Well, I had a quite topper weekend down in dorset. The drive down was shit as it was rainging a lot and a bit tricky to see ahead. Popped in to Weymouth for dinner upon arrival and had a very nice spinach lasagna. The evening was spent in the local pub, which was very pleasant. A few dogs came in including a lovely black labrador that wandered round the pub sniffing round for dropped crisps. Saturday up early then off to Monkeyworld. I'd bought aload of fruit and veg the previous day but I panicked when faced with the gate. I eventually got the courage to take up my donations of blankets baskets and food. They were very appreciative. I initially went to the bit at the side of the gate that just has donkeys and hens knocking about in. A cockerel was following me around doing the full crow every couple of minutes. Nice seeing them just wandering round the whole park. there were some guinea fowl wandering round, chirping away to each other. I love guinea fowl, the ultimate pea-headed animal. I had a wander round, first taking in the gibbons, who are beautiful creatures, especially the golden ones (which are the mature women....I think). But I couldn't hold it off any longer, I had to go and see fat Tom. When I got there his house area was being cleaned out by the keeper and he was up in one of the ocnnecting tunnels that go above the footpath. I couldn't see exactly what he was up to but it involved hitting something against the wood, and scratching it. His friend, TJ, was sat with him and they just looked exactly like schoolkids up to no good. They knew their keeper was occupied so they weren't going to get caught. Eventually he got through to a green piece so I think it must have been an acorn he was cracking. He went and scoffed it in to his face, giving none to TJ. They then started pulling faces at the people below. I wandered off to listen to the talks, terribly sad the situations some of the apes were rescued from. It was nice hearing that even though some of them have been terribly mistreated by humans they still harbour a love for human contact and interaction. The chimp keeper was saying one of the chimps would often pick flowers for her. During the whole day you could hear the gibbons calling, i think they do refer to it as 'singing'. Crazy sound, feels just like you're suddenly in some tropical jungle, rather than Dorset. I looked forward to the capuchins talk and was very amusing watcing Tom appear as soon as he heard the speaker go on, he knew food was on the go, his little face just makes me laugh so much. He went into one of his houses afterwards and sat next to the glass, I'll post some pictures when I sort them out.
Drove back and decided to turn off the road and go up a single track road to a pub, I didn't know if it would be welcomign or not, but it was thankfully ok. Great little thatched place. Had a nice bit of food before heading back. I love the countryside round there, lots of little old thatched villges with gentle rolling hils lined with trees. So beautiful in a terribly english way.
Drove back yesterday and had a bit something to eat in one of the old pubs in the countryside outside of Bromley before a good chill in the afternoon and evening.
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