Birthday Girl

L with some of her birthday vinyl and birthday flowers and cards on the window sill. Earlier we went to the zoo and although quite a lot of the animals were sleeping - chimps, pandas, monkeys for example - there were still plenty of highlights. The giraffes were on their way into their indoor enclosure but not exactly doing it quickly so plenty of time to watch them. The penguins are always reliable, both above and below the water, as are the otters and the meerkats. We also saw a red panda, high up in a tree, which we wouldn't have seen if a member of the zoo staff hadn't point him out. On the way out through the shop I was struck by just how much junk and especially plastic was for sale for kids. Could the zoo do more for the planet by not selling so much of this stuff? Instead of physical things why not just sell a catalogue of items that can help the zoo and the animals, like the charity Christmas gifts when you buy a bag of seeds or a goat to send in aid somewhere and the person you have bought the gift for gets a card to say that something has been bought on their behalf. We need to move away from material consumerism to save the planet. Some animal extras.

Big Beach Busk tomorrow on Portobello Prom - Blip Meet?