I finally get some leave

1- Rebecca has a healthy appetite and can't understand why she isn't allowed to eat the Tortoises and their food
2- Alanna with the family tree at Monkey world
3- Which one is the monkey?


Well, It had to happen eventually. I had two weeks off and, erm, nothing to show for it worth mentioning! Tamisa worked six nights and one day shift during the two weeks, so lots of time spent with the girls (Alanna and Rebecca as opposed to the chickens, before anyone asks).
We managed to get a long promised visit to Monkey World sorted. I recall going there about 16 years ago when it was not exactly exciting, but I have to admit to being impressed with the size of the place now, the facilities and the number of monkeys they have rescued ... I think I must be getting old! Needless to say there were occasions when Alanna's concentration span was stretched but that was mainly when it came to chosing an ice cream.
Mum and Dad were down for most of the second week, so it was great to catch up and eat lots (do I really need an excuse?). They then travelled down to Cornwall for a second week doing a tour of garden type stuff, such as the Eden Project, and unlike us, they have enjoyed a mostly dry week.


The only planned thing that we didn't achieve was a meeting with some friends I made following the untimely death of a family member at Kimmeridge when a car went over a cliff. Due to family illness they had to cancel our meeting (at a pub in the New Forest for those who thought I might be getting all formal!), so Richard and Carol, if you are ever bored enough to read this, our thoughts are with you and hope things are going OK. As an after thought for those of you who think we haven't been around for a while, the accident was in July '99 (I think) and I last saw Richard and Carol at the inquest the following year ... so wind your necks in!


I was glad to hear upon my return to work that I had missed some absolute nightmares with the Communication systems that my squad and others had worked through. It always brings a smile to my face to think that it could have been me in the mire! I have however decided that I have a squad dedicated to getting themselves off sick in bizarre ways ... Wendy my right hand woman has been off sick for a good while after the most bizarre wheelbarrow incident I have ever heard of ... a flat tyre on her barrow threw her into a fence causing a dislocated shoulder ... and then Geoff (not me!) managed to damage the tendons and ligaments one of his hands playing golf, when he hit a tree instead/as well as the ball. Personally I think it was just an excuse for a limp wrist when he went to see George Michael at Wembley Stadium ... lots of blokes in pink hats apparently, way to go Geoff - are you really in your forties?


Anyway, best wrap it up for now, busy weekend ahead, Tamisa is on nights (just spoken to her - watching the drunken idiots in Weymouth), Alanna has dancing tomorrow and a party, and we will be going to a friends baby's naming ceremony on Sunday ... which happens to be fathers day! Will update after that. Thanks for reading, feel free to post a comment - I think you have to log into a google account to do so - It costs nothing and saves me wondering whether I am just doing this for mental health reasons!