind to discuss it, but I can't - if they realised how much I'm struggling I could be thrown out of school. I am trying as hard as I can, but it's not enough. We didn't have exams this year, but next year we will, and my secret will be out. If I fail - or, worse, if I'm thrown out - I won't know how to face my parents. They would be so, so disappointed in me.

Summer says:
I think we have a lot in common - you sound like a girl with very high standards, someone who pushes herself hard. That can be a problem - you might be pushing yourself TOO hard. OK, you are not excelling in every subject, but that doesn't mean you're failing or in danger of being thrown out of school… I suspect you're being way too hard on yourself. Your teachers want to talk to you so that they can help you, by offering extra tuition or just explaining things more clearly for you. Accept their help… they're on YOUR side.
I actually know what I'm saying here… I lost the plot and allowed the pressure to get to me last year, not with school work but with dance, which actually means more to me than almost anything. I ended up in LOTS of trouble, and I am still struggling hard to get back on an even keel. If I could go back, I would do things differently. I'd ask for help from my teachers, and I'd tell people how scared and pressured I was feeling. If I'd done those things I think things could have turned out very differently. It's not too late for you - talk to your teachers and get some practical help with your work as well as some emotional support to handle the pressure. Give yourself a break… you're doing great, I promise.

Cathy says:
Do you agree with Summer? What advice would YOU give to Marla? COMMENT BELOW to share your suggestions!

CONFIDENCE TRICKS...

Reader Ellie studies drama… and some of the skills she has learnt have helped to boost her confidence! Read on to find out how…

Ellie says:
My Drama and Theatre Studies course is by far my favourite from the four A levels I am taking. I have grown a lot on the course and and I feel a little less shy than I did at the start, which is a big thing for me! The course is brilliant for helping you to come out of your shell… if I can do it, you can do it! One of the best things about it is that the class are genuinely close - we get on really well, and that means we trust each other. Drama helps with shyness because you have to communicate with classmates in your practical work and learn to step outside your comfort zone… it's not easy to start with, but once you try you quickly learn that you WILL survive! And each time, it gets a little easier.
The part I loved most was our recent performance of The Ancient Mariner - it was our first performance and we had to work closely as a team. Performing in a play with your mates is good fun and definitely helps your teamwork skills!
You do have to be dedicated to turn up to rehearsals and get written work in on time, but there are no exams in the first year… phew! I'd recommend this A level to anyone interested in theatre and drama, and also to anyone looking for a career where good team-work and communication skills are required.

Most colleges don't ask for lots of experience for the course, too, so it's not a massive disadvantage if you are new to drama. For me, the biggest change has been to my self-esteem… I am quite a shy, quiet person, but rehearsing and performing in a group is a great confidence builder. And of course, when you get positive feedback about your practical work, that is a great boost for the self-esteem and chips away at the shyness.
I recently volunteered as a Chocolate Fairy at one of Cathy Cassidy's bookshop signings… that's something I may not have had the courage to do before! I took along a friend, Iqra, from my drama course and we had a great day. Once you learn that shyness doesn't have to stop you, you can do just about anything!

Cathy says:
I know that lots of actors say they are quite shy people… but once onstage, they are able to somehow 'become' the character they are playing and step outside their own shyness. Have you found that acting can be a confidence boost? COMMENT BELOW to share your own tips on beating the blushes!

LIFE HURTS...

Have you ever felt you just can't cope with life? Readers share their stories of what happens when you begin to lose control… and what you can do to turn things around.

Ari says:
I'm fifteen and for four years now I've struggled with self-harm, self-punishment and eating disorders. When I was twelve a longtime friendship ended suddenly, and this upset me; I began surviving on one meal a day and became really hung up on body image. Since then, I've been anorexic and bulimic and even began to self-harm. Slowly, with the help of a close friend, I am recovering; it feels like I have turned around and begun to steer myself in a different direction. I'm sorry it took me so long to be able to do that, but at least things are changing. For anyone struggling with the same kind of issues, remember that nothing will change unless you make it... you can't win the lottery unless you've bought a ticket.

