I suppose I was about three. It will have been the spring of 1951, probably, since it says on the back that we were in the gardens of a local big house, famed for its rhododendrons. Her name is Sheila Teddy and she was made by my Mum. I am told that I had had an ordinary teddy, but she "disappeared" from my pram when I was about a year old. I had been parked outside a shop, the way it was done back then, and my Mother knew the name of the little girl who had been talking to me. She came from a family that one would NOT go to and ask to have ones toy back. So Sheila was made.
And she is still with me. My children loved her too! Her companion is even older. He is a nightdress case called Ankers. He was my Mother's and dates from the 1920's. He was originally called Angus, but much childish mispronunciation transmogrified him to Ankers. He too is bald from much love.
3 comments:
I always thought of him as Angus, no matter how I pronounced it.
I used to love taking his eye out (on a long wire stalk - health and safety nightmare!), and unzipping him to see the incredibly ancient blanket he's stuffed with.
I'm pretty sure the initial mispronunciation was mine! I had been calling him Ankers for long enough before I discovered that Angus was a regular name that I felt odd using it.
Thanks for mentioning it though - I think I had better go and put a moth repellent sachet into his innards - that should make the pair of toys less vulnerable.
it is cute.
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