Trip to the Masoala Project

I took Bea, Ili and her friend up to the Masoala project up at the zoo this afternoon. The canopy walkway is a still a firm favourite and quickly reaches 31 degrees as you climb to the top. Feels like the tropics and we could almost forget there was snow outside. We found the chameleon, geckos, fruit bats, lemurs, and lots of Madagascan birds. Haven't been there for a while with Bea, so he was pretty excited!

Outside the Masoala project.

Ili climbing up to the canopy walkway.

Hot at the top!

New dance class

Ili started a dance class again today. After not wanted to go for ages, she was soon into the swing of it. Ili's in dark blue — the one without the tutu!

Sorry for digger overload, but . . . .

. . . some links to Youtube of the kids helping out in France:

First, Bea on the digger helping out on the second day, I think.

And this was Ili on the first day.

Bea was a great teacher!.

Last day in France

. . . final bounce and shifted the trampoline before we left. The weather was so lovely on the last day we didn't want to budge. . .  so opted for a late drive back to Zurich and arrived home early hours of the morning — Frith had to lecture first thing next morning. Poor thing needs a holiday! But it was a successful trip, although not as relaxing as we might have liked we got some good work done in a short space of time. Kids were happy and enjoyed buzzard and lizard spotting when they weren't on the digger – and even saw some nice butterflies. Back again end-April!

Digging - final day

. . . a few more pics of us working (and occasionally resting) in the garden.

"Is it my turn yet" asks Papa. . . ?

Digging again - day 2!

Made good progress. . . and it will be fab to have a swing on the tree over the new grassy are in the summer. Hopefully the grass will grow! The glow-in-the-dark picture is Frith leveling a sloping terrace trying to tuck the trampoline away.

Digger arrives - day 1!

One of the jobs we had planned was to lift part of the tarmac drive under the ash tree and replace it with grass. It turned out we'd ordered the most excessive toy yet! Monday morning the digger arrived and Bea was firmly in the driving seat and Frith and I were demoted to rake and barrow duties! He got the hang of it pretty quick, and it was actually useful to have the extra hands! Thanks Bea!

 

Walk to the river

Bea and Ili on a little walk down to the river. . . .

Dinner out

Just had to go out to dinner to one of our favourite restaurants! I guess the Valentine menu was on as Oysters were on the menu—Bea enjoyed them. And Ili polished off her trio of chocolate puds. Yum!

Before. . .

. . . and happy ever after!

. . . more Bonfires

Lots of clearing up in the garden to do and firewood to sort. Of the little oak trees there, the children have claimed one each. This is Bea up his one taking a snack!

Bonfires. . . .

Half term in France

Sports holiday half-term already — yippeee — and after a few hours of Frith arriving back from Borneo (knackered and jet-lagged) we whizzed off to France for a break away. Perhaps not the relaxing holiday he would of liked as we went armed with a list of jobs, but we had a good time, were blessed with wonderful weather (apart from a wet weekend) and made some solid progress on the house and garden.

Kindergarten Theatre - Town musicians of Bremen

Almost the end of term and the Kindergarten children performed the play this evening, that they have been practicing, to the parents and siblings — a Brother's Grimm tale "Town Musicians of Bremen".  I wouldn't want to direct 22 five- and six-year-olds through lines and song, but Ili's teacher did it remarkably well. And well done Ili too. x