Molly says:
I have suffered from Depression. It started around the time my mum became very ill - I wouldn't go outside, didn't want to go to school, couldn't talk to anyone. I just sad on my bed and did nothing, alone with my thoughts; I stopped eating, and when my dad made me I'd force myself to be sick. My mum died and I didn't want to go on. I tried to end my life but an aunt found me and I was taken to the hospital at once. I now have counsellors and therapists who are great - they have become like family to me. I look back now and feel a little stupid and very sad that I tried to kill myself - my mother would never have wanted that. If you are feeling bad, please speak out - it will help, and there will always be someone out there who cares and can help. I still have counselling every week and I honestly don't know if I'd still be here without it.

Amina says:
My eating disorder began at secondary school. I'd always wanted to be the best in class and I thought eating slowed me down and made me sleepy; I'd skip dinner and read until daybreak. I had constant headaches and looked pale and weak and felt very low, but my grades were good. People began saying I was too thin and the doctors told me to eat, but when you're used to not eating it is very hard to do that. I have left secondary school now and I am determined to put on some weight and become healthy again... so far, things are are going well. If you know you have a problem with food, look in the mirror and tell yourself, 'I can be more than this.' Be strong, even if people tell you you are too thin, too fat, too ugly. Be strong.

Tammi says:
I've had some symptoms of anxiety and depression ever since I can remember. I was exacerbated by my parents' divorce when I was nine and I was sent to my first counsellor who diagnosed me with Generalised Anxiety Disorder. Just as I was starting to get better, I moved to secondary school where I was bullied quite severely. My anxiety began making me physically sick and I missed a lot of school but eventually I spoke out and found the right support. I still have problems, but have better coping mechanisms now... these include yoga, meditation, art and playing a musical instrument. If you have any sort of mental health issue, don't ignore it; tell someone. Your GP, your school nurse, your parents... they can help, as well as organisations like Samaritans, ChildLine and BeatBullying. Don't suffer in silence for as long as I did.

Karen says:
My eating disorder started when I was chosen out of my sports club to play professionally. I was told I needed to up my game a bit, so I did - but I also began to eat less and less. Nobody should ever do this, but I wasn't thinking straight, and one day in the middle of an important match I fainted; I ended up in hospital for a while and because of this I lost my place in the team. Things are much better now - my case was not as bad as it is for some, and I was able to turn things around, but it still cost me a great deal. I began restricting food to try and be fitter and better at sport, and ended up losing that sport altogether. I still sometimes find myself counting calories and I know I'm not quite better yet, so if you feel this may be happening to you, please tell someone before it is too late.

All stories are true, but names have been changed and pics posed by model.

Cathy says:
Mental health issues can take all kinds of forms, and can affect anyone... yet often they are considered a taboo subject. Contact YOUNG MINDS or CHILDLINE if YOU are struggling and would  like to talk to someone about it… help is out there, and your GP is a good starting point. COMMENT BELOW if you'd like to show your support for the readers who've spoken out, or share your own experiences...

ART FOR ARTS SAKE...

More fab character sketches by talented CC readers… how cool are these?

Louisa says:
I wanted to draw Skye because I can really relate to having a dream world that is unequivocally better than reality - it's me, everyday! I find the book MARSHMALLOW SKYE a great way to relax and seep into a world where I know what will happen. I also understand the feeling of being pushed into the background by a sibling who is better than me at everything, whether it's art, music, whatever… it's not easy! For my painting of Skye I used watercolour paints that I got for my birthday and three different brushes… one large, one very small, and one flat. I find that art is a way to spill out the creations that you conjure up in your imagination… I do it all the time! I think of a book or a topic and imagine the layout, the colours, the texture of what I want to paint… then I just transfer it as best I can to the paper! I loved making this picture of Skye and her world.

Hilary says:
I wanted to draw the sisters partly because of SWEET HONEY and partly because the Chocolate Box Girls are my fave CC books. My favourite sister would have to be Skye as we share a passion for history and are both quite quirky, but I also really relate to Summer as we have similar personalities. I love drawing and I often use watercolours and pencils to create my illustrations. I'd love to go to art college one day!

Vanessa says:
I've drawn Honey because she fascinates me; I thought her face would have the most interesting expressions to draw as she has the most intense emotions. I'm quite different to Honey myself, so I loved the challenge of trying to capture her on paper. I love drawing because you are free to create whatever you want - there are no limits!

