Bradley's birthday. Number four!

we rise not so early, since the night before he kept on shouting down the stairs, "I can't get to sleep because I'm so excited."

Esme asks her mum, why she's only two presents? While denying that she's been downstairs at all. "Bradley's got lots more than me." "It's Bradley's birthday."

And soon, we tear into the presents. Or rather Brad does. It's all over very quickly. Too quickly.

It's not long before I'm untangling wires, to get the toys out of their display cases, and putting batteries in things. Rather cursing that we haven't enough of the right sort of batteries. Typical!

Later his cousins come around and we have a good old play. They're already dressed as vampires and witches. (Bradley's birthday falls on 31st October.) Then we go to Wonderland in Telford Town Park for their Trick or Treat party. Lots of witches and Frankensteins.

Bradley demanded that I take a picture of this.

Some of the rides in the Town Park's Trick or Treat night.

Bradley's birthday cake.

Esme's dressed as a pussy cat. She looks the part with her red hair.

Years ago I wouldn't have thought I'd buy my kids such stereotypical toys, particularly guns and tanks.

Maybe his memory of this event will also be blurry?

Another fishing trip, this time we bring Amanda along as she doesn't really believe that we catch fish like this.

A bussy Saturday morning, and we always manage to attract a few hangers on who are as surprised as Amanda at the fishing technique. Scatter some bread, use the net to scare the ducks, and soon the water's boiling with carp.

Esme joins in the conversation.

Brad doesn't care a jot about audiences, and just gets on with talking to his fish.

We went to Toys-R-Us in Shrewsbury to find Bradley some presents for his birthday. Always a stressful time for me and my credit card.

It was Esme's tractor that was nicked, we left it out on the car park... My fault I guess. It was quite worn, rusty and rain and sun pock marked. I suppose it was kids, but you never know.