Longleat Safari Park July 2023

 It was my birthday at the beginning of July, and I spent it exploring a safari park for the very first time.

Another zoo birthday trip. Shocker!

We visited Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire- somewhere I've wanted to visit for over twenty years, thanks to the TV show Animal Park. It's a couple of hours drive from home in Oxfordshire, so I never had, but after discovering that they had become the first zoo in Britain to add koalas and wombats to their menagerie (at least in my life time), I had to go see them. And I'm so glad we did as we had a fantastic time.

We did the safari first, and it was so much fun  driving around and spotting so many cool animals in the English countryside, It kinda looked and felt like being in Jurassic Park without the dinosaurs. But, luckily for us, most of the animals on the other side of our car were a little less terrifying and inclined to eat us. (Though, only having a car between us and the big cats definitely got the heart-racing a little). We got to see all kinds of awesome animals including giraffes, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, tigers, wolves, camels, warthogs, deer, macaques, vultures, pelicans, and many more. I think the only animals we didn't spot were the hyenas, and elephant, which was surprising as the enclosures were big enough for everything to hide if they wanted to. It was lovely to see most of the animals given acres of space and kept in large family groups, allowing them to live as naturally as any animal can in captivity. I've never seen animals kept so well before, and you could see the difference in how content and healthy they looked.

Sorry for the quality of the photos from the safari section. My camera didn't want to cooperate through windows.

The highlight of the safari for me- besides seeing a warthog and a white Bactrian camel for the first time- was getting to feed the deer. You could buy little pots of deer pellets from a kiosk in their paddock, and then pull over and feed them out of the car window, so of course, we had to do it. I got to feed two of them at the same time, and they were huge and surprisingly strong, but so gentle and patient at the same time. I was even able to give one of them chin scratches while she ate.

We also all enjoyed driving in with the macaques, and having them climb all over the car. There must've been well over a hundred of them, including dozens of babies, and they were fearless. They threw themselves at the cars, and clambered over everything from the windscreens to the wing mirrors. They were a lot of fun to watch- especially when one started pulling the windscreen wipers off the car in front of us. Luckily, my brother-in-law had had the good sense to take the aerial off the car before we went in, and we only came away with a few tiny teeth marks on the roof, but if you don't want to risk your car, the route does allow you to skip the macaques without missing anything else. We just chose to risk it for the experience, and it was so worth it.

The safari took a couple of hours to complete, and afterwards, we parked up and explored the zoo. It's only small, but they had a really interesting collection of animals to see that you don't see everywhere, so I really enjoyed myself. There were animals you'd expect to see like meerkats, tamarins, macaws, and porcupines, more unusual animals like the amazing binturong, aardvarks, and adorable little fennec foxes, and even some animals we'd never seen before like koalas, hairy-nosed wombats, giant river otters, and an adorable little rat-like marsupial called a brush-nosed bettong. 

It's not often I see an animal I've never seen before, so seeing several made my day. I was amazed by the size of the otters- they were almost as big as basset hounds, and so much cuter than they look in photos or on TV. 

The koalas were absolutely adorable, and I now understand Sheldon Cooper's koala-face- I was watching them exactly the same way. The wombat was sadly asleep in its den, so I didn't get a good look at it, but it was another little cutie I wanted to smuggle home.

Another highlight of the day was feeding nectar to the rainbow lorikeets in their walk-through aviary. Sadly, none of them landed on me, but I got to feed this sweet little guy. I could feel his little tongue lapping up the nectar through the pot, and that's something I never thought I'd say!

We then went and took a boat trip on the lake, which was included in the price of the ticket. It took about twenty minutes and took us along a half mile of lake which is home to a group of California sealions and their last surviving hippo, and there was also an island with colobus monkeys to spot, and a group of gorillas on one of the banks. Apparently, the lake it also home to wild beavers that established themselves there, but we sadly didn't manage to spot any. (I've always wanted to see one).

