First time in an aeroplane!

On 15th February I  arrived in Leicestershire where I met Poppy and her friend Rory a lion. I found out we were going to Paris in the morning, before breakfast, well in the middle of the night really. Poppy’s dad took us and Poppy’s mum to Luton Airport about an hour away in the car. It was quite exciting to get on a plane as I have never been on one before.

We had to go through an area where we had to take off our coats and shoes and put things in trays and suitcases went through an x-ray tunnel. Then we were in a big area with lots of people, restaurants and shops, and you could see the planes from there! The plane seats are narrow and have tables on the back of them. The plane made a loud roaring noise when it took off and we could see bits of the wing moving when the plane took off and in the air. we could see the ground below from the plane and saw the Eiffel Tower as we came in to land.

 

When we got to Paris we had to get a special train called RER into the city . It arrived at the Gare du Nord (The North Station) where we had to buy a ticket to go on the Metro.The tickets were for 3 days so we didn’t habe to get anymore. Our hotel was in the Montmartre near the top of the hill. All the artists are there and it is a very pretty area.  The bags were too heavy to carry around all day, so even though we were too early to check in for our room we could leave the bags. So we did.

So then we went to the Eiffel Tower. We had crepes for lunch which were huge and delicious. We ate them in the park by the Tower. And then we saw the Tower itself. Wow.! Just wow! It is so high so big you have to bend over backwards to see the top! And we went up it! All the way to the top. It really is a very long way up and we had to take two lifts to get up there! The second floor has shops on it. At the very top is the apartment Gustave Eiffel built to live in. He really lived all the way at the top of the tower! On the way down we stopped at the first floor and there is an ice rink there with real ice, and a glass floor which Poppy like jumping on and took a selfie of herself lying on the floor so you could see the ground below.

We went to a french cafe bistro for our meal.The food was scrummy. After supper we went for a walk around near the hotel and saw the Sacre Coeur all lit up. It was very beautiful.I was very tired by the time we got back to the hotel. The room had 3 beds in it so Rory and me shared a bed.

The Eiffel Tower

Ice rink on the Eiffel Tower

Floodlit sacre Coeur

Wednesday 17 Feb

Breakfast was a buffet with bread croissants pain au chocolat, fruit juices hot chocolate, coffee , ham and cheese and yoghurt fruit all sorts.

Poppy wanted to go to the science museum today so we went to Cite des sciences et de l’industrie for the whole day. It is in a huge park on the north west of the city called Parc de la Villette. It is a huge museum with lots of areas with different things. We visited the Charles Darwin exhibition where we could see how animals adapt to their surroundings, and play on the games there. We had fun pulling faces to look like photos! There was a section on cats and dogs where we could pretend to be cats and dogs and saw a film in the planetarium. That was fun seeing all the stars and planets and galaxies like Andromeda and The Milky Way. Poppy found a maths section. It turns out she loves maths and is very good at it.  There were helicopters and a plane with huge long wings. Then we went on a tour of a submarine called the Argonaut. It is quite small and very cramped. I even got to look in the periscope!

Cats and Dogs expo

the helicopter

looking through a periscope

The metro journey back was very long and crowded and we had to change a lot of times because we got the wrong train and another broke down!
Poppy’s dad rang her on whatsapp so she could speak to her sisters which was lovely.
Had pizza for supper with salami on and then we went to see a windmill before going back to the hotel and bed. It was very cold outside.

Thursday 18 Feb

Breakfast was lovely again. We checked out of the hotel and left our bags there. Then we went on a walk around Montmartre. We did sone geocaching while we took in the sights. Saw where van Gogh worked, had an icecream even though it was 2 degrees. We saw a statue of a man coming out of a wall! And a vinyard.

Geocaching. Found it!

The man in the wall in Montmartre

Then we went to see the arc de triomphe, the Notre dame,saw the louvre  and the pyramids. Walked through the tuileries to the place de la Concorde. Had a look in the shops on champs Elysees. Very busy day. Then we went to get our bags and went to the airport .  The plane was a bit late but it was fun looking over Paris in the dark and seeing London lit  up for miles.

Arc de Triomphe

Notre Dame

Pyramids at the Louvre museum

Place de la Concorde

Bastille

We got home very late but it has been a lovely few days. The plane was very exciting and it has been so much fun to see Paris and try new things. I am looking forward to meeting my next family.

Border Crossing!

So, on February 2nd, after a short time in my cozy box, I find myself in the beautiful countryside of West Wales. I was rather surprised to find blue skies and sunshine. (I’m told that it rains lots and lots in Wales) and was met by my rather eager and very excited host, Tyrese. Let the snuggling commence!

