Total contrast from yesterday. It's sunny, the clouds are fluffy and white - feels like I could almost fly.

We went to Reading today. I am determined to find a plastic chest or container that is big enough to put Alex's Thomas the Tank Engine set in. The criteria are, it has to be big enough to put everything in, it has to look nice, sturdy (most of these containers that we find are so flimsy - almost like it will split into pieces when you try to put things in) and most important - it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Went to Focus - saw one and it was too big for the business and not to mention too expensive - £50. Then, we went to B & Q and found one - the colour's right, the size is right and the price is right BUT (there is always a but) the lid is missing. I had to go around the store to ask for help and neither of the them could. All they could say is .... "if it's not where the containers are ... we don't have em". They didn't even try - maybe a .... "hold on a second ma'am, I will check with warehouse to see if we could find one" I would be grateful. Whatever happened to customer service?

What are we to do? Maybe, if we go to Toys'r'us, we might find one - it sounded logical - toy place - toy chest?

On our way to the car, we passed BHs and popped in to get a Brabantia bin bag. Alex was a little niggly, we decided a little bribery wouldn't harm plus.... tantrum free. I took a pack of M&Ms out from my bag and give him one at a time. The condition was ... he had to say "dada". He did just that and Jeremy gave him his treats.

In BHs, Alex took the pack of bin bag to the counter and and I gave him the money to pay the cashier. He was so pleased with himself and even waved to the lady when we left.

Driving to Toys'r'us, we passed Staples and Jeremy suggested perhaps they have what we were looking for. We went in and wah lah .... we found it. Mission accomplished.

On our way to the car, Alex kept pointing at McDonald's (next to Staples) we knew what he wanted plus it was lunch time. We went in - Alex was so happy and sang his happy songs while waiting for his dad to bring the food.

All in all, a good day - tantrum free and a smiley boy.

By the way, if you ask Alex what a cow, a cat or a dog say? He will make all the sounds for you. He can't actually combine two sounds together to make an Mmm and oooooooo but it's close enough. It's so much fun to sing Old McDonald with him now. I had to prompt him to make the sounds but we had so much fun.