Hi Deborah,

You need to plan your day well or you will end up

You can hop on and off the London Tour bus where you like - which is good. And if fitting in with the Eye would probably only leave you time for one other site - like Madam T's, the London Dungeon, the Planetarium or a museum like the Science Museum...

If you limit what you do on the first trip, you can work out what you want to come back and see again

Angie

If you go to the London Eye, the London Aquarium is just along the Embankment in the old council building. It's a lovely experience for children and adults alike. There's a big tank full of rays and you put your hands in and they come and swim up underneath them and "caress" you! They also do a very elegant "dance". There's also a part called "The Sea Shore" with starfish, crabs,sea-anenomes etc. They feed the Pirhanas at 4 pm.
Have a great time when you do go Linda.

Thanks ever so much Linda and Angie, I shall certainly use your advice when we go to London. Like you say there is so much to do you really need to plan ahead.

The aquarium sounds lovely. My son has Rosie and Jim video and they visit the said aquarium, it looks great.

About the London Eye. I'm not very good with heights so would it be alright for me as sometimes although your up high if your enclosed it doesnt seem so bad. What do you think?

Also about the London Dungeon. My son is almost 6, and he doesnt scare easily, so would he be alright to visit it

Speak to you soon
Deborah

Hi Deborah, the London Dungeon is brilliant!! My son was about 8 when we took him and he loved it. In one part of it you are ushered into a Victorian courtroom with a judge in a long wig and everything. You are all "The accused" and are judged accordingly. My son was singled out and was sentenced for pinching little girl's bums!! His poor little hand was sweating clasped in mine! After that you are taken on a boat ride through dank,dark tunnels............ I won't tell you the rest so as not to spoil it if you go. I haven't been on the London Eye for the same reason as you, my husband almost convinced me but luckily the queues were too long...shame :D: The next time we go to London, I want to take my husband and son to the Tower of London, I went there when I was younger and I loved it. They have clothes that belonged to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn etc. Anyway, I won't go on anymore, have fun
Linda

Hi Linda, the London Dungeon sounds great! What you said about the courtroom reminds me of when we went to visit Coronation Street. They have a mock court there too and it really was a laugh!
We also visited last summer The Black Country Museum in Dudley, Birmingham, and they have a victorian school room with a victorian teacher. Well, we sat down and this teacher started shouting at us and I was really scared!!!! He told anyone who had a sweet to go outside and spit it out. My son had to do this and when he came back he started crying! A little girl was wearing nail varnish and he told her from now on her name would be Jezebel. She started crying. By the end about 4 children were crying. We had to write on slates and were expected to know the alphabet backwards! I thought maybe at the end he might apologise but no he kept up the act the whole time! We also went down a mine and that was really great. A good day out (avoid the schoolroom if you are of a nervous disposition!)
That sounds interesting about Henry VIII his wives. I am really interested in the Tudors always have been and also Queen Victoria which is why I like visiting Osbourne House in the Isle of Wight. We used to belong to English Heritage and visited many a castle. Anyway what really great places have you visited?
Speak to you soon
Deborah

Morning Deborah, Most of the places that I have visited have been in London because that's where I'm from. I was born in Greenwich where the Meridian Line, the Cutty Sark and the contravertial Millenium Dome all reside. I live abroad now though so when I go to England I like to show my son the English side of his heritage!! If you like the Tudors (I love them) you will love Hampton Court Palace. That's where Henry VIII actually lived with Anne Boleyn, and his gigantinormous bed is there! There is also an enormous maze that he had planted to amuse his visitors. A man sits in the middle of it on a tall seat to guide you out if you get lost! The Planetarium is amazing, it's so beautiful it bought a lump to my throat. Madame Tussauds is good too but a bit of a cheat now because you have to pay separately to get into the chamber of horrors or the rock hall of fame. The Natural History Museum was a big hit with my son, it has dinosaur skeletons etc., just the sort of thing that little boys like. I can't think of anywhere else off hand, there are so many places to see in London. Where do you live? Well as usual I've gone on so long that my coffee has got cold Hope that I've been of some help to you . That school you went to sounds really good fun, but Birmingham is a bit far for me to go from London. My next visit to England will be for a week at Easter, I'll see what I can squeeze in between shopping sprees!!
Regards, Linda

