Last updated 20:21, Thursday, 09 October 2008

THIS week I have been mostly thinking about toys.

Although it's only a jaw-droppingly close 82 days until Christmas (believe me, I am NOT counting), it has been quite some time since I first noticed the insidious creeping in of items connected with the 'X' word in various shops, catalogues and adverts.

They seemed somewhat odd alongside the barbecues, patio sets and chimineas back in August.

Those who have children whose birthdays fall in the peak toy-selling season of the year (from now until the big day itself) face an endless bombardment of adverts for toys the kids think they want.

And it's something different every commercial break. The trouble is, this is what's happening to me this week.

I have to make those life-or-death decisions now: do I buy the Dalek voice-changer helmet now or at Christmas?

Do I get the knight's castle instead?

And if I make a mistake, the unthinkable might happen at Christmas: the alternative might be sold out.

According to a well-known toy retailer, children's gifts this Christmas have gone 'retro'.

Great! That means Sindy for the girls and Action Man for the boys.

Hmmm . . . not exactly. Retro doesn't really mean retro at all.

'Retro' Teletubbies now play musical statues and dance, whereas 'retro' Rubiks Cubes are leather-bound and cost over £100.

Sesame Street's Elmo talks, plays games and tells jokes this year. . . or you could go back in time with 'Indiana Jones' Role Play Whip' with music and sound "FX". Whatever happened to Meccano?

So, do I splash out on the Dalek helmet now (we can battle with the Cyberman one lurking at the back of the toy cupboard) or let Merlin win the Saturday night's TV ratings and go all Medieval? Watch this space.