I used to think ....

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
Following a conversation with my sister yesterday, it reminded me of when I was a child and I used to think that all cats were female and all dogs were male, and I know of other people who thought the same. I also used to believe that people died in order of age, so that, if someone was one day older than you, they would die the day before! I actually remember one afternoon when I was in the infants' class at Flash Ley School and we were having an art lesson and had to paint a tree.

I was not very happy that a boy I particularly did not like, on account of his spiteful nature, was on the same table. Worse still, he was sitting NEXT to me! He looked across at my 'tree' and said, "Yours is 'opeless ... mine's much better than yours!" I looked across at his and, although it was quite good, it was far too rigid and overly painted and I replied, "Well, yours has got too much paint on it." He thumped me on the arm and said, "WELL! Anyway, I am older than you!". I said (and I believed it totally), "Well that means you will die before me!" He thumped me again but did actually shut up, when a little 'he' voice from across the table spoke in my favour.

I was just wondering what other beliefs people might have had as children?
 

basil

don't mention the blinds
I recall asking mother why the birds in the garden flew away when I went near them. "That's because they are used being chased off the washing line when women go to peg the washing out" she replied. As yours truly was four (ish) it seemed most reasonable......
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I remember working out that muscles were actually hydraulic and the veins and arteries supplied the necessary pressurised blood to operate them.

If you sustained serious blood loss, you would become weak - and raised blood pressure was associated with anger and violence, which required more force to be available

Still seems plausible to me now.....
 

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
I remember working out that muscles were actually hydraulic and the veins and arteries supplied the necessary pressurised blood to operate them.

If you sustained serious blood loss, you would become weak - and raised blood pressure was associated with anger and violence, which required more force to be available

Still seems plausible to me now.....
Sounds plausible to me now!
 

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
I used to believe that, when you died, you went up to heaven in a coffin, in an aereoplane, tied to string, in a Morris Minor. I still picture it. It haunted me from when I was 8 years old, ill in bed with 'flu, for ages.
 

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
A boy in my class, who shall remain nameless, as he is now a Stafford Borough Councillor!, once told me that he could access the beach from his bath. I was about 6 years old and I was totally convinced. He said he could go down his plughole, down some steps and onto the beach. I went home and told my mother, expecting her to be as excited as I was ... sadly not!
 
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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It haunted me from when I was 8 years old, ill in bed with 'flu, for ages.
I had chicken pox during one of the last smallpox outbreaks. I was about 8 or 9 and quite used to people 'not quite telling the truth'. I was convinced that it would actually be fatal and I was just being strung along with platitudes of the "you'll be better in a few days" type.

I remember being quite disappointed that I wouldn't even get to double figures.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It haunted me from when I was 8 years old, ill in bed with 'flu, for ages.
I had a very serious dose of 'flu in the late '60s. I remember the masked doctors (!) who came to see me discussing what to do and deciding that it wasn't safe to take me to the hospital, in case I infected people there.

I spent a considerable amount of time hallucinating - 'flying' round the room and suchlike.

I had a bizarre dream about a lad I hardly knew - he wanted to borrow a crash helmet that I had painted like a chequered flag - we floated round the room as the loan was negotiated.

Some weeks after I had recovered, I saw him and mentioned this 'dream'. "Oh!", he said, "I'll bring it back tomorrow." Apparently, it hadn't been a dream at all, and he said that I seemed completely OK during the conversation.....
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I used to think there was a bogey man in my nans bedroom cupboard, and had to spent several months living with them while mum was in hospital. They used to threaten me with "Be good or the bogey man will get you". Even when my gran died when I was grown up I was scared to go in that room to help clear it out incase the bogey man was still there.

Then each night time when I was put to bed they said a prayer with something like 'Let angels watch me as I sleep' . Petrified me thinking all these angels were going to be in the bedroom watching me all night!

I believed my dad when he told me you could dig down in the garden and come out in Australia.

I used to think my parents were going 'boating' when they went to my school to vote. Had visions of the school hall being filled with water and them bobbing around in canoes.

And remember being in the old Stafford hospital for an operation when I was 7 and in the lift being taken to theatre. I was told I was going to 'the theatre' and expecting to be watching clowns and all nice sort of things. Bit of a shock when I was wheeled into theatre and the big black rubber gas mask came out.
 
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basil

don't mention the blinds
I remember early 60s walking up to the Barr Beacon on the B'ham/Walsall border, we were told that it was the highest point facing east 'til The Wash.

For a short period of my life "It'll all come out in The Wash" meant something arriving in North Norfolk.....
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
I was worried my knob would be too big to make a baby, when I was a child, after I was told where it had to go

In the end it was a snugfit

So I needn't have fretted
 

sarsaparilla

Well-Known Forumite
A boy in my class, who shall remain nameless, as he is now a Stafford Borough Councillor!, once told me that he could access the beach from his bath. I was about 6 years old and I was totally convinced. He said he could go down his plughole, down some steps and onto the beach. I went home and told my mother, expecting her to be as excited as I was ... sadly not!
Actually, the same boy presented himself as my milkman circa 1984 and got my bill wrong. My own maths is nothing to write home about but I did spot it. I recognised him instantly ... He had not changed at all, just got bigger. I said, "Mmmm, well, I see your maths hasn't improved from our Flash Ley school days, young ***" He said, "Hah, you are ........" and he was right, I was me!
 

Theresa Green

Well-Known Forumite
I used to think there was a bogey man in my nans bedroom cupboard, and had to spent several months living with them while mum was in hospital. They used to threaten me with "Be good or the bogey man will get you". Even when my gran died when I was grown up I was scared to go in that room to help clear it out incase the bogey man was still there.

Then each night time when I was put to bed they said a prayer with something like 'Let angels watch me as I sleep' . Petrified me thinking all these angels were going to be in the bedroom watching me all night!

I believed my dad when he told me you could dig down in the garden and come out in Australia.

I used to think my parents were going 'boating' when they went to my school to vote. Had visions of the school hall being filled with water and them bobbing around in canoes.

And remember being in the old Stafford hospital for an operation when I was 7 and in the lift being taken to theatre. I was told I was going to 'the theatre' and expecting to be watching clowns and all nice sort of things. Bit of a shock when I was wheeled into theatre and the big black rubber gas mask came out.

Anyone know about bogeys?

IMG_1569.jpeg
 
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