Good morning Linda, thanks for your message, it is nice to talk to someone who likes history too. Funnily enough I come from London too. I was born in Stepney and we lived in Bow just off the Roman Road. We moved to Northampton when I was 7 and now I live in Peterborough which is just about an hour from London down the A1. Isnt it a small world?
I really enjoyed living in London and remember lots about it. Myself and my Dad used to sometimes on a Sunday go up to the city on the tube and visit the model shops as my Dad loves his model trains. We also used to go to BrickLane and once we brought back a little puppie who just cried out to be bought. My Mum was not best pleased! My auntie once took me to see the crown jewels but when we got there it was shut. I never did see them! I also went with the school to see Madame Tussuads and the Planetarium and I think we went another time to see the Science museum.
I know what you mean about getting a lump inyour throat. Sometimes when I hear live music like in a show or something like that I get all welled up!
Listen to me waffling on!
Do you live somewhere nice and warm and exotic? It has got to be better than the weather we have here!
Have you ever visited Dover castle? That is well worth a visit. My son Robert loved it. Boys love scrambling over over ruins and things dont they?
We stayed in nearby Deal and visited Deal castle and Walmer Castle.
Well I must go and do some ironing! Hope to hear from you soon and let me know where you live.
What exciting things do you visit in your country?
Take care and speak to you soon,
Deborah

Deborah, I've been trying all day to answer but it keeps getting lost! If this one gets through I'll try again later.
Linda

Hi Linda, hope you get through today. I had similar problems the other day. I couldnt even get on the internet a couple of days ago. Hope to speak to you soon
Deborah

Hi Deborah, I don't know what happened yesterday, but I now have about four replies to your post floating around in cyberspace!
I also come from good eastend stock, my Dad was born in Walthamstow and my Mum on the other side of the river in Rotherhithe, we moved to Bromley in Kent when I was six and my Mum still lives there now. My daughter and her family live in Penge SE London, just around the corner from Crystal Palace, that is where I stay when I am in England. I have lived in Ibiza for the last 20 years, I had a holiday romance came true, aaaaahhhhhh!! My husband is Spanish, his name is Jesús! I didn't believe that was his name when I met him but I have since learnt that it is a very common name here in Spain. Our son, Joel, was born here. He will be 12 in April and we've bought him up to be bilingual, he speaks English with a cockney accent!
The weather for the last few days has been grey and wet, just another s****y day in Paradise!! February is our wettest month, it's very humid here all year round but of course you notice the damp more in the winter. We have a lovely cast-iron wood burning fire to keep us warm and the house dry during these months.
Most of the historic stuff here is Phoenician, Cartheginian or Roman. Where I live we have a little bridge that was built by the Romans, also there are salt flats near the airport which are still operative and export salt all over Europe. I remember going to Dover Castle when I was little with the school. It's lovely talking to you. I don't actually have British cable TV, so can't see UKStyle, but I catch up when I'm in England. My next visit will be at Easter for a week. Oh well, off to make beds etc. now. Speak to you soon I hope. Take care, Linda

I am a southerner myself. I was born in Chichester but lived in Havant for years - its on the coast about 9 miles from Portsmouth.

My dad was a farm worker and so I was brought up on a farm - we grew vegetables and kept chickens, I have two brothers and spent my childhood chasing after them, getting into mischief and climbing trees... the sort of childhood you do not get now... :( too many strange people around to give your children the kind of freedom we had.

For school trips we went to Porchester Castle, Fishborne Roman Palace (Nr Chichester) and Bignor Roman Villa (thought that was really naff) we did get to go to London when the King Tut exhibition was on - must have been about 1973 but to see Madam T's...

