Captain's Blog
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Its all a bit fishy |
15 February, 2010 |
 Yesterday we had a great family day out to new Blue Reef Bristol Aquarium, and the exhibits are marvellous. Those responsible for designing and setting up the colours have really done their home work. It is so often that exhibits like this are let down by poor lighting or shabby windows. But not here, the diversity and breadth is great, and the use of colour throughout is exemplary.
As part of the ticket you get a 3D imax about whales, which I felt was very heavy handed in the message of their impending doom. I have much respect for conservation but found this wearing and perhaps too bleak for my little boy who just wants to grab at the 3D floating fishes.
The irony in all of this eco message is that the exit is through the shop, which is stacked to the gunnel's with plastic fishes, and rubber whales! I do my utmost to stock toys of a diverse mixture which I think of as quality and not land fill.
Most of my stock is timber based and so has a recent carbon footprint, but I am not plastic free (though wouldn't that be great.) I just hope that the choices of toys I make have a higher ratio of play value than their cost which ever way you look at it. Still it was a great day out and we all had a fantastic time, I especially liked the cat fish where the wild walk used to be.
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Merry Christmas one and all |
18 December, 2009 |
 Thought I should just wish everyone a Merry Christmas and No2 son did this
great card I couldn't resist publishing to the world!!
It's been our busiest Christmas ever here in the toy shop and not
surprisingly too, (this being our third) but what has gone well are the web
sales. It's a slow and peculiar job building customer trust for online
sales. Slow and steady growth is the ticket (which we can manage!) Today is
the last Christmas posting day so things have cooled off a bit thankfully
and I can concentrate on my shop customers more fully.
Still plenty of work to do before now and Christmas as we are open right up
till dusk on Christmas Eve. Then its doors closed and away from the shop for
the family and me for three whole days!! Then back again until the Children
are at school, then we get a holiday properly. But more about that another
time! |
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Tree O'clock |
5 December, 2009 |
 Tree o'clock, it's tree o'clock. Saturday 5th, up on the moors behind Dunster planting Oak trees with the family, what a day. We managed 290 in all, (lots of help not just me and the boys!!). We also had a treat riding in Graham Smiths wheels (lead forester for the Crown Estate) The boys had fun putting the chain saw helmet on whilst riding through the forest, felt like true lumberjacks.
Great day with lovely lunch provided too and not sure if we managed to set a world record or not, but hopefully what ever we managed we'll beat next year. Thanks to all including the Crown Estate, Exmoor National Park and of course the local school and scouts. |
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Diabolo daring do! |
28 November, 2009 |
 Last night went with a bang, we had lots of customers involved in the diabolo demo, many with some great tricks that gave our sponsored diabolist a run for the money! We had flaming diabolo's, fire clubs, and tricks gallore, sold a few and strung new cables for those wanting to up their game.
What a night, but the real question hanging in the air is how can we top that next year!! |
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Christmas is in the air |
27 November, 2009 |
 Tonight is late night shopping, we have a dastardly diabolo demonstration and are prepared to enjoy all that the Minehead weather can bring (which seems mainly rain this morning and loads of it!) But the blue sky is coming and along with a mystery celebrity to do the actual switch on, so all should go swimmingly!! The council sponsored Christmas lights are up in the high street, so here in the Avenue, there will be a different type of ambiance! At the heart of which is Toy Ahoy with festive paper chains and candy canes, flashing diabolos and daring juggling. We will hopefully be the talking point of the night, now what was that quote, oh yes 'to get the ripest fruit, one must go out on a limb.'
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Do you remember your first bicycle? |
19 November, 2009 |
 When my Father chats about Christmas and what it is he enjoys about the season one of the things that crops up is how he loves to see the children out on their new bikes on Boxing Day – all wobbly and aided by their own Fathers. It obviously evokes happy memories –from being a child and also a parent.
The balance bike has had enormous press over recent months and understandably so. At Toy Ahoy we have a great model that stands out at not only great value for money (£59) but it’s simplicity of design and solid construction. Aimed at children between the age of 3 and 6 it has an adjustable seat, pneumatic tyres and a timber frame which incorporates a carrying handle. Great for carrying home from the park when little ones are all pooped out!
