Posted Mar 17, 2010, 6:42 pm
Posted Mar 17, 2010, 6:43 pm
This is Tryfan and reaches over 3000ft above sealevel. We did not climb this!
We started the walk from Ogwen Cottage (there is a Youth Hostel nearby). We followed a stone path up.
Having a rest half way up. Look, there is still snow on the mountains.
Bits of snow still remained lower down.
We reached the lake, Llyn Idwal but mummy's picture of me didn't turn out well.
It was getting late so it was time to walk back down. I was snuggly in daddy's coat pocket
Posted Mar 21, 2010, 8:07 pm
And here is the entrance
We didn't go in because mummy was gasping for a panad (Welsh for cuppa).
So we stopped off in the supermarket cafe before shopping and then going home.
Posted Mar 21, 2010, 8:28 pm
This is a diving observation chamber used in World War II for recovering matals from shipwrecks. The information for the exhibit said that it had a working depth of 300 metres, and that the chamber had enough oxygen for three hours. There was a telephone cable too so that the diver could contact the salvage ship above and direct the grab thing to get the valuable metals.
I can't swim
There's also an air raid shelter, but again, we were out of season to visit inside.
Holyhead harbour
Posted Mar 21, 2010, 9:23 pm
This is a quartzite quarry cliff.
Wow, what a high chimney for the brickworks.
All over the country park are mosaics that can be seen from the various trails. This one was inside the brick shed.
And this one is in the Crusher. Ynys Mon is Welsh for the Isle of Anglesey.
And there is a third one visible.
There is also a lake, coastal paths and other trails. A sculptor has sculpted various shapes, one was a dock seed, another looked like a berry (blackberry? raspberry?), a third was a flower of the bell heather, and then there is this one, with me!
Mummy would love to do more of the trails. According to one leaflet about the park, there are various dragonflies & damselflies that visit a pond fed by a spring that runs from Holyhead mountain (paths up there can be reached from the country park), seals and dolphins visit the coastline, and the rocky coast is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Posted Mar 24, 2010, 5:34 pm
What a welcome!
I climbed some trees before big bro had a go on the jumping thing full of air. Next, on this cold afternoon, mummy, daddy and big bro took their shoes and socks off to go on a barefoot walk (first through some cold water, then walking on various materials).. Brr, too cold for me so I just stayed all snuggly in a pocket.
There was also a boat ride, am not sure about big bro's steering, and the boat crashed a few times along the edge.
Next, we did the Crocodile boardwalk Maze. Hope this crocodile isn't hungry....
Then it was time to go on the moon karts. Mummy went round a few times, and daddy took me for a ride too.
Next stop was TreeTop Towers. It is already a long way down.
Weeeeeee! A slide, though I was actually stuck half way down the slide and daddy had to come rescue me.
And finally, we had time for a game of Jenga while mummy ate a strawberry ice cream, brrr! And then it was time to go home. It was a shame the weather wasn't better, there was drizzle. Maybe next time we could do the sledge runs and Green Dragon roller coaster
Posted Mar 24, 2010, 7:03 pm
This part of Wales is quite rural, with fields & hills grazed by sheep. Lambing started earlier this month. Aren't little lambies cute?
We went for a little walk in Llanberis before catching the bus back home in time to collect my big brother from school.
This is Dolbadarn Castle. This castle was built in the 13th Century by Llywelyn ap Iowerth.
This is Llyn Peris. The mountain on the left has a power station inside. Mummy could have taken a better picture if it hadn't started to rain, though we continued our little walk.
Look, some goats and kids.
We missed the opportunity to take a photo of the Llanberis Lake (Llyn Padarn) Railway train. It was starting to rain harder now so we walked back to the bus stop to discover we still had several minutes before the bus. We went into the shop by the base station of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. There was an engine...
And then it was time to go home.
Posted Mar 24, 2010, 7:10 pm
The major, in his speech, said that whether or not we believed in the war, we should support the soldiers. The major said that 7 soldiers in the regiment didn't make it home alive
Mummy couldn't get many decent pictures, a professional photographer kept standing in front and spoiling the view.
Posted Mar 28, 2010, 9:04 pm
Cheerful lot, weren't they.
Posted Mar 28, 2010, 9:15 pm
Calming, aren't they?
Also, there were a range of stone-decorations/statues.
What is a zibling?
Get me outta here!
Posted Mar 28, 2010, 9:34 pm
We didn't find any toys that wanted to go travelling (the ones we saw said they got travelsick). So, we went for a little walk
We could have gone on this carousel but Mummy wanted to buy an icecream before the cafe shut.
Rhyl is a coastal resort. On our way to Rhyl, we passed many caravan parks. The beach is long and sandy. Some people think that wind turbines out at sea spoil the view. Can you see them in this picture?
The view westwards along the beach.
The Sky Tower wasn't open, otherwise we could have got spectacular views (said Mummy).
I wanted to go into Terror Tombs, but it was shut by the time we got there. Maybe next time when I have returned from my travels.
Posted Mar 29, 2010, 2:18 pm
Hello Twix
I was looking forward to a walk along the coast by Moelfre.
There is still some snow on the hills and mountains of Snowdonia.
A memorial to the Royal Charter and the hundreds of lives that were lost.
We also visited the RNLI lifeboat station in Moelfre. This is a Tyne class lifeboat
Wow, so many medals awarded to the lifeboatmen of Moelfre
These are bright yellow wellies. Mummy has a nice pair of wellies with strawberries all over.
The three of us, that is with Twix & Gaspode, had our photos taken with a fossil
And then, as the afternoon drew to a close, we went home
Posted Mar 29, 2010, 4:07 pm
Also, I said goodbye to her tvs and the new guest tv. Goodbye Gaspode, Citrus the Tall, Rendolph and Twix
Posted Apr 2, 2010, 8:30 am
I have already reached Lithuania! This beautiful country met me with rain and smell of fresh ground and grass.
At first I had a nice chat with very polite postwomen, who brought me straight to egns home, not in the mail box. That was so nice of her as the mail box is too small for me. What is more, I came to my new host house with a postcard from her pen friend, who is now visiting Amsterdam. So, egn was double cheerful
Egn sends you a special thank you because of stamps. One of them was with her favourite dog breed-American bulldog. She is so happy now
And, can you believe it-I'm her first hosted TV.