As for the London Eye, I understand that it is far less scarey than it looks - it moves really slowly and you can sit down - which really helps if you are scarred of heights - if you plan on going then it really is worth getting a pre-booked ticket and missing the queues.

As for wonderful buildings I joined the National Trust last year - so that I could take Mum to places free as she is in a wheel chair. I loved Hampton Court and especially the tapestry's which I had seen being cleaned on TV.

But I think one of the most beautiful places to visit in all the Country must be Waddesdon Manor. It is a Rothchilds mansion - and it is still filled to the rafthers with all their treasures. I also live Holker Hall in Cumbria - as unlike a lot of places they have items out which you can pick up and touch.

I went to Blenheim - but wouldn't recommend it - they were not very kind to Mum and allowed far too many people in at once - so it was too crowded... and far too hot - that is saying something for England.

I also really loved Hatfield House - but then because Mum was in a wheel chair we got special treatment because we couldn't get up the front steps (at Blenheim we were left to it and wouldn't have managed it but for some American tourists - no staff available to help) - but at Hatfield the estate manager came out with his dog (because initially they charged us the wrong fee) and personnally took us through the private garden of the Marquise (who is an accomlished plantswomen) and in through the family entrance - so we got to see parts other people never reach.

But if its gardens you are after then the best I have ever seen are at Mount Teviot House, trouble is its in the borders of Scotland. There Mum was wisked off in her own private buggy and given a personal guide by one of the gardeners, whilst I was allowed to wander around the stunning grounds on my own.

I think there are so many wonderful sights to see in this Country which are overlooked in our hurry to explore warmer climes - which is such a shame.

This year I will be exploring the area of England called "little Switzerland" - its on the English/Welsh borders to the left of Birmingham - around Much Wenlock... will also be able to visit Iron Bridge at long last - which I have always wanted to do.

Well better go

Angie

We went The London Dungeon last summer.....i thought it was rubbish...Kids loved it though!

I am from Wales, and miss it dreadfully.......You can't beat them Snowdonia mountains for beauty ...We book a cottage there every year, and I never want to leave....

I have been to Much Wenlock Angie....It's really lovely there.....My grand-daughters got christened there May 2001, lovely church.......

Just for the record.....For those that don't me......I aint an old granny either....LOL...:D

Hi Linda, thanks for your message. What a lovely romantic life you have. How nice to hear of a holiday romance with such a happy outcome. Fancy your son having a cockney accent, good for you! My son was born in Peterborough but I'm hoping my cockney is rubbing off on him!
We seem to have started everyone reminiscing looking at the earlier messages. Nothing like a bit of nostalgia to make you feel better!
Do you miss England? It is nice that you have your daughter to come and stay with I bet she looks forward to seeing you. My Mum and Dad live in Northampton so I dont see them as much as I would like to.
My son is having a birthday party here at home tomorrow. We are having 12 children round and I'm kind of looking forward to it! I have never done a party before so think of me between 11am and 1pm tomorrow running around like something demented, covered in jelly and cake crumbs!!
What a shame you cant watch UK Style I really think it is a great channel. It has given me some good ideas over time. What is the TV like where you are?
Well, write soon and let me know your news from your part of the world. I think my son Robert wants to go to bed now. I hope he sleeps as he seems so excited. Speak to you soon, take care,