The idea behind the balance bike is very simple. It has no pedals and children are encouraged to ‘walk’ the bike, building confidence and momentum. In no time at all they are free wheeling and have gained the skill to balance without the aid of stabilisers and having to learn to pedal at the same time. When they are old enough they will master a regular bike in no time at all. The same is true if you learn to ride a scooter before tackling a pedal bike. We also have a selection of French wooden Scooters available.
So let us hope Christmas is dry and bright so that those children who unwrapped balance bikes on Christmas morning can have fond memories riding their new with no pedals!
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Diabolo the devils demonstration |
6 November, 2009 |
 We at toy ahoy are really looking forward to the Late night shopping on the 27th November, and to celebrate this we are having a free Diabolo demonstration, a craze which is sweeping the nation at the moment.
It's origins are closely linked to that of the yo yo and are believed to come from China in the 12 century. The whip and top is also from this vein and works in a similar way but on the ground rather than in the air.
But what ever you taste in spinning things, the diabolo is an infectious skill based game that has many levels of mastery (and accessibility) for both young and old. And just in for those dark evenings are the diabolos with flashing lights (see illustration courtesy of our suppliers).
Looking forward to seeing you on the Friday night 27th November for the late night shopping and lights on. |
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Customer reviews |
8 October, 2009 |
 Today I had a brilliant email from a customer which I felt was worth putting here.
Thanks Chris! That's brilliant - can't wait to get my package. By the way, this is the first time I've used your site and it's wonderful - I've just recommended it to my antenatal group buddies and we all agreed that we'll be sending round the website link to our rellies as a heavy hint for a source of Christmas presents! For the babies, that is...! And I can't wait for our little one to get older (he's only six months now) so that I can buy him more stuff, like the wooden weapons and the kites and the fire lantern and the swing and the push along wooden blocks.....oh, and I could go on....!
What else can I say |
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Parent Talk |
16 September, 2009 |
 I could not resist using this fantastic picture that Christopher recently took on North Hill for our website – Toyahoy.co.uk. The setting is stunning and conjures up images of great artists painting in the landscape – Somerset is truly beautiful and we thoroughly enjoy bringing up our two boys in this glorious environment.
The easel proved to be last years must have Christmas present amongst our customers and I am sure it will be just as popular this year. Great for painting outside, whiz them out in the garden and keep the mess out of the house! It also boasts a magnetic side and we have a wide range of magnetic kits that make a great accompanying present. Brightly coloured letters and numbers make learning the basics more appealing and fun. The magnet covers the entire surface area of the letter so there is no danger of children swallowing little magnets that may come unattached with curious fingers.
There is also a range of fun magnets by Djeco, which encourage hand/eye co-ordination, and their imagination. Each figure has a different fancy dress costume – pirate, Indian, mermaid, and they can gain confidence in telling tales, and making up adventures for the characters they create.
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Out on the Moors |
29 August, 2009 |
 Number two son and I had great fun on the Moors this week taking pictures for the web site. The weapons are always his favourite, though he did have a lovely time putting the Stylish Eve magnetics on the easel too. I feel we are so lucky here at Toy Ahoy to be surrounded by such amazing country side that it would be a shame not to get out into it at every opportunity.
The summer has been erratic (as usual) but there have been dramatic cloud shapes and wonderful sunsets between the storms, we watched the steam train last night from Dunster beach just before the rain swept through and it looked like some scene from The Lord of the Rings. Magical. |
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Seeding stars! |
10 August, 2009 |
 Last night we set off a lantern from the garden and what a simple and magical experience. It took a few minutes to warm up after lighting the fuel cell but then it gently lifted off in to the evening sky. As it got smaller and smaller it eventually became so small it was just a star. |
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twitter |
16 July, 2009 |
 just started to twitter, which is proving to be great fun and a different dimension to the web for us here at Toy Ahoy HQ. I enjoy talking to our customers and getting to know where they come from and why they are here I thought that this may be a way to add the human eclectic element to the web.
