🎶 ‘We’re all going to zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow….’🎶
We actually went to the zoo today – and how enjoyable it was, too. Harriet had suggested it last week, but I couldn’t go then, so we planned the visit for me to go today. She arrived on the doorstep just before eleven o’clock with Lily and Freddie in the car, and off we went.
The weather wasn’t marvellous, but it was warm enough and certainly not unpleasant, and we popped our coats on as it cooled down a bit this afternoon, to keep us snug. Despite feeling chilly, of course, we couldn’t quite resist the ice cream van….
We really did have a lovely time and were fascinated by several of the animals. I think the longest time we spent watching were with the large tortoises and the zebras. We spent ages watching one very large tortoise munching his way through a tuft of grass – clearly, he was getting his strength up because, as we passed by later, he was having a whale of a time climbing onto the back of a lady tortoise…… quite a crowd had gathered, but we didn’t stop. Lily was far too embarrassed. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the giraffes, and the meerkats were fun, too.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the zoo, though. It’s such a long time since I’ve been to one, that I was a bit distressed by the tigers in small cages, and the monkeys/gorillas/chimpanzees being in fairly close confinement, too. There were reassuring notices that reminded us that they were part of breeding programmes to release the offspring back into the wild, so there was a modicum of conscience-salving.
Freddie enjoyed himself, too, and he did really well because we walked a long way, and he didn’t complain one bit. He chatted throughout the visit and sang to himself as he walked along, making me smile. Lily was the best big sister ever and was patience personified. Harriet, of course, was as good company as ever, so all in all, it was a great day.
The zoo was very busy, much to my surprise, but being outdoors and keeping our distance as best we could, I didn’t feel too bad. We didn’t go into any of the enclosed spaces, apart from the gift shop at the end of the visit, where I did well to control the rising panic of being in amongst people who may have been COVID carriers. Because – as you know because I keep banging on about it – the rising cases and infection rates suggest we should be taking every precaution again now.
I was surprised to feel a bit weary once I got home, so I made a cuppa and John and I sat at the breakfast bar and chatted about our respective days. John reported that he’d done a fair bit of sleeping and wasn’t quite sure what time he’d gone into the garage to tinker with the car – was it 2 o’clock or 3? He was relatively pleased with the work he has done but I don’t think it was plain sailing. Even getting a spanner posed a challenge sometimes apparently!
We watched the last hour of the cricket – and were surprised to see England batting; then shocked when we saw that India had all been bowled out for just 78 earlier in the day. Goodness me, it must have been exciting to watch!! C’mon, England! You can do it! Please?
The COVID cases, as I say, are still on the rise: 35,847 people tested positive in the last 24 hours; 149 people died in the community with it; 67 people died in hospitals on 23 & 24 August; and there has been nearly a 10% rise in hospital admissions in the last week, with 6,172 people having been admitted in the last 7 days. Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck……..
Do take the greatest care everyone. God bless.
PS. I’ll share a couple of photos of us in undignified poses at the zoo tomorrow. Harriet took them and I have forgotten to ask for copies…….In the meantime, here’s a favourite of mine. A couple of very cheeky boys, two years ago, having been caught out raiding the Cheerios packet !
