Suffolk Visit Part 2

What a great face


More Colchester Zoo

This post is a bit long and photo heavy - less to read though!

Don't you just love Meerkats? I can't resist their worried little faces and 'look out' alerts - I think the one in the centre has the funniest expression!

This otter was chatting to me through the glass.
So that's where Jack came from.

Ebony and Ivory Wallabies
Or maybe Jack is a marsupial!
In the pet's corner. What a scraggy chicken!

This piglet was a bit shy

Sam and I both loved the donkey.
We all fed Tania the elephant. Her trunk felt weird when you popped the food in.

We all took a turn at feeding the giraffes. Their tongues are so long.

A proud looking vulture with gorgeous feathers.
Kitty and Sam. Kitty was so good all day.

A different species of monkey - the Jack variety.

Phew, it was a long day but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

On Wednesday, it was my surprise for Mother's Day. We drove to Ipswich while Sam's Mum Rene looked after Jack and Kitty. I realised we were going to see 'Riverdance, the Final Tour' at The Regent Theatre, Ipswich. I have never seen it and was thrilled to be doing so at last.

We had a lovely buffet Chinese meal for lunch, then it was the big show. We all loved it, the music is uplifting and the dancing spectacular. A perfect choice and our seats were the best in the house, centre dress circle. I couldn't have asked for a better present. As we didn't have that much time, I didn't take may photos, but here are some of those I did take:

The Regent Theatre, an old cinema.
One of the many lovely old buildings in Ipswich.

A fabulous church tower.

I loved the brickwork and tower on this building.

I bet the view from those windows is spectacular. Fabulous weather vane too.

On the return journey we had another 'show' with a gorgeous sunset.

And there's another day to go yet!!

ATCs, Cards and Part 1 UK Visit, Jack and Kitty

ATCs

Our group of 10 ATC-ers is still busy working its way through the alphabet for the second time. I have got a bit behind with mine but am trying to catch up. We aim to do one letter a week. Did I show you my 'I' for International?

I have just done 'J' for 'Jumping':

This Jumping Cat is for Lolo and is wending its way to America as we speak!

I have received some lovely ones too:

This is I for Indigo Blue Bunting and is from Lolo. Isn't it gorgeous?


It came in this pretty blue and white card.

This lovely card came from a friend I met when we were both pregnant. Her daughter Tania is 9 days older than my youngest, Ben. Chris also enclosed a photo of Tania and Ben when they were very small!

Ben is in the front. Tania is now in Australia working and Ben is running his bar in Puerto Banus, Marbella. Who would have thought it to look at them? Chris is coming over some time in May and hopefully will be able to come and see us. So many visitors.

Bea's Blind 5 Week Challenge

FIVE WEEK CHALLENGE - DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WITH BEA

Bea, from Dog in the Hole Studio has set a challenge for anyone who would like to join in. I was away for the first week but have joined belatedly. Here are my first 2 pieces of work. I did 2 pieces instead of one in case I messed one up! Bea sets the next 'clue' each Monday and we are to post our work on the following Friday. Let's pretend this is last Friday!


I cut 2 pieces of muslin 9" x 7" and covered them with a gel medium. On the top one, I then stuck some paper from a parcel I had in the garden for several months, which had taken on some lovely colours, onto the gel medium. Then I covered it all with more medium. When it had dried it felt lovely, the whole piece feeling like fabric.

The one below, I used just one piece of paper from the same bundle then filled in the spaces with a 'wet wipe' I had used for mopping up paint. It had something sparkly on it too. I have received today's instructions, which are on Bea's blog, and will post the results on Friday. Properly!

UK Visit Part One

I arrived in Suffolk last Monday. Jack had complained that there was a Mother's Day but not a Big Brother's Day, so we made Tuesday Big Brother's Day and Jack opted to go to Colchester Zoo. It's a lovely big zoo and we headed off quite early in the morning.


I bought Jack a camera so he could take some photos of his special day!

Kitty is now almost 10 months old. She enjoyed her day too. She'll be demanding a 'Little Sister's Day' soon!

We tried to see things we had missed on our last visit, which included the sea lions. There was a tunnel underneath the water of their pool and the view was wonderful. I took loads of photos of them:

The pale blue strip going from left to right is the tunnel. The sea lions came and showed themselves to us when their trainer arrived:
The keeper held a football the other side of the glass and the sea lion pointed to it.


This is my favourite photo taken from the tunnel. They were all rolling about and seemed to be having such fun.

This one was keeping an eye on me.

We then wandered along to see the Oran Utang - he looked very fed up but I was assured they can't smile so always look like that!

He turned around and his back was covered in bits of straw:


Outside they had a lovely big play area and the lady Oran Utang was having a great game hiding underneath a sack:

The females have much shorter hair. She did eventually drop the sack, but soon picked it up and put it over her head again. Maybe she's shy!