So watch and let us know what you think, you can find us here
http://twitter.com/toyahoy |
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Djeco |
13 July, 2009 |
 Half way though July and the French Djeco art kits are selling well, it is always good to change and refresh the stock especially for our regular customers. But this time I am rather pleased to have bought umberella's. So often people ask if the goods are made in China, and here I am proud to say they are. Who else could deliver craftsmanship to such a product and with the famous Djeco artwork they are truly stunning. Good for rain or shine, young and old, just what you need for the British summer! |
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Naturally sweet tooth |
15 May, 2009 |
 Natural flavour, colour and ingredients, all hand made and still taste great! It sounds like an impossible task but the Original Candy Company managed to do just that and we at Toy Ahoy are delighted to add them to the range we stock.
We have chosen just a few flavours of Lollies and Candy canes but we felt any more would just confuse every one. Besides we don't need any more excuses to test the product. |
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The Red Baron flys again!! |
17 March, 2009 |
 Today the sun is shining and the March winds blow, so what should you do? well go fly a kite obviously, and what better kites to fly than those from Spirit of Air. We have spent a while finding kites which have great design, style and fly really well. The Baron is really something in all these respects, the photo does not really do it justice.
So on the beach this summer, I'm sure your be flying high, with your Toy Ahoy special. And if it's power kites you want well then perhaps you should come into the shop and chat to Chris! |
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Meet the big toy car! |
10 December, 2008 |
 We thought it was about time we put the shop name on the car so everyone can see and wave at us when we are about town. |
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Pavement Pirates the Winners |
21 October, 2008 |
 These were our favourites from the two days and will be receiving the special swashbuckilng prizes!!
The two days were a great success, with little pirates coming from far and wide to decorate our flag stones with flag ships. As part of the Nations Big Draw (over 1000 events throughout the month) we are proud to have taken part.
Many thanks for all the help from those that took part drawing and those behind the scenes. |
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Pirate Solomon |
21 October, 2008 |
 Our budding apprentice Pirate Solomon getting into the swing of things in the shop. |
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Environ-Mental |
15 October, 2008 |
 Buying toys is fun but in today’s consumer world we have other pressures to consider when making a purchase – an environmental one.
At Toy Ahoy in Minehead we carefully select colourful, fun and educational toys that are produced by companies with strong green ethics and a social conscience, so that you may enjoy choosing award winning toys knowing that we have done the background research for you. Wood sourced from carefully managed and replenished plantations is a priority. Plan Toy use natural rubber wood from trees that are no longer able to produce latex; that would otherwise be burnt. The wood is then stabilised using a chemical free kiln powered by a renewable energy source.
Environmental does not mean dull. The bright colours are achieved by using water-based dyes. Soy ink decomposes faster than regular ink and can be recycled more effectively. Also, wooden toys do not damage as easily as plastic and can be quickly repaired with a spot of glue and when they are all played out are far more biodegradable.
Your reward for choosing quality toys? They will last longer, maybe even for the next generation of your family to play with, but they will also help ensure that they too have a beautiful world to play in.
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It was a dark and stormy night |
21 August, 2008 |
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and the ships captain said to the first mate spin us a yarn matey and the first mate began it was a dark and stormy night and the ships captain said to the first mate spin us a yarn matey and the first mate began it was a dark and stormy night and the ships captain said to the first mate spin us a yarn matey and the first mate began it was a dark and stormy night and the ships captain said to the first mate spin us a yarn matey and the first mate said no |
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New year, fresh start, trade fairs and new toys |
22 January, 2007 |
 2009 was a great year for Toy Ahoy and this year we are battening the hatches ready for hyperspace! Well perhaps not exactly hyperspace but some where in the stratosphere. It is trade fair time of year with all our suppliers vying for pole position, bristling with new toys and new ideas. Of course there is a lot of chaff with the wheat and we approach the fairs with both excitement and intrepidation, but what is certain is that Toy Ahoy will remain focused on good quality traditional toys and not drift into the abyss of plastic which seems to have beset many toy stores. So here's to keeping our feet on the ground ready for the future. |
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