Another first!

Today was Pilates, but not as relaxing as last week. Although of course you can be doing pretty much anything if you've a mind, as long as you're in relatively the same position as everyone else. There was quite a lot of opposing arms and legs moving at the same time and that, along with remembering to breathe out instead of in, (or in my case stop completely) proved quite a challenge. We had a couple of chaps with us this week, and one of them provided extra noises, but we were all too sophisticated (or possibly too deaf) to get the giggles.

From there I took the bus out to Dobbies and Butterfly World. I was meeting some ex-colleagues there after school, as rumour had it there were huge scones and it was two for one! But before I met them at the cafe I had a couple of hours in Butterfly World. Amazingly enough, I'd never been there with schoolkids. It was terrific. I brought my macro lens, which I haven't used much, and took dozens hundreds of photos of butterflies, ants, tiny wee quails, as well as exotic creatures in the animal section.

When I arrived, I was told to go right through to the end, as the 'handling' session was still on. This was fantastic. The girl had a chameleon out. I took loads of photos. What an amazing little animal. Hissed at her now and then. She had had the tarantula out, which I had just missed. The next handling session was at 3pm, and as my scone liaison was at 3.30pm, I reckoned I'd have time.

Our little group was a mixture of ages. There were some great photos taken of everyone holding an exotic animal. All the kids were very keen to handle them, so I couldn't very well be all woossy when I was offered. So I held a tarantula, a millipede (about a foot long) and a python (several feet long). Not all at once, mind you. It was exciting!

There were dangling ropes all around the area and above us, and I noticed that there was a continuous troop of ants going both ways. They were leaf cutter ants, and were carrying bits of leaves to their nest on the other side of the room. I tried to take macros, but could never get more than an odd leg or bit of leaf in focus. The ants were speeding along and zig-zagged the whole way, so getting their eyes in focus was almost impossible (for me).

I don't have photographic proof that I held this tarantula, you'll just have to believe me. Would I lie to you? These two were fearless, although I think there's a wee bit of doubt creeping in to the wee chap on the left.

BTW the scones were epic - size and texture!

PS I have added some other photos from today- seems to take AGES uploading to blipfolio - including a grumpy chameleon, a fitness freak terrapin, a butterfly that pretends it's an owl and some fuzzy busy ants. but worst best of all, the man with a millipede moustache!