Big Brother Finale

It took no time at all to discover why we were back at the hotel so early last night — it was so the boys could watch the Big Brother Finalé. 

Wilson had been hoping Christopher would win, because 'He's a really nice person. For a human, at least!' but once he had been evicted he switched his allegiance to Ashley, because 'She has lovely fur!'

Antony and Tiny Toy had been rooting for Pav as 'He's tiny like us!'

We were all shocked when Helen won! Wilson didn't Tweet about it though, in case she came round to sort him out. Everyone was quite scared of Helen — including me!  

Anyway, now we're off to Bournemouth to visit the aquarium then the funfair!

Antony is exhausted. Or perhaps he's not...

By the time we were finished at the station we were all pretty tired — we'd had a busy and fun-filled day! Wilson said that Antony was nearing exhaustion and we should have dinner soon so A could be put to bed early. Antony protested that he was fine and had been hoping to go clubbing this evening, but W overruled him and we headed back to the hotel to collect Tiny Toy. 

In fact we arrived at the restaurant so early that we were able to take advantage of the Daytime Diners' Discount!

We have another full day tomorrow, when we're going to the funfair and the aquarium in Bournemouth, so I won't be sorry to have an early night. 

In the fulness of time, however, I will get to the bottom of why Wilson is so anxious to get back to the hotel early tonight…

Wilson regrets a decision...

Our journey was brief — just to the next station and back — and once it was over, Wilson began to regret not accepting the driver's invitation on to the footplate. He told me that he'd wanted to go, but it was just so noisy and hot and dangerous-looking he'd been worried that Antony would have been scared. 

Antony immediately said he wouldn't have been at all frightened and it was actually Wilson who had been scared.

Anyway, the next best thing was obviously a ride on a coin-operated engine on the station platform. 

Actually, as it turned out, several £'s worth of rides…

Wilson finds comfy seats...

At long last Wilson found seats that satisfied his strict criteria. He sat down and made himself comfortable, then started waving his Boarding Card, calling 'Bar Service! Bar Service please!' 

This, of course, was entirely in vain, although he did attract a strange look from the Ticket Inspector. He's been unable to use his Boarding Pass since our cruise last year, but that doesn't stop him from trying…

Antony, being very small, couldn't see out the window from his seat so was allowed to sit on the table, as long as he promised to hold on tightly while the train was in motion.

Wilson boards the train. At last.

Following a lengthy selection process Wilson eventually chose a carriage suitable for Antony and himself and boarded the train. 

After posing briefly for a photograph with Antony he then proceeded to procure comfortable window seats for the journey. 

Wilson is a nervous traveller...

Travelling by train, especially a steam train, is a great novelty to Wilson, so both he and Antony were very excited when we arrived at Swanage Railway Station and saw the engines steaming and hissing.

Before boarding, however, W insisted on having a word with the driver and the fireman, questioning them about how long they'd been driving trains, their safety record, the likelihood of a boiler explosion or collision etc before finally consenting to climb aboard one of the First Class carriages. 

Picnic lunch

There's nothing like eating outdoors in the sea air to give you an appetite. 

That's what they say, although no amount of sea air could give me much of an appetite for Wilson's ant-and Quorn sandwiches…

Still, I filled up on them anyway because we've got a full afternoon's activity ahead of us and I shall need all my strength: we're going to Swanage Railway Station!