This is emblazoned on the bottom of plastic bags in Ireland. I used to think, what a moronic thing to write on a plastic bag. What kind of idiot is going to give his/her child a plastic bag to play with? This was before our beloved daughter was born. She loves plastic bags and she can spot them at 50 paces. Since she has started to crawl, this has become a real pain. What’s that she’s going for? Oh God, it’s the spare packet of wipes enclosed in plastic, or the spare nappies enclosed in plastic, or the plastic bag lining the bin, or the plastic wrapping on the candles, or sellotape, or the plastic bag I put down for 2 SECONDS, FOR GOD’S SAKE on the floor in the hall. You get the picture here. In fact she loves all kinds of things that are not toys. While plastic gets the number one spot, the following are also much loved:
Mr. Waffle’s alarm clock
Handbag sized vaseline
Keys (a classic, I suppose)
Videos
Nail file
Match boxes or any box which rattles when you shake it (vitamins are a big success)
Mr. Waffle’s boots
The handles on the bottom drawer of the wardrobe
Wrapping paper
Books (for eating)
All this reminds me of a story my father tells with much bitterness. When I was little he brought me home skittles from Spain. This was a long time ago and public transport was not what it is now and clearly (to hear him talk) he had to pack them on a mule and lead them across the Pyrenees. Anyway when he got them home, I was entranced with the wrapping and never played with the skittles. I do vaguely remember the skittles lying sadly in the corner while I played with the excellent large box that they came in. I seem to recall that it played the role of toy TV set for many happy years.
In any event, the only toy our Princess really loves is Doggy and he’s not really a toy, more an essential device for the preservation of parental sanity. My sister rang me from Cork this morning (you will recall that she was importing Doggies from America for me) and told me that her luggage got lost in London. I immediately asked whether she had brought the Doggies as hand luggage, she said, with some asperity, that she had not. Alas.
on 24 March 2004 at 22:56
When I was about 4 or 5 my parents splashed out at christmas and got me a big pedal car, which was bright red and looked great, and it came in this HUUUUGE box that looked great by the tree.
I spent all of christmas day playing happily by myself, I had a great time. Then finally on Boxing Day they threw the box away and I had to play with the car instead.
on 31 March 2004 at 10:40
Hmm. Interesting stuff. Thanks both. Think in future will save cash to buy shoes for me and give her boxes instead. She has spent the morning happily playing with blank video cassettes.
