" For safety reasons can you tell me what's in the packages?"
So asked the miserable post office worker at our local Spar.
" An action figure of Rey from Star Wars and a Minion water squirter is in this one and there's a DVD Gerald Butler in the other!"
She gave me a look which said Too much Informaton
"Five Pounds sixty" she said
Buying Childrens' toys is an anathema to me .
I have no idea of what kids like and when they like them but Today I needed to buy a frivolous gift
for a four year old. He is the son of Hannah, a gentle and quiet young woman who for a time was conscripted onto the Flower Show Committee back when Auntie Gladys still baked her own scones and when Sylvia Evans ruled the day with a soaringly dangerous blood presssure and a tight perm.
Hannah never seemed able to say boo to a goose but soon after we met she and her hubby and new baby packed up their camper van and drove to Murcia in Spain where they all now live.
Facebook has allowed me to keep up sporadically with Hannah's new life and so when I heard that Milo, her son, was experiencing some health issues, I thought it my be nice to send him a few frivious toys to make his hospital visits a little more bearable.
But what to buy?
I haven't a scooby do
So thank god for the new mom I bumped into in Sainsbury's today who gave me a serious but interesting lession into the psychology of toy buying
When in doubt , I have always found it useful to look stupid and throw yourself at the mercy of someone who knows!!
" sexist and violent toys are no nos !" She started "No guns, no action men , no soldiers no racing cars!"
" No pretty Disney princesses either!"
" He's a five year old boy!" I told her putting down a plastic sword very quickly " What about a lego star ship ?" I suggested dizzy at the array of toys on offer
" Too many small parts and it for older children" the mom explained tapping the age range of the toy details on the side of the box
I felt stupid and so
We checked again.
Finally, and after much debate I picked a Star Wars action figure of some handsome space pilot called Po which I had to swap quickly for the female hero Rey instead
" Little boys need to see Women in a lead role " My mother explained " Well done!"
( I didn't like to say that Rey had a lethal looking light sabre and a spear !!!)
I was growing to my theme
I balanced the action figure with a cheerful and what I suddenly thought
as a fun water squirter in the shape of an asexual yellow minion
" It's not a water pistol !" I explained hopefully " and Spain's hot!"
The toys were finally agreed upon
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My sister is beavering around the garden on her last jaunt in revamping it
I will post a few photos tomorrow as I am so pleased with the results
I think it's a grand idea especially as the future of our one single village pub The Crown looks rather dubious since lockdown .
I shall attend the meeting with Mary in tow to see any bunfights occur!
And finally
I wanted to highlight this particularly nasty comment from yesterday's blog
An unwanted, unsolicited and totally innacurate comment which says more about how innately nasty the commentator is
Anonymous10:35 amA bit quick to dash off the following morning? A wife at home? Shame you didn't get to spend the leisurely Sunday with him. What other more interesting things or people were more important than spending the time with you?
ReplyDeleteI hope on reflection you realise just how sad it was that you wasted your time and energy on something so inaccurate
And to finally finish on a nice note for Yorkshire Liz with love xxx