2008 Top 10 Toys - No. 10

This idea was first mooted by a blogging buddy here. The list will comprise toys acquired in 2008 and there's no real favourite as Shaun puts it "I'm not naming my favourite toy of the year in this list, cos the latest toy I get always holds my utmost attention (till I've photographed it)." Well said!

So I'll start with my number ten - Sideshow's Gandalf the Grey (full review can be viewed here) from The Lord of the Rings trilogy by Peter Jackson.

One of the nicer Sideshow figures IMHO. It's really a pity that Sideshow is ending this 12" line just when they were getting good at it. Still this wizard is a great addition to their other 12" figures, even if the Fellowship cannot be complete, without the remaining Hobbits, Merry and Pippin as well as Gimli the Dwarf.

Gandalf stands beside his two favourite Hobbits, Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins

Gandalf to Frodo, "Stay clear of Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac (how do they think up these names?) or you will not be able to reach Mordor for you will be dragged down into the mire that's the financial crisis."

Altogether now, say, "Fellowship of the Ring"

The Denethor brudders, Boromir and Faramir

Samwise Gamgee the gardener (except the way he's outfitted with his pots and pans, bangers and mash, he could be Frodo's personal chef, his very own Gordon Ramsay) and Frodo Baggins, the sucker who got stuck with the One Ring to rule them all. I know of some husbands who wear the ring around their neck too, instead of on their ring finger (I wonder why?)

Legolas Greenleaf the Elf Prince of Mirkwood (he who is Orlando Bloom - how apt that Bloom will become Greenleaf - before he becomes Will Turner the pirate) and Aragorn, who is also Strider the Ranger

One down, nine more to go