Empty boxes are so wonderful it's a real miracle that I have not written about them before. Really! They are easily one of the most wonderful things in the world. For example: Lots of empty boxes, before they became empty, were full of chocolates! Now if that is not a wonderful thought then what, I ask, is? [A full box of chocolates? - (z)Ed and En.]

Seriously boxes are cool. When you were little it was a wonderful thing if your Mum brought one home when she had finished the shopping. When she had unpacked it and given it to you, you not only had a box but : a house; a spaceship; a boat; a car or if you had several then you could have a train, this was especially fun when you had friends around. Cut a hole in it and you had your own television network or puppet theatre. I rather regret growing up and no longer fitting into boxes to play. Would the youth of today delight in boxes? No, either they are too spoiled or their parents are too snooty to let them (I think this is a not inconsiderable factor in the decline of the box as toy). Actually, as I recall, it was just fun sitting in them.' Cats are more fortunate in this regard, they remain small enough to fit in them all their lives. And what happy hours I have often spent, dangling a feather of piece of string over a cat in a box, avoiding the cat's claws, playing. A box is most useful in settling a kitten in. It makes a house a home for them!

Furthermore, empty boxes are most useful. With them you can: Carry things such as books, clothes, cats (if the cat doesn't mind), plant pots, paper, groceries and sundry other things.

They can also be made non-empty boxes, merely by filling them with things! Books, toys and CD's are in the boxes in my bedroom and I can say in all honestly, those boxes are a life saver! I have far too much stuff for a small bedroom and I need the storage space. You can pile boxes on top of each other thus creating yet more space. Good eh?! And as far as storage goes - isn't it a lot easier to keep safety pins and batteries and things in little boxes! Yes, little things like such realisations make your life so much happier.

Then of course there are boxes which just look nice. Jewellery boxes and tea boxes fall into this category and they are pretty as well as functional.

Other uses of the box are many and varied! One could do a Homer Simpson and put the box over the head merely to go 'do dedo dedooo and it would be fun, but people would look rather oddly upon you.

Or you could put it over someone's head if you did not wish to look upon their face.

If you are of a shy and retiring temperament and do not want people to see your face - you can just put a box on and no-body will see you! Or people will stare so much at the walking box that people will just ignore you when it is taken off and you will not be seen!

If you are a private detective and want to hide from peering gazes - just get an outsized box and no one can see you!

Finally, if you lose everything, just get a box and you have a home! Just like the many homeless around the country living in boxes because people are to mean to help them!!

Such are the wonders of empty boxes! Aren't they great!