Sorry, me again.
I am most pleased.

I’ve just ordered my daughter’s Christmas present: a hand-made wooden castle with furniture and figurines. It’s reasonably girly so my ex can’t accuse me of trying to make my child into a tomboy but
a) it’s not plastic or vulgar and
b) it’s a fucking CASTLE, replete with turrets, drawbridge etc.

I’ve been fretting about what to buy her and this looks perfect. It’s also huge.

My question is: assuming she loves it, should I let her keep it at home where she’ll be able to play with it all the time or (selfishly?) keep it at mine so I get to enjoy her playtime with it?
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:16, 94 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Hmm.
Somebody had royal wedding fever.

Castle. I ask you.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:17, Reply)

My fucking arse.
I don't need a royal wedding to be obsessed with castles. I've visited what must by now be most of them in Englamd and Wales, and my brother's godfather lives in Windsor Castle so over the years I've been there as a guest dozens of times.

Castles fucking rule.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:20, Reply)

I knew you'd bite.
I win.

Sounds great though, I think you should keep it at yours, that way it'll be something she always associates with coming to see you, especially when you say that Santa left it for her at your house deliberately.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:21, Reply)

I don't joke when it comes to castles, hill forts, stone circles and/or burial mounds.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:22, Reply)

Dedication to the cause there Monty.
That's what you need, if you wanna be a record breaker.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:28, Reply)

I'm more of a "fort" man
especially Roman forts
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:22, Reply)

Oh I'm down with forts too.
Vindolanda at Hadrian's Wall used to have a great reconstructed one. It's not there now, I fear.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:24, Reply)

Vindolanda certainly is still there
Not been for years though
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:24, Reply)

Me neither but I fucking love it.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:26, Reply)

Give me a shout should you ever visit our frozen Northern wastes
and we'll go
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:35, Reply)

have you been to Raglan yet?

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:12, Reply)

Sounds awesome.......
but where is this Englamd that you mention? (sorry but I find it hard to believe that nobody has pointed this out...)
And the answer is to have the castle at Boyce Towers so she has stuff there as well..........
(Purpledoris I've got afeckin' job, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 16:57, Reply)

Keep it at yours for playtimes
Buy her drums/cymbals/other loud item to keep at home. Job done!
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:17, Reply)

how often is she at yours
and what's the age range on it? normally i'd say keep it at yours, my uncle keeps all his daughter's toys that he/our side of the family buy her at his house so that she doesn't get bored with them and so that she has some stuff at his.

but if she is only at yours infrequently and may grow out of it without having used it, then at her mother's.

but that sounds like such a brilliant present, how cool.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:18, Reply)

She's only visited twice :(
Many of the reviews I've read have said their daughters have loved the castle for over a year - it's on quite a grand scale and is effectively a military doll's house.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:21, Reply)

She may well ask to visit
If it is a cool castle
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:23, Reply)

That's my guilty thought, if I am honest.
It's fucking cool.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:26, Reply)

Can you post us a link to the toy castle?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:28, Reply)

at her age
i'd be surprised if she doesn't play with it for at least 3 years.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:24, Reply)

Keep it at yours.
She'll have plenty of stuff to play with at home.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:18, Reply)

Ask her where she wants to keep it
but say it in a way that makes her choose you, i.e. "Do you want to keep it at mummys, who will probably stand on it and break it, or at daddys, who will put chocolate inside it?"
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:21, Reply)

Haha!

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:21, Reply)

In a non-subversive manner

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:24, Reply)

Well you know how mummy gets when shes been on the giggle juice
*makes glug-glug-glug action*
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

keep it at yours!
you'll be able to enjoy playing with her, plus you know it'll be taken care of at your place
( Lisette von Falcon, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:21, Reply)

Great present,
who knew you had taste eh. Keep it at yours, then you can play with it whilst she isn't there.
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:21, Reply)

Warfare-based presents for girls are hard to find.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:24, Reply)

Do you have a link available? sounds like it could be a classroom contender.

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:28, Reply)

They stopped selling Barbies with her own Kalashnikov years ago.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:28, Reply)

Really sorry
But I read Warfare as welfare.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:29, Reply)

She can design her own knot gardens.
That's pretty girly.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

Feargal Shrkey's sightly odd follow up single.

(Cave Duck, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:49, Reply)

Let her keep it wherever she wants.
That's the point of a present.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:28, Reply)

She's what? Three or four. They don't know what they want at that age.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:29, Reply)

I want a dress made of clouds!

( Lisette von Falcon, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

Apart from 'it'.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

This is the answer in my heart.
I think I was hoping to be convinced that I wasn't being selfish to want to keep it at mine. Bah.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:29, Reply)

You can be convinced if you listen to the people on here.
But you and I know most of them aint right..
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

And you have so much experience with kids.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:32, Reply)

PAEDOLOLS!!!111

( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:35, Reply)

I do actually, thanks.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:38, Reply)

So you're a dad.
I never knew.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:40, Reply)

Nah,
He has a small bunch of ragtag paperclip urchins working for him
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:43, Reply)

So what? you're not a mother,
I'm not dismissing your arguments based on that fact or just making assumptions about what you know about children.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:44, Reply)

I brought up my nephew with my sister 24/7 and looked after many kids of all ages.
I know from experience and not reading books about it.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:47, Reply)

I have also watched Supernanny on many occasions.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:51, Reply)

I much preferred Supergran

(Cave Duck, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:55, Reply)

You cunt.
I've got the theme tune in my head now.