It was very quickly decided that Tyrese should very much like to take me to his local beach, known as Pendine Sands. This was exciting for me, as so far on this adventure I had not seen the coastline. It remained very sunny although the beach was very windy and really quite chilly. We stayed long enough to collect some shells but neither of us much fancied making any sandcastles.

Not quite sunbathing weather but still very beautiful.
Wednesday was still dry but very cold so we had a day at home. I very much enjoyed being introduced to some of Tyrese’s favourite friends – Fireman Sam, Tree Fu Tom, Noddy to name a few. But the suggestion of baking flapjacks was just too good to refuse!
I helped with all the weighing and mixing!

And even got to help lick the bowl out! Well, OK, we did use spoons but it was still delicious!
My time here in Wales came to an end rather quickly but as Tyrese packed me very carefully in my travelling box, I am looking forward to my next destination and wonder what adventures I will find there. xx

 

Bedfordshire

Well, I arrived here on Wednesday, but there was no one to greet me! Tumble Tots they said, sounds like lots of fun. I waited in the delivery office for an age, swimming lessons they said, sounds tiring.

I was very happy to be let out and meet my new hosts, 5 and 2, they wanted to know my age, they talk about it a lot, but a gentlesloth never reveals such details!

I was whisked straight off to be shown the playroom, so much to see. I was soon back downstairs though, helping 5 with some hammer art.

Then I managed to avoid being splashed and had a lovely relaxing time with Baymax.

It was lovely to relax and watch Wreck It Ralph without any threat of water too!

On Friday, 5 and 2 took me around their local Sandy. I helped them choose sweets and stickers for Tyrese, some lovely bird stickers as they live near the RSPB, but as you can see, they didn’t quite have enough stamina to take me there, maybe next time.

Did you notice my dashing hat in that last picture?!

Well, it is cold at the moment!

I didn’t need it on in the library where I got to build with duplo and help 2 colour and have my portrait taken and then finally read!

Hat back on for the park though, brrrrr!

Worm!

Saturday was a snuggly day. I helped 5 with her maths then we checked out her cool, new scooter.

Then Sunday was very exciting. I met great friends of 5and 2, 4 and 1, we all went to see a concert together. 4 was pleased to meet me, honest!

I thoroughly enjoyed the concert. It was a whole orchestra, though some of the people looked strange. 5 and 2’s Mummy says they were monster costumes to match the theme. I had to give 2 lots of cuddles to get her comfortable with such a lot of instruments in one go, many more than you get at Music Train! It was good fun stretching and bending with the volume and listening out for specific instruments, a lovely way to end my time with 5 and 2.

Better get back in the box now, what will be next?

Kendal Sloth

A Dramatic Beginning to New Adventures…

Hooray!  It’s true!  We’re going travelling again!  Saxton and Hudson told me the good news yesterday!  Mother has been in touch with some of our old hosts (and some new friends who would like us to visit), and has arranged a lovely itinerary.  I’m going to be travelling to all sorts of lovely places, including Bedfordshire, Kent, Wales, the Lake District – and other places too!

I was really pleased that we had a family trip out today for us all to say our excited farewells.  It really kicked my adventures off with a bit of drama! You see, we went for a walk at Kinver Edge in Staffordshire…

I had lots of fun climbing trees.  Well, no surprises there – it IS my natural habitat!

I even climbed into some gorse – though it was a bit tricky getting out again…

And I loved looking out at the views from the top of the hill…

Where it got a bit *too* exciting though, was when my family had stopped to chat to a nice man who was out walking his dogs.  Two of them were puppies and went racing on ahead, all barking and bouncy.  The other older one stayed behind and I looked at her in a friendly way, which she seemed to take as an invitation to carry me off!  Now I’ve been told I am very appealing, but this was a bit much, I felt!  Obviously so did my boy who had been escorting me as he burst into tears and screamed to get me back.  The grown-ups quickly reacted and told the dog to drop me, which she did straight away.  She had been very gentle – just as if I was one of her pups to carry about – and I was settling in to conduct a proper scientific exploration of what it is like inside a canine’s mouth, but I only had time to observe that it was warm and a bit wet before I found myself face down and bottom-up on some cold damp leaves on the ground.  Not very dignified I suppose, but at least everyone was suitably impressed with all the excitement.  I reassured my boy that I was fine, really – not at all the worse for my unplanned adventure – and then he tucked me into his pocket to keep me safe from any further friendly dogs who we might meet.  I didn’t mind that as I needed some peace and quiet to recover from all the drama!

