Our grandson, Zachary will be two years old next Friday. On Saturday morning, we took him to the urban farm at Hounslow. It is very close to Heathrow Airport and all the time we were there we had to experience aeroplanes rising into the sky - so low that you could easily make out the names of the carriers - from "United" to "Lufthansa". You can imagine the noise they made.
Personally, I loved Hounslow Farm because of its higgledy-piggledy amateurishness. It has clearly been there a good number of years, relying upon the goodwill of volunteers to proceed. The animals Zach saw included sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, horses, donkeys, rabbits, chickens, turkeys and ducks. In the guinea pig shed I saw a rat which was not supposed to be there. Maybe he had been invited over for lunch by the guinea pigs.
At ten thirty in the polytunnel, two teenage girls introduced us to some small animals, including stick insects, hissing cockroaches, a diadem snake from Sudan and a soft-shelled tortoise from southern Russia. One teenage girl advised me to hold it like a hamburger. And here I am showing it to Zach...
And here's Zach looking at you from the crotch of a tree. He can see exactly what you are doing so stop it right now!
On the way down to London by train, a famous woman sat opposite us, texting and phoning and berating a guy called Simon who was her underling assistant. It was Sharon Graham, the powerful leader of Great Britain's Unite trade union. It has over 1.2 million members. I have often seen her on television. Strangely, she did not ask for my autograph...
Zac is so cute, especially with his little cardigan. I'm surprised that Sharon did not ask for your autograph, but perhaps she was just too busy berating Simon.
ReplyDeleteI think she was getting a kick out of using Simon as a human doormat.
DeleteNothing like seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
ReplyDeleteThat is how I always see it Uncle Red!
DeleteHe looks a gentle little boy, and I imagine being introduced to so many different anymals of all shapes and sizes was very impressive to his nearly two year old mind.
ReplyDeleteThe constant texting, phoning and berating by a fellow passenger sitting so close by would have driven me mad.
It interrupted my quiet book reading so I gave her the evil eye.
DeleteHounslow Farm sounds wonderful. The last time we saw Zach he was a baby and now he is a real little boy.
ReplyDeleteHe is coming along nicely Elsie.
DeleteZach's hair is a gorgeous colour. A real golden boy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been back to Hounslow since I left my home town 50 years ago. (No Urban Farm back then!).
Shame. You could have volunteered to muck out the pigs.
DeleteSo close and you still didn't pop in for a cup of tea! I love the photo of Zac peering through the tree. I am sure he will warm up to you as he gets a bit older. It's probably because he is still very young and doesn't see you that often. My niece is the same age as Zac and the same with me when I visit.
ReplyDeleteYes - but you are covered in fur and your horns are sharp.
DeleteHe's a cute little boy.
ReplyDeleteYes. We think so too Carol.
DeleteZachary looks a tall two? I love to see a kid enjoying a variety of creatures. Good job, grandad
ReplyDeleteNo - he is just a normal height Kylie. Little Margot is bigger.
DeleteZach is such a sweet little boy, he may not smile but he is self assured. Sharon Graham looks tough and is showing just the right face for a union leader.
ReplyDeleteShe is the first female leader of Unite and she is doing a grand job. Very influential re. The Labour Party too.
DeleteTwo already!
ReplyDeleteThat is how time flies Sir Tasker.
DeleteMs Graham was probably on strike, hence no asking for selfies with you, etc.
ReplyDeleteShe missed her opportunity to hobnob with a Yorkshire legend.
DeleteWatching the planes go over can be fun also. The last decade I lived in Orlando, I was about 3 miles north of the runways at the airport, I could count the tires on the landing gear as they went over the back garden. I could tell you if BA from Gatwick was on time or running late.
ReplyDeleteYou could tell me indeed but because of the din I would not hear you!
DeleteZachary has that inquisitiveness that is so wonderful and yet we all seem to lose it as we grow up.
ReplyDeleteSharon should watch what she's saying on a cell phone in public.
Maybe she should have conducted her business in what Americans call "the rest room"! Simon could have gone in there with her.
DeleteHe does look like a gentle little boy. He's really just beautiful. I can almost see the wheels spinning in his head, making sense of everything around him.
ReplyDeleteHe is absorbing a lot these days and has a mischievous laugh.
DeleteI'm glad you are enjoying your visit with your handsome grandson! He has such a sweet face!
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind Ellen!
DeleteWhat a Handsome little Fellow Zach is! Looks like a fine time was had... and so Surprised she didn't ask for your Autograph on the Train!!!
ReplyDeleteI charge very little for my autograph.
DeleteMy grandson is almost 18 months, he lives with us so our days are far from quiet. Still wouldnt change a thing. Happy birthday Zach.
ReplyDeleteYou have got your work cut out there Cap'n!
DeleteBeing two is a magical time, wish I could remember being two. I'm sure I was two once, but it was a long time ago. So much fun to spend time with your little chap, he was enjoying the tortoise. Did he want to hold it or was he happy to let you be in charge?
ReplyDeleteNo - he was very happy to let me hold the tortoise burger. When you were two did people get around on horses?
DeleteLOL -- I wonder if Simon deserved to be berated?! Great pics of Zach and so glad you had a good visit. I've never seen or heard of Hounslow Farm but I have walked in that area so I know what you mean about the constant presence of the airplanes. The pandemic must have been such a blessing to the people who live out that way. (Except that most of them are probably employed at the airport.)
ReplyDelete! would not want to live close to an airport - that's for sure. Simon's white shirt was hanging out at the front and the knot of his tie was at half mast. He was supporting a woman who is clearly highly intelligent with masses of mental energy. In comparison Simon seemed like a seaside donkey.
DeleteYou mean Simon was on the train too? That's not how I first read "texting and phoning and berating a guy called Simon."
DeleteYes - he was on the train Marcie. Perhaps I should have made that point clearer. It was interesting to observe an important woman's relationship with her male assistant. His occasional facial expressions made him appear quite hen-pecked but keenly anxious to please his mistress.
DeleteI guess this is why important (or self-important) people often travel in a compartment if available or by private vehicle.
DeleteYears ago I was involved in a case involving very big money and dealings in the late 1980s, and there were documents bewailing the need to take "public transport." They meant scheduled flights rather than private jets.