Who here remembers real parties?

...with jelly and blancmange? Jelly left outside overnight to set, blancmange made in a plastic mould?

Yes Dutchman... and you always dressed up to go to a party! All little girls had a pretty party dress and little boys always looked very smart too. Games were always pass the parcel, musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey. I don't know what happens in England now, but here in Australia parents it seems, must spend hundreds of dollars to celebrate their childrens birthdays. They hire jumping castles, clowns, magicians or take their children and their friends to VERY expensive venues. Bring back the jelly and blancmange that's what I say. (I must confess though I really hate jelly and never liked it as a child either!) Gilly

I much preferred the blancmange to the jelly .... and the "goody bags" - heaven knows what it costs to put them together these days (thats assuming they still give them). I'm sure kids wouldn't be satisfied with a few sweets, a couple of flying saucers and a sherbet dip now!!

I hadn't seen Blancmange for years,and then there it was on ASDA's shelves. Made by Pearce & Duffs and with various flavours. Took me back a lot of years tucking into Jelly & Blancmange again.

Love the party games as well especially " Postman's Knock" Regards.

Loved Jelly and blancmange. I smiled when I read about leaving it outside to set, I remember mum doing this, although our front room was so cold that it was often put in there. (We only had a fire in the front room at Christmas.) I used to make jelly and blancmange for my son and daughter, they loved it. I used to have a plastic rabbit mould that I used to put chocolate blancmange in. Recently I make strawberry blancmange and jelly for my grandaughters; although I suspect that I won't be allowed to make it for them again as they were sick in the car on their way back to London.

I have loved reading these posts. I was never a big party person but recall a few parties from those golden days of my childhood & of my boy. My wife one day asked me what sandwiches ideas for our Michael's sixth birthday, to which I replied banana & chocolate buttons. She had never heard of that combination before. That was a regular winter-time sandwich for train-spotters. Anyway, when I arrived home from my office, I was greeted with a cry of delight as the banana & chocolate button sandwiches had all gone, even after another load had been made up. There was none left for me that day.

Has anyone memories of Children's parties they had or went to when they or their children were growing up? I remember birthday parties in the 50's being an occasion for best dresses and were usually just close friends. The only thing taken home was a piece of birthday cake wrapped in a serviette. Games played were 'pass the parcel' and 'pin the tail on the donkey'. I used to love going to my Dad's works' Christmas party (not in Coventry). It was mayhem and there were probably over 200 children there. Parents weren't really encouraged to stay. It always ended with a film show so when parents arrived all was calm! All children would then receive a present from Father Christmas to take home. When my children were young in the 70's it was fashionable to hire an entertainer to help birthday parties go well. Mine loved having 'Mister Magic' who used to perform magic tricks and then showed Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny cartoons and extracts from Star Wars which always went down well. Goody bags to take home started to get more competitive amongst parents to see who could provide the best ones as it quickly became unacceptable to just give a piece of cake.

Mod's note : This post has been merged with a previous similar thread

My last birthday party was my 15th, school leaving year and would you believe we had a sprinkling of snow. It was in the month of May. Just a bunch of school friends - NO BOYS - so there was no spin the bottle or anything like that. I had two cakes a 1 and a 5 so there was plenty to go round and as always a lovely trifle. My best friend stayed the night and we talked about all daft things. Mum had made up a food tasting table and we had to be blind folded and guess what we were tasting. That was when I decided I hated Bovril and fish paste. Quite a few children's parties are held in the park here, methinks it saves the mess at home for all the modern Mums and everyone loves a BarBQ. Pool parties if you are old enough.

Hi all How many does there have to be for it to be a real party? A couple of weeks ago I had returned home from Coventry. It was a glorious spring day & an exchange of text msgs with Pam had me calling in to our corner shop where the lady makes her own onion bhaji & samosas along with her own dips. They are probably the best that I have ever eaten anywhere & I don't need much of a reason to buy them at anytime. Pam & I had just sat in our garden to enjoy our lunch, when our neighbour Joan called round. Another chair was then pulled up to the table & the three of us tucked into our impromptu party. A bottle of Rose' wine washed it all down. Hardly a party really, but I do enjoy any food theme.

I was interested to see this post about childrens entertainers. My daughter who lives in Nuneaton uses a guy whose stage name is "Mr Juggler". He works with his wife and does juggling(now theres a surprise) and balloon modelling plus party games.The kids think he is the bees knees and he is booked for my youngest grandaughter's birthday.

I do, in fact it was only the other day I found the jelly moulds from many years ago, popped them in the dishwasher and I'm going to, ahem, attempt some jelly and blancmange. Just hope I can make my mum proud. Wish me luck

Good luck with that derbyskyblue. My favourite jelly is orange and don't forget the hundreds and thousands on the blancmange.

The Standard Motor Co. used to give good Christmas parties. Always went home with a present, balloons and paper hats. I remember once having an orange to take home as well which was special just after the war. Always lots of 'pop' to drink and played the usual games, ie. the good old musical chairs. They were held in the works canteen and there seemed to be hundreds of us kids there, and JELLY GALORE ! Naturally Santa put in an appearance but I was too shy to go up to him, just stood and stared.