It was lovely to see the sealions living in such a big lake, instead of stuck in a small pool, trained to do tricks for people's amusement. I've never seen sealions kept in such a way before, and they looked so content swimming about or sunbathing on the docks with their pups. A few of them noisily chased the boat waiting for the fish people could buy to feed them, and we had sealions alongside us pretty much the entire way down. I didn't feed them as I was too sore to move by this point and was enjoying the rest, but it was fun to watch them jumping out of the water as people threw fish. I'd definitely recommend fitting the boat trip in to your day if you visit.

Somehow, we accidentally forgot to visit the monkey and farmyard sections, and we didn't explore the other attractions, either, but there is a lot more to do and see at Longleat, especially with kids. There was a maze, gardens, a steam train that goes around the zoo, and a variety of shops and restaurants including an orangery and an old-fashioned sweet shop. You can also pay extra to take a tour of Longleat House, their 16th century manor house, but after spending £39.95 each just to see the animals, we weren't so eager to look inside.

The only real negative I can really think about Longleat-besides the price- was accessibility. It is fully-accessible- they even allow mobility scooters on the boats- but the place to rent mobility scooters was a long walk away from the car park. A good five minute walk on steady legs. It's far from ideal for anyone who has difficulty walking distances. They also required you to leave something of value when you rented a scooter (costs £20, non refundable) to ensure you'd return it- like keys or a wallet. My sister wasn't comfortable with it but left her car keys, and when she returned, the lady had trouble finding them! It wasn't well-organised at all. There were also quite a lot of turns around the animal enclosures that made manoeuvring the scooter a little tricky, and a couple of the walk-through-enclosures had a lock mechanism that required the previous gate to lock before the next could open, without enough space for a scooter in between. On the plus side, the paths and aisles are wide and roomy, and it leaves you lots of room to move and breathe, and the scooters are plus-size friendly.

Minor grumbles aside, we had a brilliant day out at Longleat Safari Park, and really enjoyed our first time seeing animals on safari. There was a great variety of animals, the scenery was gorgeous, and it felt completely safe. I'd definitely go back again in the future, and I hope that one day I will.

Have you been to Longleat Safari Park? When was the last time you visited a zoo or safari park?

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Autumn Goals

Happy first day of autumn!

I can't believe it's already here.

I have no idea where the year has gone or how we're already in late September. I've left the house so few times this year because my health has been so bad, that I feel like I've lost and wasted the last nine months of my life. I've done lots of little things I've enjoyed from home like reading and painting, of course, but that doesn't really feel like living life to the full. But the good thing about autumn is that it feels like a brand new chapter in the year, and a second chance to get stuff done and squeeze in some new experiences before the year is through. So I'm ready and willing to play catch-up. 

I don't know why I always feel so inspired and motivated to get things done, do fun little things, and get out and about at this time of year, but there are so many things I'd love to do this autumn. I thought it would be fun to share my autumn goals with you today, so that's what I'm gonna do.

Here are my goals for autumn:

Make a Halloween embroidery

I really want to make a Halloween embroidery this year. Every year I plan to make one but never think about it early enough, so I never have. This year is going to be different. I just bought a couple of fun patterns from Beco Productions on Etsy- the Halloween Rainbow pattern and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Halloween pattern, and the supplies I need, and I can't wait to get started. I'm just waiting on some tracing paper so I can transfer the pattern on to the fabric, and then I'll be ready to go. 

Carve a pumpkin

I don't know why mutilating pumpkins is so fun, but I'm here for it.

Paint pumpkins

I've wanted to try pumpkin painting for a while now. Maybe this year I'll actually make the effort to get some cheap paints from Hobbycraft, and give it a go.

Take an autumn walk

I'd love to go on an autumn walk when the leaves are falling, mostly just so I can crunch through heaps of fallen leaves. I love being out in the fresh air, but there's something about going for a walk when the trees are colourful and there's a crisp chill biting at your cheeks that you just can't beat.