In this picture I'm still in an envelope but eng just can take eyes of american bulldog stamp.
Just got out an envelope
I gave her some souvenirs and a postcard with my picture
Egn told me a bit about Lithuania. Do you know that Lithuania (in Lithuanian Lietuva) means rain land? Here is my picture with Lithuania flag.
I'm was so tired that I decided to have a sleep. Katyte was so pleasant I laid my head on her sweet fur and we travelled to the land of dreams together.
That's all for now.
With love, Squizzle.
Posted Apr 7, 2010, 1:53 pm
Sorry that I made you wate for this letter so long. I was so afraid that you'll be worry.
I hope you won't be mad at me after all. I visisted engs grandmother in a marvellous town Anyksciai.
Here I am, just got to egns grandmother apartment.
Here you have some nice flowers. I think they suit with my fur
Here is a view through another window. This is Antano Baranausko gymnasium. Egns grandfather was a teacher and a headmaster there. At night this school looks very antique because of there columns, which are only able to see at night.
I have to admit- I liked that view.
Suddenly egn saw a beautiful dog running around. She just couldn't be quiet! She asked him to come here...
You may not believe it, but that cute dog did come!
We ran outside to play but after we made no photos as we just had no time. I have to say Lithuanian dogs are very playful
Hugs, your Squizzle
Posted Apr 7, 2010, 2:05 pm
I wish you happy happy Easter.
I'll tell you a bit more about Lithuanian Easter traditions.
Traditions of the night of Easter are very interesting, church rituals are intertwined with early beliefs. In 1933 newspapers wrote how people went to church Easter night, but did not pray. They dressed up as scarecrows and jested about. The guards at Christ's tomb were dressed as soldiers, holding guns and swords. In Samogitia and in other regions, people blew horns, dressed as devils. The principal disguiser had sooth on his face, cow horns on his head, with cow's tail hanging from his back, biting a huge pipe and holding a bottle of vodka in his hands. A masked woman would stick dead crows under noses of women, asleep in church.
Another type of disguisers wore masks with needles in the nose, dressed in rags, carrying whips. If they found anyone outside during the night, they chased them into church.
Before the First World War, throughout Lithuania , food was blessed on Easter morning. This tradition has remained in the region of Dzûkija. Easter eggs, salt, bread, cakes, ham, bacon, sausage, butter and cheese were foods to be blessed. Blessing eggs and bread would assure plenty of food all year. Butter and cheese were blessed to make sure that cows would give much milk.
The folks from Kurðënai placed three eggs, red, yellow and black into a basket, decorated with willow branches, filled with hay or moss and took the basket to church to be blessed. In Dzûkija, foods to be blessed were placed in straw baskets with removable covers. In other regions foods were carried to church in specially woven kerchiefs. It was believed that if it was a cloudy day, this kerchief should be taken outside and spread in the middle of the yard – then the clouds would disperse.
After the mass on Easter, some placed foods near Virgin Mary's altar, while others placed food in the churchyard. After the blessing of the food, everyone hurried home with the belief that those who got home first, they will be first in all their endeavors and that their bees will swarm faster.
Having returned with the blessed foods, everyone sat at the table, laden with traditional foods: eggs, pig's head or roast piglet, cheese, butter and baked lamb. If there was no baked lamb, there was a lamb made of butter or sugar placed on top of sprouted oat greens. This was a symbol of Easter. Before eating began, the family stood around the table, saying three prayers and wishing peace to the home. Eating began with eggs. If your egg shell is stronger, you are destined to live longer. The Easter egg shells were collected and half of them were fed to the hens, so that they would be good layers. The other half was burned in the stove, to make sure that trees will bud earlier. Meat bones and remaining egg shells were dug in the fields, so that mice would not eat the grain and hail would not be destructive to the grain fields.
In some regions, a tree made from nine or twelve fir branches, with woven nests to hold Easter eggs, was placed on the Easter table. It was also decorated with dough birds and colored papers.
It was said that on the first day of Easter, no visiting should take place till noon. If anyone came before noon, it was said that he brought flees from his home.
Children visited godparents and relatives to collect Easter eggs. A child upon entering the house, says nothing, just puts one finger into his mouth and receives an egg. If he places two fingers, two eggs are placed in his basket. Giving eggs to the children means that hens will be prolific layers.
The tradition of egg gathering still exists. In all of Lithuania, the act of hitting Easter eggs is known and practiced, especially by men and teenagers. The egg is placed in the palm of the hand with thumb and forefinger holding the pointed end of the egg, which is the hitting area. The cracked egg is taken by the person whose egg did not crack in the process of hitting.
Egg rolling is also popular throughout Lithuania. A thick tree bark with a smooth inside is placed at an angle and eggs are rolled down through it. When the egg hits another egg, which had rolled down earlier, the egg's owner takes possession of both eggs.
Groups of young men on the night of the First Day of Easter, visit villages, extend greetings and for that are given numerous gifts. The night was filled with men's compelling voices, travelling from village to village. This tradition still continues in many villages even today.
These groups are made up of musicians, singers and a bag carrier, who will carry all the gifts. Their greetings began with the following words: " dear auntie and uncle, may we entertain your household", followed by: " Happy Easter Greetings". After this, they sang songs meant for unmarried girls:
A pear tree stands in the center of the manor
Under which grows a garden filled with rue
Young maiden, Anne walked there
Made paths and picked rue.
When gifts were received, they thanked the owners saying, " may God give you as many piglets to equal the number of nibbles you gave us". It also happened that the owners gave nothing, then a spell was put on them: " may your chicken swell under the stove, like the stove, so that you could not pull them out using even horse's strength". Girls who refused to receive these strollers – singers, were wished to remain single and to spend the rest of their lives sitting on the stove.
When their bag was filled with eggs and other goodies, the strollers – singers would stop at someone's home to party. They would then select the most beautiful Easter egg, calling its creator
" Queen of Eggs". If this woman was married, they crowned her with a crown that they carried, she in turn would place the crown on her unmarried daughter's head. This second Easter Day's festivity of strollers – singers, soon became the time of selecting daughters-in-law. Soon after matchmakers would do the rounds. For this reason young women tried to give their best Easter eggs to the stroller-singers.
