A purchase is made

Once inside the hat shop, Wilson was spoiled for choice with a vast array of Fedora-type hats. He told the very helpful assistant that he wanted to look like a 1920s Gangster… and like Leonard Cohen. He summed it up as, 'I want to look cuddly, but dangerous!'

Not sure that just a hat will do that… 

The assistant said she thought she might have just the thing, and in the picture you can see him trying it on. He stood in front of the mirror and muttered, 'If it was raining brains, Roxy Robinson wouldn't even get wet!' and, 'Hey, gimme that Splurge Gun!' out of the corner of his mouth. Then he sang a stanza from 'Famous Blue Raincoat' and announced, 'I'll take it, Doll! And don't even think about wrappin' it!''

I've never seen Leonard Cohen carrying a Thompson sub-machine gun.

Hat shop

We parked the car (at huge expense) and made our way to Wilson's chosen hat shop. 

Inside, the there was a very impressive choice of, well, hats. 

It could take W some time to make up his mind…

Hat shopping

Wilson really enjoyed himself at Bugsy The Musical — so much so that he wants to use some of his birthday money to buy himself a Bugsy-like Fedora hat. 

He popped in to the village first thing this morning, carrying some rolls of paper and a bucket of paste, asking me to pick him up in the car outside Boots the Chemist before we head off to Brighton to buy his Fedora. 

I hope he settles for just the hat and we don't have to trawl the town looking for a Zoot Suit. And a Thompson sub-machine gun.

Flying a kite...

Because the Eurovision Song Contest ran way past its schedule, Wilson had a very late night; by the time we'd chatted about the outcome it was past midnight before he headed off the the tumble dryer.

This morning he told me that, now he is six, he thinks he should be allowed to stay up late every night. I've told him 'we'll see' — I think we've known each other long enough for him to know what that really means, and he didn't persist with his argument. 

To prevent him brooding about Bonnie Tyler's poor showing we went to the park and flew his kite. I'm still very aware of the advice his psychiatrist gave me about physical activity and hobbies appropriate to an anteater. He's painted a picture on the kite since we last flew it — he's made a brilliant job of it, don't you think?

Wilson deals with his disappointment...

Wilson is stoical about last night's unfortunate UK result in the Eurovision Song Contest. He says that winning was 'Against All Odds' and he was 'Cryin' A Little' but then, 'Everybody Hurts'. As for 'Miss Bonnie' she had 'Given It All' but it was a 'Fools Lullaby' and now he had to 'Forget Her'. 'I'm A Fool' for thinking she could win, he added, but everything was 'Gonna Get Better'. 'It's A Heart Ache,' but 'It's A Jungle Out There.'

Did you see what he did there? I didn't know she'd even made that many records… 

However, Wilson was a little bit smitten by Denmark's Emmelie de Forest, and France's Amandine Bourgeois reminded him of his big sister Andrea.

He also thought Finland's 'Marry Me' was a very good song whose chances were ruined by Sweden listing it too early… but really I think he just liked Krista Siegfrids' shoes! 

I think he was frightened by the expanding vampire and the gremlins in Romania's song, but bravely didn't show it, just hugging Antony a little bit closer! 

I'm thinking Emmelie de Forest can expect an email proposing marriage to an anteater in the near future…

Eurovision Song Contest!

I'm feeling a little better now, thanks for asking, although Wilson is still having to cut the crusts off my sandwiches and put my meals through the blender.

Today, however, is a Big Day for W: it's Eurovision Song Contest Day! He's rearranged the seating in the living room to make it seem more like a cinema or theatre, and right now he's making one of his famously complex multi-coloured Eurovision Score Sheets!

Hors de Combat (that's French!)

New Dad is still hors de combat so it's me, your friend Wilson, again! Woot! 

I got something to stop Antony being scared by the sTone brothers — it's a pair of curtains from a charity shop in the High Street, and they didn't cost much… although they are a horrible colour. And pattern. I've put them up on the Folly, and I think New Dad will be very pleased. Antony says they're better than nothing, and he can at least come into the garden again. Unless it's windy and the curtains are blowing about, he says.

I'll see you again tomorrow! (Unless New Dad decides to man-up and stop being a big baby.)

Your obedient servant,

Wilson Vermilingua OBE

XoXoX

Hi everybody, it's me, Wilson!

New Dad has "toothache" and is "in too much pain" to write to you today, so he's asked me to write the blog for him. 

Honestly, he's such a baby! Apparently he has an "infected tooth nerve" yet all he will do about it is take antibiotics and pain-killers, spurning my mum, Mrs Vermilingua's traditional ant-based cure-all remedy. ANTibiotics are probably just a watered-down, commercialised version of my mum's cure with the taste taken away.

I've tried to cheer him up by singing all the songs from Bugsy to him, but he just holds the side of his face and screws up his eyes! I think he doesn't truly want to feel better!

In spite of his so-called "pain" he felt well enough to have a word with me last night about the sTone brothers; he says that it's not fair on Antony, who is terrified of them. I said perhaps Antony could just stay indoors but no, that's not good enough! Huh! 

I'll be going into the village later to buy more Paracetamol and get something to stop Antony being frightened.

An addition to the Folly

I have woken up with toothache this morning, so while I went to an emergency appointment with the dentist Wilson said he would prefer to stay at home and get on with some work in the garden. I know he doesn't like seeing the dentist, so I agreed. 

