Right now it all seems to be about Christmas inzaburbs. Or rather, presents. I had to take the boys shopping with me this morning and while I was there (TJ Maxx, if you must know) I found a toy which Baby Sister has been coveting and which I had resolved not to get her ask Santa to bring because it is just too expensive for what it is.

Goodness knows we have piles enough of grotesquely molded plastic without adding even more, but it is too late, my children are already aware of the outside world, and have done nothing for the last few weeks except make request after request for items of dubious quality. Such is life. Also, I love a bargain, and this is one, battered box and all. So I bought it.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, if your monniker is Baby Sister) it is rather a large item and so of course the T-Bot noticed, as did The Wictor, who erroneously decided it must be allowance day, attached himself to a Thomas train and, when denied it,  tantrumed his way to the checkout and all the way out of the store.

Then, to avoid awkward questions about why I was buying something for his sister and not for him, I was forced to reveal to the T-Bot that I had already bought him a present from me. So sorry Santa, you get credit for one less thing this year… I spent the rest of the afternoon deflecting intense questions of the what is it, where is it nature.

And then he gave up, went upstairs and erected a “trap” in the hope of catching any passing stray toys.

Rest assured that my children will not be getting all the plastic they desire this Christmas. They will also be getting other items, carefully chosen by me, things they do not know they want yet. Like these, which arrived today and are ever so cool and nifty (the robot is my favorite, but they are all good).

And judging by past Christmases, this is what they will still be playing with in years time, when all the bright and shiny toys of the moment have been long forgotten.

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And now, I need your help. I have three children and everything they are asking for seems to be yet another variation on something they already own. Are there any original yet exciting toys left out there (of the plastic or other persuasion, I don’t mind) ? Let me know, below. You will win nothing - but my undying gratitude.