We didn't go to mass but we had a big table full with dishes. They told me that they have so many dishes because of me-it was also my welcome party
Egn promised to give a few recipes of dishes, wich we both liked the most.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 7, 2010, 2:20 pm
I'm still in Anyksciai. This city is famous for novel written about it's forest and also because of huge stone, second largest in Lithuania, called Puntukas. It is of 100 cubical meters size. (here you can see words, which means "Mythological stone Puntukas")
It's history however is even more interesting, as unlike other huge stones, it was visible during all the times. In pagan times, pagans considered Puntukas holy, and held various rituals nearby. The name is called after some warrior Puntukas, who was burned here in pagan times. There are some kind of markings on stone. There is a legend that those supposedly are devil's fingers - supposedly devil was carrying the stone and dropped it.
Also in the mid-XX age new markings were done on the stone - faces of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girënas - first Lithuanian pilots who flew over Atlantic. Their words are also put there. Their faces are on a Lithuanian currency Litas. Here you can see 10 Litas, me and Puntukas stone.
We had a nice walk at forest near Puntukas.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 8, 2010, 6:37 pm
Egn told me a great new-tomorrow we may go to world debate championship in Druskininkai. This time we will be only viewer despite the fact that egn participated in a very alike competition in Lazdijai and she won. Tommorrow we will see students from more than 14 countries all over the world, for example South Afrika, Australia, Czech Republik... Druskininkai is famous with natural salty mineral water, which comes straight from ground. What is more, he can even heal! I hope to try it. I'll write you more about that city after my visit there.
Here are some photos, which have been made in Anyksciai. You may not believe me but I saw the highest church in Lithuania.
As I have already written, Anyksciai is very famous with its writers. Here you can see me with Antanas Vienuolis (Antanas Monk). He wasn't a monk actually, this was his surname. I'm sitting near his statue.
Here is another statue of one of the most famous writters in Lithuania. He was a priest and his statue is near Anyksciai church. Antanas Baranauskas (it was his name and surname) wrote about nature as he wanted to prove that Lithuania language suits to write poetry. Before Baranauskas, the main "respectable" languages in the area were considered to be Russian and Polish, so Baranauskas was one of the few primary individuals responsible for re-legitimizing the Lithuanian language, and by extension, Lithuanian culture. His poem was named "The Forest of Anyksciai".
Here is a stutue in Anyksciai centre. It shows the batles for Liberty. Egn and I didn't liked it...
Here you can see other houses in Anyksciai. I really liked the cosiness of that city. I think that was the friendliest city in Lithuania.
This thing we saw on rhe side of one building. In the times when Lithuania belonged to Russia they were very popular.
You can try skiing in Anyksciai as well. We climbed on a big mountain as I wanted to skii but there wern't snow enough for me.
I was so tired with all these walking all around Anyksciai, that I just laid my head and fall asleep in fresh air.
That's all for this time.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 10, 2010, 4:17 pm
We didn't go to Druskininkai because of the pouring rain. We have some floods here in Lithuania. So, we staid in Lazdijai and spent evening playing with the piano some the Beatles songs.
Later we saw a film "Dorian Gray" and eating fruits. That film was so spooky that we staid awake almost all night.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 10, 2010, 4:33 pm
I have spent a marvellous day at Debate World Championship in Druskininkai. It wasn't allowed to take photos there so you won't see me with the best debators. I have listened two debates :"This house rejects the western way of life" and "This house believes in just war". All the topics of debates were kept in totally secret until the begining of debates. That was a remarkable experience. We will travel there tommorrow as well-to the FINALS. That should be nice.
Here you have some photos of Druskininkai.
A strange hotel building.
Here is the main church of Druskininkai.
Here I am near one of about hundred little statues in Druskininkai.
Here is a statue of a Little Prince (I think you have read that book).
There we saw some nice paintings.
And we have a lunch there. I ate chicken file with nutts, warm vegetables, mushrooms and popatoes. Yummy
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 11, 2010, 7:52 pm
We went to Druskininkai one more time.World debates championship FINALS was amazing. I liked Impromptou speaking the most and my favourite was Cameron Ewing from USA.
We spent a whole day walking and taking photos. I saw firsts Lithuanian flowers, which are called Zibutes ("Shinys"). They are trully beautiful. That is how they look in the morning...
And that is how they look in the midday...
Here you can see me near one more remarkable statue in Druskininkai. I think there was shown prehistorical animal.
Here you can see one more statue. This is a bird, I think.
Here you can see me in different places of Druskininkai.
After a long walk we went to a restaurant to have a dinner. I ate very warm stock with toast and pancakes with cheese and ham.
In Lithuania the atmosphere is a bit sad because of plane crash in which Poland president had died. There will be a three days mourning. That's all for now, mum. I hope you are fine. I miss you so much.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 12, 2010, 5:48 pm
We made no trips today and everything is a bit sad in Lithuania because of mourning. Every half hour we listen to news in both Lithuanian and Polish languages, egn had minutes of silence in her school.
It may look strange to you that Lithuanian feels this tragedy so deeply together with Polish but there are some explanations of this behaviour.
1. President Kaczynski visited Lithuania just Thursday and he did that very often. He was expected guest in Lithuania.
2. Lithuania and Poland has related history. Do you know that once Lithuania and Poland was one country and they even had one king?
3. In Lithuania lives so many Polish (esp. in Vilnius) as not so long ago half of Lithuania belonged to Poland.
4. Every Polish has relatives in Lithuania and every Lithuanian has relatives in Poland.
So, today we had a little photosession.
What is more, I want to show you my friends. I'll miss them so much when I'll travel home or to the other host. Here is a teddy Austria and teddy Luxembourg. We trully become the best friends here.
Egn just told me that she will travel to Strassbourg soon so she will have to send me to you or antoher host. Although, she had done so many photos with me that she will have to make atleast more 3 updates. And egn promised to visit her school park one evening.
That's all for this time.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 13, 2010, 7:16 pm
I have been in a concert, where egn played with piano. It was remarkalbe experience when I heard the first notes of Strauss "Spring Voices". Everybody was fascinated and it seemed that they really felt a real spring outside. I even saw one woman crying!
