Is anyone in Sydney and going to the zoo in the next few weeks?

[abride]

This is so silly I can't believe I'm having to do this, but...

About 18 months ago I bought my daughter a koala pencil top from the zoo in Sydney. It is basically just plastic, but quite sweet: a koala with a baby in its pouch.

She dropped it on the school bus a few months back and didn't realise she'd lost it. She then spotted that the driver had it on display at the front of the bus. She asked if she could have it back but he has refused, point-blank, on several occasions. He doesn't believe it is hers as she didn't notice it was missing for two months.

We are now offering him a swap of a bigger koala bear clippy toy.

If he doesn't accept the swap I have to ask if there's someone going to be in the zoo whom I could paypal the money for the pencil top, post and package and general inconvenience, if they'd buy me another one.

My daughter is 11 but she is not old enough to have grown out of feeling extremely upset that she can't get this small but loved item back from the driver.

If the swap works I will not need a white knight after all. FIngers crossed...

Sorry am not going to Sydney anytime soon but
this is the website of the Taronga Zoo shop in Sydney:-

shop.taronga.org.au

There is a phone number for the shop. They also ship overseas so you may find something else for her too.

Re the item that the bus driver has on display at the front of the bus, I'd be having a discreet word with the bus company about this man. This bus driver is being totally unreasonable not to hand it back to your DD particularly if she is the only person who has enquired about it. Who does he think he is?. And why should you have to offer a swap to him?.

Thank you, I'd already looked at the website but the pencil tops are obviously too small to be listed. I think they only cost about £1.75 or £2, from memory.

I'm glad you said that about the driver. I wondered whether I was being a bit precious about it but she has brought up the subject three times now with him. We get on well with him, gave him a Christmas present, etc. So I just don't know if he's playing some kind of game with my daughter, stringing her along, and perhaps doesn't realise that she's feeling a bit sad that he simply won't give her back this little item which means so much to her.

Appreciate your advice, thanks!

Koala pen top recovered!

Don't know the details of the exchange yet.