Something rather amusing happened in my kitchen yesterday. While attempting to clean some second-hand wooden pull-along toys for my nephew, I inadvertently created what looked like the world’s most wholesome toy party. Picture this: several wooden animals, all gathered around a soapy basin, their pull cords dangling in the water like they’re sharing a giant communal drink or participating in some secret toy ritual.

The whole scene started because I’d picked up these delightful wooden toys from the Camberwell Market last weekend. They’re beautiful pieces - the kind that should last generations, unlike the plastic stuff that seems to break before you’ve even finished opening the packaging. But being second-hand, they needed a bit of TLC, particularly those grotty pull cords.