Lauren says:
I've drawn Skye… well, an anime version of Skye! I chose to draw Skye because I admire her love of styles-gone-by… I'm a huge fan of vintage! I also feel there is a very special sweetness about her personality which I wanted to show in the picture. I love drawing characters, whether they're from novels, Japanese animes or characters from my own stories… it makes you pay closer attention to the details about them. Just sketching them out on paper can reveal an entirely different slant on a character! Drawing is not going to be my focus for a future career, but it's another way to be creative and that why I love it!

Matilda says:
I've chosen to draw Honey, sitting on the window seat of her turret bedroom at Tanglewood. I chose Honey because I guess I can feel her isolation; my dad left too, and like Honey I'm struggling to adjust. The 'connection' made it easier for me to visualise her than other characters, so maybe that's why. To me, drawing is freedom. It's an expression of my feelings, with nobody telling me right or wrong. .. drawing says things you can't put into words. After all, 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' I love art - it's the one thing I do that nobody criticises me on.

CATHY SAYS:
Love these pictures… and the words about what drawing means to these readers! What do YOU think of their gorgeous gallery? COMMENT BELOW to tell me, or email via www.cathycassidy.com to send in your own CC inspired artwork!

LUCY & ANNA: MUM'S AN AUTHOR...

Another in our series of cool mums and daughters... meet Lucy and her mum, Anna Wilson, who writes books for children and teens!

Anna (mum) says:
I've been a published writer for fifteen years, and a mum for fifteen years too. I was an editor before that, and I'd have stuck at my office job if I hadn't had children, so... thank you, Lucy! Lucy has certainly been an inspiration for me. When I wrote the Nina Fairy Ballerina series, I'd go along to her ballet lessons and make notes. These days, I sometimes pick up on something Lucy says that I'd like for a book; apparently I get a particular look in my eye and she wails 'Oh no, you're not going to put that in a book, are you?'

Lucy (daughter) says:
I used to find it really embarrassing when mum came into school to give talks and stuff, but it's always been quite cool to say 'My mum's an author.' It's just normal to me, I don't know anything else. With Mum's younger books we'd go through the pictures together and I'd always notice if the fairies didn't have wings. Recently I helped with Mum's new teen book, Summer's Shadow... I told her what I thought would make it better, ie: the girl and boy should get together. Mum's editor said the same, so she changed it!

Anna says:
Combining a writing career with being a mum has been the most amazing blessing. Before I was published I found it very stressful trying to combine a career as a children's book editor with being a good mum. Writing worked well, and the children and their friends gave me so many ideas just by being themselves! Lucy is a stronger character than I was at her age and has more self-belief. I know that whatever she chooses to do in life, she will do it to the highest standard - and have fun doing it, too!

Lucy says:
I think it's amazing that Mum always knew she wanted to be an author, and went ahead and did it anyway even though the teachers said she couldn't be. Mum and I get on better now that I'm at boarding school - if we saw each other all the time, we'd fight more. That's a normal part of being in a family, though! My favourite book of Mum's is Summer's Shadow, as I feel I've been more involved - and it's for my age group.

Summer's Shadow by Anna Wilson was published by Macmillan Children's Books on July 3rd. 

Does YOUR mum have a cool job? COMMENT BELOW to tell us!

SCARED OF STARTING A NEW SCHOOL...

Another in our series of readers' problems… solved by one of the Chocolate Box Girls, along with you, of course! This week HONEY has her say…

Jackie says:
This might sound stupid, but I am SO nervous about starting secondary school in September. I am going to a school on the other side of the city to all of my friends and I won't know anybody… and I'm not a very confident person. I know I'll be shy and awkward and I'm literally terrified I won't make any friends. In fact, I don't feel ready for secondary school at all, let alone one where I won't know a soul! Any advice welcome…

