further adventures with fauna: Whipsnade Keeper for a Day

A month or several ago, while we were wandering around talking about something or other, A somewhat sheepishly said that he thought Animal Experiences were a Really Good Present Idea but he was concerned it was Cheating in some fashion to get me animal experiences for my birthdays because I'd Thought Of It First.

While I am absolutely a fan of saying "look at this ridiculous(ly expensive) fountain pen! wanna buy it for me?" and indeed "hey, want to buy us afternoon tea at Ruby Violet?" I am also very much on board with Surprise Animals, and that is why this time last week we were settling down to sleep in a tiny two-person cabin overlooking the Chilterns having thoroughly worn ourselves out with Keeper for a Day at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

[ID: one wall of a light-coloured wooden cabin, with a print on canvas of a photograph of two lions. to the lower left, pillows in white pillowcases are visible. to the right is a chest of drawers, on top of which there are a cube-shaped box of tissues and a clear glass vase containing red and yellow roses, and purple and red-and-yellow tulips.]

This had entailed getting up early enough to Be At Whipsnade for 08³⁰, which was made all the more painful by making a surprise late-night wheelchair delivery the previous evening, but nevertheless we had an excellent time of it.

( Keeper for a Day, in detail )

... and then it was time to fetch the car from the main car park and head up to the lodges for the Zoo Sleepover.

( Lookout Lodge, in bullet points, to be expanded upon at a time that is not bedtime. )