quote:

Originally posted by alkady:
We travelled down to Dorset ( 6 hours in the car ) and got to the B&B mooched round for the night then got up next morning Bright and early we were so lucky as the B&B was like 3 mins by car from MW we arrived around 9.10 am and already quite a few were arriving. WE made our way to the front gates and they let us in around 9.45 so we splashed some change into one of the very many Yellow Jim Cronin Memorial buckets and walked straight over to the nursery oh this is such a beautiful place you have Sally ( one of my faves ) who is matriarch to the babies who for whatever reason are there we imediately saw Brian who is such a wee cutie his story is sad but long ( it will be on the next series airing soon!) then we saw Ash and Rodders who have grown so much since we saw them in Oct still ever ever so cute then we saw Sally she is so beautiful i love her so much anyway the weather sadly was HORRENDOUS! it was raining so hard! we were soaked! but didnt care we were here and NOthing would Stop us! so then we went off around the park me taking my humongous amounts of pics and video as i always do ( will sort some to show later!) then we slowly made our way down to the specially erected Marquee where at around 1130 they were going to hold a little service for Jim, we got there and sat after we bought goodies and raffle tickets they played a lovely dvd ** which WILL be avialble soon** of Jim with words from a very clearly traumatised Allison and a very sad Jeremy and then it showed outtakes and i have to say theyre so funny Jim was soo naughty
the local vicar came and spoke about Jim they said some prayers etc and Jez Harmer ( if you watch the show he was the marine who was in Seirre Leone and rescued baby chimp Harry!)) AS he now is a senior staff member at MW, he spoke then Allison Bravely came up and spoke thanked us for comimg and then after chatted with people incl ourselves she was amazed and ithink happy we had made the very long trip to come help remember and support. then we left the marquee and walked around all day we spoke to Jez and he was very nice and charming and we chatted a long while telling us stuff around the park Jim, allinson etc, then we let him go off on his very busy duties the only down side was CHARLIES pavillion was closed as they were re doing it we were very sad as CHarlie is a FAVE of us all we adore him anyway i had a brainwave so we bumped into Jez again and i cheekily asked him if there was anyway of seeing C he said no so i said ok is there a chance someone could take a pic for me?? so later on he arranged it so a lovely Keeper called Leanne? took my camera and took 2 gorgeous photos of Charlie for me so it was the next best thing and I so appreciate that!
then we just wandered round totally soaked because it just Never ever stopped raining and some of it was really heavy horrible rain!
anyway we went off to the addoption centre and used the money that would have spent on the enterence fee on adopting CHARLIE AND SALLY then we went to the gift shop and spent sheds of money which i dont mind and it is so reasonble priced anyway!
We went off had a small snack then made our way slowly back to the marquee as at around 4pm they were going to draw the raffle and there was some BIG prizes which kind people had donated, just another measure to show us how well liked/love Jim was. Allison came in to draw the raffle ( we didnt win ) but didnt mind as lots of money was raised which was the reason why we were all there .
then after we spoke to Allison again she looks like she has lost weight and you can see the sadness in her eyes we took a photo with my daughters and then left her be.
we wandered around just enjoying the day.Then towards 5 we walked back up to the Nursery then spent til 6 nearly watching Sally and all the babies , then alas we tore ourselves away so they could close .
It was a beautiful day which even the horrendous rain didnt damper and it was wonderful to see how many people Loved Jim. a true testement to remarklble man indeed.
the Next day we decided to spend a few more hours there so we went back which we are sooooooooooooooooo Pleased we did we got better photos as the weather was really rather nice, got to meet JEREMY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO which was cool we LOVE Jeremy bless him, got the kids pics took and chatted a while he is just the same with his sarky comments ( which is part of his charm) and then we let him go off on his way. then we got some beautiful pictures of Hsiao-Quai and kai so sweeeeeeeeeeeet .
and lots of A-mei and the nursery babies incl baby DINDA how is very adorable and a very naughty but very cute Hsiao-ning who loves the limelight then we left went back towards the nursery said our woeful goodbyes to Sally then went back to the Shop spent even More money then left.
It was a wonderful weekend and we are so pleaased that we could be a small part of.

quote:

Originally posted by crust2007:
i was there that day aswell
good day apart from the rain
very sad
poor alison-