A plea for help in finding this Maileg Mouse!

[LittleEsme]

I can't bear it any longer!
DD7 lost her dear, much loved Maileg Mouse on our camping trip last year in France. She broke her heart and even tonight, we had some tears (she's also tired and strung out with tonsillitis, so very much run down). I've attempted many times to find a replacement online but no luck. They do still sell them, but with varying themes and styles.

DD's mouse looks very much like this one, but a browny mouse with brown/faun clothes instead of pink. I've searched everywhere and my only hope really is ebay so I keep checking. The other hope is that someone out there has one that's sitting and not really adored, and is willing to sell it to me!

[MysteriousHamster]

I PMed her too :D

Bet she's in bed - need an update! Am I a bit tragic to be a bit teary thinking about her DD getting her back? It's not my fault, DH has been away for four days and feeling a bit pre-menstrual :)

[gingerchick]

I must be too am actually in tears am in no way pre menstrual but OP and her little girl sound so lovely I really hope she gets her little mouse

[woopsidaisy]

Maybe if we all shout her name at the same time...?

Well done ginger!

[HotCrossFRIGG]

Oh yeahy!
I hope it's the right one! Looks like it though...

[LittleEsme]

Just picked this up - am in the car sitting in hideous traffic. Will check first thing in work. Excited now!

[AdmiralCLingus]

They're in stock they're in stock!!!! Do you need one of us to order to make sure you get one?

[gingerchick]

Crossing fingers big time OP

[LittleEsme]

Shit I think itsslightly ddifferent

[gingerchick]

I'm very sorry for getting your hopes up OP

[MysteriousHamster]

Looks like the brown mice aren't made any more, or at least not in any recent line-ups so it might be worth getting it anyway and saying she's got a new dress?

[Maggie111]

It's the same as the one you posted in your original pic. I really don't think you'll find better.

[Beamur]

If you can't find quite the identical mouse - get a copy of this book too!
Tatty Ratty by Helen Cooper - an excellent book to smooth over the introduction of a replacement favourite toy.

[chartreuse]

In what way is it different OP? I'm sure you could come up with a plausible reason for the slight change in appearance. We had to replace a toy kitten that ds2 lost while on holiday. it took me months to find one and it was a slightly lighter colour, but we got away with it by saying the kitten had been through the wash a few times before finding his way back to us. Ds, now nearly 13 still thinks the toy got caught up in the hotel laundry and still talks about how kind the hotel staff were to send it back to us. I haven't the heart to tell him what really happened!

[LittleEsme]

Bare with me, you fantastic lot. I've been teaching back to back all day and No breaks because I've been helping my Year 11's out.

Back v soon to say the biggest of thanks xxx

[LittleEsme]

Just remembered (am waiting for my next Y11 to tape so a brief minute to write this).

There's a pic of Matilda in France last year. I'll have a loom tonight and will try and upload it.

[LittleEsme]

Sorry sorry sorry!
Only now getting onto my laptop - had a rather unexpected trip to A&E today.
I've cross referenced the original Matilda and this new one Ginger has found. It's not exact but..... VERY close. Top is gingham instead of stripes - hang on - will upload pic in a sec.

[MysteriousHamster]

Are you going to buy it, that's the big question - doesn't look like there are any others out there!

I went to my local shop today but they only had pale mice. I did buy one for my son though :)

[LittleEsme]

I want to name every single person on this thread for all your help and support on this but the list is so long. I'm overwhelmed actually.

ginger your research skills are fantastic. I've ordered the little brown mouse tonight. It's not identical - take a look at the pic I've put on my profile (first time ever I've done that... lol). But it's VERY, VERY close.

What do you all think??

Those of you that twittered, and emailed, and offered to go into shops... what can I say. If I were to ever meet you in RL, I'd buy you a cuppa. I feel very humbled.

DD is going to be so happy. I'm feeling teary thinking about her face.

My next question is this: How will I sort this? I was tempted to wait til we got to France and pop the mouse in a tree on our pitch and wait for DD to find her (she's a tree climber), but she's so fragile at the moment (for other reasons), I don't really want her to wait that long.

Was thinking of posting her to us and tie a label to her leg with a little message. Power of MN! Help me?!?

[LittleEsme]

Haha Hamster! They're so gorgeous! I hope he enjoys the litle Mouse.

[LittleEsme]

How do I show you my pics?!

[MysteriousHamster]

Oh I see what you mean (I can see the pic), they've reversed the stripes and gingham but hopefully she won't notice. The little boy one we found does have a gingham top so maybe keep hold of the link but obviously he's missing a skirt!

It sounds like your DD could do with having her little mouse back with her now - I would make her arrive in the post with a message like you say. But maybe not actually post it as you don't want to risk her going missing again.

Please update us when she arrives :)

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Hurrah, you have ordered her!!

OK, some ideas for the 'finding':

• depending on her arrival date, you could put her inside ane aster egg? You can get moulds a plenty, or maybe somewhere like Thornton's mould them in-house?
  
• any loose teeth at the mo? The Tooth Fairy could find her and bring her back.
  
• you mention that DD's fragile at the mo... Mouse could have been away having adventures (in France etc*), but wanted to come back and comfort her/congratulate her for being strong, etc etc
  

* am sure that some postcards could be sent from afar. They're late as they were stuck in the post.

[trixymalixy]

They are lovely. I'm going to order one for DD.

Could you make up a story about what happened to Matilda and have something happen to her dress so she has to wear her spare almost identical but reversed dress?