As a child I used to love racing about with my best friend 'hobby' - I was very imaginative! A couple of years ago when I was spending another silly amount on my favourite website Joules, I saw the floral print Dobbin hobby horse and absolutely had to have it!

At £30 I thought it was fairly reasonable, toys are so expensive these days and so to see such a well-made and traditional toy that I knew would bring hours of fun to my two girls, as well as being from Joules, I thought it was a good buy. It was meant to be put away when it arrived for one of their birthdays which was a few weeks away but I just couldn't resist seeing them play with it. It was an instant hit (which can't always be said with toys in our house) and still to this day, a few years later, it is a firm favourite.

I get quite attached to things that my children play with well and much to my husband's disgust ("where will we put it?!"), it will be a toy that I put aside for them for when they are older should they decide to have children. Despite it being made of fabric, it has kept so well and hasn't faded or torn and aside from having the odd chocolate stain on it (and marmite on one occasion!), the stains have simply wiped away with a wet cloth and so it still looks as good as new!

I especially love this toy because it is such a traditional toy. When my mum came to visit when the girls were playing with it, she commented that she had one as young girl, and now with toys being so plasticky and not being made to last, it is nice that this one will be around in our family for a long time (even though it only cost £30!).

The Joules' wooden hobby horse has a gorgeous vintage floral print horse's head which is made from cotton and easily wipes clean (cotton is pink), with a lovely soft cream mane. You can make the horse neigh by pressing his ear (and this still works surprisingly!) while the rubber wheels squeak along behind you (I love this - it didn't used to squeak but it just makes me love it even more for some bizarre reason!). For any Joules nuts like me, the Joules logo is printed on it too.

A firm favourite in our house which has given endless enjoyment and fun and will continue to do so - all for the bargain prize of £30!