Sunday - Monday etc
Well Sunday kinda didn't happen - the whole 'change the clocks' thing completely threw me and Boy2 didn't feel up to going to the cinema (most likely because it would mean he would have to bathe and wash his hair!) .
So Monday we went to the Sea Life Centre and pottered around happily for a few hours. We let Boy2 guide us using the map on the leaflet - an interesting amble, to be sure.
I particularly liked the Sea Horse aquaria, where they have several breeding pairs of different species plus a Weedy Sea Dragon (who is looking for a mate). All the babies are cared for in the Bio block where they are kept away from little hot fists beating on the glass, but are alas not so easy to see. We did laugh at some comments:
Kid: 'Ma - come look at this one - it must be really EEEEEvil cus its got bloody great spikes on its 'ead!'
Ma: 'Don't be daft, Dean, 'eees prolly just a different make!'
We watched the Humboldt penguins having lunch and preening, diving (and stinking!).
Then as Boy2 struggled with the map he announced that the Seals ought to be in this pond where the big grey fish are swimming - when we asked 'which big grey fish?' he amused us all by pointing at a seal! They swim past at quite a rate, occasionally climbing the rocks to dive in and seemed happy to be sunbathing (swimming upside down around 4 foot beneath the surface) as they floated around the tank looking rather like space hoppers covered in leopard print fake fur.
I was amazed by how many people refuse to read even the simplest of details about the creatures they are observing - adults and children all around us and yet we were the only ones not calling out 'how awful it was that the tank was full of rubbish' and so hard for the little kids to see the seals!
The Sea Life centre constantly pipes in fresh Sea water to the tank to keep it clean and they are currently seeding the Seal area with a variety of native seaweeds to aid them in this. You could see all of the weed was fresh and healthy looking.
Our last stop was with the Otters. I'm looking forward to posting all our pix of them (gotta get back my Adobe disc so I can reinstall photoshop) - they are now a healthy, bouncy and squeaky family of four. The two frisky young cubs kept trying to drown each other during wrestling matches in the stream, whilst letting out pitiful mews for help. Their parents are called Mo and Johnny - they stood right up against the perspex, challenging us to enter their property. They have little fingers that are pink and brown and are adept at handling all kinds of objects. And their eyes are bright and intelligent, studying us as calmly as we studied them. They played up and down the tree branches in their enclosure and rolled in the sunshine to dry their fur. They reminded me of the cats, but (obviously) far more active and boisterous.
As we left I picked up and filled out an adoption form, so I am expecting my welcome package in the next couple of weeks, with a potted history of Mo and her progress. The adoption price also includes a plaque with my name on to be placed on the otter enclosure, plus a year's free entry! Since it usually costs £10.50 per adult this will definitely encourage me to go more than once a year.
Anyway, now that Boy2 has gone home I'd best get back to my TMA - this one is proving very maths heavy (not my strong point) so I know I'm just using avoidance tactics here.
Catch up with you all soon
And we are looking forward to the summer when nomyx and his gf kashinthegreen come back to live down here.
Traaa!
So Monday we went to the Sea Life Centre and pottered around happily for a few hours. We let Boy2 guide us using the map on the leaflet - an interesting amble, to be sure.
I particularly liked the Sea Horse aquaria, where they have several breeding pairs of different species plus a Weedy Sea Dragon (who is looking for a mate). All the babies are cared for in the Bio block where they are kept away from little hot fists beating on the glass, but are alas not so easy to see. We did laugh at some comments:
Kid: 'Ma - come look at this one - it must be really EEEEEvil cus its got bloody great spikes on its 'ead!'
Ma: 'Don't be daft, Dean, 'eees prolly just a different make!'
We watched the Humboldt penguins having lunch and preening, diving (and stinking!).
Then as Boy2 struggled with the map he announced that the Seals ought to be in this pond where the big grey fish are swimming - when we asked 'which big grey fish?' he amused us all by pointing at a seal! They swim past at quite a rate, occasionally climbing the rocks to dive in and seemed happy to be sunbathing (swimming upside down around 4 foot beneath the surface) as they floated around the tank looking rather like space hoppers covered in leopard print fake fur.
I was amazed by how many people refuse to read even the simplest of details about the creatures they are observing - adults and children all around us and yet we were the only ones not calling out 'how awful it was that the tank was full of rubbish' and so hard for the little kids to see the seals!
The Sea Life centre constantly pipes in fresh Sea water to the tank to keep it clean and they are currently seeding the Seal area with a variety of native seaweeds to aid them in this. You could see all of the weed was fresh and healthy looking.
Our last stop was with the Otters. I'm looking forward to posting all our pix of them (gotta get back my Adobe disc so I can reinstall photoshop) - they are now a healthy, bouncy and squeaky family of four. The two frisky young cubs kept trying to drown each other during wrestling matches in the stream, whilst letting out pitiful mews for help. Their parents are called Mo and Johnny - they stood right up against the perspex, challenging us to enter their property. They have little fingers that are pink and brown and are adept at handling all kinds of objects. And their eyes are bright and intelligent, studying us as calmly as we studied them. They played up and down the tree branches in their enclosure and rolled in the sunshine to dry their fur. They reminded me of the cats, but (obviously) far more active and boisterous.
As we left I picked up and filled out an adoption form, so I am expecting my welcome package in the next couple of weeks, with a potted history of Mo and her progress. The adoption price also includes a plaque with my name on to be placed on the otter enclosure, plus a year's free entry! Since it usually costs £10.50 per adult this will definitely encourage me to go more than once a year.
Anyway, now that Boy2 has gone home I'd best get back to my TMA - this one is proving very maths heavy (not my strong point) so I know I'm just using avoidance tactics here.
Catch up with you all soon
And we are looking forward to the summer when nomyx and his gf kashinthegreen come back to live down here.
Traaa!