‘Tis the silly season again. Frantic people cracking their heads over what to buy who which… Local shopping malls would be jam packed with shoppers; it also helps, of course, that in Malaysia we are already having sales on, making shopping for gifts a lot easier on the wallet…
Caitlin and I felt the full implications when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago. The malls were packed with people, the shops were packed with people, the retailers were packed with people.
Well, I felt the full impact when we arrived at the toys section of Myers. It was packed with kids! You may call it a mistake, but I did want to see what was on offer, if anything. But the full impact? It wasn’t that there was anything significant on sale. There were dinosaur toys, baby toys, some books (not enough of, actually) and the quintessential electronics for kids.
She just wouldn’t leave.
Granted it was meant to be a relaxing play-by-ear no-agenda holiday; this Daddee was just willing to show her the sights and sounds, and whatever she wanted to see… But still.
Retailers are clever. They put out the hands-on hot toys for Christmas for the kids to try, and for Daddy’s like me to be stuck with waiting for them to finish- yeah, I agree: As if they would!
I think I spent over an hour standing on the same spot that whole time, watching my little girl push Thomas and his friends along the tracks, round and round the table.
It was fun at first, very cute of the kids (yes plural, and at least they were sharing) to be playing like this. Then, I got bored and was wearing out both knees after shifting my weight left and right.
Parents: My lesson here is, in this age of internet and online shopping, shop online!
So I searched and came across this toy guide site.
Because it is set out like a blog site, it is clean and easy on the eyes. No gawdy bright colours to greet you and send you clicking away.
Listed by types of toys, brands, and age group, the whole online shopping experience is made a lot easier- you are in control of where you wanna go and be and not get lost.
But because it is also a blog, there are posts and articles describing select toys, accompanied by clean photos, making the whole experience on the site more informative and enjoyable. Readers can and do submit their comments on these posts / items too, adding credibility to the descriptions on the items on sale.
All from the comforts of whatever you are sitting on now, in whatever you are wearing now, on the blogosphere that you are already down with (that)!
So what would Daddee like for Christmas?
He’s already got it- an iPhone 3G.
He was researching toys and found this toys blogsite. How else would he have stood in the same spot for over an hour? 
7 responses so far ↓
1 Ann // Dec 19, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Christmas brings out the kid in everyone I think!
And Christmas overseas is even better!
Shopping online is GREAT especially when it is well stocked and delivered ontime. Not too big in malaysia yet….but getting there!
So great you are down under!
[ Ann's last blog post..First Christmas gathering ]
2 hissychick // Dec 19, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Great site. I’ve ordered a few things online this year and the service has been terrific.
Myer in Sydney CBD is a kids’ wonderland with a train ride and jungle gym, a letterbox and computers to email Santa along with all the toys, and let’s just say that A was none too pleased when it was time to leave.
Still it’s better than the discount department store chains where they are cramming the aisles with stock and no demo toys to play with leaving both kids and adults angry with the lack of space or fun. The horror…
3 Kate // Dec 20, 2008 at 2:36 PM
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Kate
http://educationonline-101.com
[ Kate's last blog post..A Lot Of Diversification In Online Zoology Degree ]
4 Daddee // Dec 20, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Hi Ann,
Actually, Christmas in Australia is rather slow. Like Chinese New Year, it’s a family event, which means everyone is supposed to be at home. Which means most shops are closed, boring shows in tv, and usually, hot; ‘cos it’s summer. And on Boxing Day, if you are game, you can join the hoards of bargain hunters (some usually start queueing the night before!) for the drastically-reduced sales.
At least here in Malaysia and Singapore (don’t know about other Asian countries) things stay open right through (all, if I am correct) the public holidays.
Hi Hissychick,
Despite knowing they are there, I do still bring Caitlin to the stores that have those kids sized round table, hole-in-the-middle-full-of-lego-blocks, and just let her go crazy. It’s also a chance to see how she interacts with other kids. Caitlin is ok, sometimes a little aggressive but generally is quite gentle. This I know. It’s how she handles other more aggressive kids that I’d like to observe in my child.
Hi Kate,
Welcome, and thanks for finally leaving a comment! It’s good to get to know the readers!
5 Yee-Yee // Dec 23, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Is RQ and RY getting lots of presents? Yeye is still waiting impatiently for Little Einstein’s Christmas DVD. Coming soon…
6 Moomykin // Dec 24, 2008 at 5:12 AM
Ahhh… Daddee got his toy!!
Congrats!
We just got Max’s birthday present and both the boys’ Christmas presents earlier today.
They have actually got quite a few stacked up already from various friends and relatives, just waiting for the Christmas morning.
Myers: When we were in Melbourne last year we really enjoyed the Christmas window display, but did not dare venture into the mall…
OK, to do justice to that, we were only in the city at night, the night we arrived, when the shops were all closed. Hahahaha…
But we really loved the decorations and watching people in Christmas costumes walking around still and wishing you Merry Christmas.
[ Moomykin's last blog post..Slow to Blog ]
7 Daddee // Dec 24, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Well, our family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, so we are not expecting any gifts for the kids. Whether they think they are getting any or not is another matter! Caitlin for one, I think isn’t confused about all the buzz, (not) enough to think that she as a child will be receiving anything for Christmas.
Come Chinese New Year however, is a totally different matter!
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