Carnage at the NCT sale

Last week we decided it was about time we actually bought something for the baby, as up to that point, we were all set to bring a child into the world with nothing for it to wear, nowhere to sleep, and no means of carrying it other than my own fair hands. So the baby would have to be naked, sleep on me and be carried by me.

Anyway, I did a wee bit of research and found that there was an NCT Nearly New Sale (capped up as they did in their literature) taking place in a town nearby on Saturday. I twigged that it was only on for an hour and a half and suspected that might mean it was quite busy so decided to get their a little early.

Busy is not the word. As we pulled up, 15 minutes early, the queues of about 200 women, children and some men were reminiscent to me of people queuing up for rations in the third world. By the time we had actually got to the door, there were at least 150 more people behind us. Then, the rummage rumpus began...

To be fair, it wasn't as cut-throat as it could have been. No worse than prime-time Primark shopping. But you had to be very definite and deliberate as you attacked the tables. If you put something down for a moment, chances were someone would snatch it out from under you.

We were a little daunted but took it all in a spirit of humour (so much so that the woman in front of the queue, eavesdropping, turned to us and gave us some advice). And success was ours. Although prams and pushchairs were thin on the ground and all looked a bit on the tired side, we are now the proud owners of a Mamas and Papas cotbed - for a princely sum of £40. We also bought a couple of bags full of newborn babygrows, and, on impulse, a rather fetching purple babycarrier for a tenner. And I picked up some nifty black maternity trousers for work and an awesome pair of cropped, checked blue and cream dungarees. My husband did not think they were so awesome, but what does he know?

Anyway, we left about £60 poorer (once cake and tea were added to the mix) but feeling like we had actually made a start. And then spent approximately two hours trying out prams. I had no idea how many different options there were.... it was completely bonkers. But we did make a choice and now my parents are forking out the cash.

So all good. More later.