Before we went home he did take me out to show me some really interesting rocks, before tucking me firmly away once more.

And then on the way home we stopped in Bewdley to have a look at the river Severn.  There weren’t any dogs around then, so my boy and I relaxed and enjoyed looking at the swans (I was well out of their reach and they only really cared about the other people there who had bird food).

Finally, calmed by the views over the impressive river, we made our way home and got my things packed and ready for the journey ahead.  A little “Bon Voyage” tea party was a lovely way to wave my furry friends off, before I settled down into my travelling box.  I’ll miss my family, but am looking forward to sharing all of my adventures when I get home again.  Until then, I’m raring to go!

 

My stay with the Hawkes family…

On the 10^th of March, I arrived at another house, snug in my box. The twins I was staying with, Imogen and Madeline, were very excited to find me there when they got back home, and enjoyed their chocolates that were also in my box.

I was enjoying my stay, although on one occasion, Bailey the dog got me and almost chewed me up! Luckily the twins saved me, but I’m not as fond of dogs after that experience. The twins lived with two dogs, so I had to be careful around them!

At night, the twins and I listened eagerly to a story or two, before settling down for bed – the twins have a very warm, comfortable bed, much nicer than my box! The next day was as good as the first, minus the incident with Bailey.

Madeline and I baked a cake – I like cakes, and Madeline is a very good cook.

It was fun watching her add all the ingredients, stir it up, and put the pans in the oven. We even got to lick the spoon! Then, later, we went out to a place with lots of people in it, for Cameron, the twins’ brother, to play squash. I don’t know what squash is, though it sounds interesting.

Also, we got to meet Imogen and Madeline’s friends – they were fun. We played with them until squash was over, and then got back in the car.

Instead of going back home, we went to the twins’ Grandma’s house.

It was a nice place with a big garden, which we played in. There was lots of food and it was fun there. We even got to have a sleep-over there!

On our final day together, Imogen and Madeline showed me how they can dance, I thought they were rather good.

It was then time for me to travel to my next family, I will miss the twins but I am excited to meet my new family.

Kendal the Sloth stays in Stevenage

Kendal was a very sporty sloth when he came and stayed with our family.  Phoebe did a great job looking after him and he had a great time.  He rode a horse, guinea pig and a cat! He went on a swing and into the woods.  He did lots of climbing and hanging about – he even bounced on our trampoline!

Thank you Kendal for a lovely time with us – we will miss you.

Phoebe, William and Mummy

xxxxxxx

Kendal says, “I had such a lovely time with my first family.  They gave me lots of cuddles and made me feel very welcome.  I made so many animal friends too – who all gave me lovely rides – it was amazing!  I didn’t know I could be so brave!  I am looking forward to meeting lots more new friends now – this adventuring is even more fun that I hoped!”

Kendal with with Phoebe

hanging about in the garden

on the trampoline – he went flying!

riding Jimmy the guinea pig

More hanging about – in the woods!

on the big log

Night night Kendal!  Sleep well ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Riding a horse

Riding a cat…

 

K

Feeling Adventurous (mostly)

Hello!  My name is Kendal Sloth.  All of my friends were named after important people like mapmakers and explorers.  I was named after a sugary mint bar, but Mummy says that was because I am so sweet, and also Kendal Mint Cake is an essential piece of kit for travellers and adventurers everywhere that could even save lives of people in trouble – so maybe my name makes me a little bit important too…

Saxton Rabbit, Hudson Tiger and Ranulph P Bear are all going off on adventures to travel around the United Kingdom – the country where we all live together.  I think I would like to do that too.  It’s a bit of a scary thought to leave my lovely family behind – but just imagining all those new interesting places and lovely new people to meet makes me really want to go travelling too!

Mummy says she’ll make my box as comfy as she can.  I do like my sleep – sloths are pretty good at sleeping you know.  I’m still feeling a little bit shy about meeting new people, so Mummy has suggested that I could start the journey with some friends of ours, to help get me used to the idea.  That’s a good plan I think – Mummy is very caring like that.  So while Saxton, Hudson and Ranulph have all gone to the park and then the Post Office, I have stayed at home for a nap, because I was quite worn out with all the excitement of planning.  Then I will spend some time with Mummy and the boys on my own for some last cuddles before our friends come to pick me up.

I’m quite glad I’ll be staying in Hertfordshire for now – but I am looking forward to travelling a bit further too, in a day or so…