I would spend hours tottering around the back yard in my gum boots and rain coat. I loved climbing trees. And playing coppers and robbers. While the other kids went home to their Mum's covered in dirt and mud, I managed to do everything they did, but stay effortlessly clean. She loved that.
I loved roller skating and dancing.
I was pretty violent and always stood up for myself. If any of the boys around the neighbourhood would tease me, I would punch them in the face.
Two boys in our neighbourhood had a mother who was crazy. Like, totally mad. She used to let her sons run around the park naked. Completley starkers. I saw their willies and ran home to my Mum crying. Completley terrified by these funny looking things things blowing in the breeze.
My favourite movies were the Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Labyrinth, Neverending Story, Back to the Future, Annie and The Land Before Time.
ET scared the shit out of me.
I used to sneak into the hallway after my bed time - where you could see the TV. I used to think it was so cool, because Mum never caught me out and I could watch the "grown up shows". One night "It" was on. I had nightmares for weeks and never snuck into the hallway after my bed time, ever again.
My fave TV Shows were Punky Brewster, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Roger Ramjet, The Jetsons, Care Bears, Captain Planet, Full House and Saved by the Bell.
When I grew up I wanted to be an astronaut, a professional ballerina or Punky Brewster.
Among my most cherished possessions where Warren my Cabbage Patch Kid, my Bubblegum sneakers and my pink fluro slinky that never once got tangled.
My dog Sheba (a black lab) was my best friend. She went everywhere with me. I absolutely adored her. Some boys threw rocks at her one day. I chased them down on my pink bike and threw rocks back at them. Little fuckers.
I would often catch Praying Mantis' and keep them in an old Vegemite jar with holes in the lid. I would name them Bruce or Cindy and become so attached that when Mum forced me to let them go I would cry and cry and cry and wait on the back porch for them to come back.
I read almost all of the Baby Sitter's Club and Nancy Drew series.
I desperatley wanted a Super Nintendo but never got one. Until I bought one for 5 dollars at a garage sale about 4 years ago. I still dust it off and clock Super Mario every now and then!
Like most kids I never wanted to eat my vegetables which would result in many a screaming match with my mother. She wouldn't allow me to have dessert but didn't know about the secret lolly stash I had in my room.
I was very adventurous and fiercely independent (apparently I used to try and change my own nappies!!) and would wander off on my Mum almost daily. She would always threaten to leave me in the car when she went shopping, but she never did.
Mum used to have to be at work by 6:30-7am. I would always wake up to the smell of toast and coffee and the sound of the shower running. I would drag myself out of bed and sneak into the bathroom and wrap myself up in the clothes she had carefully laid out (to wear to work) and go back to sleep. She hated that.
