‘Twas Brillig*

We had our return trip to the safari park and the clutch didn’t burn out - although it had a good try. For some reason while waiting to go into the wolf enclosure he clutch pedal refused to come up and so we had an interesting burning smell. We were escorted back to the car park (although by this time the clutch pedal had come up), had our lunch and went on some rides (giving the clutch some time to cool down) and then we went round the park again. The car seems fine, but it’s obviously something to keep an eye on.

Soon, we are due to go camping. Friday night I thought I’d make sure the awning of our folding camping was properly packed and found a few holes in the roof (worrying, but repairable), Ruth then suggested that if something had been in the garage eating the awning that we should have a look at the main tent and we found holes in that too.

Fortunately my youngest brother has offered us the use of his tent, so we’re still going on holiday, but we’re equipped for a folding camper (which is possibly the closest a tent can come to a caravan) and are having to get lots of equipment (including a roof box).

This afternoon, we had a fun half hour salvaging equipment from inside the trailer - avoiding mouse droppings and dead baby mice (confirming the guilty party). We also found, once we’d got the tent opened up, so many holes that I’m now convinced (even if I could satisfactorily clean up all the mouse urine and droppings) the tent cannot be repaired.

Today saw some proper summer weather (well it wasn’t raining and I saw some blue sky), so after they’d cycled for a bit out front, I kicked [1] the kids out into the back garden whilst I sat outside finishing Harry Potter. It turns out a lot of small creatures had taken refuge in the sandpit so I unceremoniously dumped them on the patio and the kids had a great time watching them move away to safety[2]. The slug was an awful lot faster than the snail.

[1] Obviously not literally, but two of them would have much rather been playing Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

[2] They weren’t so keen on the whacking great spider.