Sunshine and smiles...

 We went to dartmoor zoo in the sunshine - a rare family trip as I don't really like zoos (and our weekends usually disappear in a haze of cricket, gigs and gardening) but we all had a great time. The zoo is set in beautiful grounds and most of the animals have plenty of space and the children really loved seeing such amazing creatures - my littlest girl especially loves animals (although she calls them all dogs - still no need for other words in her little world...) and my boy fell in love with a tiger, standing outside her house listening to her snoring!

 Of course, a highlight of the day was the ridiculously expensive play corner. Slightly annoying as the website had promised unspoilt grounds with only fields for the children to play in... but how could we resent for long anything that makes this big girl grin like this. It was great to see these two playing so happily together.

 And then a beautiful walk with friends the next day gave an aspiring climber a chance to get stuck in a few trees...

and the rest of us the chance to appreciate how beautiful this area is and how very lucky we are to live here.

And last night, we decided to go and watch the olympic flame procession - alternating between feeling patriotic and feeling frustrated at the amount of sponsorship and corporate branding involved in what ought to have been a community event... - and we ate fish and chips on the seafront. Here's a very patriotic baby, allowed to hold the flag the children had pilfered from somewhere along the way for the first time all afternoon and making the most of it!

Some lovely days, making a change from what has become the norm - being indoors and watching the rain! I could get used to this sunshine...