Christmas, 1990, and winds of change were blowing across the country. Mary Robinson had just swooped to victory in the Irish presidential election. Home Alone was playing in cinemas, teaching kids everywhere that vigilantism is okay when you've got negligent parents. And the boys and girls of Ireland were tuning in to see Gay Byrne present the Late Late Toy Show.

To be told that one of the year's must-have toys was a stool. For sitting on. After you finish sticking it together and weaving the seat. 

The Dryad Seagrass Stool Craft Kit. Even worse than one of the books they always try to push at the beginning of the second hour.

"Marks out of 10?" asks Uncle Gaybo, a vision in a moss and beige diamond-pattern jumper. "Seven," rave the two Kerry boys, deducting three marks. When pressed by Gay as to why they'd knocked three points off the stool, it was the failure of the box to include its own sandpaper that wore down the perfect 10. 

No sandpaper. Nor varnish. For a stool. That barely looks big enough for the small one to sit on. And took them four hours to make. 

Check out the demonstration of the worst 'toy' ever to be presented on the Late Late Toy Show below:

The good news for anyone who's so far failed to find a Snow Glow Elsa for less than the price of a small car, Amazon is stocking the stool craft kits, with delivery promised well before Christmas Day. But hurry, there are only three left in stock...