OMG! yep the dock leave thing is alive and kicking in Scotland - I still tell that to my daughter - although not actually had anyone tell me it worked - did it work for you?
I remember my mother making me a sandwich cos I was disappearing for the day, climbing trees, paddling in the river, and no hassle coming home covered in nettle stings, grass stains etc - the fact I had been out all day was probably a godsend. Would I let my 13yr old daughter do that. Probably not. Which is a shame really.
RE: The vending Machine game.
Gets out a green fairyInserts washing up liquid