35 years ago, my DS loved Thomas the Tank Engine stories. He had all of the books, which were read to him over and over again; his bedroom was similarly themed and birthday cakes had to be either Thomas, James or Percy. And now, 35 years later, his own son is similarly besotted with Thomas and friends and the original books are back out and being read to my grandson, just as they were to his daddy. Of all the things I'm missing during this lockdown, it's having a little 3 year old boy, sat on my lap, being totally engrossed in stories about Thomas, James and the Fat Controller. The stories are truly timeless and they hold the same magic now as they did when Reverend Awdry wrote them all those years ago.