Deborah

Hi Steph and Angie

Well Deborah, by the time you read this the birthday party will be over. I hope that it was a great success and they they didn't leave too much mess to clean up. My son's birthday is 21st April so I have usually been lucky enough to be able to do his parties outside. Where I live we have communal gardens and a swimming pool, although it's too cold to swim in April, they can all run round like loonies. I've been lucky enough that none of them have actually fallen in the pool but we've had a few near misses!! This year he will be 12 and I think he just wants to do like last year, we've got a restaurant on the seafront so we just made loads of pizzas and sandwiches etc., and they had a great time playing football on the beach and all that. My life's not such a romantic one really, we've got a mortgage (only 2 more years thank God!!) a bank loan etc., just like yourself I imagine. It's just all in a nicer environment!! We have to work very hard in the summer, my husband works about 16 hours a day with no days off from May to October and we have to save very hard to survive the winter. We stay open in the winter but it just about keeps our heads above water. Still, I'm not complaining, I love living here. The thing I miss most about England is the shopping. I usually raid places like Matalan & Primark when I'm there. The last time I went with 19 kilos of luggage and came back with 35!! I usually get my hubby's trousers and shirts for work as well. Got some great flights for Easter with Easyjet for only about 110 pounds return for my son and me, so I'm looking forward to that. I've got 2 grandkids as well, they're 7 & 4 so I really look forward to seeing them. The tele here is not bad but there's nothing like UKStyle, it's a good job really because I'd probably never get anything done! I've been hooked since last October on Spain's version of Fame Academy, it's on cable channel 24/7 here, luckily it's nearly over. They've already declared the winners and now they just have to decide who will represent Spain in the Eurovision song contest. Aren't I sad!?!? I don't normally get hooked on things, it must be my age (almost 48). Do you work at all? Well, I'll be orf now, it's been p'ing with rain here all day so I'm going to bung some more washing in the tumble dryer. Hope to hear from you soon when you've recovered from the party, take care,Linda

Hi Linda, I just did a long message for you and when I tried to send it it disappeared! I shall you message you tomorrow and hopefully it will get through. Speak to you tomorrow, take care,
Deborah

Good morning Linda, hope this message finds you well. Looking out of the window there is a lot of frost but it is bright. Roll on spring.
Well, I have nearly got over the party but never again! Most of the children were well behaved but 2 boys had to spoil it by going over the top. One of their mums stayed and he didnt take any notice of her let alone me. My son Robert enjoyed it though so I suppose thats the main thing. Next year I think we might take him to the bowling alley with just 2 or 3 choice friends. Your sons party sounds lovely on the beach. I wish Roberts birthday was in the better weather and then we could have used the garden. Never mind, he's had a party at home so he cant say he never had one.
No, I dont work. When I had Robert I was working for a a company that made wiring for cars but when I left to have him I was also made redundant because the factory shut down and transferred the work to Portugal. My husband Mark also worked there and was made redundant but he fell into a job that deals with gas bottles. He delivers them and works in the yard loading lorries etc... We are fortunate that we have a very low mortgage and hardly notice the payments. I stay at home to be there for Robert, school,school holidays etc... If a job came up in his school I might consider it. I actually go on a Thursday and help in his classroom voluntarily so I shall just see what the future brings. At the moment I keep busy decorating, gardening etc...
Does your son like school? Robert loves it and is really doing well.
I only have Robert and I dont think I would want anymore. I had him in my 30's like you had your son, I'm 37, but it was a diffucult labour. Wether it was because I wasnt in my "youthful 20's" I dont know, but I couldnt do it again. Mind you, I am the only one so maybe it doesnt worry me too much.
How lovely that you have 2 grandchildren. I bet you love them to bits. Do they come and visit you?
Do you own a restuarant or something like that? I always fancied a running a B&B, you never know. We quite like Blackpool and considered it a while back but forgot about it after a while. Robert loves his school and it is nice where we live so I really wouldnt like to move.
This afternoon we are going to the theatre to see a childrens production called Tom and Mollies and Magic Garden. They always put good shows on in the school holidays. I like the shows as much as Robert does! In March we are going to see Sooty, we go every year and it really is good. Tomorrow night I am going on a ghost walk with my friend. I have always wanted to go on one. We meet outside the museum in town and explore the towns ghosts! have you ever been on one of those?
Talking about TV programmes I got into celebrity big brother a while back. Like you I dont usually get hooked but I loved every minute of it. I really missed it when it finished! I do like UK Style especially Gardens Unplugged and the lovely Simon! Robert also likes watching it and got quite interested in gardening as a result last summer. They have some live chats coming up on here week starting 24 Feb so keep an eye out for them.
I E Mailed UK Style about the live chats and they answerd me the next day about them. They seem really helpful as a little while ago Robert drew a picture of Simon and Ryan in Gardens Unplugged and they said they would send on to them.
Yesterday Mark laid laminate flooring in our kitchen and conservatory and he did a really good job. We did have carpet but it got so grubby I was fed up of cleaning it. This should be easier to manage.
Anyway Robert has just woken up so I had better get him some breakfast. Speak to you soon, hope this message doesnt get lost this time!
Take care, hope it is warmer where you are than it is here!
Deborah

