#daniel bingley

Theophilus, stop stalking your dad and step-mum while they're having a romantic moment, and go and find something else to do!

Theophilus takes my advice, and the next day - a Saturday - hits the town with best pal Alexander.

And then things take a rather unexpectedly romantic turn (chaperoned by Sister Agnes Crumplebottom)...

Their Watcher eventually remembers that there's no ACR controller on this community lot...

...and that Theophilus is never going to get that first kiss he craves unless the boys are given a nudge in the right direction.

Teenage romance safely underway, it's then time to hit the mall, where sensible, almost-middle-aged couple Clara and Daniel are acting very suspiciously. Townie Sarah McCarthy has the decency to look the other way...

...but not so Sister Agnes!

She's not going to tolerate that kind of licentiousness on her watch!

Meanwhile, there's gaming to be done...

Just a short update today, before we leave the Dashwoods and drop in on another family.

Harry's new school friend Phineas is a bit of an oddity it seems - following Alice and John around the house to pull faces at them, for no apparent reason.

Despite his eccentricities, he and Harry seem to get along quite amicably.

And of course - as always - Phineas and his cousin Annabel (who also happens to be Daniel's niece - it's complicated) come as a package deal.

Harry's social circle is also enlarged by getting acquainted with Alasdair, from across the road.

It's now time for the oldest child John to put away childish things.

~ Sagittarius 4 / 6 / 7 / 9 / 9

~ Excitable / Athletic / Good Sense of Humour / Savvy Sculptor

~ OTH: Sport

~ Favourite Colour(s): Blue

~ Aspiration: Romance / Pleasure (I didn't see that one coming!)

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Athletic / +Charismatic / -Serious

Today is the day! Teenage sweethearts Daniel and Clara have both been wanting to finally become husband and wife for many years, but the timing has never been quite right - until now.

These no-fuss Sims opt for a simple ceremony in the back garden. And even their dear-departed canine pal George was with them - in spirit at least.

Of course, they also invited their nearest and dearest to celebrate with them!

For the wedding breakfast, it just had to be everyone's favourite treat - Takemizu takeaway.

Old friend Green Bean is particularly enthusiastic about the catering.

Emma continues to charm the socks off everyone who knows her - she really is the most delightful, unaffected girl.

But Robert's baby-bump is the guest of honour.

It's altogether a very genial affair. And certainly an occasion to remember.

Daniel is a proud family man, and a very hands-on dad.

George does his share of childcare too.

While Clara has some well-earned 'me time'.

I'm glad she's feeling refreshed, as there are now two toddlers to run around after.

Alice's toddler stats:

~ Aquarius 5 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 9

~ Excitable / Sailor

~ OTH: Cuisine

George and Alice bond very quickly - but then everyone loves big-hearted George!

Mmmm, mush!

The tots are both very creative.

Whatever it is, I didn't do it!

John is the first to hear the news that another Dashwood is on the way already!

That's OK - daddy still has plenty of time for him.

And Clara is taking this pregnancy in her stride.

Although George takes no chances, and stays firmly by her side whenever Daniel is not at home.

Bonding with another expectant mum - Marianne - over the concerns of parenthood.

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.)

With expectant dad Robert having the sprawling family home to himself (apart from Lulu of course), and his sister Clara and brother-in-law Daniel rapidly running out of room for their offspring in their current residence, it only makes sense for Clara and family to move in.

Lulu is especially happy to have George as a live-in playmate.

Uncle Robert helps Matilda to decide what she'd like for lunch.

Hmm, he's feeling a bit odd this afternoon though.

With nephew and niece John and Alice to cheer him on, he gives birth to his daughter, Helena. She has her grandfather George Wickham's green eyes (and a weirdly alien-looking nose?).

John and Alice are delighted to welcome their new cousin to the family.

Meanwhile, Clara and Daniel have been rather distracted by Matilda's birthday.

~ Gemini  3 / 4 / 9 / 6 / 10

~ Adventurous / Athletic

~ OTH: Fitness

The kitchen is baby-care central! With piano accompaniment by John.

Amidst all the happenings downstairs, middle child Harry is left to age up all alone. 😢

~ Sagittarius 4 / 6 / 5 / 5 / 10

~ Kind / Night Owl / Friendly

~ OTH: Nature

We're dropping in on the household of Keziah's older sister Clara today, for some scenes of cosy domesticity.

There's always plenty of fun to be had in the bathroom.

Although I think this is a rather more hygienic pastime for youngest child Harry.

I love how the activity table allows kids of all ages to play together - John's schoolmate Isabel is joining him and his sister Alice this afternoon for a friendly colouring session.

Not to be outdone by her younger sister, Clara decides to add a fourth youngster to her own brood too.

Harry doesn't seem to think this is a wise move, and neither do I, given the modest proportions of their house!

But big brother John leaps into action, getting the bathroom spic and span in readiness for the new arrival.

Teenage sweethearts Daniel and Clara moved in together straight after graduating from uni, and for the last couple of years have rented an apartment in Sanditon, while they got their respective careers off the ground. (Seriously, nothing interesting happened, so no screenshots.)

Daniel’s stats:

~ Pisces 5 / 6 / 9 / 9 / 10

~ Animal Lover / Kind / Over-emotional / Charismatic / Technophobe

~ OTH: Nature

~ Favourite Colour(s): Orange

~ Aspiration: Family / Popularity

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Animal Lover / +Well-liked / -Undead

~ Major: Literature (2.4)

~ LTW: Marry Off 3 Children

Clara’s stats:

~ Pisces 4 / 5 / 7 / 7 / 9

~ Artistic / Kind / Animal Lover / Bookworm / 

~ OTH: Nature

~ Favourite Colour(s): Blue

~ Aspiration: Knowledge / Family

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Animal Lover / +Outdoorsy / -Infamous

~ Major: Physics (3.9)

~ LTW: Complete Insect Collection

But they’ve now decided that the time is right to start a family, so they’ve moved back to Merybury, to be closer to both sets of parents.

There’s no time to waste, so it’s straight down to business!

Daniel shows absolutely no sympathy for his fiancée's possible morning sickness, continuing to scoff down his hearty breakfast.

Animal Lover Daniel remembers how much having a constant canine companion meant when he was a child, and he’s keen for his own kids to benefit in the same way. Enter George (previously of the Morland family)!

For someone training to be a doctor, Clara seems surprisingly unaware of basic biology. (Maybe that’s because she studied physics instead.)

Welcome, first-born son John! He has his dad’s light blue eyes and mum’s brown hair.

John gets a very early lesson in the facts of life.

Family friend Green Bean drops by unannounced. Well, if you are going to invite yourself into someone else’s home, you have to expect the unexpected, Green Bean!

Green Bean is much more interested in playing with the puppy and the new baby than sitting down to a meal with his old college friends.

And despite the heavy rain, can’t resist joining the equally fun-loving - and incongruously aged-up - George outside for a game.

~ Sagittarius