The Wetlands Centre

Betsy on the zip-wire at the Wetlands Centre in Barnes.

It is the third October in a row that we've been there with our friends Sue, Holly and Flynn. Every time we've had a fantastic day and amazing weather. We had a packed lunch in the playground and the children played there for about three hours before we walked slowly back through the grounds. We didn't take much notice if the wildlife I'm afraid. Though their ages spread from four to ten, they all get on brilliantly and are always so enthralled with each others' company and running about outdoors they aren't interested in much else.

Came home to a beautifully painted house, inside and out. Mess everywhere still of course, but all the painting finished.

Now I'm on the sofa with the children watching a Top of the Pops from 1976. The children love it despite being bemused by most of the outfits and half of the music. (As I type, Al is complaining loudly about 'Howzat?' by Sherbet). We keep watching it on the iplayer as we are waiting for the punk era to begin. It's a long time coming and we've watched a lot of awful stuff in the meantime. Did you know that after Pans People and before Legs and Co there was a dance act on Top of the Pops called Ruby Flipper? They were *bad*.