Do sleighs have jet engines?

I actually got asked this by H. No, I replied, they have reindeer, you know that. He looked at me like I was an idiot. Mummy, he said, jet engines or propellers!

Fortunately H seems unscarred by Santa's lack of reassurances regarding the requested toy plane (see below). Actually I'm getting a bit worried about the plane as the number of accoutrements requested is growing daily. To begin with the plane needed a pilot and passengers. This week it also requires steps, jet engines, seats and food. Soon I'll be in the Early Learning Centre trying to find despatchers, trolleys and infant life-rafts.

The obsession with aviation is growing apace, aided no doubt by the recent and fabulous Red Bull Great Air Race which was in Perth last month. His enthusiasm for the subject has made his vocabulary expand a lot. And D flying off to Singapore has been the basis for long discussions. Like this morning:

H: "Daddy on a big plane."

Me: "Yes, that's right."

H: "Daddy going to Singapore."

Me: "Yes, Daddy has to go away for work. He'll be back soon."

H: "Has Daddy got a seat on the plane?"

Me: "Yes, Daddy has got a BIG seat on this plane" (lucky bastard is going Business Class).

H: "And some food?"

Me: "Plenty of food, yes."

H: "Will Daddy have cho-chois?" (Cheerios)

Me: "I don't think so. I think Daddy will have Sauvignon Blanc and smoked salmon" (mutters jealously).

H: "In a blue bowl?"

Me: "Possibly."

H: "And the pilot says....(garbled impression of pilot talking to radio - I think)....CLEARED for take-off, faster, faster, faster, faster, V1, V2, ROTATE!! Wheeeeeeee! Flying in the sky!"

PAUSE

Me: "When you're grown-up H, and you can fly a plane yourself, perhaps you could fly Mummy to Paris for lunch."