The school holidays are finally here and that means: quality time to spend with your kids. Relaxing time hopefully, at the beach or in the park.

How about camping where the evergreens reach for the skies, and where occasionally you can see a wild deer nibbling away on the sparse grass that grows in the few places where the sun touches the ground.

Listen to squirrels darting along branches they use for roads, as they clamber over the trees collecting their pine nuts and acorns. See the birds darting between the leaves, picking up insects as they go.

Watch dead leaves drift lazily downwards, in the soft breeze that somehow managers to filter through the seemingly impressive wall of huge brown tree trunks that surround your little tent and campfire.

At night, sit around the camp fire with the smell of roasted marshmallows drifting on the breeze to mingle with the freshest of fresh air.

Sleep in the darkness with little chirping sounds and wild rustling sounds all around you. Wondering what they are or more likely where they are as you curl up tightly in your sleeping bag.

What about something more exciting like clinging onto a yellow inflatable raft as you are tossed and drenched while the wild foaming river speeds you uncontrollable down the canyon.

In an instant you are under water surrounded by dancing bubbles and churning water. What happened screams through your mind as you look up into the sunlight through streams of water cascading over your face and see the raft right beside you. A big hand in front of a laughing face reaches out and grabs you.

You lie on your back in the bottom of the raft, breathing heavily, with water swirling all around you thanking your life jacket for saving your life.

The guide’s voice thunders over the deafening boom bouncing between the canyon walls. “Hang on we’re going in." You sit up and hold tight to a safety rope as the raft swirls over a waterfall and half disappears into the foaming river. You brace yourself as the water rushes around your waist, and then the raft pops up again and races on its way.

What about something more relaxing like, your fishing rod jerks you awake as something enormous races away with the bait.

You grab the reel trying to stop it but it just whacks your fingers away. You slowly apply the brake as the boat rocks gently in the never-ending ocean.

The choppy waves slapping lazily against the hull as your line whips and dances through the peaceful sea.

You knuckles turn white as you grip the fishing rod handle. It buckles and twists and turns while the monster tries to escape.

Your rod nearly forms a perfect ‘n’ as you pull your rod up to draw the beast in, then as fast as a seabird diving into a school of fish, you drop the rod and wind up the slack, before the beast pulls away again. Now you have got him under control, he is yours. These are just a few of the many things to try while you are young enough to enjoy time with your kids.

Before long they will have grown up and run off to university or some other place. Until then, all the best and keep on playing and having fun.

copyright © Peter Legrove 2006, at www.animalsdinosaursandbugs.com  

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