The Adventure of the Toy Shop
In which I lament the loss of a childhood haunt... The words 'closing down' can be fraught with emotion. There are some places that feel eternal and there's something comforting about the idea that when you need their services, the place is just there waiting for you. But inevitably time marches on and everything must come to an end. I was sad to learn recently that the Toy shop, imaginatively named 'Toys', in my home town is closing down. The shop opened in the same year I was born so in my eyes it's always been there. After thirty years of trading the owners are retiring but I will mourn the loss of that shop. There are a handful of places that meant so much to me in childhood and Toys was one of them. Whilst you could go to Toys R Us for a much wider selection and probably better prices, Toys felt much quieter and calmer. It felt old-fashioned in the best of ways, it was comforting in the same way a grandparent is. As long as I can remember it's always ...