#benjamin bingley

We're catching up with another member of the Bingley clan today - Benjamin, over in Sanditon, and his fiancé Walter.

Top of the list after getting his own place, was to adopt a dog from the animal shelter. Enter Moody! He reminds Benjamin a lot of his childhood pal Bella.

~ Libra

~ Doofus / Lazy / Friendly / Pigpen

He proves to be great company while Benjamin is alone at home during the day.

And the pair soon form a close bond. (He also sports some rather splendid facial hair, just like his master.)

He quickly becomes a favourite with Dog Person Walter too. His family never had any pets while he was growing up, but he's thoroughly enjoying having Moody around now.

Benjamin was also keen to set up his own dedicated art studio at home, to pursue his dream of perfecting a masterpiece.

He finds inspiration everywhere he looks.

Well, I guess his ambition to make his mark on the art world has to start somewhere!

Robert doesn't know about art, but he knows what he likes, and that includes his ex's oeuvre.

Walter meanwhile is still risking life and limb on a daily basis as an Adventurer. He's certainly well equipped for tackling the considerable risk posed by taking a shower.

Also on the agenda is hosting a house-warming party. Unfortunately, it turns into an occasion for Benjamin's past conquests to come back to haunt him - including his flings with Townie Chandler Platz (undocumented), Julia,...

...Robert and Anna.

While Walter was happy to be just one of many before their engagement, he now expects a little more commitment from Benjamin.

Now that they've reached a firm understanding as to the footing of their relationship, everything is soon smoothed over between them.

It's a fine autumn day, and everyone is hanging around on the front lawn for some reason, including youngest son Nathan and his school pal Randy London - who will both soon be off to uni - and Charles and his work colleague Michelle Tse.

There's no time for dilly-dallying though - there's a wedding to prepare for!

In the glorious autumnal sunshine, Samuel Bingley marries Isabella Knightley.

And everyone is absolutely delighted for them.

Especially the mother of the groom, Jane...

and the father of the bride, George. (It looks like proud parents and hosts of the wedding, Charles and Jane, are both wondering when their eldest son Benjamin is finally going to get hitched though.)

Serenading his new bride.

Isabella’s stats:

~ Scorpio 7 / 6 / 7 / 7 / 9

~ Coward / Kind / Neat / Natural Cook / Eco-friendly

~ OTH: Cuisine

~ Favourite Colour(s): Yellow

~ Aspiration: Family / Pleasure

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Tidy / +Charismatic / -Undead

~ Major: Art (2.7)

~ LTW: Become Food Critic

Who invited Skunky McSkunkface?

Partying late into the night, making the most of the mild weather, and the good company.

The great summer of fun is continuing at the Bingleys'.

Georgia is having a whale of a time, taking part in a water balloon fight with her uncles Benjamin, Daniel and Nathan, and of course grandpa Charles - all of the grown-ups behaving like big kids!

Everyone is here today for a reason though - it's Emma's 13th birthday!

My goodness - she's pretty! Even if she has aged up incongruously into a swimming costume.

~ Aries 9 / 5 / 6 / 5 / 8

~ Bookworm / Perfectionist / Loves the Outdoors / Nurturing

~ OTH: Cuisine

~ Favourite Colour(s): Brown

~ Aspiration: Knowledge / Family

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Mechanical / +Tidy / -Rebellious

Well, I guess it's the perfect outfit for dealing with a flood in the bathroom.

Being a Knowledge Sim, she's really keen to start attending high school after the summer holidays.

With Emma being old enough now to take responsibility at home for her younger sister, it's time to check up on the family business, which has been sadly neglected in the years since Samuel's untimely death.

On his own, Charles is finding it all a bit overwhelming!

It's quite a relief when a friendly face turns up, in the shape of oldest son Benjamin.

Although he does have a bizarrely-dressed stalker in tow. (Chandler Platz has had the most massive crush on Benjamin forever, and pines for him at every opportunity! They did have a brief fling in the distant past, but obviously it went nowhere.)

(Repost due to tumblr shenanigans.)

Cousins Miles and Benjamin have always got along well, and neither has any serious commitments, so it makes sense that after graduation they would find the perfect bachelor pad together.

Miles’s stats:

~ Gemini 5 / 7 / 5 / 6 / 6

~ Avant Garde / Bookworm / Dramatic / Schmoozer / Snob

~ OTH: Film & Literature

~ Favourite Colour(s): Yellow

~ Aspiration: Romance / Knowledge

~ Turn-ons/off: +Artistic / +Reserved / -Laid Back

~ Major: Physics (2.6)

~ LTW: Become Education Minister (it might seem an odd choice, but Miles is very passionate about Film & Literature, with very robust views on the subject, and a strong drive to pass on his enthusiasm and insight to others)

Benjamin’s stats:

~ Scorpio 9 / 6 / 6 / 7 / 8

~ Animal Lover / Easily Impressed / Perfectionist / Avant Garde / Kind

~ OTH: Arts & Crafts

~ Favourite Colour(s): Orange / Green

~ Aspiration: Knowledge / Popularity

~ Turn-ons/off: +Artistic / +Well-liked / -Indoorsy

~ Major: Art (3.1)

~ LTW: Paint a Masterpiece (thanks to @lamare-sims​ again!)

