Presents for grandchildren and pets

Poppy has a Christmas Stocking from the DGCs and I can see a squeeky toy inside,she will play with it for a while but always goes back to her giraffe her toy that we bought her when she first came.

Two years ago, the kittens had a wonderful time sharing the marbles from the boys' marble run. The more intelligent of the two worked out that a marble would roll further and faster on the laminate floor than on the rug, so carefully carried it over and chased it until it went under the sofa.

Thanks for the idea, Mrs Pickle. I have ordered a Babble Ball for DD2's dog. He and the DGCs will have great fun with it!

My Maximum Dog was given a squeaky toy as a Christmas present (not by me) every year. It took him about 20 seconds partially to dismember it and destroy the squeaker – oh blessed relief. But it did improve his vocabulary as he learned phrases such as "Where's your Santa?" and "Where's your reindeer".