Squeak, squeak, says Bradley as he dashes through the rain to the Telford Shopping Centre. Bob the Builder umbrella flapping in the wind.

1449 Also posted to: Home page . At: 12:06:34 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Brad with umbrella in rain

Peter the Guitars, with a guitar.	Fay's bump. Coming soon, or else.
From the left Sophie with broken hat, Sam, smiling as usual, Marcus, the new Richard and Amanda.

1448 Also posted to: Home page . At: 12:05:48 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Fay's bump, Sam and Sophie

Chaos. I think we must have tested every bike, trike, scooter and even mini battery operated motorcycles. Soon, Amanda is getting twitchy, she's followed around by Esme, who likes looking at the dolls and prams, but Bradley wants to look at the digger trucks. No peace. No way we can get together to form a consensus on what toys, and decide that they'd be looking in the trolly anyway, so that would ruin the surprise. And our trolly keeps getting nicked.

1447 Also posted to: Home page . At: 12:03:00 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: A long, long, short visit to Toys R Us

Starts with a bus trip to Telford. We're waiting at the bus stop, I spot the bus and say to Bradley, "hold your hand out and say 'stop bus.'" This he does, over and over again. Standing firm near the kerb, as slowly the bus pulls up right next to his out stretched arm. He yelps, throws his arms in the air and starts dancing up and down, "I did it, I did it." The bus driver smiles.	They run up to the back of the bus, and have everybody in stitches, and I'm still negotiating with the driver. Sitting at the back of the bus, Esme is wildly excited and it shows, while Bradley is excited but calm on the exterior, taking it all in.
	Before we left Amanda reminded Bradley to show us 'the Singing Men.' I had no idea what she meant, nor Esme. Santa's Grotto in the middle of the town centre, has wobbling elves around the outside, and we pause to look. Bradley tells us something about 'the Singing Men.' Which we didn't hear. As I'm about to move off, he goes nuts, that we can't leave because of 'the Singing Men.' But we can't see what he means. Suddenly, some music starts up, and two elves start to emerge from 'down the toy mine.'

Lot's of dancing. Well, she did have ballet today (Saturday) and another exam tomorrow...	But it is a lot of dancing, Esme.
Yes, very good twirling.	And sweet skipping too.
Wonderful marching, Kitten.
	Good poise too.
Esme took the picture, I'm knackered and watching all this dancing is making me more tired.	Meanwhile Bradley stage left adds to the melee by blowing bubbles and making a sticky, slippery mess.
And then wants me to help him read (upside down, of course.)	He's looking at the map of Wonderland, the pay-to-get-in attraction at the bottom of Telford Town Park. Something about spending his birthday there, and some other trips that I think Amanda took him on.

1446 Also posted to: Home page . At: 12:02:54 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: On the bus to Telford and Esme dancing

It all started very innocently, as it always does. Esme looking at the pictures in this site, then she looks into the archives and...

Spies a picture of Bradley at birth. Soon she's dug up one of her own as well, and notices that there's a heck of a lot more blood on her than there is on Bradley. "Daddy...?"

1445 Also posted to: Home page . At: 12:02:39 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Esme studies pictures of Bradley being born