Pootling along the M2 on a failed shopping expedition to Bluewater today (failed as none of us managed to find anything to buy), I had a thought.

It continued from a thought I had a few days ago. This was how odd it is to have carpet in the car. Carpet is not easily cleaned would lino not make more sense? Wipe down clean!

Anyway, I began thinking about this once again and my train of thought came around to thinking how 'carpet' is a compound word, made of 'car' and 'pet' obviously. (You may conclude at this point that the drive along the M2 is not an overly interesting one and you would be correct in that conclusion).

So what would make a good car pet? Nothing that can fly - that could lead to all sorts of problems. Nothing with those knees - just because they are wrong. Something slow moving perhaps. Which brings to mind a sloth. Sloth would sit happily upside down on the parcel shelf snoozing the day away, would not need feeding all that often. Alas he would not however be all that much company and with their tendency to defecate in their sleep...not all that nice to keep in the car.

Nik suggested something like a ghecko. Merrily sticking to the window scaring the passing traffic wardens... I am not sure I would like their beady, little eyes on me as I reverse parked however.

Goldfish perhaps. Self contained, clean, calming. Could even alleviate road rage in many circumstances! A trifle messy when you brake suddenly and half of their haven sloshes over the dashboard though and we know how hot cars can get in the summer, unless you are a fan of poached fish whereby it could be an onboard snack?

So, we could not come to any agreement on what would make the best car-pet. Any ideas?