Here I'm trying to play with another piano.
There have been some problems with egns travel. But I have already packed my things and I'll head to my next host tomorrow.
Hugs, Squizzle
Posted Apr 14, 2010, 2:48 pm
I'm writting you to confirm, that I started my next travel.
As egn had promised, we traveled to a local park. It wasn 't big and there were so little things to see as it is just a spring and that park wasn't tidy enough (the enourmous tidying program will take place on Friday).
Here you can see me on the top of a silver fir.
And here is another plant. I really don't know what is its name but it was fragrant..
One more strange plant.
And this plant will bloom in purple at summer. I hope to see it one day.
This is a chestnut. He is going to bloom soon as well. Although, his buds are very sticky at the moment.
Then we came back to egns garden. Lithuanians has a traditions to get a juice from birches. These juices are called "sula" ("sap"). It is very tasty. In this photo you can see me how this drink comes from tree and me, trying to lift a bucket with sap.
Next week tulips and daffodils will bloom.
Suddenly Katyte came to us and she started tickling me! I started laughing and fall
At home I found out that Lithuanians just love planting. Here you can see little tomatoes, which will grow in egns garden.
I saw a tv show the last time in this house. It was about politicians.
That is all from me this time. I'm travelling to Canada now. Wish me luck.
Hugs, Squizzle
4299273@gmail.com
Posted May 5, 2010, 10:55 pm
4299273@gmail.com
Posted May 6, 2010, 9:00 pm
4299273@gmail.com
Posted May 31, 2010, 9:01 pm
we haven't had time to do very much in the last couple weeks here.
My host Hardway had surgery and had been recovering.
but he said that as soon as he's better he'll show us all the cool things Ottawa has.
4299273@gmail.com
Posted Aug 3, 2010, 5:31 pm
We went to several Pubs downtown, we stayed at a hotel that had a nice VIP room that we got to hang out in and have drinks
4299273@gmail.com
Posted Sep 1, 2010, 4:12 pm
Cheers,
Hardway & Family
Posted Sep 6, 2010, 9:09 am
Posted Nov 3, 2010, 8:38 pm
This monument was erected in the Neolithic Age.
There it is. It is near the A55.
We could walk into the chamber.
That is Anglesey Aluminium, which is on the other side of the A55.
Posted Nov 9, 2010, 12:13 pm
The remains of these round-houses were excavated in 1860s and 1970s. They date from the Iron Age to post Roman times.
My mummy's camera was broken so she used the camera in her mobile phone and listed the help of my daddy!
Posted Nov 19, 2010, 2:34 pm
This is Lindisfarne Castle.
Posted Nov 19, 2010, 6:31 pm
We decided to go and visit inside this castle.
The castle is home to a museum about one of its former owners, the Victorian industrialist and engineer, William George Armstrong (Lord Armstrong).
Some fuselage
A propeller.
Junkers Jumo 211 F
A BMW aircraft engine.
An aircompressor trolley
A Rolls Royce engine.
A big gun.
Armstrong was also into shipbuilding as well as aviation.
A water turbine. Armstrong also built the hydraulic mechanism for London's Tower Bridge.
I am a pilot but there are no controls here on the floor!
Posted Nov 23, 2010, 12:22 pm
Look at those waves.
Wow, they are high.
I hope the lifeboat was not needed to go out in this weather. Grace Darling was a heroine of the 19th century - her father was a lighthouse keeper on one of the Farne Islands when disaster struck. She rowed out to rescue people from a sinking/wrecked boat in dreadful weather.
They keep their waterproofs in a room, unlike at Moelfre when I sat on the upside down wellington boot.
Grace Darling is a Mersey Class lifeboat.
Posted Nov 23, 2010, 4:08 pm
It is the largest in Northumbria, built in the 14th century but was damaged in the War of the Roses.
It fell into decay and wasn't restored.
Posted Nov 23, 2010, 4:25 pm
We did walk around the outside of the castle.
This is the Lion Bridge.
Another entrance to the castle. There are statues all around the walls and there were gargoyles too.
We did have time to visit a small museum. 1+1=2.
A model railway.
Mining exhibits.
Outside, there was a statue to Harry Hotspur. He was a fighter, and fought against the Scots and the French.
He led a rebellion against Henry IV and was forming an alliance with Owain Glyndwr but died on the battlefield in Shrewsbury.
Posted Nov 27, 2010, 9:11 pm
They have cannons and a portcullis gate.
Inside another castle entrance is a museum about the Battle of Flodden Field which happened a few miles away in 1513.
This is one of the castle towers.
The castle was captured by King James IV of Scotland shortly before the Battle of Flodden Field.
We were on the other side of that portcullis earlier. The curtain wall linked all 4 towers of the castle, but only this section remains.
That's the tower with the portcullis.
Posted Dec 3, 2010, 9:27 pm
Here's the memorial.
Posted Dec 3, 2010, 9:30 pm
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 2:48 pm
The painter Lowry visited Berwick-upon-Tweed a lot and painted many scenes here. There is a trail we could follow visiting sites he painted. There is a GeoCache near this information board.
It started to rain so we headed to a cafe for lunch.
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 2:59 pm
This section we are visiting is called Heddon-on-the-Wall.
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 3:23 pm
This section is Blackcarts Turret.
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 3:24 pm
This section is Blackcarts Turret.
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 3:55 pm
There it is, up the hill.
This was the Commandant's house. The stone pillars allow heated air to pass under the paved floor and and up through channels in the walls.
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 4:01 pm
The sun was fading but these rocks look impressive.
Posted Dec 10, 2010, 5:16 pm
Hello Monkez
Posted Jan 6, 2011, 11:38 am
Sledging, brr!
The snow has gone from down there.
But there is more snow on the mountains.
Brr! Wake me up at Christmas!
Posted Jan 6, 2011, 6:54 pm
Have you played Pictureka?
We are about to.
Who'll be the first to spot the racket (one on the card) to a picture on the boards? There is only one. Can you see it?
The dice roll is 5. I have to spot 5 of (eeny meeny miny mo...) Animals.
Posted Jan 18, 2011, 9:19 pm
Come on, out you come, you do not need to be shy!
