Saturday and I am up trying my best to help prepare for the arrival of my youngest daughter and her family, including the two youngest grandsons. They arrive mid morningish and the house is instantly full of child and baby paraphernalia. There is a quick lunch and there are visits to the shop and much playing. The eldest boy is full of beans and is constantly on the move. Its a delight to see him so lively and thriving. The youngest is sleepy baby but in those times of wakefulness he is smiley and very interested in what is going on around him.
It is the last weekend of the six nations rugby competition and there are still three countries that could win it. So in between playing, reading and cavorting I watch some rugby. As Ireland beat Wales, narrowly it becomes clear that the final match of the day between England and France will be a deciding game. No one gives England a chance given their performances so far. As it turns out England plays well but looses the game by two point. The French win the game and the championship with the last kick of the game.
The evening is part rugby and part Brokenwood Mysteries as I could not resist buying series 11. Everyone goes off to bed early and I linger to take my night meds and then finally go off to bed knowing I need to be up early in the morning as it is not only Mothers day but the day we are off to the zoo.
Sunday and I awake early and get myself ready for an early start to visit the local zoo. By 9:30 we have all piled into cars and are on our way. My partner has worked all the techno magic to get the visit sorted so when we arrive we sail through the entry. We head for the animals lead by the elder of the boys in his desire to see monkeys. The zoo is revamping a lot of its enclosures with the result that the monkeys are more difficult to find. After seeing the zebras, the rhino, giraffes and meercats we finally get to see an ape, gorillas to be exact.
Other apes proved to be a little more elusive, the Utang for example was clearly trying not to be seen.
We walked around until the cold and thirst overcame us and then we headed for the café at the entrance. The youngest was ready for a bottle and we all needed a rest. The café had a glass side which looked out over the snow leopards enclosure and to my surprise the leopard came to drink from its pool directly opposite where we were siting. Magnificent creature, but confines to a small enclosure.
After drinks and visits to the facilities we make our way back to the cars and head for home and something to eat. The eldest boy is happy as he has a new cuddly monkey to play with. Pretty soon people are either playing or napping and the house is full of children noises. I take the opportunity to start to draft the blog. After tea time there are birthday presents for my youngest daughter once the grandchildren are bathed, fed and safely settled down for the night. After an episode of Brokenwood Mysteries everyone but me goes to bed and I am left to watch Mock the Week, finish the Tesco order, take my night meds, set the dishwasher going and finish the blog. Then its off to bed.