Take an autumn drive through The Cotswolds

It's not lost on me that I live in one of the prettiest parts of England, and while it's gorgeous all year round, you have to see it in autumn when the leaves change. I really want to go for a drive through the countryside when they do, just to take it all in, do some exploring, and maybe find somewhere new to stop and buy some treats.

Decorate for autumn

I need to make time to start digging out my pumpkin decorations to make the house feel more autumnal. And maybe buy a few munchkin pumpkins to add in, too.

Visit a pumpkin patch

I'd love to visit a pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin or two. I've still never been to one.

Try something pumpkin spiced

Everyone seems obsessed with pumpkin-spice-flavoured food and drink at this time of year, but I've never tried it, so I want to see what all the fuss is about this autumn. Any recommendations?

Go autumn book shopping

I never need an excuse to go book shopping and I definitely don't need any new books, but I'd still love to do a little book shopping to find some new reads for cosying up with as the nights draw in.

Watch lots of cosy autumn movies

I can't wait to curl up with some seasonal, cosy, and creepy movies on chilly autumn nights and afternoons. It's definitely my favourite time of year for movie-watching.

Fix my Halloween brooch so I can wear it again.

The brooch backs on a couple of my autumn / Halloween Erstwilder brooches broke from falls to the floor a couple of years ago, and I still haven't repaired them. I've put it off long enough, so I'm determined to repair them ASAP. I just need to buy the right brooch backs so I can get started.

Watch some fireworks

I'd love to go watch some fireworks on Bonfire Night. I used to go to a fireworks display every year, but it's been a long time since I last made it to one.

Visit The Cotswold Wildlife Park

I haven't been to my local zoo in almost two years, so I'm hoping to fit in a visit this autumn. It's so pretty there when the leaves change, and they've just had two rhino calves born that I'd love to go see.

Bake something delicious

I used to love baking, but can't remember the last time I made anything. Chronic back pain makes standing and sitting up long enough to cook pretty unbearable, but I want to try and power through and make something delicious this fall. And I'd also like to try making French onion soup again, especially as my sister keeps requesting it.

Buy a cosy new blanket / bedding

I've been making do with a Christmas blanket for a while, so I really need to get a new blanket to curl up with when it's cold. And I'd really love a cosy new bedding set, too. 

Get a hair cut

I must get myself down to the hairdresser's for a hair cut ASAP. It's been over two years since my last hair cut, and my hair is so long and shapeless, I feel like an old hippy. I can't wait to get it chopped off and styled again.

Buy new ankle boots

I've been on the lookout for a new pair of black ankle boots for ages, but still haven't found a pair I like. It's about time I stopped being so fussy and settled on a pair to get me through a/w.

Have a good clear out

I want to continue decluttering my bedroom, and hope to get started on my wardrobe, dressing table, and craft drawers before Christmas. I have too much stuff that doesn't fit me or I don't use anymore, so it's time to let it go.

See Fall Out Boy in November

Fall Out Boy are touring in the UK in November and I'm dying to go see them. I hope I can; they're always amazing live. Here's hoping I can get some last minute tickets for London or Cardiff.

Read Iron Flame and A Curse For True Love

Anyone else looking forward to the release of A Curse for True Love in October, and Iron Flame in November? I can't wait to read them! I'll be clearing my day to read them on their release days.

Make my Animal Crossing island all autumnal

I'm still addicted to Animal Crossing New Horizons (shocker!), and I'm looking forward to making my island look like autumn and Halloween threw up on it. The seasonal aspect to the game is such a fun way to enjoy the seasons.

And those are some of my goals for the next few months. I doubt I'll be able to achieve them all, but I'm looking forward to giving it my best shot.

What's on your to-do-list this autumn?

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Litjoy Crate Reading Journal Review

I've been looking for the perfect reading journal to help record my reading life for years, and I think I've finally come close to finding it.

What is this almost-perfect reading journal, I hear you ask? Let me introduce you to Litjoy Crate's reading journal, a gorgeous hardback journal with everything you need for organising and chronicling your literary adventures. I recently treated myself to it with my loyalty points, and I'm so impressed with it I just had to tell you about it.

