This week was another of those ones with a hard date in it. Claytie should have turned 50. So not only a birthday, but a big milestone birthday at that. Everyday without him here hurts, but some days sting just a bit harder.

I spent most of his birthday at home by myself, wallowing really. The occasional teary moment thinking of how unfair it is that he isn’t here, and then pulling myself back together because that is who he was and what he would want. My job is to live my best life for both of us, so that is what I am trying to do.

I had a couple of lovely breakfasts out with fabulous people this week, and a drink and dinner sitting around a fire at a friends place on his birthday; but the very best thing I did was have an animal adventure with a friend. It has been on my list for a little while, and I figured this week would be the time to do it. A Sunday drive through some stunning scenery to the Darling Downs Zoo for the day.

I had seen signs for the zoo for a number of years doing the drive to Toowoomba to visit my sister, but had never really paid a whole lot of attention to it… until now. I asked a friend to come with me, and it was the easiest convincing that has ever happened, because as soon as I mentioned Meerkats she was in!

The drive in was a little bit longer and windier that either of us had expected – turn left at Gatton and drive for about another hour into the middle of nowhere. We thought perhaps I had the directions wrong, the signage was limited and did I mention the windy road… but eventually there it was – old school and charming!

The Zoo actually had a whole lot more animals that I had thought it would… lions, tigers, cheetahs and all kinds of monkeys, Marmosets, Capibarras and birds, even a pigmy hippo… and of course Meerkats! It has been there since 1985 and is a work in progress, with new enclosures being added or renovated. Almost all of the enclosures had some kind of ‘show’ on during the day – feeding the animals and education about them. It was lovely!

My friend and I had paid extra to have a Meerkat encounter, and honestly it was fabulous! There was only one other person in our group – an elderly lady who had received the encounter as a gift from her family. So at 12.30 the three of us met the keeper and were shuffled through two seperate sections into the enclosure.

We each perched on a log and were handed a cup of food (meal worms, melon and corn). The Meerkats absolutely knew what was happening and launched themselves right in! They were greedy and not at all shy! It was fabulous being able to pet them and ask their keeper a million questions. Our encounter was only for 15 minutes, but worth every penny spent! The Meerkats were fabulous and I did think long and hard about bringing a couple of them home with me, but figured my dogs probably wouldn’t forgive such a thing.

I’m so glad that I decided to take myself on an adventure for Clayties birthday, and I am even happier that my friend came with me! This is not necessarily something Claytie would have done, but he would absolutely have indulged me with it. Happy 50th birthday Bubby, from me and the Meerkats xx