In the Pipeline

The sun broke through today, and what better way to celebrate than a trip to the Botanic Gardens and its interesting play park? A quick stop to buy some new shoes for the boy and we were away.

There's strange etiquette involved in going to swing parks when lots of other kids are there. Concerned parents follow their offspring about and apologise profusely when their little ones do something horrific like go down the chute before it's their turn. Either that or they lounge on the benches chatting while the children launch themselves off climbing frames and hang by their feet from the swings.

Of course, being the West End, there are some items in the playpark which are obviously designed more as objet d'art and are practically impossible for a child to derive any fun out of whatsoever. What is it with that big silver globe, for instance?