I'll admit, the design of the cover is a little plainer than I'd usually go for, but it turned out to be so much prettier than I was expecting. Just look at it- it's stunning. It has a hardback cover which features tasteful gold-stamped detailing, with The Reading Journal lettered simply on the front in a modern font, and open books fluttering like butterflies alongside the quote 'we lose ourselves in books, and we find ourselves there, too' on the back. While I'd have preferred something patterned and fun, there's something beautiful about its simplicity and the high quality feel of the book, and the most important thing is it has all you could ever need for recording your reading life inside. 

There are 288 pages of to-be-read lists, book reviews, favourite book quotes, books read, and so much more, and the great thing is, it's been perfectly bound to lie flat when you write, so it's a dream to write in, too. I honestly think it's one of the best reading journals I've ever seen.

Shall we have a look at what the reading journal has to offer?

First, you'll find that the journal has lovely illustrated end papers, with a design by the artist Abigail Crandall, showcasing a diverse range of people who are all enjoying a good book.

It features two pages for you to record your reader profile, where you can list your favourite authors, characters, books, genres, and quotes.

There is room to review 100 books, giving you a double page spread for each one read, with space to record what the book taught you, a mini review, and your favourite quotes, as well as how the book made you feel, and the little details about the book like genre and format. I love the choice of prompts for these reviews, and think 100 reviews is a decent amount for one journal. It should set me up for a couple of years.

Between the book review pages, you'll also find famous quotes, dotted pages, and places where you can record your thoughts and feelings, which helps to break up the monotony. 

There's a double page spread for creating reading goals.

It has three lined pages for listing the books you want to read. Personally, I think this should've been given more space- I could fill this up in minutes.

There are three pages of popular book recommendations in a variety of genres for you to check off as you read them.

It even has ten pages of illustrated bookshelves with blank book-spines you can colour and fill in with the books you read. It's such a fun way to keep track of what you read, and definitely one of my favourite features of the journal. 

Towards the back, you'll find pages of literary locations around the world, and a page and a half where you can jot down others you'd love to visit one day.

You'll find two pages each for your favourite audiobooks, and book club picks.

There's two pages for recording books left unfinished. It only gives you room to list fifteen, which is fine for me (I usually persevere even if it kills me), but doesn't seem like enough for some readers.

It has six pages for noting your favourite book-to-movie adaptations with cute little ticket stubs for you to fill in.

There are four lined pages for your favourite book quotes- although, I personally don't think that's anywhere near enough space. I love a good bookish quote, and I won't be able to list all of my favourites. Why this was given less space than movie adaptations is beyond me.

There are even pages for recording your favourite books by season, with a page dedicated to each time of the year, and illustrations you could colour in. This will be fun to think about, as I love reading books that immerse me in the season. Especially in autumn and winter.

At the back, there are three lined pages for thoughts and feelings, a page of reading resources, and four dotted pages for you to use as you like, such as for creating your own reading trackers.

The reading journal also features a ribbon bookmark for marking your place, which is a pale gold organza. I don't know if the ribbon colour differs between the different coloured books.

And it even comes in a matching hardback gift box, making it a gorgeous keep sake, and a lovely gift for any reader.

The reading journal comes in four classic colours, so the only hard part is choosing which to go for. I chose the sea blue (but only as the pink was out of stock), and it's a beautiful teal-green, which I absolutely love. The colour is so much prettier than I was expecting- probably because it's not the petrol blue it appeared in the stock photos. If teal isn't your thing, it also comes in forest green and there's an onyx version on a separate listing, too. (Which has different end papers, and is currently on sale)! 

The other three colours currently retail for $24.99, which is just under £20. Shipping to the UK was around $10- under £8, which I think was reasonable for international shipping. I didn't get any customs charges, either, which was definitely a bonus.

Overall, I'm extremely impressed with Litjoy Crate's reading journal, and I'm so glad I found it. It has almost everything I could wish for in a reading journal, and while I wish some topics had more room, I can't think of anything that it's missing. It's going to be perfect for keeping track of things like my TBR list and what I read, and it's brilliant to finally have a place to jot all the important stuff down offline.