Hello Pippi.
We are alfie langer, Charlie B., mira and Squizzle
Posted Feb 6, 2011, 7:00 pm
Posted Feb 10, 2011, 8:28 pm
Shall we take a look inside?
Wow, look at all that K'Nex!
My big brother likes building things with K'Nex.
Posted Mar 3, 2011, 4:47 pm
We had some apple pies.
Have a safe journey little mouse.
Posted Mar 3, 2011, 5:08 pm
There's a candle on the cake.
After the cake, we played with these balloons!
Posted Mar 6, 2011, 7:13 pm
There were 4 zones. The first zone we went to was Water.
A whirlpool exhibit.
Next, we went to Fire.
This is a fire tornado.
Lighting isn't that good for photographs with the fire tornado.
Next stop was Air. This is a musical exhibit with tubes and things.
The exhibit can be quite noisy.
We then went for a game of Air hockey.
The air blows through holes in the table and lifts up the puck ever so slightly.
This is a frequency exhibit with little polystyrene balls bouncing.
This is a different frequency.
Before going on to the final area, we caught some of the Big Melt show, a reconstruction of how they made steel. This is the arc furnace.
We went to the final area, Earth. The set up is quarrying "rocks" and these get picked up by the children and taken somewhere by wheelbarrow before going on conveyor belts and distributed either back to the "quarry" or to a chute.
Can you see the "rocks" on the conveyor belt?
Posted Mar 29, 2011, 9:42 pm
Mummy, is this a new visitor?
Let's open it up.
I hope he can squeeze through this hole.
Yes! he's free. Hello, my name is Squizzle, nice to meet you Frankie_Blue
Posted Mar 30, 2011, 8:57 pm
I wonder who our new visitors will be!
The new visitors are Belka and my brother, Rendolph
Posted Mar 31, 2011, 9:35 pm
However, we spent far too much time chatting instead of concentrating on the game and we all drew the 8th clock leaving the crime unsolved.
Posted Apr 6, 2011, 4:48 pm
Do you like them?
Posted Apr 28, 2011, 3:38 pm
This is first class.
Here, we are at Dinas station. When the Welsh Highland Railway was being rebuilt, Dinas was the HQ. There are work trains and carriages, and engines in need of repair.
The railway meets the River Gwyrfai several times along its route.
There's quite a bit of water in the river.
There are fields alongside the railway, this one has horses.
We are coming into Betws Garmon. Can you see the bell in the church tower?
It is a long train. Can you see the steam engine at the other end?
This is Cwellyn, a reservoir supplying water to parts of north Wales.
We had to wait for the train coming in the other direction to stop at Rhyd Ddu before we could continue. The train is also steam-hauled.
They've got a first class carriage, but the one we're in was unveiled by the Queen in 2010 after refurbishment.
The carriage is called Glaslyn, after another river this railway meets.
We are off for the second half of the journey. This section was opened last year, and then not all the way to Porthmadog.
There's the River Glaslyn.
Here we are coming into Porthmadog. The river is the Glaslyn here too, the estuary.
The river is the Glaslyn here too
The Glaslyn estuary. And now, we have arrived in Porthmadog. It is time to run for the bus to take us back home before school closes for the day.
Posted Apr 28, 2011, 8:01 pm
We are having a nice game of Settlers of Catan.
Posted Apr 28, 2011, 8:11 pm
Posted Apr 28, 2011, 8:17 pm
Mummy took me on the lazy river ride.
Posted May 15, 2011, 12:08 pm
A box and we shall open it.
A visitor, hello Sampson
Welcome to Wales.
Posted Jun 10, 2011, 8:50 pm
Hello Moony and welcome.
Posted Jun 20, 2011, 10:24 am
It was too hot to do much, not even help Mummy, Daddy or Grandma with the weeding.
Posted Jun 20, 2011, 11:20 am
We came here before! We started in water!
A whirlpool, and a water-raising complex.
This looks like fun! Watch the fishie spin!
Fire next! A four-stroke engine. The middle bits are back. In the background is a two-stroke engine.
My host turns the wheel and the middle bits come forward and the outer bits go back!
The fire tornado exhibit is hot!
Lighting isn't good in here.
Next stop was the main section where the steel was made. We allowed the newer visitors to have their photos taken with the big melt demonstration.
We went up to Air, but they removed the air-hockey
Final stop was Earth. There were wheelbarrows to move "rocks" to the sorters.
This is a hydraulic pump and cylinder.
Time flies.... The centre is closing so we'd better go now....
Posted Jun 20, 2011, 11:42 am
We welcomed a new visitor Gwennie
Posted Jul 18, 2011, 10:56 pm
Whose voice can I hear calling?
Hello Bobi
Posted Aug 3, 2011, 2:50 pm
There are lots of ants in the garden. This book says that ants don't like crossing chalk!
There's an ant...
It still is in the same section...
Hmm, it has escaped. The ants we've watched seem quite happy to cross the chalk. Back to the drawing board.
Posted Sep 23, 2011, 9:39 pm
Hello Jellybean
Posted Oct 11, 2011, 4:03 pm
I'm allowed out!
Today, we've come to a castle built for King Edward I. This is Rhuddlan Castle.
These look like nice ruins.
Let's go inside...
Inside the castle.
We can climb up to the top of the wall later.
Having a rest!
We are on top of the wall. There's a bridge down there over the river.
We can see for miles... Would be better on a clear day!
Another rest in the ditch!
The castle sits atop a hill!
One of the towers of the outer wall.
Posted Oct 11, 2011, 4:06 pm
It could do with a lick of paint.
Posted Oct 11, 2011, 4:21 pm
To celebrate Clyde's arrival and also to wish some of us who are travelling to pastures new
we shared a doughnut!
Posted Nov 2, 2011, 11:00 am
I think these are a sea lions. They swim fast.
It looks so graceful underwater.
They swim quite fast and my host has trouble getting nice photos with them.
These are ostriches.
I'm not sure if there is enough room on that little section of branch for the both of them.
Some cute meerkats.
Aww, they are cute, just like me!
Maybe this one is looking for something.
This is an ape of some sort opposite the meerkat enclosure.
The water is green but there is a menace. An alligator...
