This week, it was time to clear out my bag. There used to be a time when I flung rather nice handbags over my shoulder, containing a few light essentials, such as wallet, keys, mobile phone and perhaps even a few items of make-up. Now, the chic little bag has been replaced by a large shoulder bag which does not even live up to the ‘handbag’ status. Its contents are pretty shameful too. One packet of baby wipes, containing just one very dried out wipe. One newborn size nappy despite the baby now being 16 months. One small net of squashed chocolate eggs which I remember hiding from the children on Easter Day. Four old shopping lists. A reminder to bake cakes for the school cake sale which took place a few months ago. Flower petals that my daughter collects wherever we go. One very large grey stone from our driveway which our son had wanted to take to ‘Show and Tell’ last week. A purse containing little money but bulging with receipts from the past few months and not a trace of make-up, not even a blunt eye liner.
The days of a light handbag once used as an accessory rather than a functional item are long gone. So where did it all go wrong? I blame it on pregnancy when you are persuaded to buy a Nappy Bag. They are large enough to hold a mass of pockets of varying sizes – all waterproof of course. One to hold your bottle, one to hold nappies, a small special pouch for wipes and a large space for muslins and a change of clothes. Once you have spent an age packing what is now a bulging bag hanging on your brand new gleaming pram, you can kiss goodbye to your handbag and just slot your purse and keys into one of the many pockets of your new Nappy Bag.
My most memorable handbag moment occurred when I went back to work after the birth of my first baby. My handbag and I went to a meeting at a City investment bank and were sitting around a large meeting table surrounded by six suited men. The meeting began well and my confidence began to re-emerge after many months spent sterilising and changing nappies. Enthusiastically, I went to pull out a business card from my bag only to accidentally whip out a Pampers nappy, which landed on the desk infront of me. With all eyes on the nappy, I swiftly grabbed it and shoved it back into the bag. There was a brief pause but in true British style, everyone simply glossed over it and swiftly moved on to the next item on the agenda.
