Zoo
Isabelle had accumulated enough "clean room" stickers to qualify for a reward. She chose a trip to the zoo.
The last time we went to the zoo was the day before Orla was born.
As it happens, there is a deal on at the moment where you get half price entry to the zoo if you take the bus. With the bus to the zoo only a few minutes walk from our place, it seemed like a great opportunity.
So yesterday, off we went. We caught the 9.15 bus with two other families. The children were in high spirits. I had decided earlier that we would not be taking the stroller: Aidan would have to walk. As this was a first for him (for a longish trip) I thought that I just wouldn't mention it at all and see how we went.
We did all the usual zoo things. The children pointed excitedly at the ducks, (uncaged) birds and guinea pigs (apparently the more exotic animals made less of an immediate impression!). But the large charismatic mammals were, as always, very interesting and most obliged by being visible to small people.
Within five minutes of arriving, the requests for morning tea started being made. Naturally this was a highlight of the trip, and I had come prepared with two lunch boxes of food. We could see red pandas from the kiosk, high up in the trees.
There is a lot of construction going on at the moment. This meant that there was an exceedingly interesting display involving a digger and a dump truck. The children were entranced by this for several minutes, peering under the barrier, watching as the worker expertly manoeuvred his machinery through space.
Our family caught the 12.35 bus home. Aidan fell asleep on the way back, and upon being woken up at our bus stop was outraged in his tiredness, refusing to move and attempting to lie on the floor under the seat. Eventually I managed to get the struggling boy out of the bus. With Orla in the front pack and a back pack on, this was not easy. The poor boy was wailing on the concrete and I was dreading the thought of getting him back up the hill to our house. I resorted to: "Look what's open! The fish and chip shop! Well, the fish and chip shop is also an ice block shop! Who would like an ice block?"
This worked marvellously well. Two happy children walked slowly up the hill licking rainbow paddle pops, with a lollipop (courtesy of the shop owner) firmly clasped in the other hand.
So, it looks like we don't need the stroller (so long as I am prepared to resort to bribery and corruption at vital moments!).
Isabelle said her favourite was the sun bear. Aidan's favourite was the giraffe. I went with the chimpanzees. Orla slept for most of the zoo trip, cuddled up to me in her front pack.
I fell asleep in my chair around 7.45 that evening.
The last time we went to the zoo was the day before Orla was born.
As it happens, there is a deal on at the moment where you get half price entry to the zoo if you take the bus. With the bus to the zoo only a few minutes walk from our place, it seemed like a great opportunity.
So yesterday, off we went. We caught the 9.15 bus with two other families. The children were in high spirits. I had decided earlier that we would not be taking the stroller: Aidan would have to walk. As this was a first for him (for a longish trip) I thought that I just wouldn't mention it at all and see how we went.
We did all the usual zoo things. The children pointed excitedly at the ducks, (uncaged) birds and guinea pigs (apparently the more exotic animals made less of an immediate impression!). But the large charismatic mammals were, as always, very interesting and most obliged by being visible to small people.
Within five minutes of arriving, the requests for morning tea started being made. Naturally this was a highlight of the trip, and I had come prepared with two lunch boxes of food. We could see red pandas from the kiosk, high up in the trees.
There is a lot of construction going on at the moment. This meant that there was an exceedingly interesting display involving a digger and a dump truck. The children were entranced by this for several minutes, peering under the barrier, watching as the worker expertly manoeuvred his machinery through space.
Our family caught the 12.35 bus home. Aidan fell asleep on the way back, and upon being woken up at our bus stop was outraged in his tiredness, refusing to move and attempting to lie on the floor under the seat. Eventually I managed to get the struggling boy out of the bus. With Orla in the front pack and a back pack on, this was not easy. The poor boy was wailing on the concrete and I was dreading the thought of getting him back up the hill to our house. I resorted to: "Look what's open! The fish and chip shop! Well, the fish and chip shop is also an ice block shop! Who would like an ice block?"
This worked marvellously well. Two happy children walked slowly up the hill licking rainbow paddle pops, with a lollipop (courtesy of the shop owner) firmly clasped in the other hand.
So, it looks like we don't need the stroller (so long as I am prepared to resort to bribery and corruption at vital moments!).
Isabelle said her favourite was the sun bear. Aidan's favourite was the giraffe. I went with the chimpanzees. Orla slept for most of the zoo trip, cuddled up to me in her front pack.
I fell asleep in my chair around 7.45 that evening.
posted by Mary at 8:31 pm
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