my young cousins from sydney came over today: they are benjamin (12), his twin kimberly, and their sister emily (10). my mother wants me to take them to the zoo, and although i am quite convinced ours is an excellent zoo, it is really not the way i would like to spend my precious vacation... (they want to go to the bird park. bird park, what with bird flu going around, alamak) but by evening the girls came down with fever and had to be taken to the neighbourhood clinic, and my aunt insisted on coming to take them home despite their dismayed protests. so, somewhat relieved: no zoos or night safaris or birdparks for me, thank you very much, and a day to myself to go to the library and do some post-cny shopping. diana wynne jones is very entertaining.