Umbrella on the beach

The eldest has been asking to go to the beach - we were planning to go up to Dieppe tomorrow, before we found a local great big lake with a beach - and lots of water skiing and general water sports.  We got there and headed straight to the little beach part, the eldest insisting that he needed is 'brella' (he loves it). Being arrogant Brits, we assumed that we would be able to get food there as we had failed, for the first time in a long time to take a picnic.  We were wrong.  Nothing, at, all. 

Next door to the park we were at, was a 'biotropic' centre - so we coaxed, cajoaled and carried the boys from the beach, up the hill in the hope of finding a restaurant there.  Whacking entrance fee later, we had a rather expensive sandwich and were all in far better moods to go and see what this place had to offer.  Six hours later, we weren't regretting our entrance fee - we saw crocodiles, snakes,  creepy-crawlies (technical term), birds, kangaroo's, penguins, goats, donkeys, cheetahs, mongoose, meerkats, fish - and HUGE fish, guinea fowls, bats and lizards. The biggest problem we had was getting two exhausted boys out of the place who were on a complete and utter high from seeing just so much.  Both fell asleep in the car and we're desperately hoping they will sleep through to the morning (despite their lack of evening meal).  

A great day.  Back again tomorrow, this time with a picnic to the beach and have the day we were planning to have.