Where can I find...

[GillW]

Does anyone know where I can find a traditional "piggy bank" - high street rather than mail order preferably. I'd like to get one for DS for Christmas so that as he starts to understand about money we can introduce the idea of saving. But I can't find one anywhere ....

There's a lovely online one here , 6 items down (the one on the left of the picture).

High street wise, the non-chain store type shops are probably your best bet or maybe a shop that sells pine-furniture-and-curios, you know the sort. I've bought one from a craft shop selling "craft fair" type things before.

Good luck with finding one.

Places like H Samuel often do them in silver for new baby gifts - maybe that's a bit naff though?!

I saw some little ones in card shops.We got a big one in a charity shop.I bought another lovely different one which is a little red post box,looks just like the real thing from the post office.

Have you looked here ?

GillW - was just looking at some toy websites and came across this . Made me think of you. I know its mainorder... but some great boxes, including the good old pig.

Does anybody know where I can find a beachball (the blow-up plastic kind) in London? I know if I went to a seaside town I'd find one in an instant but in SW London seems a little harder to do. DS loves them and has just learnt to throw a ball around, and the beachball is nice and light.

A lot of the Poundstretcher type shops sell them, as do places like Asda, although they might be a bit out of season for them.

My tescos Extra store still has a small display with outdoor toys like buckets, spades etc.

My DS has a blow-up basketball post and ball. The ball is just like a beach ball but a bit smaller and we use it for all sorts of things - throwing, kicking etc. I think you might be able to get this kind of things from ELC, Toys R Us etc.

I bought a beachball at Wilkinsons (Wood Green but may be in S. London also), but sorry I can't remember if I got it in the summer or the winter.