I couldn't recommend it to you more.

You can find the Litjoy Crate reading journals here.

Do you keep a reading journal? How to you keep track of the books you read?

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Erstwilder My Little Pony Brooches

It's been over seven months since I last reviewed some Erstwilder brooches on the blog, and boy, have I got the best collection to come back with.

The My Little Pony collection!

Or at least, the three brooches I bought from it.

A couple of months ago, Erstwilder released the most amazing fully-licenced My Little Pony collection made up of brooches, necklaces, earrings, enamel pins, and key rings inspired by ten of the original My Little Ponys of the 1980s.

I loved My Little Ponys growing up and played with them often- I clearly remember having a yellow one with a bright blue mane called Tootsie- so I was so excited when Erstwilder first revealed this collection, especially knowing how fantastic their Care Bears collections had been. The only problem was, I could only afford one for myself at first, and since Tootsie wasn't in the collection and I can't remember which others I owned, deciding was a task and a half. It took me hours to narrow down my favourites! Sometimes I wish Erstwilder would make some ugly designs to make choosing easier.

In the end, my first choice from the collection was Minty- a mint green pony with three-leafed-clovers on her hip, a teal-green eye, and a glittery off-white mane and tail accessorised with a spearmint-blue ribbon. I'm a sucker for anything mint-green, so I just couldn't resist her- and who could blame me? She's so pretty! Just look at her! Plus she goes with my My Little Pony smock dress from Truffle Shuffle, so I can enjoy some matchy-matchiness. The first time I wore Minty out of the house, I even got complimented on her by two women while book shopping in Waterstones, so I think that proves she's a winner. Minty appears to be sold out everywhere now, but there is a matching enamel pin still available.

Starshine is a recent addition to my brooch collection, and the first piece I've ever bought directly from Erstwilder in Australia. It sold out from all the UK stockists before I could treat myself and when I was shopping for Care Bears for my sister's birthday, I couldn't resist adding it to my basket. (Apparently, I have no self-control). My order arrived within two weeks, and surprisingly, I didn't get any customs charges! (My sister's friend has in the past, though, so I'm not saying you won't, but on an order of three brooches to England, I didn't. I'm assuming she placed a larger order to have been hit with charges, but I don't know what the actual criteria is for charges on shipping jewellery from Australia to the UK). Whatever the reason, Starshine is such a fun, colourful piece, and with all those colours, it definitely makes my inner-child happy. She's a glossy, off-white pegasus pony, with a teal eye, and best of all, her mane and tail are a bold rainbow of glittery candyfloss pink, sunshine yellow, spring green, and turquoise blue, with a matching turquoise bow knotted in the flowing strands. The colours are so fun and cheerful, and it's impossible not to be happy while wearing it. If brooches aren't your thing or you just like to go with 'more is more', there's also a matching Starshine necklace, and earrings to choose from.

And last but not least we have Applejack- although, I didn't buy this one for myself, but as a birthday present for my older sister. It's a little too orange for my taste, but she's always loved crazy, bold colours, and it was her favourite My Little Pony growing up. Applejack is a glossy, deep-orange-coloured pony with red apples on her flank, and has a glittery daffodil-yellow mane and tail tied with a baby blue bow. As usual, no small detail has been missed, so she also has a green eye, and little white freckles on her cheek. She has such a nostalgic look, and with those bright colours, she's the perfect brooch for anyone who likes their jewellery to make a statement.

Each piece comes presented in a rainbow-striped My Little Pony gift box, which has to be one of their best gift box designs to date. They make the brooches lovely gifts for My Little Pony fans- especially for yourself!

Much of the collection sold out on release day, but there are still several pieces available directly from Erstwilder, and a few knocking about from their UK stockists. Snap them up while you still can!

Were you a My Little Pony fan growing up? Have you bought anything from the Erstwilder MLP collection?

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