Hamleys and Us

We stepped into Hamleys to get a jigsaw puzzle. 5000 pieces. It doesn't look easy. The Aunts are insistent that we can complete it in 4 nights. Okaaay. If they say so!

I remember nights as a child when I would sit down with them and compete to finish my allocated area in the shortest time possible. The 4 of us are very good puzzle-solvers. I'm quite confident that it would be finished by the time I leave London. The Aunts would have it framed, and mail it over to Singapore.

As a child, there's something magical about going to a toy store and picking out what I want. As one gets older, there's no more magic. Still, there's something wondrous about walking into a store with 4 levels of toys, poking the animals and staring at the various board games, display pieces and all.

At Hamleys, they try to re-create that sort of magic. No better time than Christmas. Regent Street and its surrounding shopping areas already have a festive vibe. The sales staff make noise, run around and are generally entertaining. It makes for a good vibe. The colors, of course, are the accompaniment to the whole shopping experience. I kinda had fun strolling through each floor to see what they have. Actually, I think Toys R Us stock a wider range of toys..... I was hoping to find some specialty children's toys, but naaah. It's too commercial and there aren't many choices.