Jack was enjoying watching her.

Inside the zoo are the ruins of an old church:
Jack had a go on the play equipment. He's almost 5 now. Unbelievable. I think that's enough for today.

Happy Monday everyone.

UK Trip, 13th - 16th May, 2009, Jack is 4

Now how do I stop this post being 5 miles long? Oh well, as it's my 'diary', you'll just have to pick and choose the bits you want. Sam, her Mum Rene and Jack picked me up from the airport on Wednesday 13th, we made a quick trip to MacDonalds for a takeaway, Halfords to pick up Jack's birthday bike and it was off home. Jack was thrilled to see me as usual. We chatted all the way home. We all had an early night in preparation for the day ahead.

Jack's 4th Birthday, Thursday May 14th, 2009

We were all up with the lark for the bike unveiling. Jack rushed into the front room, ripped off the 2 bows from the bike and got on immediately. He was over the moon with it. Later he said to Jason, 'I'm very proud of my birthday presents'. Bless.



Jack finds his new bike. It's a Thomas the Tank Engine Bike



















He's soon riding it










Soon Nanny Maureen and Great Granddad Ivor arrived with another present:




It's a scooter, which Jack has wanted for some while













Jason opened his cards and soon the present receiving was over. I bought him 4 books, which he just loves. It's good to be able to read some 'proper' stories to him now.

Colchester Zoo

Jason, Sam, Ivor, Maureen, Rene, Jack and I all headed off to the zoo in 2 cars. It was a cloudy but not cold day, just right really. I took loads of animal photos of course!




This chap kept saying 'hello', a good welcome













There were loads of tiny monkeys with cheeky faces, they look so cute:

















One way to eat your dinner


















What a strange face
















Birthday picnic

Jason, Sam, Jack, Maureen, Ivor, Rene









The cake's good























White Tiger
















A colobus monkey, and below


















Amazing hair style
















The lion was quite magnificent. I took loads of photos of him but I'll try and choose a couple





































He knows he's the king














In the children's section, this turkey was wandering about. They are SO ugly:






See that 'thing' sticking up?











and flopping down! Do click on any photos to enlarge them






















I'm not sure what they were watching but Jack was enjoying it! Lovely













Jack fed Tania the elephant, and so did I. It was like posting food into a letter box:






























Tania







We also fed the giraffes:












What a fantastic face















Which way to go?







Walking back to the car I was struck by these reflections













And this weird bird














We were all thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day and were pleased to get home. Jack was very good and loved his zoo trip.

Friday, 15th May

Jack was at school in the morning and we picked him up at 1pm. Sam had to take her car to the garage as a bearing had gone and I went to a super material shop in Bury St Edmunds to get some edging for Kitty's quilt. I bought one or two other things too...... I met up with Sam and Jack at a play centre, then it was off to Asda and home. I planted some annuals in Sam's garden but put my back out. It's even worse today. All in all a gentle day ready for:

Jack's Birthday Party, Saturday 16th May 2009

This was a party with some of Jack's friends from nursery. We had 9 all together and they played in the indoor play centre for over an hour then it was upstairs for the birthday food. There was loads of it and us adults had plenty too. The children were so good and nobody cried or moaned. It was a super party and Jack received quite a haul of presents, which we opened when we got back home. Party photos:



Jack in the white t-shirt back left












The only girl.















Jack with his best friend Ben










Jack waiting to blow out the candles on his cake (right)!














Stories before bedtime











Other Photos

This lady is a TV presenter called Michaela Strachan. She was filming (or being filmed) while we were at the zoo. We were watching the monkeys and saw the cameramen in the compound. Sam said 'I bet that's Michaela Strachan', at which point Michaela turned to Sam and smiled at her. Sam was SO embarrassed!! I took this lovely reflective photo of her and today found this on the internet: (Jack's ear is in the middle of the shot)!!



Quote:

On Thursday 14th May, Michaela Strachan took a short break from filming her new show for Channel 5 to visit Orangutan Forest and meet Rajang; Colchester Zoo's 40 year old orangutan!

Michaela was filming for "Animal Families", a channel five programme. The series is an educational children's wildlife series. The series is planned to air on five/fiver in the autumn of 2009 during the morning 'milkshake' slot'.

So that's why she was there!







Jason helping Jack ride his new bike














Jason, Sam (and Kitty) watching Jack on his scooter

















Bury St Edmunds Railway Station and below. A fine building I thought






















I think that's more than enough. It was a great trip, apart from my back! Jason ran me to the airport last night and Jim picked me up as usual. It's always good to be home but it's pouring with rain today. Lovely Irish weather.