[Pyramid*]

Off shoot from a thread I've just read.

What was the 'furthest back' memory you can recall from childhood surrounding Christmas and / or Santa Claus?

Mine was visiting rather posh and well heeled relatives when I was about 7 or 8 years old, arrived early Christmas Eve to spent a few days with them.

They had the most massive real tree, which I'd never seen in my life.... a REAL tree with not a space that didn't have lights on it! PMSL. Had really posh chocs hanging on it which I spied but got 'the look' from my father (ie: the 'Do not even think about taking one' look... !)

Their entire house was done up to the max with expensive decorations, garlands, Christmas wreaths and the whole place smelled of Christmas - it was like some magical place and I'd never seen anything like it (bearing in mind, I was only a child!).

I went to bed, couldn't sleep a wink, and was so excited I was up vomiting all night..... pathetic but looking back, funny as hell !

Got up the next morning and found Santa had left me the two thing I desperately wanted: a 'big' 2 wheeler bike and a pair of roller skates.

Ahhhhhh...............childhood memories!

What's yours!

[Miss Ivy Balls]

Can't remember.

My memory doesn't go back that far.

[Josy]

I think it was when I was about 3 or 4, Getting a huge "Aunt Sally" doll among my presents that was about 3 times the size of me, I also remember my brothers fighting about Atari games that year and the pine needles from the Tree jagging my feet, now I feel so old

[Lee.]

I can't really think of one particular memory.. I do remember the feeling of waking up every xmas morning and being almost scared to open your eyes incase it wasn't morning and Santa would know I was awake and maybe disappear..

My sister and I always had a tradition that we had to share the same room on xmas eve.. This continued until we were well into our 20s. Always made it more exciting. I can always remember lying in the dark, almost sick with excitement whispering to each other, "are you asleep yet" then answering "no". This used to go on for hours!

[Locke.]

Earliest memory I can proper remember is going to my nans an opening Fifa 03 (I think.. the one that had Davids on the front). Cos I'd asked for it for christmas an didn't get it in the morning when I opened the stuff at mine so didn't think I was getting it.. an that was probably the main thing I wanted.

Can remember getting earlier presents an stuff just can't remember opening them or anything.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Locke.

Earliest memory I can proper remember is going to my nans an opening Fifa 03 (I think.. the one that had Davids on the front). Cos I'd asked for it for christmas an didn't get it in the morning when I opened the stuff at mine so didn't think I was getting it.. an that was probably the main thing I wanted.

Can remember getting earlier presents an stuff just can't remember opening them or anything.

That was always a brilliant ploy played by parents eh.... you think you've not got the one thing you set your heart on, and then find it's been planked at a relative's house for you to get later on.

One of the best feelings in the world !!!

[Stacey.]

Must have been about 7, I remember trying to stay up all night to see Santa.. then I must've just fallen asleep. And I remember going to my nan's and opening crackers with my cousins

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Snowball

That was always a brilliant ploy played by parents eh.... you think you've not got the one thing you set your heart on, and then find it's been planked at a relative's house for you to get later on.

One of the best feelings in the world !!!

Although not a child (we admitedly drew the santa thing out longer than most) I remember opening all my pressies when I was about 18 and got everything I wanted.. Later on in the day, my mum told me she had found another pressie for me. It was new bed sheets which I loved but had to point out tat she had got the wrong size.. she told me to go and look in the garage and there was the most smashing new double bed! I had been nagging her for ages about getting a new one... it was a lovely surprise!

My mum ALWAYS did that... At some point on xmas day or evening.. she would appear with an other couple of presents claiming she had "forgotten" about one each for us both!

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Stacey.

Must have been about 7, I remember trying to stay up all night to see Santa.. then I must've just fallen asleep. And I remember going to my nan's and opening crackers with my cousins

I think we've all done that at some time.... tried to stay awake, pretending to be asleep in the hope that we'd actually 'see' Santa.

One of the guys at work, for years used to cover the floor from his wee boy's room down to where the Christmas Tree was then to the fireplace, then would 'walk' through it.................. and in the morning, he'd be telling his little lad it was Santa's magic that was left behind and 'Look...there's where he's walked'.

Said there was glitter all over the bloody house for months after, but the sheer amazed look on his son's face was worth it!

[Locke.]

Oh yeah, I can remember my mum or dad putting a belt in the letterbox one year (we don't have a chimney) and making me think it was Santa's in the morning. A trick Jayman would probably still fall for this year.

[Stacey.]

Originally Posted by Locke.

Oh yeah, I can remember my mum or dad putting a belt in the letterbox one year (we don't have a chimney) and making me think it was Santa's in the morning. A trick Jayman would probably still fall for this year.