My grandmother liked to recite the rhyme 'Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me went down to the river to bathe. Adam and Eve were drowned. Who do you think was saved?' And then she would pinch me gently. There was also 'Round and round the garden like a teddy bear. One step, two step, tickle under there!' which was a tickle under my armpit.
The strangest thing - and I'd love to know if anyone else has heard of this - occurred when I was very small and in my pushchair. She bought a fish from the fishmonger's and then she cut its head off. She then wrapped it in newspaper so that the head poked out and gave it to me, saying 'Here's a nice dolly for you!' Apparently I was delighted with it, and refused to be parted from it, so my mother was forced to take it and me together to Erdington Library.