NEXT door's five-year-old grandson lost his baseball cap -- and what a fuss they went to to replace it.

It had to be a certain make and colour, but after traipsing around ever shop in town, they had no success. So they resorted to a plain cream-coloured one -- but it wouldn't do.

On being told the tale, I commented that children are too particular about their clothes, wanting all designer labels.

Later, I slapped my own wrists, when I remembered I must have been just as bad.

When I was around five years old, I had a grey pinafore dress and navy jumper with big red spots.

I hated this outfit, but no matter how often I hid it, or gave it away, it came back to haunt me.

The difference is I still had to wear it until I outgrew it.