When my sister was little she had a great collection of dolls. She used to dress them in special clothes, give them tea parties on the front lawn, set up a little table and treat them like the honoured guests that they were.

Now my Uncle Gerry used to spoil us at Christmas and buy us really wonderful and unusual gifts. We didn't have a father and he hadn't married as yet so he used to rock up to our house like a veritable Santa laden down with all sorts of goodies.

Well, one year he decided to go all out for my four year old sister - I think it was the year he bought us our first television set - and as he was walking through Camberwell Junction he spied in the window of an electrical shop an almost life-size toy monkey. It was a big boy monkey dressed in red and blue pants and jacket with a little black fez on its' head. He decided that would be just the thing for Susy and went to buy it....well it was the store advertisment - the draw card for the shop and the owner really didn't want to part with it - but in the end Uncle Gerry, his blarney and cheque book won and the monkey duly arrived at our house as Susan's Christmas gift from a very delighted uncle.

She was duly called in by our mother to receive her gift which I might add was almost as big as she was, and instead of the great delight envisioned by Uncle Gerry; she shrieked and cried....saying "You keep that naughty Monkay away from my Dollays!!!!"......

Uncle Gerry, to his credit, thought her reaction to his gift so funny he dined out on this story for years - and whatever happened to that naughty monkey? - I have no idea!.

copyright: a.a.gallagher 2008