Fireman Sam

As I have mentioned, the boys are not so keen on diggers any longer. Now it's fire engines and firemen. This interest is equally obsessive and extends to most of our day-to-day routine. When we eat, it's "do firemen eat fish, mum?" "Oh, yes, they've got to eat fish... makes them big and strong." When Gregor goes to the loo I have to pretend he's Fireman Sam. Same with getting dressed, undressed, doing teeth, shoes on and off and so on.....

Alastair watches, soaking it all up and amused by the charades and rigmarole that we go through. Of course it stretches my patience regularly, but if it helps to avoid protestation, I try to play along.

Just as well there's a fireman in the family - cousin Antony/Ant/AJ, who kindly gave up his time last week to be worshipped and adored for ever by our two.

Here they are being introduced to buttons, knobs, dials, screens, etc. No levers, unfortunately.

Gregor getting kitted out in AJ's uniform.

He liked this drawer best - with all the cutting tools and clippers and saws for getting people out of crashed cars. Charming.

Alastair, on the other hand, was mostly interested in closing the doors of all the fire appliances.

Then outside to douse the flames.

And a short ride back to the station, siren blaring and lights flashing.

What a shame for us that AJ and his family are emigrating to Thunder Bay, Canada next year.