Miles gets on the phone to Anna straight away, to invite her to inaugurate the new bed.

Benjamin has a guest too - umm, Beth, I thought that you and Bertram were very much an item now?! Perhaps she simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to hook up with her first crush when it presented itself?

Look, you’ve only just graduated and you don’t even have jobs yet - how can you need a holiday already?

Umm, share and share alike, I guess?

Miles is having a bit less fun, outside.

I’m sure it isn’t anything that you haven’t see before, Benjamin!

Benjamin earns his keep by doing most of the cooking, and he’s becoming quite proficient at it.

A hot tub is an essential investment for any self-respecting aspiring playboys. (Anna seems to be ruining the mood by reminding everyone that life is short.)

And it certainly sees a lot of action...

from some rather unexpected quarters too!

I’m guessing it’s never been quite like that with fiancé Crawford!

Yes, their free-and-easy lifestyle is proving to be everything that the guys hoped it would be.

Except that deep down, Benjamin can’t help feeling a slight sense of unease - is this the real him? Or maybe his disastrous relationship with Clara has affected him more than he realised, and made him too wary of commitment?

Maybe it’s time to rethink his priorities in life...

Charles is determined to give his orphaned granddaughters the best childhood they can possible have.

Emma is really into her gaming, but Georgia isn't so keen, especially when she gets beaten all the time by her older sister.

She much prefers a story, read by grandpa of course - he does all the voices.

It's shaping up to be a perfect summer. (Interesting location for a ball game with school chum Phineas?)

So Charles decides that what the garden really needs is a place where family and friends can all hang out together in comfort.

And a pool! Given her active nature, it's no surprise that granddaughter Annabel is the first to take the plunge.

His daughter-in-law-to-be Lillian is also keen to take advantage.

Although oldest son Benjamin has his reservations.

But he does leave a little parting gift for his nieces, painted for them on his old childhood easel. A Bingley original! I wonder what it will be worth, once the wider Sim-world finally recognises his artistic genius?

Benjamin has the face of a man who is not looking forward to what comes next.

It's nowhere near as bad as he anticipated though, and at the end of it, they have a new son - Joshua!

Another redhead, with his grandma Jane's light turquoise eyes.

~ Aries 7 / 4 / 8 / 6 / 8

~ Athletic / Erratic

~ OTH: Fitness

Another grandchild for both Charles and Frederick to dote on.

And another playmate for Moody.

With two out of three bedrooms now housing cots and toys, Benjamin has to dismantle his dedicated studio and find a new place to work - on the landing.

Annabel meanwhile is getting to know her classmates at school, including Georgina and Francis.

Moody is always Annabel's faithful sidekick in every game.

"Moody, kill!"

Which of course, he won't. Cousin Phineas is in far more in danger of being licked thoroughly than mauled.

Walter is however, living life on the edge. Thankfully, he survives the episode.

It's party time again! Since being friend-zoned by Henrietta - following her engagement - Miles has been focusing his romantic attentions more on Robert. And it hasn't gone unnoticed by his extended family.

The guest list for Annabel's fifth birthday has been carefully considered, with no one who is likely to cause any ructions being invited on this occasion.

Walter does the honours this time.

~ Aries 9 / 8 / 10 / 6 / 6

~ Adventurous / Dog Person / Sailor (taking after Walter in temperament it seems)

~ OTH: Arts & Crafts (but she shares Benjamin's creative drive)

~ Favourite Colour(s): Brown

Annabel immediately sets out to play with everyone at her party, including her best friend, Moody.

It's altogether a much more civilised affair than previous parties.

Annabel is looking forward to starting school.

She's taken on full responsibility for Moody's care.

And is a very active child - always on the go.

She's enterprising too.

Well, the maid might not fancy any lemonade after her shift...

...but grandma and daddy were persuaded...

...and a Random Townie (in an unnecessarily loud jacket) too. All in all, a good day's work!

I don't know why, but I adore her - so I'm afraid you're going to be seeing a lot more of her!

Looking for inspiration from fellow artists past and present, Benjamin takes a long-awaited trip to the renowned Silk Mill modern art museum in Sanditon.

The gallery has thoughtfully provided upholstered seating, for art enthusiasts to contemplate the art works on display in the utmost comfort.

In addition to its permanent collection (including key pieces by the elusive and provocative street artist Simsy), the gallery hosts carefully-curated, thought-provoking temporary exhibitions too. Avant Garde Benjamin is in his element.

He even runs into his cousin Bennet. Thankfully, there don't seem to be any hard feelings, after Bennet's shenanigans with Walter.

They settle down together at the balcony café for a coffee, and end up comparing notes on Nathan's new fiancée Lillian, and her curious habit of appearing in public dressed as a llama. Benjamin is all for a bit of creative self-expression, but Bennet isn't so sure.

There's quite a view from up here!

Nathan's ears must have been burning. (And since he Can't Stand Art, I have no idea what he's doing here!)

Back home, it's father-daughter bonding time, with Annabel taking a precocious interest in her dads' long-term plans for marriage.

You see here the start of a beautiful friendship. Annabel adores Moody.

And big-hearted Moody loves her too.