Splash landings

Despite the fact that I am not at all ready for beach 2011 we decided to put our swimming costumes on and go to cariba creek, a fairly big waterpark nearby. It is themed around a fictious Carribbean village and offers quite a variety of things to do. There are different slides, a lazy river, bubble pool, a nice childrens area and a big tower that is stuffed with different water guns, buckets and other tools that allow unlimited splashing.

What I love most about the place is its price because you pay merely a 5 pounds entrance fee during the toddler and parent sessions (btw. 11 am and 4 pm) on weekdays. The offer excludes usage of some of the attractions but if you are with your toddler you wouldn´t be able to use things like the big slides anyway.

We had been in the kids pool for about an hour or so when grandpa aka "mormor" decided he had enough splashing and that it was time to test the slides. Of course, S., nowadays his little shadow, wanted to come along. I was a bit worried that it would be to scary for her but that proofed to be totally unsubstantiated. She just couldn´t get enough. I got to do two rides with her as well and it really was fun. A bit like bob sledging (you get to sit in an inflatable ring that takes you through a very curvy tunnel) but warmer.

After about 2.5 hours we decided to grab a bite. That was when grandpa realized that he had lost his wristband for the locker. Bugger. We went to the reception and they called a guy that helped us to open it so that we could move all his belongings to a new one. Once that problem was solved we went off to the little "beach bar". S. was so excited that she started running to the place. BIIIG MISTAKE. She slipped right before the entrance and started crying like crazy. I tried to calm her down, telling her that she was ok but when I looked down her leg it was all bloody and looked like someone had worked it with sand paper.
We went to one of the life guards and asked for plasters but she sent us to the emergency room and said that one of her collegues would help us. It was a bit embarrassing when I realized it was the same guy that had already helped us open the locker... ;)

S. got 5 plasters of various sizes that she is now carrying like a trophy.
Once they were in place we started a second (this time successful) attempt to go to the bar to buy some food. We sat down under a big parasol and it almost felt a bit like being at a real beach. S. ate a big hot dog and everything was fine again.

I had ordered a cheese sandwich and started laughing when it arrived. It was one of those plain white breads cut into triangles but had, tatarrraattaaaa, GRATED cheese on it. Wow! Wasn´t that special?! Someone must have been really creative. Let´s see how we can make those boring, boring, boring cheese sandwiches more exciting. Mhhh, put a cucumber on it? Mhh, no, think harder... Mhhh, put some chutney on it? No, doesn´t feel right either. Mint sauce??? Maybe; but nope. Ohhh, yeah, now I got it. We grate the cheese instead of using slices. That is innovative AND the sandwich will look very pretty in its plastic cover.

Nice idea but I recommend: don´t try it at home! Even though it may in fact look a bit fancier than sliced cheese, it is not very "user friendly". At least I was not capable of eating it in a civilized manner but rather spread the pieces all over the place. One piece for me, one on the floor, one on my leg, one piece for me, one on my foot... - oh well you get it. My place looked like I was the baby in our midst and I was still hungry once it was gone.

The funny thing is that this was not the first time I stumbled upon the desire in this country, to make traditional food posher by making it smaller. The other time was in York and we had found a dish on the breakfast menu which we didn´t recognize. I think it was something with "knights". We asked what it was and the lady told us that it was toast that was prepared in "a special way". We got curious and ordered it. When the plate arrived M. and I couldn´t stop laughing. It was a slice of plain toast cut in four rectangles. No more no less. Seems like there is a trend to minimalism in the English kitchen. ;)

All right, that is it from me for today as I need to continue reading my book. I am finally catching up with the rest of the world reading Eat, pray, love. Thus far, I am not sure what everybody is going on about but maybe I need to read a bit more to understand the hysteria.