The 'guard rhino'

When dad died, we took over his car loan. The car came complete with two extras that we left in place. The first was a Buchanan tartan ribbon he'd tied to his gearstick, the second was the little rhino. Dad collected rhinos. The rhino has been guarding the car so long, it is a little sad and faded but it didn't seen right to evict it, so the kids christened it 'the guard rhino' and sure enough every day the car is still there and intact, therefore, it is doing its job well!

My people carrier never needed anything to guard it. It was huge and intimidating and had seven real seats and we'd had it since before the black Peugeot so no one thought to buy it a guard rhino...

Now, we have a tiny little four-seater car. It is about the size of a biscuit tin on wheels and about as rattly. Instantly, Amaia suggested something that vulnerable needed a guard rhino. Onto ebay we popped and Thomas found a rather feminine and fluffy pink guard rhino in Australia and sent for it. It is a major hit. The kids all pass it around on every school run, cuddling and petting it. I'm not sure it looks overly fierce but Amaia is convinced it'll, sorry, she'll do her job well. Of course, being fluffy and cute, she needed a name and Amaia decided without consultation that she should be called 'Daisy the guard rhino'.

I found it strange that the black car's guard rhino had lived with us for nearly three years, nameless, but this one had a name after one trip out. Every morning I get 'Pass me Daisy' from behind me as I drive.

Last week I took Amaia out in the black car for the first time in ages. She sat behind me eyeing the original rhino for a minute and then said ' Pass me Dougie, mum... He needed a name too so I've decided to call him Dougie'. 

Still attached to her Pumpa...