Honey says:
Try this tip which has always worked for me… fake it till you make it. I don't mean act 'fake', I mean act as though you're not scared… focus on looking calm and cool and confident, and slowly it will help you to relax and handle whatever your new school has in store. I recently had to start a new school on the other side of the WORLD, and trust me, that was not easy. I may give the impression of being super-confident, but think again - nobody takes stuff like that in their stride.
The way to make friends is to be interested in other people… listen to them, ask questions that let them talk about themselves, be chatty and friendly and warm. This makes people feel good about themselves! Practice your techniques on the girl at the supermarket check-out, your little cousin, the boy next door, your best friend's grandma… anyone! It's all good. As for those old friends, make sure you stay in touch - that's something I haven't been too good at in the past, but I'm learning to change my ways. Friendships matter, so don't let them drift - and these days, with letters, emails, social networking, texts and Skype you don't have any excuse. Some of my best friends are halfway around the world… yours are just across town, so make time for them with sleepovers and days out. School is nothing to be scared of… give it your best!

Cathy says:
Do you agree with Honey's advice? What would YOU say? COMMENT BELOW to add your views and suggestions!

EDEN: I LIVE ON HERM!

In another of our series on readers from around the world, we talk to Eden who lives on the tiny island of Herm in the Channel Islands…

Eden says:
I was born in Yorkshire and lived in Warrington for a while, but seven years ago we moved to Herm, the smallest of the Channel Islands. We are close to the coast of France but a part of the British Isles - we are not a part of the UK, though, or even the EU! We're a part of Guernsey, which has its own government. In winter, Herm is not as cold as the UK, but it IS windier, and sometimes there are huge storms. When the boat doesn't run because of the bad weather, we don't go to school, as our teacher lives in Guernsey and cannot get here! There are only nine children at the school, aged 4- 11 - the big children look after the little ones. We do lots of drama - every year there's a summer concert and a nativity. Our concerts are quite original - last year's was Romeo and Juliet with songs from the 1920s! When I go to high school, I will have to board in Guernsey all through the week and just come home at weekends, which will be very strange.

Herm has some trees you might not find in Britain, like palm trees and lots of tropical plants. We also have bats, owls and a buzzard! Only around sixty people live here permanently, but lots of visitors come to Herm because of the beaches and the wildlife… some of the guests have been coming for twenty or thirty years! My mum is manageress for all the holiday cottages on Herm and my dad drives tractors and quad bikes. There are no shops except for the gift shop, and there are no cars allowed, so no air pollution. Wildlife is right there all the time, which is cool. There is no crime and we are free to roam… we even have out own police and fire team! We don't have any special or traditional foods that I can think of, but there are some traditions, such as the Christmas morning swim and the Herm charity run.

In World War Two, Herm, like the rest of the Channel Islands, was invaded and occupied by the Nazis. That must have been really scary. A couple of years ago, skeletons were found nearby in a private garden - nobody had any idea they were there! I love to travel, but even though I love going somewhere new it always feels weird because I'm used to my little island… I am always glad to come home. I love that I'm safe from crime and busy roads, and I love being surrounded by awesome nature every day. The freedom of living here is exceptional -Herm is a magical island and I love it!

Cathy says:
Wow… Eden makes Herm sound like a kind of paradise… it's definitely on my list of places to visit, now! COMMENT BELOW if you like the idea of being an island girl… or if you have a question for Eden!

GIRLS LIKE US...

When reader Lucy found out about the plight of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls from DREAMCATCHER, she was determined to do something…

Lucy says:
Before I read Cathy's article on DREAMCATCHER, I knew very little about the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. I knew they'd been captured - I'd seen it briefly on the BBC news page which is the home page on our family laptop, but it didn't really register. I had no idea of the sheer scale or the story behind it. Once I read about it on DREAMCATCHER, though, I felt so shocked and upset… I knew I needed to join the campaign to help them.

To recap… 276 schoolgirls are still missing, abducted from their school by a terrorist group who oppose girls being educated. They are ordinary girls… they fancy boys, fall out with their friends, have embarrassing parents… they are just like us. Here in the UK, we grumble and moan about going to school… but on the other side of the world, girls have been kidnapped just for trying to make something of their lives. There has been no quick solution to the problem; Searches were not organised for some time, and I was shocked to hear that the groups 'searching' for the girls were having internal disputes. What can we do? Every one of us can help by posting a selfie holding a sign saying #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS. Post it on Facebook, on Twitter, tell your teachers and classmates… raise awareness. You can also choose a name from the list of missing girls and write that girl a letter of support… the love and support may reach the girls, even if the letter doesn't.

