Semi-Professional

Finally, after restarting myriad times and trying 3 browsers, plus copying all my files to a spare drive, I have got online and can create a proper post for today.

And what's not to love?

A Holiday to Remember

Back in the early 1980s I had a call from a friend who was working in Scotland to say he was coming to London. He was collecting a friend en route and wanted to pick me and a female friend up and take us to Brighton for the day. I had a pair of opera tickets for myself and another friend for that night. They were waiting for us at the theatre. I agreed to the trip as long as he got me back home in time. After all, Brighton is only 70 miles or so from London.

On the day, I got a phone call (from a callbox, no mobile phones then) at around 11am to say the friend had wanted to detour via Harrods, as he'd never been to the prestigious store.

They rolled up at some time after midday, then we went on to collect the other friend, who invited us in for tea and cakes.

I'm not sure when we arrived in Brighton or how long it took us to park. We had a stroll along the front, bought some sticks of rock, then found a cafe for a light meal.

On the way out of town we got stuck in a traffic jam, but eventually I got home and rushed in for a wash, a change of clothes and a layer of makeup. I phoned the theatre to make arrangements for my friend to pick up her ticket. I then jumped into my car and drove into central London...where I couldn't find a parking space. I put the car outside the stage door of the theatre, threw my keys at the duty fireman, who was also a friend, and he parked it for me while I went and got my ticket. 

I sat in my seat at 7.25 for a 7.30 start.

It was my only holiday that year, and one I'll never forget.

Semi-Detached

The stubbly look before he becomes entranced with that nasty witch is far more attractive than the smooth look he adopts when he takes her out.

Self Made

And so our man gets his own back on daddy.

Mothers and Babies

Oh dear. Photobucket wouldn't let me display my new photos, so to get the best view, click on the pics.

At last mummy tamarin has her twins  with her.

Doesn't last though. The aunties want their turn.

Tiger mother with two of her cubs relax in the sun.

 

After a drop of rain mum decided to give the cubs a lick'n'dry.

 

 

Meanwhile dad was dozing with a stone pillow.

 

 

 

Seizure

Bobby's wondering - this is just before he cuts his hand to make the suspect faint! Suspicion confirmed.

Big babies and small

So many sweet pictures I couldn't pare it down any more than these!

Stop washing and look at all the people.


Time for a walk in the jungle.


I am a big brave cub and I will ROAR at you!


And then I will retreat with dignity.


See, I can climb this big tree!


Now we can race back down.


See me pose? See how big I am!


My bones have melted.


And my head won't stay up.


I can s-t-r-e-t-c-h.


Wossat? Wossat? Can we eat it? Can we play with it?


Meanwhile dad sleeps on a full stomach.


So we join him in a snooze. Even though mum scratched his nose and they had to be separated...


A nice smelly sack makes a great blanket for a cheetah.


Tiny baby emperor tamarin (a twin!) with auntie golden lion headed tamarind.


Then over to mum.


And back to auntie.
Aaaaaah!

See Me

Such a sad one for dear Bobby.

Falling in love again

I took my new car on a trip to Howlett's animal park the other day, and found a new animal to love. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't still love the tigers, like this spectacular Siberian:



Then there's the pair of snuggly ocelots:



There are several different groups of clouded leopards:





The Pallas cat had been fed, but he felt it was worth looking out for more:



And then there was my new love - the male giant anteater. He just kept posing. Only the glass and reflections stopped these being the most adorable - and explicit - pictures ever. If men had tongues that long and could lick their genitals, they'd never stop!



And what a blanket that tail makes:

What a star.

Scared Crazy

He's so much better with hair than in the latest pictures of him shorn!

And all I ask is a tall ship

The Tall Ships regatta is happening at nearby Greenwich, starting yesterday, so I thought I'd nip along and have a look. Shouldn't have bothered. The tall ships so far:





I don't think this one counted:



Luckily the good old Cutty Sark was there in her dry dock to add some beauty to the dullness:



There were thousands of people thronging the streets. The streets closed to traffic. The station so overcrowded I walked (or rather limped) to the previous station to get myself home.

I was gone for just over an hour. It seemed like six.

The Saint

So many religious-based episodes, I can't imagine any religious observer would welcome the cynicism. Luckily for atheistic me I can concentrate on himself's face and hands.

Finally!

The day has come when I took possession of my new car.

I know it's just a car, but it was very exciting, so I took some pictures of it to bore you with. Well, I'm being merciful and only uploading one!

Pretty creatures

Took some more friends to the zoo, and this time we got more of a look at the tiger cubs.

Please click on the pictures to get the largest view.

We started with the cheetah brothers smooching.

Only one squirrel monkey has a baby this year.



In the afternoon mum and cubs stretched out

on the climbing frame.

Family members make good pillows.



I'm awake. It must be mischief time.

Or maybe I could just find a new pillow.

There, that's better!

Rocketman

Just love the pocket rocket walk.

Between the raindrops

On Friday I took my friend to Port Lympne. The weather was supposed to be changeable, and on the way down we were rained on plentifully by a cruel nature. But our time there was mercifully dry.

It used to be called a wild animal park, but now they are calling it a "reserve". Many of the animals are running free in extensive acres of grounds, and you have to take a safari bus to see them.

But some creatures are still in enclosures. There is the Scottish wild cat:

There's the Bengal tiger trying in vain to hook through the wire a piece of leg left over from a feed:

Then there's the fossa. His missus was missing - there were 6 cameras on the inside enclosure where she has 4 cubs, but not a whisker visible in any of them!