Visit to the zoo

So today we went to the zoo for Nic's 21st Birthday- although that was actually a week ago now, but nevermind, we can't help it if she goes swanning off to France.
So many great things happened, so many fantastic animals...Lemeurs, Wallabies, Kangaroo's, Moongooses, Meercats, Red Panda's, Giraffes, Goats!, Cocks!!!, Pigs, Sheep....starting to sound like a glorified farmyard now isn't it....ok well it was cool anyway.

Several great moments of the day and pictures to go with some.
Firstly, when we all mounted an elephant!! Not a real one, a miniature one made of fibreglass. Whilst Kirsty was doing her 'balletic' impression of it, I was shouting helpful things such as 'Get your leg over' and 'Go on, mount it' to Gill's disgust. She pointed out there was a child nearby- a two year old who I think had been left out in the sun too long, she was wandering round in circles, clapping her hands and singing to herself, either that or she was possessed. I told Gill it was just a child, but then Gill did point out to me that said possessed child might repeat what it heard to its parents!! Ooops.
Anyway: photo of us mounting an elephant...and you can see my weird arms in it, my funny elbows that bend the wrong way!


Moment of the day two was when we were by the Giraffes....
'Aaaah' I said 'look, at the back' I pointed to the far reaches of the enclosure so Tariq could see 'look at the goat'
"That's not a goat!" said Tariq, "It's a baby Giraffe!"
"No, Tariq, it's a goat!" I proclaimed
"No, Ali, It's a baby Giraffe"
"Tariq!!" I said, losing all patience "It's not a bloody baby giraffe, its a goat. Baby Giraffes are not that small....that's a long way to drop when you're a baby giraffe! Look it has horns, it's a goat!" I looked around "That" I said "Is a baby Giraffe" Pointing to an animal about 20 times the size of the goat!
"Ooooh" Said Tariq.
Here is picture of said 'Baby Giraffe' against real baby Giraffe!!!!

My other highlight was definitely seeing the Lemeurs, they were amazing in the walk through enclosure, although one did try to molest lucy! They leap across from log to log, rope to rope, and are so agile it's amazing. Sometimes I think they don't even appear to 'jump' they don't appear to put any effort into it at all, more like just bouncing, but from a static position. I do love lemeurs. We had been watching them and one jumped across to near us, and looked like it was going to jump onto the fence in front of us, when I sneezed suddenly behind Tariq....it wasn't the lemeur that jumped 5 feet into the air I can tell you that!

I decided later on that I was going to attempt to try a 'balletic' pose of my own in the castle, I thought I could at least half decently do it. Unfortunately my first attempt resorted in me looking like I only have one leg (and yes, I do have my eyes closed, and yes, I do look stupid!):

I also attempted imitating an ape, not balletically!