Exciting Wales and the Cotswolds Zoo

We went to Wales last weekend. Julian had to either travel to Swansea and get a new licence or entrust Royal Mail to safely deliver and return his only passport to the D&V in Wales. So we just went to Wales ourselves. We decided to drive the long way and found this amazing zoo in the Cotswolds. I thought the drawing of a zebra on their signage was just for show - but it wasn't! They had happy breeding animals. Every animal was visible but not in a depressing environment (except the lions - they had cruelly put the zebras in full view of the lions - they spent a lot of time staring at what would have been their lunch in the wild).

I played for the cows again - the cows in Wales were horny for the horn. Ewwww. (see pic - if pic doesn't come up, go to weblog link). We stayed at an old rectory with animal trophies and guns all over the walls. Lots of Hunting magazines too. And even more strangely portraits of Prince Charles cut out of magazines and framed and on the mantel. We arrived late Saturday night. The view out one window was gorgeous fields, night sky, pan left and you see a giant Texaco oil refinery lighting up the night sky.

Went to Micah's birthday at Les Trois Garcons. As usual the atmosphere was amazing (dead stuffed versions of all the animals we saw at the zoo, covered in Tiaras and jewels). He is 35. Sweet crowd, had a lovely time.

Belly update

This is me posing with Lucie's birthday present. Serves the dual purpose of showing how big I am getting and being an interim present for Lu - the present didn't make the post in time for her birthday, so this picture was the next best thing. It's taken from a low angle so I'm really not as big as that looks.

Had a lovely afternoon tea this weekend. Cupcakes and cucumber sandwiches and the company of the lovely Paula and the lovely Katie. Went to Greenwich markets and got (almost) a house full of furniture. Julian hired a van and moved into his new office on Lonsdale Rd. He has found a holistic vet in the same street. Lucky. For a minute there I thought we wouldn't be able to find one. Got Bunny booked in for aromatherapy this week. Kidding.

With any luck our decorator will be gone in a few days max. He pisses on our bathroom floor, washes his brushes in the kitchen sink, and has stolen our broom handle. He also pushed our new bed into the wet painted bedroom wall - which happens to be the exact same colour as the bed, but that isn't the point. I would love to buy a home, but i don't think I can cope with tradespeople. At all, not for a minute. Ever.

Family Stationery

Well, I think it's official. I am wrapping up my kid-free life. We're on the home stretch, 3rd trimester. I have taken up pregnancy yoga in preparation. It's really the lamest easiest rolling around on the floor I have ever done. But I love the biscuits and herbal tea and chatting to similarly baby-obsessed women. One of the women in my class missed the lesson last night as she had started contractions. It was really very exciting news even though I had only met her once!

I have bought the baby a 50s bakelite tea set. We don't have enough baby grows, but it is good to know that the baby will have enough imaginary tea to last its childhood. Might be time to get serious about preparing. I have also started researching family stationery. It's nice to have stationery. I want to have something nice to mark our new situation. These are the things that have been occupying my mind. I don't kno whether to resist or run with it.

Julian is standing on top of a glacier in France right now. Sometimes I imagine he is an all-conquering mountain man, but most of the time I imagine him just standing around waiting for the "magic hour". He is having fun but sounds very tired. I will be thrilled to see him again. We are going to Greenwich market on the weekend. The most amazing flea market in the world. I really should forbid myself from going there or we will end up with 4 flourescent ceramic "Sad Sam" money boxes instead of a new moses basket.