Wednesday, July 30, 2008
30th July. Tilgate Park.
We are exhausted grandparents!
And we have done just one day!
This morning Ashley took himself off to London for a long day. Assuming he catches the last train back to Crawley after the Prom Concert he should be home by about 1.00am.
We spent the morning playing and shopping.
Ecky and I walked and played on the field in front of the house.
Then we went to Asda to make sure we had things that she might want to eat.
We saw something that she said she really, really wanted - but we said she should wait - more on this later.
After lunch we went to Tilgate Park.
The people of Crawley and the surrounding area are so lucky to have this amenity. And today, a hot day during the school holidays, of course there were many (very many!) enjoying the facilities.
The nature centre is a children's farm zoo really and is free to visit, though donations are asked for.
We met Jo and her grand daughter, Florence and after initial shyness the 2 girls got along very well, sharing in the nature centre experiences.
Wooden animals like this are fun for children to play on - but their primary purpose is as donation collection boxes.
There are other endangered species in special enclosures from all round the world.
Looking across a climbing apparatus of metal bars and tight ropes towards the car.
And we have done just one day!
This morning Ashley took himself off to London for a long day. Assuming he catches the last train back to Crawley after the Prom Concert he should be home by about 1.00am.
We spent the morning playing and shopping.
Ecky and I walked and played on the field in front of the house.
Then we went to Asda to make sure we had things that she might want to eat.
We saw something that she said she really, really wanted - but we said she should wait - more on this later.
After lunch we went to Tilgate Park.
The people of Crawley and the surrounding area are so lucky to have this amenity. And today, a hot day during the school holidays, of course there were many (very many!) enjoying the facilities.
The nature centre is a children's farm zoo really and is free to visit, though donations are asked for.
We met Jo and her grand daughter, Florence and after initial shyness the 2 girls got along very well, sharing in the nature centre experiences.
Wooden animals like this are fun for children to play on - but their primary purpose is as donation collection boxes.
Ekatarina and Florence are looking over the otter pond - I don't think any were out in the open though.
What are they thinking about?
Ekatarina took this picture of ducks on a log in an enclosure by one of the lakes.
This pig was having a cold shower. The man said that pigs can't sweat and they need a shower to feel healthy - well, so do we all!
And here she is in the shade of her shelter.
There are big animals like cows and also the lovely rabbits and guinea pigs and many examples of poultry. The centre is renowned for its rearing of a rare breed of cattle called White Park.
There are big animals like cows and also the lovely rabbits and guinea pigs and many examples of poultry. The centre is renowned for its rearing of a rare breed of cattle called White Park.
There are other endangered species in special enclosures from all round the world.
But I don't think a wallaby is under threat, they are just charming
Within the walled garden are lots of separate areas.
Here Ecky poses on a ball as a bird standing on its perch.
Then it was time to go to the playground. Ecky had memories of the car which is mounted to ride like a ship tossed at sea. She spent most of her time in this car. But she did climb on the large climbing apparatus and went down the big slide.
I love the expression on the boy's face who had his hands on the wheel.
Looking across a climbing apparatus of metal bars and tight ropes towards the car.
We arrived home exhausted - ready for a cup of tea.
Then we had dinner. Ecky has had 3 good sized meals today.
Then it was shower time and I read the first part of a book called Stardust.
Grandad then showed Ecky why he had gone back down to Asda. Remember that item that she really really wanted, well we decided that grandparents may treat grandchildren with gifts when they meet up so rarely and Bill had bought a Tamagotchi!
If you don't know what one is (maybe lucky you) then I can just explain it as an electronic little toy that creates the illusion of being a real person - or in this case a family of people; but the imaginary people within a Tamagotchi need tending so it is an absorbing toy.
I guess it was serendipity - because we didn't know that she had brought with her a book about tamagotchi from which she had learned that she would want one.
Ecky reckons that her grandad deserves over one thousand kisses and 7,000 hugs.
Now tis time for sleep - but Ecky is finding it hard to settle. Everything is strange and of course it is hot.
Goodnight.
