We went for a lovely walk along the seaside today.
At some point DS asked if he could put something in my handbag as he often does with little toys he likes to carry around with him, so I let him drop something in there.
He later asked if he could have his shells back so I realised that's what he'd put in there - not ideal I thought, but not too bad.
How wrong was I... the smell when I went hunting for them and got them out was awful. Easily the worst thing I've ever had to smell.
I couldn't quite understand why it was so bad but then I realised one of the shells wasn't empty. There had been a live clam macerating in the heat (and dying) in my handbag all day. I've just spent my Sunday night cleaning, disinfecting, and cleaning and disinfecting again anything that was in there in the hope it can be salvaged.
The bag is going straight in the bin. The putrid stench is deeply ingrained in my nose and I feel like I can smell it everywhere now. It's making me gag.
Have kids they said, it will be fun they said!