Morning Deborah, Glad to hear that you survived the party! Isn't there always one (or in your case two) that has to spoil things for the others. The weather here today is diabolical. During the night we had an almighty thunderstorm with great big hailstones, I thought the war had started!! The poor dog was going loopy, the only one who slept through it all was my son, nothing ever wakes him fortunately. This morning it is really cold, when I got up at 7.30 it was raining and I had to take the dog out and got soaked (couldn't find the umbrella as usual) then just as my husband took my son to school, the rain turned to sleet! The sun is trying to come out now. I feel sorry for my poor sister and brother-in-law, they've gone to Barcelona for a three day break and I've just seen on the news that it's snowing there!!
Your husband has got a heavy job. Here in Spain the men who deliver the gas, known as the "Butaneros" have got the same reputation as the milkman in England!!! We don't have milkmen here and the "Butanero" is the only man who delivers to homes!! We don't have natural gas here in Ibiza, so we cook by Calor gas and lots of people have gas central heating but they usually have a big underground tank somewhere near their house.
We have got a restaurant right on the sea front in Santa Eulalia del Rio. We don't own it but we've rented it for about 14 years now. We have an agreement with the owner that we keep up all the painting, general repairs and maintenance and he doesn't put the rent up, which suits us just fine. My husband is there at the moment painting and varnishing, when the weather is naff, it's not worth opening, we're on a corner and it gets really windy and cold there sometimes. I only work there in in the summer and only for a few hours a day so that I am home a lot for Joel. I hate working there now, I've not got a lot of patience with some of the ignorant people who come there to eat in the summer, you wouldn't believe how people treat you sometimes! Some of them think that because you are a waitress you haven't got the intelligence to do anything else. Anyway, that's one of my pet gripes that I could go on forever about, so I won't!!
I had my daughter when I was 21 and my son at 36 and I certainly noticed the difference giving birth. You're definately not as flexible pelvis-wise and I found it a LOT harder. Mind you, my daughter was born three hours after my first twinge so I was really lucky. Joel took 8 and a half hours from my waters breaking! I never had any more after him, firstly for financial reasons (we don't get any help at all for children here!!) and then because I got too old. My daughter made me a Nan at 41, Briony will be 7 on the 28th of this month and Harry was 4 in January. I don't see them as much as I'd like but they do come to visit and I go there when I can. I'd have them here all summer if I didn't have to work. You can actually see them thriving here, they run around like two dirty little gipsies (no offence meant to gipsies) and get lovely and brown and healthy looking. It's lovely for kids where I live, all the houses are built in a square and we have communal gardens and a swimming pool and everybody looks out for each others kids, I think we've all rescued at least one from the pool!! My daughter has laminate flooring in her living room, it's really easy to look after. I've got white tiles UUUGH!! Always dirty, I've changed the ones in the kitchen to terracotta and hopefully will change at least the downstairs later this year. Anyway, I'll be off now to do a bit of housework, the usual post-weekend carnage to clear up. Such is life.......... Hope you and your family are all well, take care.
Linda

Hi Deborah and Linda,

Hope you are both keeping fine - it sounds like you are having wonderful weekends.

I am getting into a programme called Operatunity - where wouldbe Opera singers are given a chance - and I was well impressed - it put the other so called tallent shows to absolute shame - even if some of the contestants wouldn't have known an aria if it bite them LOL

I must check out when the next programme is on again as its got me really intregued...

