Chester Zoo day out

Today, as the weather was still supposed to be quite nice we decided to go and try out Chester Zoo.  We arrived about 15mins after it opened, even then there were quite a few people in the car park.  We went into the Zoo and started to follow the recommended route.  We hadn't got far before we came upon, the monorail station. Of course this got Kai very excited, and my theory was we get on do a loop of the zoo see what there is to see and then continued on our route.  However that would have been too easy. 

Having just forked out over £40 for the three of us to get in, (Alana was free being under three) they still expected us to pay to ride the monorail and the boat ride.  But to top it off the ride was only half way round the zoo, you had to get off the monorail and re board (paying again of course) if you wanted to go all round the Zoo.  So we got on (feeling a bit cheated).  It was a nice ride, and great to see the layout from the tree top level, but it was obviously too cold for a lot of the animals as it took a while for us to see any animals.

The Zoo was well looked after, and the animals all had space and looked well looked after.  We saw the Elephants including a baby who was born in July 2010



3 month old baby elephant





I want to hold your hand!





We went into one of the indoor areas and found the Komodo dragon, who looked rather seeply.

Komodo Dragon

  We needed an ice cream break.  Alana managed to make it last for a very long, long, long time, but she was determined not to let anyone else eat it.

Ice Cream Break



A painted Rhino





A giant tortoise shell.

We had a great day out, saw a lot of animals (eventually), watched baby Elephant, Orangutans, giraffe, dear and a whole lot more.  OK the Zoo's a bit sneaky trying to get money from us at every turn with money press, monorails etc.but nothing that other places don't do all the time too.

They had a lifesize shell from a giant tortoise  for the kids to pose in, So Kai got in and Alana was sat ontop Overall we had a great day, and we recommend to everyone, with or without kids Yong and old, everyone would have a great time

Rudyard Lake & New clothes

Last week on Sunday afternoon we dashed down after football and lunch to another small railway line Mark had heard about at Rudyard Lake near Leek. (Kai's fascination with trains means the whole family spend many weekends checking out new railways, ideally steam but he''ll take what he can get).
The sun was shining and it was a fab afternoon.  We pulled into the car park and there was a train sitting at the platform so we rushed and got out seats.  Having paid the guard/ driver we relaxed and sat back for a lovely little ride along the side of the lake, waving to the people walking.  Our engine was called Escaliber, and there was a another one running the opposite direction called Pendragon.

When we got to the end of the line Mark got out and decided to "race" us to the visitors centre station.  He set off and thanks to the kids distraction half way of luring him over with a love heart sweet saying "I love you" we managed a draw.

We popped over the bridge to visitors centre for a drink and watched the boat leave before heading for home.

The next week I had to go shopping for something new to wear for an interview.  For the first time in a very long time I bought myself a skirt and top (OK I bought some thin leggings to wear under the skirt but that was instead of a petticoat).   I thought I'd share this with you as many of you won't have seen me in much other than tracksuit bottoms / leggings

Unfortunately I didn't get the job but never mind, there's more to apply for and I'm sure I can fill my time with Pippas Web - Web design

What's "UP" at the cinema.

A few months ago Kai and I went to the cinema to see "Ice Age 3" he loved it and considering he's only 3yrs old way remarkably well behaved. So as a treat for him doing so well with his toilet training the last few weeks, I thought we'd go back and see Disney Pixars new film "Up".


Ok perhaps I should have moved when the ads came on and the music was loud enough for Kai to put his hands up to cover his ears and said he wanted to go home before the adverts had even finished.


Before the film started there was a short animated film "Partly Cloudy", which was funny, and Kai even started to relax and enjoy himself. I should have given up while the going was good.


Then came the film itself began. The first few minutes are all about how the main man, Mr Fredrikson met his wife and about their life together. Unfortunately at the end of this section she dies, and me being the soppy thing I am, was sitting there bawling my eyes out. I knew she had to die (ok it's the natural order of things, but) it's also the point of the film, she dies and he goes on the big adventure they'd always planned. So there's me bawling and Kai wearing just the hood of his jacket to try muffling the loud music from the film.


The film progresses and main characters befriend a big bird that looks like a big peacock crossed with a dodo. The baddies capture the bird in a net and take it away with them. Well poor Kai got really upset and started crying / screaming because they caught the bird. I gave him big hugs, whispered reassuringly, not to worry they'd rescue the bird, all the time he's screaming as though I was killing him. In the end I went for the tried and tested method that Mum's have used to stop crying for years, BRIBERY. I offered him a little bit of my coke if he stopped crying, this worked, for a while at least....


In true Disney fashion, the good guys rescue the bird, and all live happily ever after but Kai started to cry / scream again and this time continued while I got his coat on, we left the screen and even leaving the cinema. One of the poor guys who came in to clean the screen said "It wasn't that bad was it?". When I eventually got him calmed down he said he was crying because "they left the bird behind" with its family, and then "because the film ended". Poor little dude got close to starting again everytime we mentioned the film for the rest of the day.

I went to the cinema expecting lots of laughs, and although the film was good, I wouldn't say it's a kids film or for soppy people like me (at least not in public).

Days out with an Ostrich and "the Sword in the Stone"

Yesterday I drove us down to Langwathby in Cumbria to Eden Ostrich Farm. Having been shown their website, we were rather excited about what to expect. The arrival was a little strange; in the middle of a village. Thank goodness for Sat Nav for these poor city slickers. We drove through some lovely country and windy roads to get there but would never have found it without it.
Having paid to go in, we went out into Ostrich world. To me it was a little strange, it was a "normal farm" to some degree with some goats, sheep, calf's, piglets. Also some chipmunks and guinea pigs and rabbits. But they also have a cross between a pony and zebra "Pozee" which was very sweet, and of course the Ostrich's which watch you from their paddock at the back of the farm. There is also a selection of play areas indoor and outdoors, which of course Kai loved exploring. Although we did have a have a small scare when he claimed he couldn't climb out of the indoor area where there was no hope of us getting to him. But he stayed calm and managed it "all by himself" much to his own pleasure and our relief. There were plenty of spaces for picnicing but as we'd not taken any lunches, we ate there which was lovely.

Kai loved trying to ride bikes, mini jcb diggers etc. and of course seeing the animals. He even managed to hold out his hand for a goat to nibble some food, rather than throwing it at them like he normally does.

Today we went out into Carlisle City centre and to Tullie House. The last time I went there Kai was probably about the age Alana is now. After sitting through lunch and even managing to get Kai to eat some of an egg mayonnaise roll, we then went in to explore. Arriving at the station / train area first of course was Kai's favourite. We then went off to explore the different areas. We managed to get Kai to try on some hats and coats, which made him, look so cute. We did a big rubbing all together showing Kai how to use the side of the crayon.
Kai also enjoyed trying to pull the sword out of the stone and his face lit up when he first pulled it out. Mum took loads of pictures trying out her new camera, mainly because Kai looked away just before the photo was taken. But out of all of them, this is the only one with an orb.

Well I think we all enjoyed our days out, although legs achy by the time we headed back to the car. I'm sure it won't be long before Alana is out of the buggy and terrorising her brother. We just hope that she gets over this aversion to animals, or that could be quite a challenge.