Only Good News

Sunflower how lovely for you to see your son looking and sounding so well

Well done Soop's grandson, smart lad!

Greatnan your son in law must be delighted, well done you.

sunflower that is great news, I'm so happy for you

sunflower That is good news. I remember your previous worries.

It's so lovely to hear all the good news.

My good news today is actually my youngest DDs. She ran her personal best in a half marathon today. Ihr. 43 mins. Very proud of her determination.

Mine is minor compared with some of these - at last I have finished my "homework" for the zoo class I go to, the deadline is tomorrow. We'd to pick an enclosure we thought need upgrading and redesign it. We could work in groups, so a friend and I joined forces.

It involved research into the needs of the animals, the keepers, and the visitors, and a look at what other places were doing. Then it took a bit of artistic effort to alter photos of "as is" to "as it could be" which meant I'd to learn how to use photoshop. Steep learning curve. Eyes bleary from excess computeritis.

If anyone has missed my pearls of wisdom the last couple of weeks, that is where I have been. Now I just hope the presentation goes OK.

I missed you Eleg Well done, which enclosure is it?

The tapirs, who are lovely animals (though apparently they have a nasty bite if they are annoyed). If Miranda Hart were an animal she would be a tapir. These ones are Malaysian ones, black with a wide white belt like belted Galloway cattle.

Elegran, that sounds both challenging and interesting. You must have learnt a lot as well as how to photoshop.

Anyone know whether you can show an Open Office presentation using Power Point? That is what the education department laptop has, but I went the cheap route and downloaded Open Office ( it is free )

Wondered where you were, Elegran!

Bitterly cold here, but such a bright, clear morning that it cheers me up. My two little GDs were here for the weekend, so I am now about to Hoover up all the glitter and stuff - they like "making" and have a permanent "making" box here. By the look of the sitting room, there's more on the floor than in the box!

Yes, Anno I am probably now the GN expert on Malaysian tapirs, and also I can use not only Photoshop but also Open Office slide show. Well, more or less use them.

I shall try to upload a photo of a tapir.

sunflower - I'm so pleased for you (and your son). All's right with the world now - nothing else matters. xx

Elegran - that sounds so interesting. Looking forward to seeing the tapir's photo! Like the comparison to Miranda Hart re attitude !

Have posted pic of tapir in the pictures/animals thread.

(ps - this one copied from the net so I may be sued. Please be ready to testify to my good reputation)

Are tapirs the ones that are related to something quite obscure [such as a giraffe?] although my sensible head tells me it must be an elephant .

In fact, your project has reminded me of my childhood trips to Dudley Zoo [I MUST go back there one day] and seeing the poor polar bear pacing backwards and forwards in it's concrete prison. Thank goodness our awareness of the needs of these animals has changed.

sunflower what a relief! I am so happy for you. Onwards and upwards now. [flower]

Well done elegran sounds like a very satisfying project. Sorry no idea about the software.

I have a small but meaningful good thing to report. My youngest DS was outside the coutry yesterday but skyped me and then in the evening I got a lovely Happy Mothering Sunday text from his fiancee. It was so completely unecessary as they had taken us out on Monday already and it is not even MD where she comes from. Such a sweet and thoughtful girl.

Tegan I think they are related to the horse. Not exactly Arab stallion racehorse proportions, though. They are more aqua-dynamic, they like a good swim.

Renaming zoos to "Wildlife Parks" might be a good bit of PR. Too many people still believe that all zoos keep animals in tiny barred cages. Admittedly there are some in less up-to-date countries which have not yet caught up, but there are endless associations and regulations in Britain, Europe, and worldwide to improve living conditions and welfare. BIAZA EAZA WAZA IZE and so on.

Their distribution is fascinating. Your picture is a Malayan one but there are several species of tapir in South America which is a long way from Malaya.

It confirms that the continents were all joined together at one time, then the inhabitants went their different ways.

Another interesting thing is that the tapirs in forests in the area from Myanmar to the Malay peninsula are black and white, as are the pandas in China (not that far away - the Panda Centre at Chengdu is in the southern part of China). Adaptations for breaking up their outline among the trees to hide from the tigers?

I am so happy I had an eye test this morning and my sight is normal and best of all there is no pressure building up inside my eye.

Back in January I was diagnosed with a condition known as Narrow Angle Lens which is a form of Glaucoma. Within a fortnight of diagnosis both eyes were treated by laser, this involved making a microscopic hole in the top of each iris to allow excess fluid to drain away. Untreated the condition would have eventually resulted in me losing my sight. I have a follow up appointment at the local Eye Clinic later this month. I could have danced a jig at the good news

That's wonderful, Sook.

Thanks anno

That's lovely happy news sook

sook Go ahead and dance a jig - good news indeed.