Somebody's pleased with the 36 cars he got for his birthday...

Obviously he didn't just get 36 cars. He got 39 cars and 2 trains. There's an entire transport infrastructure on our living room floor as we speak.

That's the problem with getting cards like this on my birthday...

I see the heartwarming sentiments and impressive handwriting, and it makes me want to go out and spend money on my children.

But as luck would have it, I didn't have to. Today might be Toby's second birthday, but thanks to the generosity of my parents and siblings, Lisa and I have barely had to give him a thing. And he's only two, so he won't remember. The cars above came from his Grandma and Grandad, who also bought him this train set...

... and these slippers to protect his feet from the live rail...

Lisa and I agreed to buy him some skittles, but while she expected me to head to the nearest sweet shop, I misunderstood her instructions and spent £7.99 on a ten-pin bowling set. He hasn't opened that yet, mainly because he's too busy dancing to the musical car which came courtesy of my brother and his family...


It plays 'Funkytown' by Lipps Inc. Things have clearly moved on since Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.