Pocket money toys

Roy and I usually have a game of scrabble at the weekend, more often than not I lose as fate usually gives me loads of vowels !

Anne, I wonder if Roy keeps you waiting tapping your fingers when his turn comes around. Hey, it beats watching rubbish on the TV.

These are definitely my favourite. Currently have 14.

Married at first sight - Australia ? (currently being shown on UK TV) !

Wearethemods, that is just why we play, and no, most of the time if I go anywhere anywhere near a treble he has just the right letters to use it so he does not have time to tap his fingers, he has his move already worked out, he is so lucky.

Like Mick we had a large collection of Wasgij jigsaws for the dark winter evenings, Destiny and Mystery being our favourites. We adopted a "Do it once policy" then off to Charity approach as they start to take over. Daughter and friend are off to the Eleventh Annual Gibsons British Jigsaw Championships (2024) at Newmarket in June. You need to book for 2025 now if you fancy your chances, as this year it's fully booked. I believe last year's winner took 1hr 52m to complete the 1,000 piece in the Elite class. Some going ! Pete

I agree with the 'do it once' policy. My exception is the Chateau De Chenonceau 3D jigsaw. We've done a few 3D jigs and passed them on but I have a soft spot for Chenonceau, partly because I've been there but who doesn't love a building on a bridge?

Yes I don't like to do them more than once, except special ones. Have a couple of swap friends or yes, charity shops. Did not know there were such things as jigsaw competitions ! I would be no good if it is for speed. It takes me long enough to do the edge pieces. I agree with you Helen, I like puzzles of places I have been. I have noticed some that do not say where they are, you recognise one but there are other buildings that don't fit the place.

I don't 'puzzle' as much as I used to but I do have a lovely circa 1970 Sgt. Pepper one I couldn't let go of. My daughter and her friends, all 40ish, are avid fans and have their puzzle tables up all the time. Such lovely old fashioned, peaceful pastime.

I've never been much of a 'Puzzler' since childhood, although my Wife is, (she has a lot of patience), and she completed a large 'Sgt. Pepper ' Album cover Puzzle which had been lying around for years. I had it framed and it is now in my 'Mancave' !

That's the trouble with jigsaw puzzles they have to be broken up eventually unless you have a real favourite one, but that's why I never complete one twice. Only once there has been an instance where I could not complete one - one piece missing when Leo ate it. Grrrrrrrrrr.

When my daughter was younger, one of her favourite teases was to take a piece of my puzzle from the box and keep it in her bedroom. Very frustrating when you think you have dropped a piece or there was a piece missing in the first place. The missing piece would suddenly reappear to complete the puzzle.

From the age of eleven or twelve I saved my pocket money of 2shillings-and-sixpence to buy Pelham puppets (Marionettes) from a shop on the left hand side top of Primrose hill street. As those with opening mouths (e.g.MacBoozle or the King) were 38s/6pence each my collection grew steadily as I think my pocket money was generous for the 50s, my dad working at Rootes (Ryton). Later I was given a toy handmade theatre with which to use them, and my elder brother fitted the electrics. One other boy at Tech had Pelham puppets, but I did not know anyone else who did.

I had glove puppets. They were plastic heads and Mum made material gloves with different outfits to go with them. I could swap heads and bodies to get unusual combos. The lion in a princess dress was one of my favourites. He'd flirt with the prince and then eat him.