We take a trip to drop Tony off at Shrewsbury train station. We've already fed the ducks, seen skaters practising jumps and routines. Played monkey climbing at Madley Court leisure centre, had Kentucky chicken and chips.

These are some shots of the station and castle.

We are supposed to go swimming, but when we arrive, a lack of cars warns me they may be closed. I hear bells ringing from the church and lead two disappointed children to the sound. We enter a little, very old wooden door, up worn, narrow, spiral steps to another door. I hesitate, but open, to see 9 campanologists pulling the ropes. We look for a minute, then close the door and are making our escape, whenm the bells stop, I hear group laughter and some one atop the stairs, saying, come back.

We do, and are invited in and sat down. And one peel is dedicated to Esme. Sweets are handed out, and I am give the chance the pull one bell. Wicked :-) And I forgot to take a pix.

768 Also posted to: Home page . At: 12:25:07 AM  . .
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Cosford Airbase Bradley and I spend a few hours here this afternoon. Haven't been out with Bradley on his own for ages. Months and months.

We see some small planes taking off as we drive in, they're so far away that they look like toys, but Bradley's attention is grabbed. We look for more, wait some... Drive on and we pass some of the planes that are on the satellite picture. "Big, big, big, big ones," says Bradley, stretching out his arms. He is suitably impressed.

I see some bombs. If fact there's a lot of bombs in this place. I explain to Bradley that they're fireworks, they go whoosh and bang. Bradley doesn't like fireworks, he cringes at the merest mention of the word, let alone the real thing.

I wonder about these bombs, rockets, cruise missiles, bombers, should I bring him to such a place, even if it is only a few miles down the road, and free to get in. Amazing to grow up with these things, but will it turn him into a military man?

We end up in the cafe. Bradley finally takes a bite out of my doughnut. I'd been asking him for ages, though he'd eaten well today. He starts licking out the jam. I sigh. Look around the room. Then, I spot him sticking in the straw to get at the bottom bits. Reminded me of the chimps with the grasses and ants.

766 Also posted to: Home page . At: 11:56:22 PM  . .
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I think Francis was a little bit surprised by Esme and Bradley's behaviour, though she soon realised the fun that was to be had.

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Another wild screaming time in the park. Everybody had fun.

763 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:41:54 PM  . .
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Bradley likes being a pig. I guess all kids do. Here, he was licking, sucking and sticking his tongue out to the world. I told him not to do it the first time, "it's disgusting." This made him do it several more times [predictably] to which I made no comment.

762 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:41:31 PM  . .
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A lawless visit to MacDonalds

Francis, Esme and Bradley. We go to feed the ducks, wander around the toy shops, ending up in the fast food hell. But, they crawl across the windows, scream rowdily. In MacDonalds I can let them get away with it.

I think she was saying something along the lines of, "this ice cream is very sticky."

761 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:22:59 PM  . .
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