Followed up a recommendation from some friends today and visited Staunton County Park over at Havant. Usual fare:- ornamental farm, kids paddock (goats, rabbits, chickens etc) rare breeds, play area, maze, restauarant, woodland walks, walled garden, glasshouses, lake etc.
But all rather better presented than many similar places and one of the best of its kind we have ever been to.
Almost (but not quite) considered a season ticket until we found out they cost £19 EACH for a year. And the family ticket today for all of us was only £19.50?
I can't work out the economics of that at all. That would require at least FIVE visits in a year to be worthwhile, which just isn't going to happen.

Many, many people. All sorts. Fascinating time watching the comings and goings while we had luncha and the children played in the paddock and the playground.
A couple of Random Fashion Observations:-
Women wear flip-flops, men don't.
Women have to have as much underwear on show as possible. There was an absurd number of pants being flashed around this afternoon, and backless sundresses with bras? A kind of 'look how many straps I can get on each shoulder' competition??

We sat at a picnic table next to a young woman with a new-born baby. Lots of these too - must have seen at least five in their first couple of weeks of life?
She was wearing only a very thin, very short and very 'holey' white dress with bright pink underwear. Tx pointed her out to me as she sat down, and we had a smirk.
WHY WHY WHY wear something that means you have to pull the skirt down every five seconds, and hold the neckline in place to prevent 'gaping'?
She did this ALL the time. Whenever she stood up, took more than five steps, and whenever she sat down. Constantly trying to cover herself up.
One - if it bothers you that much, wear something else.
Two - if it doesn't bother you, stop fiddling with it and let the clothing reveal everything you are obviously quite keen for us all to look at.

This is why I don't do or understand fashion.
Do people really stress so much over their appearance?
And if they do, how can they get it so wrong?

Rant over. I didn't come here for that.

Actually, I did.

Biscuit has been offered her accommodation place at Uni, and it couldn't be more wrong! On the Open Day, we were assured that 98% of all applications received on time get their first choice of halls.
She hasn't even got her THIRD choice.
She has specifically asked for SELF-CATERING and been offered FULLY CATERED. She's a strict vegetarian, so that will never work. It also costs £800 a year more.
She has asked for a STANDARD room and been offered a BASIC room.
She has asked for rooms at the two halls CLOSEST to her campus and been offered one FURTHEST AWAY

I'm a bit confused and frustrated that there has to be so much choice.
If all the rooms were the same (the same size, self-catering, one bathroom and one kitchen between maybe 12 students) then so much fuss and complicated paperwork could be avoided.
And why CATERED? What on earth is that all about? Surely the whole point of getting a room in halls at Uni is to learn how to look out for yourself and meet other sin the same situation.
During the first year, it is now possible to establish the following:-

EN-SUITE ROOM with its own toilet, shower and sink MICROWAVe and FRIDGE.
FULLY-CATERED MEALS with ROOM SERVICE if requested.
TELEPHONE service with free internal calls

So you never actually need to go out of the door...
Missing a large chunk of the point, I think.