Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts

Sunday, 7 July 2013

A Grande day at the zoo

My birthday is this weekend. Hooray, I'm older. I couldn't think of anything I wanted so I asked Jay to take me to the zoo.

After a small amount of dressing up and larking about, of course.



 


 

I wore as much animal jewellery as possible. My necklace is actually a little climbing cat. My brooches are a fox, butterfly and dragonfly.

Before we left I was presented with a cholesterol-laden breakfast...


 ...which, in case you're wondering, was muffins grilled with ham, tomato and 
SLICES OF CAMEMBERT CHEESE...

 ....and some 'real' gifts


Then off we went. I can't remember the names of all the animals apart from the obvious ones.

Like Mr Tiger. He was having his lunch in the shade.




I always call animals Mr Somebody. I don't know why. I am aware that girl animals exist.


Like this pretty fellow with his two lady loves.



This poor little guy looked so sad. All the others were jumping around playing and he just sat there staring mournfully at all the idiots behind the glass taking photos of him, or looking at the ground.







This pygmy hippo had an itch on its head or something. It was flapping its little ears furiously and opening and closing its mouth quite angrily. Then it would stand still as it waiting for something before beginning all over again.




The seals were so quick it was impossible to take a decent photograph of them.



Aren't these alien-looking? 



The penguins knew it was dinner time and refused to move from this spot. 
They. Were. Waiting.



Coati! What funny little creatures these are. They were continually running around here, there and everywhere, on some sort of industrious mission.




Sadly there was only one red panda in sight. I'm sure it must have had a mate somewhere. They are one of my favourite animals ever. Since it had its head in a bunch of leaves it was difficult to grab a decent shot of it.



I am pretty sure Mr Lion was eyeing off the children and wondering which would be the tastiest.



This peacock followed the elephants everywhere, from their pen to the feeding barn and back again.

 

The baby elephant was so cute.


We finished up at my favourite part of the zoo - the butterfly house. It's so magical and makes me feel like I'm in a fairy land. Some of the butterflies are massive and fly so slowly, especially these lovely green ones.








I did overhear one little girl say she found it scary. I suppose when you're small, some of the larger butterflies can be a little creepy. 

We didn't see everything because it would simply have taken too long. As it was, we walked around for about 3 hours which was enough for me. I'm older now, I needed a lie down, you know.

Happy weekend to all.

x

Friday, 27 July 2012

A Grande Birthday - the Partay

A sunny day, a big backyard, table tennis and a massive bowl of punch. 
What more could One ask for??

Mumsie & I before the festivities began. I went with the white dress as I ran out of time to do anything about a skirt or trousers to go with the green top. Mum made her own costume.

  

  

  
With my beloved, aka Madam Spectress, fortune teller & palm reader

 
With my brother, Nat...


...a class act all the way. (That would be his wife Catherine to the left, totally ignoring him)

  

  

  

  
The coolest littlest dude at the party!

  

  
Dad teaches his youngest grandson how mixers work (or  not)


When my friend Margot arrived, I didn't recognise her because of the wig. I took one look and thought, "Oh, that must be one of Jay's weird friends." 10 seconds later I worked it out.

Meanwhile Dad seems fascinated by the red chair

  

 
Do I have a cup in my hand in EVERY SINGLE PHOTO or what?

I'm excitedly showing off a gift to Dad here... but I really just like the expression on his face (although perhaps I know what I'm looking for). I have always been "his little Claire."


 Then my CAKE arrived and cocktail hour...well, continued

And sadly this is the only photo of me in my spectacular purple dress! It was rather dark by this time. Luckily, I'd realised beforehand this might be the case and spent some time playing dress ups in the bathroom.

 

  

I was wearing a wig, obviously. It was actually quite bright purple.

  

  

 
Chop chop, munch munch

It came with about 60 of those mini cupcakes and it was all made for me by my lovely friend Christine.

  

  
 Some wonderful gifts I was lucky to receive

  
 These roses are still going strong today!


And this is my invitation, made just for me by my beloved Jay. When you live with a graphic designer, you get cool stuff like this. My cousin Annie was supposed to be celebrating with me, but due to the date change, was unable to make it in person. (And no, those aren't bits missing... just my obvious editing of personal info)

  

So. 30 years taken care of. What's next?