Cardboard Vehicles

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Nothing in the world delights my boy like a cardboard vehicle. Even a turn driving Grandpa's car, sitting on his lap on the driveway, cannot quite compete with the joy that abounds when we receive an enormous parcel (yes, that camping stuff - that was the most exciting bit for me!) and he quickly realises we can create something that will give him hours of fun. Today he was desperate for a fire engine - and this box was the perfect shape! You will have to imagine the corrugated card hose at the back and the steering wheel and keyhole inside, I didn't take pictures of those!


So, Fireman Sam (and he will not answer to any other name...) is currently putting out fires to his heart's content. And this particular Fireman is a cut above your average firefighting hero, as he has discovered the power of accessories. Now I'm not certain that these would be more use in a genuine fire-fighting emergency than those big black boots that the more conventional fireman goes for, but they certainly add some sparkle to the outfit. He's fallen utterly in love with the shoes our beautiful bridesmaid wore at our wedding, has pinched them from her wardrobe and is dancing his way around the house in them. This is sweet, funny and lovely (they're much too big and not very practical!) but also feels a bit sad to me - he said 'Ooh I could wear these to a wedding!' well yes he could, but he'd be laughed at all day and this boy already stops himself from crying when he is hurt because he hates to be embarassed. What is the alternative for boys? Why do we have all these beautiful things for girls, sparkles and glitter and dresses and shoes, and nothing for boys except plain shoes and boring outfits? It must be so disappointing! Answers on a postcard... One of the nicest things today is the way that this little fireman is so determined that his little sister should join in too. Despite her cold and constant grumbling, he has designed and masterminded her very own vehicle, an ambulance, apparently, and brought her a special fire-fighter outfit too. It's actually a construction jacket, but let's not quibble! She just delights in being entertained by him and spends most of her day keeping up with bigger children. She's enchanted by her box and has spent a long time posting the key (a stray adapter from Phil's music corner...) into the key hole. Life doesn't get much better than a cardboard box, sometimes!