I am off next week and hope to tackle the horrible black swirly paper in my bedroom and turn it into a tranquil lilac and grey haven - and then depending on how long that takes make a start of clearing up the garden for spring - it amazing how much stuff accumulates in the garden over the winter (especially when it was too wet to clear it way in the autumn)

Well better go - take care

Angie

Good morning Linda and Angie, anothr cold and frosty day here. I am glad I'm not the only one who thinks it might have been my age with having a difficult birth. Linda, where you live sounds heavenly, with the swimming pool etc... I know what you mean by customers treating you like dirt. I used to work for Tesco when I left school behind the bakery counter and the people would look down their noses at you. Whenever I go into shops or restuarants I always try to be polite and helpful because I know what a thankless job it is. I dont know if I could work with the public again.
Well it is Roberts birthday today. He is still asleep at the moment but it wont be long before he stirs! It is only 8 am at the moment so I thought I would jump on here before all the excitement starts. My mum and dad are coming today to bring him an action man cake and presents. He has just woken up as I speak! I cant believe he is 6 time has just flown by.
Last night I went on my ghost walk but god was it cold!!! I couldnt feel my feet or nose by the end of it! It was really interesting though and I shall never look at the town centre in the same light again!
I must tell my husband what they call the gas men where you live he will love it !!!
Well I must go as my son is calling me to see is presents and cards. Oh by the way we went to the theatre the other day and it was great. They had the children jumping up and down doing all the movements, grown ups as well!
Anyway I had better go. Angie I hope you enjoy your time off and I hope all goes well with your decorating.
I hope the weather improves for you but it really seems an awfully cold winter here. I love thunderstorms by the way if you have anymore send them here!
Write soon with your news, take care
Deborah

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBERT, HAVE A LOVELY DAY . I HOPE YOU GET LOTS OF LOVELY PRESENTS.
LOVE, LINDA

Happy birthday Robert,

I am sending you a big from me just to make you go . I hope you had a great day. Take care.

I also absolutely adore thunder storms and I think they are far better over water - we used to get some great ones in Cyprus - far more violent than we get here. I think that if I was in America I would go on one of those storm chases - but I dont know as I still get travel sick unless I am driving so probably that is out... :( shame LOL

It has been very frosty here and where the sun does not get too the ground has remained rock solid. I didn't know that until I tried to get some plants in yesterday afternoon.

I had yesterday off as I had to go to a funeral in the morning - it was a lovely service - but hardly anyone knew the word or tune to the first hymn - which was sad, but we made up for it on the second "praise my soul the King of heaven".

I am really looking forward to having next week off as once the room is done I can get on with some gardening - provided the weather warms up. Do you know its been so dry that I have to remember to check if I have to water the containers :(

Angela

Good evening Linda and Angie, thanks ever so much for the birthday greetings, Robert was tickled pink. How really kind and thoughtful of you both. It is nice to be able to chat on here isnt it? Its just like having penpals. I had a penpal in France once but I think most of us did when we were at school didnt we?
Anyway must go will have more news next time, speak to you soon, take care and thanks once again,
Deborah

Good morning Linda, whats it like there in "sunny spain"? Its absolutely freezing here. I am getting fed up with it. I feel quite sorry for my rabbits. We have 3 rabbits. Tom,Jerry and Patch. Patch we rescued last year when we went to the Isle of Wight. We stayed on a farm in a caravan and they had Patch in a filthy hutch in a shed with dead mice all around, which also ate her food! She didnt have any room and the lady there said that we could have her as her children had lost interest. She even gave me money to buy a new hutch. People usually come home with rock or coloured sands from there but we brought home a rabbit!!! Anyway my rabbits are really spoilt and they often run round my garden provided I move my pots first as they have a varacious appetite! We also have a budgie called Norman that free flies all around my house, he really is a character.
Well today myself and Robert are going to town. We have a voucher for a free kids meal at Burger King and then we can visit the museum as they usually have some hands on displays for the kids being as its half term. Do the children have similar holidays where you are?
Angie if your looking in I suppose it is just as cold where you. I hope it improves for your time off.
Right, better go and do a bit more. Robert is still asleep but he did go to bed last night quite late so I'm hoping he will lay in. He had a lovely Action Man cake yesterday, I really like the rice paper pictures you get on the top!
Anyway, speak to you soon take care and keep warm which I probably wont do going to town today!
Take care
Deborah