Stand back Superman, Iceman, Spiderman. Batman and Robin too
Don’t wanna cause a fracas, but BA Baracas, have I got a match for you.
She makes them look like a bunch of fairies.
She’s got more bottle than United Dairies.
Hang about - Look out! For Supergran.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:57, Reply)

I'm from a Irish catholic family,
I have 8 younger cousins. I baby sat from the age of 14, I tutored 10-14 year old disabled children for three summers when I was at uni, I did work experience in child protection after uni. I now deal with child and vunerable adult cases with work.

I have also studied child development and child psychology. You don't know anything about me stop acting so superiour.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:51, Reply)

You're the one who acts superior because of your education.
This is what gets me riled. You can't possibly think I could be right in anything I say. This is why we fell out when you first came on here.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:54, Reply)

And I thought it was because I called you dull.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:56, Reply)

No that bit is true.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:57, Reply)

and I'm never going to apologise for knowing things
anyone who does is a cunt.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:01, Reply)

And you're also never going to acknowlege anyone elses experience because it couldn't possibly be correct because you've been to Uni.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:03, Reply)

That is absolute bollocks, you're the one who attacked my opinion
about this, I said absolutly nothing about yours.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:05, Reply)

You started it by saying everyone on here is wrong apart from you.
You can be convinced if you listen to the people on here.
But you and I know most of them aint right..
(PsychoChomp I recognise your voice, were you just?, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Ignore, Reply, I like this!)


Sorry! most people are wrong apart from you.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:07, Reply)

Oh BGB
You've gone and made Psychochomp take the internet seriously.

*SADFACE*
(Bazongaloid, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:09, Reply)

it is true that the waaaaahmbulance has been wheeled out for less
it's also bollocks because the only person on here who is always right is ME.

also, thanks for your FB bread porn, that wasn't awkward to explain to my brother, no not at all!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:10, Reply)

Did you give him a demonstration?
I bet you did, I bet you hitched your skirt up, whipped your knickers aside and went to town with a sourdough roll right in front of him.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:13, Reply)

hey
i'm not the geordie here
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:20, Reply)

I've met too many intellectual know-it-all's to let this ride.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:11, Reply)

I'd like to be the first to say....
FIGHTFIGHTFIGHTFIGHTFIGHTFIGHTFIGHTFIGHT!
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:12, Reply)

Aww Man, an internet FIGHT
*BUNDLE*
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:17, Reply)

I thought we got on well :(

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:15, Reply)

We do.
Because you're not a know-it-all.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:17, Reply)

excellent news
in fact judging by my 'wut' expression on reading the exam paper I know nothing
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:18, Reply)

AND - it's killed any chance of more Supergran related nostalgia chat.
Bah!
(Cave Duck, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:12, Reply)

"Most of them ain't right"
was a reference to you lot being mentally ill, which I meant as a joke, but after reading this subthread I've changed my mind.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:21, Reply)

Well you would know having read about it.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:23, Reply)

Is that meant to be an insult?
You need to try harder.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:29, Reply)

Cunt Off, Cockface
Is that more the sort thing you had in mind?
(Cave Duck, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:35, Reply)

Then you really ought to be the first person to acknowledge
that him being or not being a father has zero relevance as to whether he knows anything about children or not.
( Kroney, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:52, Reply)

That was just sarcasm.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:55, Reply)

You have a heart?

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:31, Reply)

Look Monty.
She's three? She's not going to throw a paddy because the castle is staying at yours. There will be lots of lovely presents at her house. The important thing is having something that you can share joy in playing with when she's at your house and that is far more important. As much as you love your daughter, tea sets and teddy bears isn't your bag.

If she was older then I would say let her decide but at that age it's not important.
( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:39, Reply)

she won't remember why it was only at daddys, she'll remember that she always got to play with an awesome castle while she was there

( Lisette von Falcon, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:43, Reply)

And that daddy loved playing with it with her.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:44, Reply)

this is good advice

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 16:27, Reply)

i'm afraid he's right
but no harm in trying to influence her
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:35, Reply)

not necessarily, it depends how old the child is
it is good for them to have some stuff they can't play with all the time and thus get bored with too quickly. i remember being thrilled to rediscover books/toys that were kept at my grandma's up in yorkshire when we lived in bucks, for example - it made really very insignificant toys seem very special.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:45, Reply)

Deffo keep it at yours.
So I can come and play with it too. I'll bring my Britains cannons to breach the walls.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:29, Reply)

No need - my brother and I still have all of ours.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

The 18inch heavy howitzer?

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:30, Reply)

You leave my dad's cock out of this.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:34, Reply)

l h
( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:46, Reply)

Get one of these
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxHW-QGMuZ4
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:40, Reply)

That even impresses me.

( girlinthehole, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:44, Reply)

A make-your-own-fur-coat kit?
edit: that's odd, when I first clicked it took me to a video about kittens.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:46, Reply)

Not legal in UK
But I'm still going to design one and make it when I get my workshop up and running.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:47, Reply)

I'll breach your walls in a minute

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 14:43, Reply)

It's an excellent present.
I should try the "Oh I've bought this but it might take up too much room in your house" line with Mrs Ex-Monty.
If your daughter wants something that allows similar creative storymaking play at hers, you could perhaps look at one of those little wooden fold out theatres with finger puppets that are small, relatively cheap but still ace.
(Cave Duck, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:10, Reply)

it sounds a fantastic present
but to be honest I'd let her keep it at her house. It's too nice to just be used occasionally. If the situation changes then maybe, but she'll get more pleasure out of something that feels like a proper toy.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:14, Reply)

This sounds like a superb idea
I am divided on the question of where to keep it though. Did she like the bike-thing she got for her birthday?
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 15:39, Reply)

where do you stand on Maiden Castle?
(obviously I don't mean physically)
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 17 Nov 2010, 16:27, Reply)