Friday, May 31, 2013

Fun in Devon

Deciding to take the grandchildren swimming in the half term holiday wasn't one of our better ideas.

After the hour necessary to find and pack all the stuff necessary to take a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old to the pool, getting them all in the car and driving there we were told the pool was full and we couldn't go in.

Time to go old school. We went river paddling instead. Not swimming because a) the water was moving as fast as Niagara (possibly an exaggeration) and b) it was blooming cold. Fun though, scrambling around the river bank looking for treasure. I found a genuine piece of antique Roman pottery; unfortunately GrandDaughter threw it in the river so I can't prove its authenticity to you ...

On the way back to the car park we went exploring what was claimed to be a trout pool but looked more like an empty murky pool. Big signs around it declared it to be dangerous. GrandDaughter asked why. I explained it was deep water and if someone fell in and couldn't get out it would be dangerous. 'Why?'
'Well, because, um, water would go up the person's nose and get into his chest and that wouldn't be very nice.'

Back in the car on the way home GrandDaughter asked, 'What about the fish?'
'What about the fish?'
'Why isn't it dangerous for them?'

For once I was glad to be driving so it was down to Husband to explain about the fish respiratory system. 

My explanation about drowning seemed to worry GrandDaughter though as she mentioned it to mummy when she got home. 'Why do there have to be dangerous places?'

Yesterday, as the weather was reasonably bright and there was no school, we took GrandDaughter and GrandSon2 to the beach at Exmouth, where between them they conspired to stop me building a sandcastle. Why are children so destructive?! That was just before GrandDaughter sent me down to the sea to get water - in a pill bottle lid that we'd happened to find in amongst the seaweed. After my second trip down the beach I decided £2 would be a small price to pay for a new bucket.

When we got home and Daughter told Granddaughter that she'd missed her during the day and she'd been sad GrandDaughter said, 'You don't have to be sad, mummy. I enjoyed myself with granny and grandad.'

6 comments:

Katney said...

Sweet! Wow she is growing.

Furtheron said...

And I remember when you were longing to be a granny now look how fast they are growing up!

Liz Hinds said...

She is, katney.

It's scary, furtheron.

nick said...

Why do there have to be dangerous places? A very profound question for such a youngster. And one I've been asking myself for a very long time....

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

She looks so giggly ! Takes after you , then ....

Liz Hinds said...

Indeed, nick, and, unfortunately, the blame often lands on man's shoulders.

I hope so, sonata.