Posts made in October, 2010
Stormy Weather
“Pull up the quilt, turn out the light,
dear child, it’s time to say goodnight.
In darkness black and soft and deep,
I’ll watch beside you while you sleep…
… Then should the oceans roar and rise
and dark clouds race across the skies
I’d hold you tight and close and warm
and keep you safe all through the storm.”
- Words by Debi Gliori from ‘Stormy Weather‘
So sees the end of the hardest week of my life. We are holding on.
Read MoreSharks, turtles and killer frogs
Last Friday Kai and I were lucky enough to be invited over to the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham to be VIPs for the day, and get to wile away the day in the company of hammer-head sharks, huge sea turtles, a mutant lobster who was orange instead of bluey-brown (they’re only supposed to go orange when you cook’em), the cutest frogs you ever could not-hope to meet because one touch would kill you dead, and otters, who, incidently you’re also probably better off not meeting. Remember Terry Nutkins? Ever wonder how he lost those fingers? Yep. Otters. Vicious little buggers they are… they require a zoo license of the same danger-level as crocodiles and lions! (and that is a true fact that is).
We had a great day (albeit rather noisy and exhausting, battling throngs of school children) in the company of fellow bloggers Modern Dilemma and Adventures of an English Mum, and their lovely offspring who were all very well behaved (and slightly pukey in the case of poor little Chick’s case).
Highlights of Kai’s day were touching a crab ON THE HEAD! TWICE!, hand-feeding the rays, watching the otters playing, and the bubbles that filled the cinema during the fabulous 3D showing of a BBC Blue Planet episode. Oh and the cheese sandwiches.
For me the tiny killer frog won, hands-down. That little green dude contains enough venom to kill 100 grown adults. And I tell you something, he was GRUMPY. He would have killed you soon as look as you, he would. I loved him. Nice to meet a kindred-spirit… (I’m joking. Sort of.)
The sea turtles, too, were spectacular – as big as (large) coffee tables and old as the hills. The walk-through tunnel where we got to watch them swim lazily over-head, in-amongst the hammer-head sharks and shoals of bright fish, was worth braving the hordes of excitable children any day.
Many thanks to Louise and our tour-guide Dave for a great day and for Kai’s fab goody bag – the squirty fish included have been firm bath-time friends ever since.
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P.S. Hope you like the new look blog x
Read MoreHaving a make-over…
…so things might look a bit topsy-turvy for a while.
WHY I’m doing this NOW I have no idea.
Seemed like a good idea at the time!!
**
Read MoreA note on the Writing Workshop
I’m sorry to say that the regular blogger’s Writing Workshop here at Sleep is for the Weak is going to have to take another couple of weeks off.
Ant moves out properly in the next couple of days so obviously things are going to be a bit tough for a while. I need to focus on that just now. I’ve also got a week without internet access from Wednesday while I switch over to a cheaper contract so blogging will be a bit sporadic.
Anyway. God, my head’s all over the place. Hard night tonight. Struggling to get a coherant sentance out.
I should sleep.
I’m really sorry to anybody missing the Workshop. It’ll be back soon, I promise.
x
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