Alton Towers

Well I took my 11 year old daughter along with her friend, my wife, and my 4 year old daughter to Alton Towers as promised. I had intended to take a good few photo's but ended up preocupied trying to be the greatest dad in the world(something I have to prove regularly as I have the mug with it written on). We stopped over on the Friday night with intention of an early start the next day. Unfortunately it never worked out that way and we were stuck in stand still traffic for over 4 hours. We did make it eventually and while my wife took the birthday girl and her friend on the rides, I tried to win various stuffed toys for our youngest. A basket ball game won her a huge dog teddy on my first go! I then spotted the same game only with a huge shark as the prize. Of course I was under the illusion that I would win first time on this one as well. When I missed the first one, I was a bit surprised but not as much as my little one who then started to cry. 20 attempts later and her cry had developed into a tantrum while a huge crowd had gathered willing me on to get the ball in the basket! Cheering me on and even putting more money on the stall to see what would happen, the pressure was on. I could have carried on, but it seemed this shark was going to cost me a lot more than what it was worth. At which point I took my little girl by the hand and began to walk away in shame. The crowd chanted at the stall holder "GIVE HER A SHARK..GIVE HER A SHARK!" But alas we still walked away without the giant stuffed animal. A failure as a father I calmed her down to explain that you can't win all the time only to spot a stall that said WIN A PRIZE EVERY TIME. Of course I didn't tell my little girl this as I needed to restore my dad can do anything hero status. After getting a plastic ball into a cup (not a blue one for a medium sized teddy or the only gold one for a giant teddy) I was handed a small pirate stuffed toy which from the disapointment on my little girls face, I could see was not the one she had her eye on. 2 attempts later she was offered a swap for her three pirates teddys already in the bank to the one she wanted. She accepted and was handed over a pink George from Rainbow. Job well done I thought! My eldest daughter who's birthday it was, managed to get round only 4 rides as there is around an hour wait for each one. She enjoyed herself though, but I think next time we will go to Blackpool with no hour waiting time and hundreds more stalls for me to win badly made soft toys!!!! I may even get myself a kiss me quick hat for good measure!