Morning Deborah, I've started to really look forward to our little chats in the morning. It's like having a new friend or neighbour to chat to! It's lovely and sunny here today but still quite cold and very windy so I've just hung out a load of washing. We had another storm last night , I didn't send it over because it wasn't very spectacular, but it seems to have cleaned the sky up, hence the lovely sunshine today. Last year our poor parrot caught a really nasty cold in the winter and was quite ill. The cold also went to his eye which was really in a gungy mess. We took him to the vet and she gave us some cream and some eye drops. What a palaver trying to treat him. We had to get him out of the cage, wrap him in a towel so that he couldn't move and put the drops in his eye and then cream. Well, the first couple of times fine, but of course, being the intelligent creatures that they are, we had a fine old time trying to get him out of the cage after that!! It still didn't clear up so back we went to the vet and she gave us antibiotic pills which I crushed up, mixed with a spoonful of apple juice and he drank it off the spoon like a baby!! He soon got better after that. We really thought that we were going to lose him and the vet actually confessed afterwards that she didn't think that he'd pull through either! We've had him for 15 years and would have been very sad to lose him, he really is part of the family and a real character. We don't know how old he is because we found him in the street. He's a blue-headed Amazonian parrot which are a protected species now, so we've got to look after him well. This year I have enveloped his cage in thick transparent plastic and I found an old blanket to cover him with at night and it seems to have done the trick. He looks all snug in there! We also give him a lot of fruit and veg so he gets lots of vitaminC. The trouble is, we bought him this lovely big cage so he's got loads of room but it's too big to bring indoors. The terrace where we have him is covered but it has been really cold here these last two winters. Still, as I said, the plastic seems to have done the trick and he seems very healthy and content. I liked your story about the rabbit. My sister had a rabbit that she got when her kids were small and it lived for 18 years!! It also had the run of the garden in the better weather. We used to let the parrot loose in the house, but he's very destructive and also since we've had the dog we can't because he is a Labrador and keeps trying to pick the parrot up in his mouth. I don't think that he'd hurt him intentionally but you never know.
The children here don't get half-term holidays. They had a day off last week because it was the village fiesta day (Sta. Eulalia) and next week they have a long weekend Fri-Tues. They get days off here and there for Saints days and about 10 days at Easter, but their summer holiday is 3 months long ,from 20th June to 15th September!!! It's too long really, they get so bored. The English system is much better with a break every six weeks for pupils and teachers alike. He goes into Secondary School this year, they don't go until they're 12 here. So that will be a big change for him. He's a bit nervous about it. I hope that Robert had a lovely birthday yesterday and that you have a good time today at the Burger King and Museum. Kid's love seeing their name in print don't they. Well here's a big for Robert. I'll speak to you soon Deborah. Take care,
Linda

Hi LindaJ and Deborah,

Great to speak to you both - yes it is great making friends on this site as you know you have interests in common.

We didn't inherit rabits as a child we inherited cats - Timmy came in from next door as they didn't want him - and then after he got poisoned, another one came in - Mum was to blaim as she always felt sorry for strays.

I have thought about rescuing a rabbit from the RSPCA but with the cats in the area - and working all day, it wouldn't get the attention it needed... no I think I will stick to my cat.

Linda, Do you have a garden? do you have a chance to grow anything for yourself? herbs, flowers, vegetables?...

I think your parrot is great. I went to Bird Land or Bird World at Boughton on the Water (Cotswolds) and a cockatoo sat on my shoulder all the time I was there and would not get off. When I went to leave and tried to give him back to the staff he screemed and cried - I dont know what it was that they did to him - but he was making his point known.

The trouble with owning such a bird is the responsibility - you are taking on a creature with the inteligence of a 3 year old and the same attention span... for life... as they can outlive you easily...

Better go now as its getting late.

Speak to you soon

Angie