If there is one thing that I simply hate to do where housework is concerned, ironing is definitively it. Just standing there, pushing this metal contraption which to me resembles the head of a small hissing spitting dragon backwards and forward is the most tedious and mind deadening chore I am forced to do. To further increase the constant battle, this small devious creature delights in depositing the imprints of its forked tongue in the form of creases just where I don’t and cannot have.

Forget about denim garments which we cannot live without; my workouts at the gym are not as strenuous. Nevertheless, I continued to struggle like a valiant Knight of King Arthurs’s round table in vain (mind you, not too often, as my ironing basket is always overflowing) in the hope that one day something would come along and finally help me win the battle.

Miracles do happen. One day while surfing on the Internet, I stumbled upon the newest ironing sensation, the ‘The Hand Held Clothing Steamer’ from Danoz; the Toby’.  Imagine my delight when I played the video which showed how easy it was to smooth garments. How creases disappeared from jeans, while delicate fabrics came up like new garments. No more scorched patches, no more shiny pleats, lapels and collars; what a dream. To make things even better, the bending and pushing over the ironing board was eliminated-what a joy.

Immediately I ordered one, and the moment it arrived the box was torn open and the new ironing sensation assembled. Ho yes! It worked beautifully: after a few learning curves such as steam burn, wobbly frame, garment falling off the coat hanger, steaming too close to the wall causing a flood on my new paint work, I finally mastered the newcomer and we became great friends. (Well not too great, after all bad habits are not easily forgotten).

By now you are probably thinking ‘They lived happily ever after’ but this was not the case. As soon as the ‘12 Month Guarantee’ was over, Toby packed up and died but not before short circuiting the electrical system; thank goodness I have a safety switch on the meter.

Back to the spitting dragon which I am sure was having a great time savouring its revenge on me. But never mind I have a surprise in store for him, a new steamer is arriving soon; definitively another brand but just the same a steamer. I don’t give up easily