Seeds

Apparently Germany is working towards banning toys with Happy Meals and the like. I can't seem to find an English-language article to verify this, but it's been mentioned by a few parents so I'll assume it's the case.

I doubt companies who want to appeal to kids with toys aren't going to let some sort of mandatory crack down on imported trinkets cost them, however, and it's very interesting to watch the ways that they're getting around this alleged ban.

Jill fancied Burger King last weekend when we went to the museum, and was offered a toy. Not one that was automatically included, but she got to choose if she wanted one or not. Silly question. Naturally I now have in my house a plastic torc referencing a movie I've never heard of. I've planned in advance which bin that will be sorted into.

We went to KFC for her birthday in April, and their option is to include gummi bears with their kids meal box. It made me laugh, because while everybody loves gummi bears I'm not sure candy with junk food is actually a healthier option.

I don't think we've taken the kids to McDonalds here (though their McRib looks oddly appealing), so I'm not sure what they do. I'll let you know if we do.

The most inventive, excellent idea I've seen so far is from a yoghurt company. Tangential and Maddyn took off for a bike ride during the week to pick up a few necessities and came home with a four pack of yoghurt with a special gift. On opening it, we discovered the special gift was seeds! Collect the set and you'll have cress, parsley, chives, basil, and Thai basil. Essentially, this means my little yoghurt fiend can eat as much as he wishes and I might get my kitchen garden after all without needing to pop down to Bauhaus and bring home seedlings on the s-bahn. I'm afraid we're fresh out of dirt, so the garden might have to wait, but I think it's a brilliant idea.

For the curious, our yoghurt came with Schnittlauch (chives), which is good timing just after the kids have designed to start eating them. Being summer now I don't actually know if this is the best time of year to start a-planting, but after deciding to fill up the free pot of still-unidentified herb he got at the shops one day with green paint I'm quite that little project needs replacing.

Bonus: I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but keeping with the yoghurt theme it's suggested that you grow the seeds in the yoghurt tubs! I love it.

Cross your fingers for Petersilie (parsley) next? I've never in my life remembered to actually buy any and I doubt I'm going to start now.