The zoo is great, yes. Very animal-friendly, and most informative. From what I could tell as I was led at high speed to the next play area or ice-cream vending spot. We did see tigers (asleep at close range), elephants (we fed them veg), lions (pleasingly active), and sealions (swimming overhead), among lots of other creatures. It was v expensive though - £37 for the pair of us - and curiously difficult to navigate. I kept finding ourselves at the end of the penguin walk when looking for the entrance to the orang utangs, and the like.
The parents was an odd one. Dad's dementia is getting worse, and he doesn't really remember what's been said from one minute to the next. Mum's getting more forgetful too, and stroppier. And dad has ramped up his lifelong passive aggression to new heights. He'd rather sit and harrumph at the end of the table for the rest of time, awaiting someone to ask whether he wants salt, than actually ask for the bloody stuff.
It doesn't, however, stop hims saying: "I think our daughter's putting on weight" to my mum, while I'm standing there. I left the room, and heard them discussing how I was pretty hefty. I went back in and told them a) I could hear every word they were saying and b) I had in fact lost a few pounds, but am heavier than I was 15 years ago, which is when he seems to be comparing it to. The first thing he said when arriving at DS's third birthday was 'you've put on weight'.
And... relax.