Avon Valley Country Park

Photos Copyright: Maggie May

While my daughter, Deb, was here with our grandsons, from the East coast, we had several action packed days.

We were fairly lucky with the weather and managed to all go off together with Sam and the girls, as all the cousins get on so well and love outings together.

One particularly successful day was when we went to Avon Valley Country Park. This is a farm with rides and walks as well as animals. Something for all age groups.

This beast is one of the residents there.

The farm is in a lovely setting near the River Avon and we walked all along the edge of the fields where lots of different animals were grazing...... from sheep to llamas.

One of the things that happened to me was that I fell in love there..............

I made the mistake of going round Animal Corner, where there were rabbits and guinea pigs in need of urgent homes, as the farm take in rescue pets for resale.

Well a rabbit is a rabbit, isn't it? Nothing extraordinary about them.

Well then, why did a certain little rabbit tug at my heartstrings? This little rabbit was white with brown ears and rings around its eyes. It was tiny and had small ears. I had never seen such a beautiful rabbit before. It was different from all the others.

I went back and asked about it. It turned out to be a Dwarf Netherland. I was told quite firmly by Harry that I couldn't have it. The children wanted me to have it and I kept going back to look at it. My heart told me that I wanted and needed this rabbit, although I had been perfectly happy when I got up that morning to live in a rabbit free zone.

My head told me not to get the rabbit as I hadn't got a hutch or any equipment to put it in. In my mind I had named the rabbit Miffy and I thought about it constantly.

Eventually we all went home and Harry was hoping that I would forget about it.

I couldn't. I decided that I would have to get a Netherland Dwarf.

Two days went by and I had researched on the net just how to look after such a rabbit.

I rang up the farm again and told the person in pets corner about Miffy and asked if she was still there. She was......... but.......... when I told them about my plans to have an indoor rabbit because of my mangy fox and the fact that we wanted it in the house for company, they told me that I would have to get a baby rabbit because Miffy (who was a boy anyway) was 18months old and was an outside rabbit who would not adjust to life indoors.

I thought that would be that. It was Miffy I loved.

Deb, decided to take me to a rabbit breeder in the county, just to look at different types of rabbit. Not to buy, of course.

I thought I probably wouldn't be interested in any other rabbit but it would be an interesting afternoon out.

When I got there, I was looking for a Miffy replica. Well there wasn't one.

Inside the shed, was a little run with baby rabbits not quite old enough to leave the breeder all sitting together. They were minute and some had been reserved for £5. I was told I could do the same if I wanted.

There were none like Miffy but I was allowed to pick up several little ones that were still available. Three little ones, a smokey grey with curly hair (lion head) and a sort of patchwork one the same didn't really do anything for me. The breeder showed me a white one with red eyes that I really didn't like. Then I spotted a pure black smooth one who was really beautiful. It was a boy and I was told that it must live alone but would make an excellent house rabbit. I picked him up and cuddled him. He was a Netherland Dwarf crossed with a Lionhead but he was smooth furred with bright brown eyes. I paid my £5 deposit and thought that would give me time to get the cage and accessories and I would have to ask Sam to come back and collect it in a few days.

The breeder was taking my details and she then told me that it was due to be released in two days time, so that I could take it that day if I wanted as two days wouldn't make any difference.

I told her my predicament about the lack of a cage.

No problem. She had one that I could buy.

This little bunny was no Miffy so we thought of a suitable name for it and came up with Ash!

Now how is it possible that I could go from a white Miffy to a black Ash? Well you must believe me, when a rabbit gets under your skin, you just sort of love it.

Harry has got used to the idea now, even though he thinks I am slightly mad since chemo, but at least I didn't get a yearning for the longhorn cow. That might have caused a problem.