When I returned I found Antony clutching on to his Tiny Toy and sobbing — he really doesn't like these figures that W seems so fond of.

A late birthday gift arrives

We are now fully recovered from Wilson's birthday celebrations, although W is still constantly singing or whistling songs from Bugsy. He does this very quietly, almost under his breath, which is somehow extra annoying! 

Yesterday a parcel arrived addressed to Wilson, with a card attached saying it was 'A birthday gift to Dearest Boo' and signed from 'Your Secret Admirer XOXOX'.

W fumed 'Who even IS this person?!' for a few minutes, then calmed down and examined the contents. The box contained one of those appalling stone figures, like sTony but with a huge, repulsive eye!

He took it out of the box and examined it admiringly, then announced, 'I think I shall call him… sToneye!'

Antony burst into tears and hugged his tiny toy even closer.

Brilliant evening!

Afraid of missing something, Wilson took his seat in good time. He was actually the first person in the auditorium. 

Having seen Bugsy before, he was able to participate in all the numbers, and he enjoyed the show enormously! 

Some time after the performance was over the manager had to ask Wilson to leave; he protested that he was staying put, on the off-chance of another Encore!

On the drive home he sang all the songs and was word-perfect. 

He sang ALL the songs. 

SEVERAL times. 

Anyone know a cure for ear-worms?

Here's a video of one of the big numbers, Fat Sam's:

http://tinyurl.com/cxbkxrp

Isn't it brilliant?!

Bugsy Malone!

Following Wilson's Birthday Tea I announced his surprise: a trip to the theatre! 

He so loved seeing Bugsy, the musical story of gangster Bugsy Malone, last year that I booked tickets for another performance by a different theatre group. I think children like familiarity, and having seen the show before gave Wilson the opportunity to join in with all the songs! 

In these photos you can see him just before we went into the theatre. Actually, in the picture where he's holding his souvenir programme, you can just see the Choreographer, Wilson's friend Julia, coming over to wish him a Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WILSON, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

After a restless night in the tumble dryer, Wilson burst into my room shortly before dawn, wanting to know whether 'Father Birthdaymas' had been. Realising that resistance was irrelevant, I got up and we headed down to the living room where he unwrapped his presents.

His family sent their usual selection of identical birthday cards, and I gave him some Doctor Who figures and a train set. 

In addition, after Birthday Tea, I have a surprise planned for this evening!

Leaving...

Today we must leave Hastings to be home for Wilson's birthday tomorrow. Time first, though, for a ride on the Teacups and an (unsuccessful) attempt to win a soft toy on a Crane Grabber.

Wilson confided that he thought Hastings might be even better than Worthing, and he hoped our holiday in Jersey wouldn't be a disappointment after this trip to the jewel of the south coast. 

We didn't visit Hastings' caves on this trip, and I haven't mentioned them. Got to keep something back for our next visit!

Golf: a bit harder than it looks

When watching it on tv, Wilson has always thought golf looked easy-peasy, so he was anxious to try Crazy Golf (so as to avoid all the walking involved with real golf) now that he had the opportunity. 

On the way to the course he dragged me in to WHSmith as he said there was something he wanted to check.

I wonder how much that has cost? I imagine I'll find out when I get my VISA bill. On the bright side, W only narrowly beat me at Crazy Golf, admitting that it was 'a bit harder than it looks,' adding, 'but you are rubbish at it, New Dad!'

An exciting ride, followed by food

We rode the funicular railway to the top of the cliff and had some refreshments at a café overlooking the bay.

 Wilson was already pretty full as he hadn't stopped snacking since we arrived in Hastings, but he forced down some juice and cookies, then surveyed the town through the telescope.

Something less terrifying...

Denied a trip on the terrifying SpeedWave Ride, Wilson settles for a couple of more suitable amusements, Space Shuttle and Wack-A-Meerkat. 

When he's finished on those I've promised him we'll go to the top of the cliff for refreshments. He assumed that we'd be climbing the cliffs, but has grudgingly agreed to take the lift. 

Huh! Wilson is too short!

I was clearly right in thinking that Wilson still loves the Tellytubbies, as after his ride he offered his ice-cream to whichever the purple one is. Pinky Winky?

Next Wilson wanted to try a more grown-up ride, and ran onto the Wave Rider. The operator thought he might be too small and insisted he be measured. To my relief, however he stretched, and even including his ears, W couldn't quite reach the minimum height indicator and had to choose a ride suited to younger children. 

Bonjour tous les amoureux de fourmilier en France !

Hastings! The day starts well

Our first stop in Hastings was at an ice cream stall (obviously!) closely followed by a Tellytubbies Ride. Wilson always says that he's outgrown Tellytubbies, but I think he secretly still loves them. 

I was afraid taking the ice-cream onto a roundabout might have dire consequences, but all is well so far...

Wilson surprises me!

Wilson's birthday is only next week, and there has been a growing sense of anticipation around the house. To defuse his excitement I've decided to take him on a trip to Hastings.

We packed his bucket and spade and set off with Antony and Tiny Toy in the CoffeeMobile, but he insisted that we take a detour from our usual route, as there was something he wanted to show me. 

I wasn't prepared for that!