Newbury Races

I'll place 50p each way on the old nag in the green livery...... not.

My son has inherited my old nag of a rocking horse. I name her an old nag as she really is quite fondly so called, she was made for me by my Grandfather, with his own hands, and was loved by me, my sister and now by my son. My parents lovingly restored her to her original 1960's glory and presented her to me, quite unexpectedly after baby arrived.

I have a sneaking feeling her hair do was updated to a 70's Kevin Keegan Mop, or is it a Popstar Mullet? We love her. Proof that the best things in life are almost always those hand made with love, not bought with heaps of dosh.

As Christmas approaches, and the first ripples of terror spread throughout the parental community, perhaps it is worth thinking about? What are toys? What purpose should or do they serve?Rather than the austere "Can we afford it? " or "Do we need it?" perhaps the better questions are "What does it do?" What is my child learning/gaining from it?" and "Can I make one?".....

I know we too will succumb to heaps of plastic tat under the tree, I don't pretend to be so righteous! I confess, however, to having already purchased a few items "to send to Santa" in Charity Shops, and on half price sale days. But one thing I do promise is that I know I will be looking at eco-provenance and cost per use ratio (CPUR?)of what ever goes into Santa's Sack. And my sewing machine is already a buzzing......

BTW if there is a horse called "Old Nag" in the Newbury Races, you didn't get the hot tip from me...