anyone want to find me a trendy hold-all? or how do you carry all the kid's junk back from school?

[hatwoman]

I need something big enough for dds' swimming stuff and that I could also use when I pick them up from school to throw art masterpieces, book bags, lunch boxes, Important Letters and unwanted jumpers and coats in. all of these got thrown on to the pavement in a fit of rage the other day when dds were nagging me to hold their hands. I thought a suitable bag might be easier to source than a spare set of hands... (and before you tell me they should carry it - I do insist they carry something but when it's at its worst it's still a right royal pita) I have in mind something open at the top, with shoulder straps, big enough to be able to rummage iykwim, preferably with an inside pocket for keys and purse, something a bit beach-bag-like I think. any ideas?

must confess I saw that one and didn't bother linking to it

fun indeed

I have a fantastic, massive bag from Topshop (recently purchased), I suspect its a beach bag but heh lifes a beach. Its black with red flowers (or green), v. funky, by some designer (celia someone) £15. It has very practical wipe clean outside (ok to put down on wet ground) but no fastening so all your contents fall out when you do put it down.

A car?

Ok, I'm rubbish at links (so someone please help me out if I fail), but here is a trendy thing that could solve your problems. Don't look at the price though, or you may have a heart attack!

www.tuginc.co.uk/trolley_06.html

hat I think you need one of these

don't put the kids in it though

\link{http://www.tuginc.co.uk/trolley_06.html
\for earlybird}

lol well that worked well didn't it!!!

thanks anyway flutterbee - you have the same problem I do! Hope it isn't contagious!

just doesn;t do that justice. £300 for a granny shopper? You'd best call an ambulance. me heart's gone funny...

Think of it as an investment......

we just fling everything into the car....

I confess I do drive sometimes but it still drives me nuts - just getting it all from school to car and car to house. My mind is made up - I need a bag.

Has anyone suggested the Mile for Maude tote bags?

Orla Kiely holdalls are god-sent! I have one of those and they hold everything I've got. I stuff it with my junk and dd's junk, and still manage to fit my gym equipment in there. I highly recommend them. You'll find bargains on ebay.

See if you can find a Longchamp Tote holdall on the internet somewhere. They always sell them at airports. They're in loads of sizes/colours, very strong (and trendy) plus they fold down to nothing so great for travelling

I have one of thses from IKEA but it's a funky green colour. You can fit loads in and it does have an inside pocket for keys/phone etc.
At £3.99 it would be rude not to get one.

I don't carry my kids junk home from school. They do! Always have.

hat, they've got some tote type bags in Clarks and GAP (in Kingston) at the moment (in fact, all over the place). The one in GAP had an inside pocket but it wasn't zipped - the Clarks one was alright but might be too small I thought. High street was full of those type of bags!

oh my lord. I've just seen this thread and it reminded me that I dreamed about big colourful tote bags last night. I was in a bizarre supermarket where you had to stand in a queue for about 2 hours just to get in. I decided that nice as the bags were it wasn;t worth the wait!

just spotted this beach bag in sale