Elizabeth Day

And yeah, it's only really recently that I've understood that that was a difficult thing to go through.

Yes, he did.

Yes.

He was on my bed every day.

So again, that was very important for me to have that reassurance.

Yes.

And I also think the other thing with teddy bears and soft toys generally is that they smell of home.

Yes.

And that used to be equally traumatising as a child, where my mother was like, right, we need to wash Thomas.

And she'd put him in the washing machine.

And there's a photograph of me just, I would sit opposite the washing machine, looking at him, watching him for the entire cycle.

And then he'd come out and it would take a long time for him to dry.

And so he'd have to sort of be propped on a radiator until he dried out.

And then he did look very spic and span and handsome.

But because he doesn't get as much wear and tear now, I haven't washed him recently.

If you press it, it opens.

Thank you.

It's so lovely hearing you describe it.

Oh, thank you.

There's something very moving about hearing someone else describe an object that means so much to you.