At my birthday party sleepover I asked my friends if they would help me take a selfie to support the missing girls. Most of them didn't know much about the Nigerian girls, but once I explained they went very quiet, which is VERY unusual for them. I guess all of us were trying to imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, what it would be like if it had happened to us… because it could have done. My friends fully support the #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS campaign and we took the selfie and sent it to Cathy - I then met Cathy when she visited my school on her June tour, and mentioned the Nigerian schoolgirls in her talk. Posting a selfie or writing a letter may not seem like much, but if ALL of us do it… and tell our friends and teachers and families to join in too… just think of the message of support and strength we can send out to those girls. I hope they are found… and soon.

Write a letter to… Blessing; Yayi; Monica; Lydia; Naomi; Safiya; Esther; Rejoice; Ruth; Grace; Saratu; Hauwa; Rhoda; Awa; Ladi; Mary; Rebecca; Comfort; Kabu; Hana; Glory; Debora; Juliana; Fatima; Helen or Palmata. To see the full list, scroll back to the previous BRING BACK OUR GIRLS post on DREAMCATCHER.

Cathy says:
Lucy's picture stood out for me as she had taken the time to make a selfie at her birthday sleepover… the story clearly hit home for her. As she says, if we each take a little time to do something in support of the missing girls, it will help raise awareness and perhaps make a difference. COMMENT BELOW if you'd like to write a letter or post a selfie… and please, please see if your friends will join the campaign too.

PLAY IT AGAIN!

What kind of toys were popular in the past? Cathy asked some of her Facebook friends to share their favourite childhood toys...

Jean says:

A few months ago, clearing out a cupboard in my parents' house, I came across this pair of roller skates - the first pair I ever owned. They were my Christmas present when I was seven and I LOVED them. Every day after school I'd put them on and race outside to skate up and down the smooth tarmacked pavements. We lived on a road with a slight incline, so if I skated up the pavement for a while and then grabbed a lamp post I could swing myself round and start rolling back down again. If I tied a tablecloth around my shoulders I was Supergirl, skating to the rescue of someone in peril. They were my best present ever, and finding them again was nothing short of magical. It was as thoughMum and Dad were giving me that present all over again... happy memories.

George says:

Meet Grotty and the ponies!  Grotty was knitted for me by my auntie when I was a baby - I loved him so much I chewed him up and pulled his stuffing out! My auntie knitted me a new teddy, but I didn't like it. My parents called the new teddy 'Sweet Ted' and the old one 'Grotty' - I didn't care about Sweet Ted at all but I've kept Grotty all this time; he sometimes comes to school to help me teach my class in the school where I now work. I always wanted a pony as a child, but these My Little Ponies were the closest I came - they were really cool in the '80s and I had a whole herd of them! These days, as a well as being a mum and a teacher, I'm a storyteller, poet and aspiring author. Actually, 'Grotty and the Ponies' would make a great book title... ;o)

Cath says:

My Auntie Lilian gave me this Mickey Mouse moneybox for my fifth birthday. She wasn't a blood relative but my mother's best friend and I used to think she was really glamorous with her pink lipstick and lovely presents. She was quite posh but had a naughty side; she took us scrumping for apples in autumn and I have great memories of her laughing as we got chased out of the same apple orchard more than once! I didn't use my Mickey Mouse moneybox for saving until I was older; when I left home I used it to save coppers and I still do that now. I'm a writer and a journalist these days, and still I think fondly of Auntie Lilian every time I push a 1p or 2p through the slot between Mickey's magnificent ears!

Alexandra says:
Addie is a rag doll I've had ever since I can remember - I got her when I was born, from my auntie. I didn't really name her, but one of my first words was 'Daddy' and when I said it, it used to sound like 'Addie' - somehow or other, Addie became her name! A couple of years on, I lost her for a while and couldn't sleep without her, so my mum bought me a new one; a few days later, the original Addie turned up and I insisted on keeping both! She's very old and very dirty now, but I still can't sleep without her - I love her to bits!

Cathy says:
Awww… such fab stories! Childhood toys can hold very special memories. COMMENT BELOW to tell us about YOUR fave toys… or to comment on these vintage cuties!