Hello!
How are you today?
"I need to stretch my legs!"
"and go for a run!"
Hello down there.
Hello over there..
Bon apetite
Can I have some?
Here are my fellow travellers and I looking at my kind.
A tiger.
We've come back to see the meerkats, and there's a porcupine sharing their enclosure.
A gritty tomato
A spiny porcupine.
These are apes.
And now this is another big cat, a snow leopard.
Posted Nov 4, 2011, 11:11 am
Clyde was shy so we had another photo taken.
Posted Nov 6, 2011, 10:09 pm
Bon Voyage and take care. Wheee! I am also leaving!
Posted Nov 12, 2011, 10:16 pm
Today I arrived in Germany. There was a friendly bunny waiting for me – called Dicker Kumpel.
He gave me a warm welcome.
Then he introduced me to his other guests.
Then I showed my postcard and we talked a lot!
I will write more soon.
Bye
Squizzle
Posted Nov 16, 2011, 8:32 pm
We are so excited.
The GoldenBears Award 2011 started. We looked through the photos. The photos are great!
Fortunately there were some photos of some of us.
Dicker Kumpel is on some photos – we loved the one with Architecture…
…and a funny one with a flower in Best Plantlife.
We found a nice photo of Princess Sarah in Animal Magic…
…and a photo of Food and Drink with me – yummy!
There was no photo of Mirembe for this year – but no problem, she didn’t travel in 2010, but we are sure to see her here for the next award.
Now we have a great request to all, who read this:
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Nov 19, 2011, 10:53 pm
The weather wasn’t so nice today, but we wanted to make a walk.
I found some late flowers in the grass.
We walked over a small bridge and saw a nice river.
Then we had a rest in a little hut.
Then I had the feeling that it was time for some climbing.
It was okay- but I saw a tree next to the hut.
Nice- but I can climb higher.
I had a great view from the tree.
Here you see other nice trees behind me – it was really cold today.
Can you imagine – what the big green thing was?
Look:
Back home I found the last tree for the day.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Nov 30, 2011, 5:19 pm
Yesterday my holiday with RikeH and Dicker Kumpel started. We had a nice flight to Grand Canary and then we went onto our ship.
This was the night view from our balcony. Behind me you can see Las Palmas.
And this is a part of our ship.
We all were happy to be on the ship!
Today I found two postcards from the ship - so you can see it.
In the morning I went onto the balcony and saw an Island - it was Lanzarote, today we only passed it - but we will come back later and visit it.
At the beginning of a cruise there is always a test for an emergency - so all people and ToyVoyager on board know, what to do.
Here I am with the lifejacket and Dicker Kumpel, because we are so small we can take one together.
Of course we hope that we never need it.
Back on the balcony it was time to relax. You can see us
in the hammock.
We had a great view!
What a nice day!
yours
Squizzle
Posted Nov 30, 2011, 5:23 pm
I woke up this morning and found out that we are in Morocco.
First I saw a big ship in the harbour.
We made a tour by bus today - and our first stop was high about the city. Look, what a wonderful view.
There was an old monument on the hill. Maybe an old castle? Who knows...
In the city we saw the mosque.
We visited the market.
Before we went back to the ship we walked along the long beach. Can you remember it?
We saw it from the hill. Behind me you can see some white words on the hill, they are from the national hymn of Morocco.
I thought about swimming in the water, but decided not to do it.
yours
Squizzle
Posted Nov 30, 2011, 5:25 pm
we had another lazy day on the ship.
It is time to show our cabin.
We like most this place on the couch next to the window.
Here you see me in the bathroom.
And we love this place - called Minibar. This is one part.
And this is the other.
In the afternoon we all had fun with our X-Box. First we played a quiz.
The we sang wonderful songs.
After having fun it was time to work - here I sat on the balcony and wrote my travellog.
When we all were ready we relaxed on our chair in the sun.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Dec 5, 2011, 3:26 pm
this morning I got up early - and I saw Santa Cruz on the Island Tenerife.
We started our tour over the Island in the mountains - the Anaga Mountain Street.
I had a great view.
We saw a city in the Valley.
There was the Teide - the highest mountain of Spain.
We went there later - first we visited the Loro Parque. I met penguins there.
Look - what a wonderful flower.
We continued our trip and went to the Teide Mountain. There were strange plants here.
Behind me you can see the Teide Mountain. We decided not to climb onto the Teide.
Next to the Teide there were some strange shaped Rocks called Los Roques.
What a wonderful day on Tenerife.
yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 5, 2011, 3:28 pm
We did a nice boat trip - and watched out for dophins and pilot whales.
But first you can see the view from our balcony. This was San Sebastian on the La Gomera ISlan
Then we were on our little boat.
Where were the dolphins and whales?
I saw a lot!
We saw many more of them - but it was not so easy to take photos - with us ToyVoyagers and the animals.
Then we made a little cruise along the Coast.
Can you remember the Teide Mountain we saw yesterday - we saw it today, too.
In the evening we found delicious chocolate in our cabin!
We loved it!
Love
Squizzle
Posted Dec 7, 2011, 7:19 pm
today we rent a car and drove over the Lanzarote Island. We started in the Jameos de Aqua - some nice Caves.
There were a nice pool next to the Caves.
We found funny plants again.
Here you can see the pool from another place.
We went to a great outlook - called Mirador del Rio.
I loved the view!
Then we drove to another part of the Island - the national park Timanfaya.
We drove through the Park in a bus - but it was not easy to make good photos there.
These are views over the Park.
The devil is the symbol for the NP.
Later we saw some camels next to the street.
Before we went back to the ship we walked through Arrecife. Here is the beautiful church.
And a nice lake inside the town.
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 10, 2011, 7:42 pm
Another trip by car today. We drove along the Coast and stopped in a little town called Agaete.
This is the church.
We went into it.
There was a wonderful Valley - we had a great view from the end of the street.
Back on the Coast Street we stopped at the Mirador de Balcon.
Later we drove into the Middle of the Island - into a Valley called Barranco de la Aldea.
There were very high mountains and steep and narrow streets.
We stopped in a small town called Tejeda.
This was the funny 'Cruz de Tejeda'.
