It was busy at the airport. Between the garish shopfronts, holiday makers waited not so patiently for the instructions to change on the boards"Help. Help me. Daddy, No, no. Help," screamed the toddler being hauled across the concourse by a harassed-looking woman.
Travellers unglued their gaze from the departure screens to stare at the child. Where was his father? What was that woman doing? Was he being abducted? Should they do something or tell someone?
"Help. I want my Daddy. Go 'way Mummy. Too busy. Help," continued my youngest son in his most carrying of voices. I was lugging him through the airport to find some lunch while the Panther of News was off on some luggage-based mission.
Only hours later I learned that in another terminal of the same airport, Fisher-Price were opening a shop and play area for kids up to school age. This is one of the best ideas I've heard in a mighty long time.
I don't even begrudge F-P trying to sell as many toys as they can to struggling parents. Our recent trip - Glasgow to Salzburg via Gatwick - saw us spending a small fortune in plastic or sugar just in order to keep Boy Three from causing too much of mayhem or attracting the attention of the authorities. There were at least three versions of a certain red racing car purchased as well as numerous other bits of nonsense. It would have been excellent to take him somewhere he could try - at length - a toy before shelling out on it.
To celebrate this marvelous innovation, open in Gatwick's South Terminal until October 28, Fisher Price have given me a Bounce 'n' Spin Zebra to give away as a prize.
To enter, add a comment to this post before the end of August when I'll pick a winner at random. Follow my blog for a bonus second entry.
