Hands, knees and boompsa-daisy - and big buses, bears and birthday wishes

 Today, we went to the zoo.

Do you know what I did not do at the zoo? I did not take many pictures. You know the reason why. 

(Isn't my MIL beautiful? I won't reveal a lady's age without consent, but goodness you would be surprised)

Instead, I actually stopped looking through the lens (it's screen really, isn't it?)

However, just because I was not screen gazing did not mean that I was not distracted.

Thus on the walk from the car to the entrance to the zoo, I was both searching for the tickets (in exactly the place that I had put them) and navigating the San Diego Zoo car park (where all of the animals of our species goes to look at others) and I failed to assess the height of the gutter accurately. 

Thus the right toe shoe was several centimetres lower than the gutter to the footpath and therefore a chain of events occurred starting with my outstretched hand jarring into the pavement and my right kneecap slamming into the ground. I somehow managed to weave my fall enough that my skull did not follow suit.

I very nearly channelled Roy Kent on the ground, but an eyewitness advised my travelling companions that my head was spared, and can we have a hallelujah for that.

Another miracle is that, apart from the initial impact there was not a lot of pain.

We peaked early with a dream run to the choice seats on the top deck of the bus.

After that, the pandas were sleeping, big cats were up close and personal with one camping on the walkway watching the stupid little humans go up the unsigned dead-end road and then turn around and come back again, the birds of prey casually observing the ordered lines of humans streaming past, the hippos tiptoed right beside us and the canyon we descended and climbed - alas there was no polar bear to be found.

All the elements of 1970s sepia postcard filter my phone now offers - I would also like to lay the crap composition at that alter but really my other main misfortune to blame - I have absolutely no sense of style. A vortex indeed.

By the time we got home the pool was most welcome - and muscles that I didn't know existed - prior to trauma or exertion - or a little of both - shouted their dispute and are talking still.

I should end this post with taking full advantage of the time difference and wish my beautiful mother many happy returns on the anniversary of her spinning around the Sun - she has now seen 87 August 18. Love you Mum. 

(Mum with Jill this winter)