Friday, September 03, 2010

Out and about: let's go to the zoo!

Whenever I take a week of work I usually a) get told off by colleagues for not going away somewhere, and b) wing it. By winging it I mean I get up each day and decide what to do then and there. Aside from the traditional and always enjoyable shopping expedition to Kingston with Sparky Ma, this often results in me waking up late, having a cup of tea, then retiring to the sofa for an all-day DVD boxset marathon.

And while all-day DVD marathons are fun, they aren't exactly a good use of my 20 day holiday allowance, are they?

So this week, I decided to get off my backside and, y'know, do stuff. And what better to do then spend some quality time in one of the world's most brilliant cities - which also happens to be right on my doorstep (not literally).

I started with this:


Yes, the Prince Charles cinema in Leicester Square was showing all the Star Trek films in order. I didn't see all of them, but I did see two - the ying and the yang, the dizzying high and the terrible low: Star Trek V and Star Trek VI. I don't think I really need to explain which was the best one, do I? Truth be told, though, I actually really enjoyed Star Trek V, although it remains a pretty flawed movie. Take it as a given that VI was awesome. And it was a joy to see them on the big screen again after so many years.

Things really kicked off on Wednesday, though, when Best Mate Jo and I went to London Zoo. This was a cracking day out, and because I'm feeling lazy I'm just going to post photos along with some snappy and witty captions.

I can't for the life of me remember what this was, but we were both rather taken by its lovely eyes.

Giraffes. OBVIOUSLY.

Dramatic owl. This is a Burrowing Owl. It has a brain the size of a pea. That is my one Burrowing Owl fact.

Fake gorilla.

Monkey in silhouette.

I was going to tell the llamas that leg-warmers are out this season, but I thought they'd spit in my face.

Prairie Dog. Basically a fat Meerkat.

69-ing Aardvarks.

Meerkat: basically a thin Prairie Dog.

More Meerkats. You wouldn't believe how much these animals have to put up with people shouting "SIMPLES!" at them these days.

Sleepy Tiger.

Mick Jagger-fish.

It was while looking at this vibrant fish that I stunned Best Mate Jo by telling her that I thought Finding Nemo was dull.

Tiny orange frogs!

This sign is just *begging* to be altered for this website.

Temptingly close…

This Lion is called Lucifer because his zoo registration number is 666.

Disappointed to find there were no penguins in the penguin pool.

Found them eventually in a different pool on the other side of the zoo. This is Ricky. He gently flapped his wings and jumped dramatically from one rock to the one RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

Sexy shrimp!?

This made us laugh like specials.

Liar - LIAR! It's called Earth Eater, but it doesn't eat earth, or indeed, THE EARTH. I'm going to have this alleged planet-destroying fish under the trade descriptions act!

Sad fish.

We also got to see the zoo's highly advanced fish tank cleaning equipment in operation.


All in all, then, it was a brilliant day, topped off by a brief stop at Oxford Street where I almost collided with the most terrifying animal of the day.

15 comments:

CyberPete said...

Oh my god! You met Cher!

Ps. Giraffes are fabulous.

Tim said...

Not quite Cher…

CyberPete said...

Are you sure?

It certainly looks like Cher.

Tim said...

I'm sure.

CyberPete said...

Then, pray tell who was that freak of nature?

Tim said...

PETE BURNS.

He almost bumped into me. If he had, he would've spun me right round, baby, right round like a record baby, right round, round, round!

CyberPete said...

Yikes! Creepy!

Hah! And you'd need to get shots because judging by his looks he's more contagious than a dead pigeon that's been laying in the sun for a week.

Tim said...

Unbelievably, he looked WORSE than that when I saw him.

Inexplicable DeVice said...

Yaaaaaarrrrgh!

You should really post a warning before linking to something like that.

* shudder *

Did you compare the meerkats, then?


Ooh, I have had great success in getting SP to watch the Star Trek Movies recently. We watched VI the other day (missed out V as I don't own it on DVD) and will hopefully watch Generations this weekend.

Tim said...

You don't have V on DVD?! And you call yourself a fan - OUTRAGEOUS!

*makes mental note for next birthday*

CyberPete said...

Well, both of you must remember my birthday on September 29. I don't have anything Star Trek.

Tim said...

Well I don't know about you, IDV, but that sounds like a HINT.

CyberPete said...

I'm very subtle aren't I?

Tara said...

Wow, I need to catch up on your posts!

I love the zoo photos, especially that vibrantly yellow fish and the cute little meerkats. Now I need to plan a trip to the one near me. Haven't been there in ages.

Tim said...

Cyberpete - Like a punch in the face.

Tara - The meerkats were awesome! We saw them attack a rubber snake too.