Zoo, zoo, zoo

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. You can come too, too, too. Yep the other day in celebration of my daughter's 6th birthday the four of us from 88 went to Chester Zoo, Zoo, Zoo and we all enjoyed it too, too, too.

Oh there were so many creatures. The painted dogs made a big impression on my son, about 6 of them all curled up together asleep, two of them sleeping head to toe as my children do when they go to stay with their grandparents. The dart frogs were particularly magnificent, all bright green and electric blue but deadly poisonous.

I loved the red pandas. My favourite children's animated film is Kung Fu Panda and Master Shifu, a main character, is a red panda - I tried to stop myself channelling Dustin Hoffman (the voice) through the red panda nonchalantly eating his bamboo shoots at the zoo and tried not to be disappointed when he didn't talk to me in oh so wise words nor attempt any kung fu moves.

The giraffes were the most obliging to their audience, walking majestically between the covered enclosure for people inside and then out again into the sunshine for their fans outside.....if they could  I am sure they would have signed autographs. We marvelled at their unique print designs on their tall bodies as we did with the zebras too.

I found myself uttering 'cute' and 'ahh' a lot and believe me I am not one to fawn over animals. I met animals I'd never heard of and really really didn't realise there were quite so many pigs and hogs roaming the earth.

But do you know one of the most enjoyable pastimes was just sitting down having a picnic in the sun with my family and observing the other curious and weird animals at the zoo that day: homo sapiens.

A pea shoots

Pea shoots - big discovery at 88 over the last three years. Throw a load of dried peas (the kind you get at the supermarket for mushy peas) onto the top of some soil in a container, cover with more soil very thinly and leave, occasionally water and let the sun shine on down.

Just about ready to cut but they will get bushier and taller

They will sprout and eventually you get succulent, sweet pea shoots which are fabulous in salads. They are by far the easiest thing I have so far discovered to grow and pretty full proof. Once you cut them they will even come again. The supermarkets have cottoned on to these now and charge a small fortune for something you could grow with your eyes closed plus you can sit back and feel just a little smug. Have a go.

A Pea Shoots : I have a wonderful image in my mind now of a little freedom fighter pea with  gun in holster (or perhaps even a pea shooter!) about to give it all to a slug about to devour  his little seedling comrades. Power to the peas.