Our last stop was a place called Terror. It has a strange name, but it was peaceful place with a nice church.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Dec 10, 2011, 7:44 pm
it was a day on the Sea again. On this day it was a little stormy. You can see the waves...
And look at my hair - I am flying.
In the evening I went into the X-Lounge and I drunk my first glass of Champagne.
I love cruises.
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 10, 2011, 7:46 pm
we started our trip in Casablanca with the Hassan-II-Mosque. It is the third biggest mosque of the World.
We went inside - not many colors, but nice.
It was really interesting.
I really liked this mosque.
Then we drove along the Corniche - the Street along the beach.
Our next stop was the King's Palace. We saw two doors - first the small one...
...later the bigger one.
We went through the streets of Casablanca.
Can you see the beautiful green roofs behind me?
We visited a market with fruits...
...and fish.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Dec 10, 2011, 7:49 pm
yesterday evening we had Champagne - and it was delicious. RikeH didn't spend the evening in our cabin - so we wanted to have more drinks...
We went to our minibar.
Dicker Kumpel climbed into the minibar - and threw the bottles to us.
Ready - we had 4 bottles.
We brought the bottles to our place.
I chose the Campari.
The others had other nice drinks.
Hey - the ship moved in a strange way - or did I?
What a great evening.
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 19, 2011, 7:59 pm
oh - what a night...
...but what a morning
... there must have been something bad in the bottles yesterday.
RikeH told us that a coffee could help. Fortunately we had a machine in our cabin.
I had to fill this funny thing into the machine.
Then we waited for the coffee.
It was yummy. And I felt much better.
We decided not to make much more this day.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Dec 20, 2011, 8:41 pm
today it was St Nicholas' Day. We found a present in our cabin.
Of course we opened it.
Some sweets – great!
Thanks dear St. Nicholas!
Later we started our trip through Funchal. Because we had an awful day yesterday,we decided to take a bus – and having our tour without moving a lot.
As you can maybe the see, the weather was not so nice today.
We loved this fountain and wanted to play there, but the bus didn’t stop.
Then we drove up the hill…
…and had a nice view.
Far away we saw a church, but it was not a famous one.
Then we left Funchal and drove along the coast.
There were terraces, where they grew bananas and other plants.
We drove through a nice little village, but I forgot the name.
Back in Funchal we walked back to our ship. There were three big cruise ships in Funchal today.
This was an old Tower – but not very high.
And another old building.
This was the view from our balcony – one of the other ships and a view over the city of Funchal.
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 22, 2011, 9:23 pm
Normally we arrived in the next Port in the morning – today it was different. We arrived in the noon. So we were able to see it from the distance.
It was the Island La Palma.
We drove to the national park Caldera de Taburiente – I looked out of the window of our bus.
Then we arrived at the Caldera - we had a wonderful view.
We made a nice walk and had other nice views – of course it was always the same crater – but we loved it!
And we had wonderful weather – this was not typical for this time of the year.
Later we went back to Santa Cruz. We stopped at a point called La Concepcion .
There were many palm trees.
And I found these wonderful flowers.
Bye
Squizzle
Posted Dec 22, 2011, 9:49 pm
We visited our last Island today – it was Fuerteventura. We made a tour with Jeeps here.
This was a holy mountain.
Then we drove to the Coast. It was really steep there.
Later we went to a big dune. It was great – but really windy.
In the evening we went to the buffet. There were fruits with chocolate and ice sculptures.
This was my last view of the ship in the night.
I really enjoyed the Cruise.
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 22, 2011, 11:25 pm
We went to Hamburg today – this was inside the Train station.
There was a big Christmas tree in the city.
Look – I loved this view.
I thought about buying something, but a ToyVoyager should travel without much baggage.
This big ball was amazing – there were some monuments of Hamburg on it.
There were more balls from other cities.
Christmas is coming – I am so excited! We will be allowed to help RikeH decorating the Christmas tree.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Dec 26, 2011, 9:31 pm
Christmas will be soon – and I was allowed to help decorating the Christmas tree.
RikeH has a lot of Christmas Decorations. These ones are from her Grandma.
I think that these balls were really funny.
We had a lot more.
This was the tree after the first Part of Decorating.
Then we found more decoration for the tree.
I really loved this one.
Then the Christmas tree was ready.
yours
Squizzle
Posted Dec 26, 2011, 9:38 pm
Today it was Christmas. We were waiting on our Chair.
Santa Claus was busy, but fortunately he sent two of his friends. Snowy the friendly snowman and Rudi the famous Reindeer.
I spoke with both, sung a wonderful Christmas Song and then I recited a poem.
They loved it and I got a present.
The others did the same – look, we all received a lot of sweets!
Later I played in the Christmas tree. Of course I was careful. I want to show you the nicest things in the Tree.
Look – there was another squirrel in the tree.
I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas, too!
Love
Squizzle
Posted Jan 5, 2012, 2:07 pm
Posted Jan 5, 2012, 8:55 pm
We had awful weather over the last days – so we decided to play billiard. Dicker Kumpel knew how to play it and explained it to us.
Then I tried it.
It was not so easy, as it looked like when Dicker Kumpel showed it. When we played we saw that MadBird looked like a billiard ball. Look, what we did!
Oups….
Well – bad luck for the bird. Only kidding, Mum, of course we would never do such a bad thing!
It was time to explore the room. There must have been horses here in the Past.
I played on this musical instrument.
Then I tried to call you, but I have forgotten your number.
Bye
Yours
Squizzle
Posted Jan 29, 2012, 3:51 pm
We had snow outside, so we decided to leave our chair and made a walk around Sülfeld.
You already saw most of the buildings – but not in the wintertime.
Look – there was snow - it looked like winter!
We are in the North of Germany and there are not many big hills here. So the children use this small mountain with their sledges.
Behind us you can see the old school. It looks nice in the snow.
The clock of the church was broken – we haven’t been there at 6 o’ clock.
Back home in the garden we wanted to do something nice in the snow. We talked a lot.
And here you can see what we created.
Then we went inside the house – and found a great place!
yours
Squizzle
Posted Mar 2, 2012, 12:20 pm
I just jumped into my envelope - and now I am on my way back to you.
Love
Squizzle
Posted Mar 9, 2012, 9:08 pm
Get me outta here...
