Unlike Duty Managers I have the small luxury of starting work at 9am but today is more unusual than most as I have been invited to Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts to take a look around the local attractions!

I take a leisurely stroll from my house to meet our Reservations Supervisor – Jaz, at the main entrance. We are directed through to the meeting room where the plan for the day is explained. At this point the heavens open, rain pours and we are off to see the monkeys and ‘Croc swamp’ that is under construction. We wander around to see the camels, giraffes and elephants – at this point I am boring poor Jaz to death with the tales of my African adventures!

Heading back to the main entrance we are met with a waiting open top tour bus and encouraged to sit on the top deck … so with a chill in the air and rain easing off we took on the challenge! Passing the Grand Hotel we could see the workmen hard at work ‘drinking tea’ on the roof! At this point that we decided that red noses were not attractive so we abandoned the top deck and ran to sit downstairs!
Arriving at Living Coasts we had a lovely lunch provided before the guided tour. We walked amongst the Penguins and Puffins, watching them eat and perform their mating rituals. Of course when you keep flying birds under a large net inevitably there are going to be some ‘embarrassing moments’, (for some strange reason people seem to think it is lucky to be *@#”*” on by a bird from a great height) but thankfully we came out unscathed!

Then we were back on the bus (downstairs this time) to head home. See most people think that this job might be all about figures, but I think on days like today it goes to show it can be fun. Honest!