Big Slide at Bristol Zoo

We went to the zoo today. It's a really nice zoo and there were lots of fun things to do. I saw a red panda, lions, monkeys, gorillas (including a baby!), penguins and seals. We went through a tunnel underwater and saw the penguins and seals swimming! We also saw lots of different kinds of birds and some meerkats. There were lots of other things for me to do at the zoo as well. I went on a mini carousel and spent ages playing in the adventure playground. Mum and Dad were really impressed at how game I was at going on things without any help. But they were really surprised when I ran away from Dad towards this big slide. He paid the £1 for three goes, and off I went. They both watched me quite anxiously, but I climbed right to the top and then slide down. It was such fun that I couldn't wait to get back up it again, and I even managed to sneak in an extra go! It took a lot of persuasion to get me away from it. After the zoo we took the bus back into the city centre. We had dinner in Carluccio's. I had pasta, but it had bits of onion in it. I don't like onion, so Mum asked the waitress if I could have something else. She said all of their tomato sauce had onion in it, so instead she brought me a selection of bread and some salad. I was much happier with that. And the excitement of the day still wasn't over, because we went on a big Ferris wheel! On the way up, I said "I like heights". When we got back to the apartment I got my pyjamas on and snuggled up on the sofa with Mum and Dad to watch Kung Fu Panda. I laughed hilarously, until I fell fast asleep.

We were really pleased with Orla's behaviour in the playground. Only a few months ago in this kind of situation she wouldn't have gone on anything if other children were on it, and here she was confidently climbing all over stuff, waiting her turn (or not, if other kids were just getting in the way!), coming down the big slide and clambouring over rope bridges all on her own. But I really couldn't believe what I was seeing when she went up this slide. It's about the same size as the one in soft play, which she has consistently refused to go down unless someone is holding her hand. We're so proud of her!