Lake District - Day Three - 26th July

Are you sitting comfortably with a nice hot, or cold drink and something to nibble on? You're going to need it as this is a very picture heavy post as we take a wander round the South Lakes Wild Animal Park.

I'll let the pictures do most of the 'talking', adding just a few comments here and there...

Mandrill

Motherhood...

Oi! How did you get here Mr Rat...I'm sure you're not supposed to be part of the Wild Animal Park!

Ring-tailed Lemur

Cotton-topped Tamarin

Capybara...I believe is a distant relation to the domestic guinea pig.

Jaguar...coming out for their evening meal...

Climbing the pole for their meat provides good exercise.

DS2 stroking a wallaby.

Who's this cheeky fellow?

It's a Prairie Dog. A very cute little fellow.

Scarlet Ibis

King Vulture

Andean Condor

Lioness

Which profile do you think is best?

Emu

We had a lovely day at the Wild Animal Park...spoilt somewhat towards the end by the boys having a rather major fallout...instigated by DS2 unfortunately...just as we thought things were going well!

On the way home we admired the scenery...

Stopped off at some Lakes...

No not another photo Mum!

Reflections...

Today was the last day that DS2 came out with us...preferring to stay at the cottage the rest of the time...Autism really can take it's toll...and can make holidays very difficult...because he is now at the age where we can leave him for short periods of time, it makes things easier for both us and him...Yes we would like to share all our adventures with him, but he doesn't seem to like taking part and as such can make life very miserable for us...Last year's holiday was complete nightmare...not so this holiday as the arrangements suited us both, and he enjoyed his 'holiday' albeit spent on a playstation, playing swingball or watching TV, whilst we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and walks....

Lake District - Day Two - 24th & 25th July

Saturday was rather a lazy day for us. I crocheted, sat in the garden, read and generally lazed around. After lunch Hubby, DS1 and I ventured into Kendal for a look around. Tried out some DSLR camera's in Wilkinsons Camera Shop - very helpful service...wish we'd bought a camera from them in the end as they had very competitive prices. Oh and to top it all we found a shop selling New Zealand ice cream! So of course we had to have a Hokey Pokey ice cream...yummy, delicious. Sadly we only went into Kendal the once...probably just as well really!

Every evening the cows in the field next to the house came up to say hello.

So although we didn't do a lot on Saturday, it was a nice easy going relaxing day.

On our walk into Natland on the Friday afternoon we noticed that there was a local riding school and they were hosting an open day on Sunday. DS2 had said he wanted to go for a horse ride so we took the opportunity of going there on the Sunday morning.

The reality of a horse ride though must have changed his mind as he didn't go, and in fact had the moanies while we were out.

The farm was lovely with a bridleway track which we took advantage of...we came across this wonderful old stone bridge in the middle of a paddock/field!

DS2 off to have a closer look.

I wonder if a stream used to run under this bridge - it seemed odd going no where.

Views...

Stone walls galore...

Well that was enough outdoor activity for DS2 and he refused to come out with us in the afternoon, preferring the luxuries of a playstation and television!

DS1 took the driving seat and off we set to Lake Windermere.

Which was packed! Little did we know when we set off that there was an air show on.

Not having ever taken photos of aeroplanes doing acrobatics before these are not especially good, but you get the idea...it was rather spectacular.

Well there is only so much crowds we can cope with so we set off to find a walk along the Lake...

Oops, how did this get in here? I'm sure we stopped off for a drink before we went for our walk...hmmm....not sure hubby appreciated me taking a picture of him with his ever so small cappuccino.

Ahh, back to our walk again and the steps we had just climbed up!

The late afternoon's football match with the dogs ended up with us all in hysterics... The ball ended up over the fence and plop in the middle of the mud and cowpats! Now how to get it out?

The big boys contemplating how to get it..the mud was deep!

How about using the umbrella?

Little dog though wanted to get in on the act and climbed through the fence, walked along the wall, lost his balance and fell head first right into the middle of the muck! Unperturbed he then proceeded to wade through the mud to get to the ball...Let me help...

DS2 is off to the side at this time rolling around in hysterics! Nothing like a good laugh to finish the day...apart from the dog need a hose down...did he whiff! Guess he wanted to be a cowpat...he has the right colourings!