5/30

Day Four

Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire?* WELL. I will indeed tell you what I like to do! I like to wake up in the morning without my hair quite literally standing up, defying all possible laws of gravity. Oh, and I also like to have a normal range of neck movements. Yeah, that'd be lovely, thanks.

My complaining aside, today was actually fab. I got up and ate some toast, as always, dressed in my new blue and red flannel shirt! My, I really love it. It suits me. ANYWAY... We left for the steam train to Totnes, but we were actually quite early. We walked around, looking about until it arrived. The trip took about half an hour, but there was a lovely view of fields with all the newly-bloomed flowers. I couldn't stop looking at the bluebells; their blue-purple color is so breathtaking... When we arrived in Totnes, we went to the Rare Breeds Farm. There were owls, goats, ducks, squirrels, hedgehogs, and plenty more animals. Some of which you could actually feed! I fed the ducks because I love the feeling of a hard duck bill repeatedly pecking at your hand for the cheap, beige complementary food pellets you're given. It's like a free, natural hand massage! I like to visit that farm every time I visit England. It brings back the juvenile memories of amazement at the different breeds, the curiosity of what they look and sound like, and oh that time when that hedgehog bit me, yeah that was good, too. I bled. A lot. Darned thing.

After the farm, we headed into the shops in the town, where there were an assortment of wicked cool stores. There was this record shop that was FILLED with awesome vinyl and CDs and just everything possible. My dad bought a few things from there (although I had to persuade him not to buy much more...). We came back and went home on the train, the same way we came. The weather had turned from a cold, cloudy overcast into a very warm, lovely day.

Because of this sudden weather change, I took advantage of the opportunity and attempted to tan outside, in my grandmother's garden. I stayed out there for a good hour or so, and I think I got a little color. Even if I didn't, it was worth it to have that relaxing time. Always nice to be able to sit down for a bit in the sun (Even if the dogs kept pestering me to play with them! Love the little guys, though). And for dinner, I had a chicken salad with eggs and cucumber and roast potatoes... and probably a liiiittle too much ice cream for dessert. Ah, well. I'll be okay... probably. We'll see..?

On the train, I was sitting by an absolutely adorable Irish family with three kids. There was the smallest boy, a slightly older girl, and then an even slightly older boy. I can't resist a cute little redhead! Yes, they would fuss a lot and mess about as kids always do, but in the end they managed to keep relative control of themselves. It was funny to watch, because little accidents kept happening throughout the train ride, and the mother just stopped and laughed. I couldn't help but laugh with her; it was funny. It made me think about my family, and how much we can fight. But in the end, we always manage to make up and unite again. In honor of my mother's birthday, let's all just be kind to our families today, and rejoice in the fact that we have them.

Happy birthday, Mom.

*French, "What do you like to do?"