Hello! I'm home Mummy!
Mummy is attempting a 3000 piece jigsaw of the Mappa Mundi. How long will it take if we help?
Posted Mar 16, 2012, 10:31 am
Hello Shesh and Lizzy Lizard
Posted Apr 15, 2012, 8:12 pm
Posted Apr 15, 2012, 8:24 pm
and now it is time to see what is in the package.
Hello Yetta Bear
Posted Apr 15, 2012, 9:05 pm
So, we hijacked mum's toyvoyagers account and decided to contact LittleBlogFrog for help with presents.
We wrote a message to her asking her to meet some of us at King's Lynn the next day, to see if she has any ideas what mum would like.
Posted Apr 15, 2012, 9:30 pm
Done!
And then Grandma gave us an Easter chocolate each.
Posted Apr 26, 2012, 6:52 pm
I hope you like our present to you..
Posted May 9, 2012, 10:16 am
A package arrived...
Hello MuhKuh to our home.
Posted May 18, 2012, 4:37 pm
A package arrived today, let's see what is inside...
It is a ToyVoyager called Twixx
Posted Aug 1, 2012, 4:13 pm
These meerkats are enjoying the sunshine.
Cute aren't they?
There's a bear. I don't recall seeing it last time.
A gibbon...
A snoozing tiger...
Penguins...
Flamingoes...
However, I didn't see my living relatives, though I did pass their home. They may have been snoozing on this sunny day. I don't blame them. Maybe I can talk to them another time.
Posted Nov 15, 2012, 6:48 pm
Posted Nov 15, 2012, 6:54 pm
Posted Nov 15, 2012, 7:01 pm
Ah, the name of the island is Ailsa Craig. The name is also the name of an onion!
Posted Nov 15, 2012, 7:38 pm
Posted Nov 16, 2012, 10:30 pm
And inside to a science centre overlooking the River Clyde.
Look, there are three different sized squares around a right-angled triangle. There's liquid in those two squares...
And that amount fits into the big square..
This exhibit has different metals for two electrodes. This combination looks great.
This combination is good but not as great as the previous go.
But this is not very good at all.
A plasma ball
Did I get knotted with a reef knot?
Panels made from different recycled plastics - wellies, mobile phone covers, bottles, yogurt pots, plastic bags...
This is an exhibit about the first heart transplant.
The heart is being delivered.
Surgeons operate..
And all became well.
What time is it?
My big brother made this.
Where did the time go?
A finished pattern
Zöllner illusion, with parallel lines.
A giant kaleidoscope
Mummy has one of these Ouchi illusions on a postcard.
Time to go.
BBC Scotland.
We were inside that.
Posted Nov 16, 2012, 10:32 pm
Posted Nov 22, 2012, 10:18 am
Is that the ferry we wanted to catch?
So we caught the next one.
We came as foot passengers.
There's a lighthouse, I think it is on the mainland.
I think we are heading over there.
I think we are nearly there...
Posted Nov 22, 2012, 12:42 pm
This is Rothesay castle.
It has a moat.
This might be the great hall.
Some King James.
Rothesay, and the mainland in the distance.
The castle walls have had some damage over the years, probably from battles between the Scottish and the Norse. Norwegians held this island for centuries.
The tower was built to improve defences and provide accomodation for the high steward...
The Norwegian flag is on the right.
A couple of views on the outside of the castle.
This is the prison, in a pit below.
I came down that ladder.
That's the ladder to go down to the prison.
This is the ferry ticket. Waiting to sail back to the mainland.
It is getting dark too.
Posted Nov 29, 2012, 4:20 pm
Posted Dec 11, 2012, 9:25 pm
First, we looked at a model of what the hillfort or dun probably looked like in 500AD
This is a model of the second castle built in the 13th century but was possibly destroyed by Robert Bruce
And this is the third castle built on the site.
We went for a look around, but the weather was a bit wet.
The staff were preparing for a Halloween do later that day.
King Robert II was crowned here in 1371
Posted Dec 11, 2012, 9:27 pm
Posted Dec 11, 2012, 11:19 pm
We are on another boat!
This time, we are leaving Largs.
This is fun.
That's Largs over there.
It isn't a big boat.
I think we are nearly there...
Do you see that painted face on the rock?
That is Millport, the only town on the Isle of Cumbrae
A memorial.
A view from the high point on Cumbrae.
A crocodile!
Posted Dec 19, 2012, 6:47 pm
Posted Dec 19, 2012, 6:57 pm
We said farewell to the home we had for the last week, and have been making our way home.
We stopped off at this castle on the shores of Loch Doon.
Posted Dec 19, 2012, 7:18 pm
There is snow!
We are quite high up here.
Brr!
Posted Dec 19, 2012, 7:19 pm
Posted Jan 18, 2013, 3:24 pm
Posted Jan 18, 2013, 8:20 pm
We jumped into the box
And I found these sparkly acorns.
Then I put them on the tree.
We all put something on the tree. Do you like it?
Posted Jan 18, 2013, 8:35 pm
This will keep my toesies warm!
Posted Jan 25, 2013, 11:11 am
Posted Mar 8, 2013, 9:02 pm
Posted Aug 9, 2013, 12:30 am
The laburnum arch is no longer in full flower...
Pretty red leaves..
Pretty flowers...
More pretty flowers...
Pretty pink flowers...
More pretty flowers...
The house...
Pink roses...
And more roses..
The lilies are in flower...
More flowers...
The house again, from the upper pond..
Posted Jan 20, 2014, 10:50 pm
We are helping with the Christmas decorations. These lights work.
Posted Jan 20, 2014, 11:04 pm
We've had a very quiet festive time....
taking us ages to complete two 1000 jigsaw puzzles.
Posted Apr 15, 2014, 2:00 pm
I wonder what she's bought.
Hello, don't be shy, come on out
Hello there, welcome
Then, we had an idea.... we could play a game...
Power Grid.
Who won?
Posted Mar 4, 2015, 7:17 pm
Perhaps a few days too early for the laburnum arch to be in full glory
Pretty flowers
I like this tree
Impressive house at Bodnant Gardens
Too early for the lilies to be in flower[img][/img]
Different!
nice stream
