I spy with my 10/10 eye, a snifter of currants in a fat mince pie

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page

You did mean okay in a wishy-washy way. You did. You will be surprised when you go, very surprised and you will say OMG 100X you were so right, that was so interesting and clever and we spent all day there and everyone loved it.

I'm not sure why i'm eavesdropping on this conversation about walks not at all local to me. Just because I can because I have an mn slot I suppose. Well TooT, have a lovely time wherever you go.

I saw the wizard this morning, - she's deffo not in your camp of homeopaths, she gave me trillions of remedies, so many i'm baffled as to when i'm supposed to take them all, and finding that ten minutes either side with no food or drink tricky, because I keep eating and drinking. And the hardest bit is i have to keep phoning her all the time to tell her things. Anyway, going to bed now, have nice walks.

Yes, I'd like to know. Is it the woody bit by Box?

Right. It's Browns Folly Nature Reserve. Follow A363 from Bathford for 3 miles towards Bradford-on-Avon. At the top of Bathford Hill turn left along the road signposted to Monkton Farleigh. In half a mile at a junction in the village turn left and head out to Farleigh Rise. In half a mile the lane drops downhill, turn left and into the woodland car park.

There is a pub in Monkton Farleigh called the Kings Arms.

Boco, having to phone her to tell her things is good but so many remedies are not so.... can you try asking her which remedy is actually the right one for you? There should be one that will match all your symptoms.

[awaits appreciation, elbows Rasputin out the way]

Thanks That sounds good. Now, which one is Bathford?

I don't know! You'll have to find it on a map using my directions from Bath and then find out how you'd find it I guess. Ask dd1, she'll sort it for us.

Right am off to bed. Hope you have a good day. We're with friends all day tomorrow. If I come back and find you've not gone out. . . .

Ah, we may be better off coming through B-o-A...

Or Broughton Gifford....

Thanks again

Goodnight.

lol @ Gibbon's DD. My DS has phases like that - it's amazing how scary a stroppy teenage 2yr old can be. But what always amazes me is that, no matter how ridiculous he is being, I still love him more than I ever imagined I could love anyone. I guess that's motherhood for you...

Mistake oranges, zippi?

Fullmoon, Robin Hood's Bay is lovely. If you're skint, you could camp...

Toot, I thought Bristol Zoo was meant to be one of the better ones - why is it depressing? No idea what you can do instead of that though. I know nothing about Bristol. Swimming is a good idea though. And isn't there a good science museum in Bristol? I think I have been to it. Is that the SS thing you're all talking about?

Oooo, GrouchyOscar - if/when I am ever able to return to the UK, I'll live nr you. My DS is a big train fan so I am sure we will end up doing all the railway stuff. Am hoping I can rope my Dad into that - he's a big train geek too - they may as well keep each other company. In fact, I never thought I'd do this but I had to call my Dad one day to ask him what the difference between a tank engine and a normal engine is. And why Percy is more rounded. And what the domes do and...

OR - I want romance, not pneumonia!

(we camp there a lot in summer. Not even sure the site would be open this time of year.)

Bristol zoo always seems over-commercialised I suppose. And I feel so sorry for the lions, and some of the monkeys. Oh, and the gorillas - it just seems so wrong to see the gorillas being ogled at. It's the indignity and lack of respect
I also remember those poor polar bears and Wendy the lone elephant.
Actually, I could make a list...

Has anyone been to Paignton zoo at all recently? Last time we went (about 7 years ago) the mandrills and the other animals in the older part of the zoo really didn't have enough space.

Good morning

I feel a bit shy and not sure where to jump in

TooT poor ds has never been to a zoo because I won't take him. Our local zoo is allegedly superb now and all conservation minded but I remember when the orangutans just had a little shed and I am NOT going back

Franny Leap in and join us. Here, have a cushion. Now, how have you been?

Toot, shouldn't you be in a quarry?

DD2 has named dd1s barbie 'Poshima Titmarcher'. Isn't that much better than Barbie?

Zoos are tricky, aren't they? Loving animals, one obviously wants one's dcs to see them, BUT... And they all say they're doing such good conservation work, BUT...

We went to Monkey World recently - all the monkeys there are rescued and wouldn't have anywjhere to go otherwise and they really make an effort there.

We've only just finished our porridge, Boco.

at Poshima Titmarcher - how beautifully expressive.

Last time we went to the zoo a horse bit Lo and dcs were more fascinated by the bloody hand in the biting warning signs than the animals.

Having trouble shifting this bout of mastitis, it's quite a deep pain and I have a new red line. I am instructed to rest but there's only so much resting you can do in the holidays with three children.

Franny - why are you shy and where have you been? Are you feeling well and have you got a bump yet? Questions questions.

Oh dear, how horrible to have it again. Rest is very hard with children isn't it. Try hard, I hope it gets better soon.

We go to Banham zoo sometimes, not for ages, but I have to avoid the wild cat bit, because the cages are always too small and they always look so pissed off. I like the seals because they always seem quite happy, mucking about and rolling.

Toot after speaking to the homeopath last night i had to take one of something, for my week long sinus headache, and this morning it's gone, so i'm starting to believe.

Thanks, I have had an afternoon sleep for the last three days and I never do that unless I'm pregnant (I'm not). Luckily DH is around, not sure he thinks he's lucky though.

Banham zoo is where we got bitten, watch out for the smooth talking chestnut munching monsters and the graphic signs. I'm sure we picked up a stomach bug in the play area too. You'll be immune to that anyway though seen as you caught it off us. I like the marmosets best but there is an inherent sadness to a zoo I think.

I often feel very Victorian as though I should have a parasol and a stiff collar alongside dh with a stiff gait, like we think we have a right to obsevere animals in the name of science or something and we've forgotten it isn't really very friendly. There's a good car boot sale at Banham though.

TooTicky, what about Shearwater?

DH went to Piagnton Zoo last year, as his other 2 children live in Devon. I refused to go. And he takes dds to Bristil Zoo wihtout me. .

100, where is the LongBarrow in Wellow? I habve a friend who lives very close to the pub there, and we used to take the children to the ford when they were very small.

DH has taken the gilrs to BoA pool this morning, ao I have had the pleasure of tidying up thje loft cupboards, in the hop eoif making space for their presents. But I found mouse droppings - shudder.

You all seem to have such lovely places to go near you all. We have lived round here for too long. 10 years of child-rearing means we have done to death anywhere indoory and ds1 has outgrown most places. Outdoorsy places which we haven't done to death now require an hour's drive

Have been fixing fence and painting it so feel very manly and hearty.

Any of you lot fancy joining Bumperlicious's Buy Nowt New Year thread?

Overrated...I'm a born and bred Bradfordian. It has it's problems but it is a nice place to live. Where are you based at the moment?

AHundredtimes - DH's mate did the woodturnings for the SS GB. He's very proud of that as IKB is a hero of his

So TooT did you find anywhere to go?

I think the next trip out with DS will be to Bingley 5 Rise Locks but then again a 4 year old might not get it. He won't get the Hockney Gallery either I bet.

Been playing Ds's Christmas board games with him. I'm chuffed he liked them and pleased he sat, played til the end, joined in and took turns. 1st time ever

In for a battle with DH at dinnertime. He's done a lancashire hotpot (foreign food for us Yorkies ) and I want it serving with carrots and peas. He'll flip!

Grounchy - I am around 15 miles from you