In April 2013 we travelled to Coombe Mill via Longleat

We had our three children in the car

Two in their car seats

One in a paper bag inside a wooden boat

The holiday was for Matilda Mae’s first birthday

Booked on Christmas Day

She died just 5 weeks later

We took her ashes with us to Coombe Mill

Round Longleat Safari

On their way across the sea to the sky

Coombe Mill and Longleat will now always be what we do

For Baby Tilda’s birthday

And every year I will measure how much we have all changed

All grown

And every year I will be proud

Of how we as a family carry Baby Tilda with us everywhere

In our hearts

In 2013 our Longleat highlight was feeding the giraffes

In 2014 it was walking with penguins and Sting Ray Bay!

When we arrived at Longleat the rain was pouring

We ventured out of the car and even tried to see some animals

But they were all sheltering from the weather

It seemed we had left Spring behind in Kent

And arrived in Wiltshire in Winter

It was bleak

Soaking wet with sinking hearts

We returned to the car

Resigned to the fact that our day was going to be a wash out

But we were wrong!

Apart from the fact that no monkeys came out to play

It was the best drive through safari I have been on

David said the same

The Rhinos came far too close to the car for my liking

The deer poked their heads in our window

The tiger babies were playing in the wet grass

The older tigers were prowling

The lions were fiercely guarding their young

And what handsome cubs they were

The wolves were out and roaming round

We had a lovely drive through the park

And saw all that there was to see

A safari success

Inspite of the inclement weather

Once we had parked the car

The rain did not cease

We splashed through muddy puddles

Having a wonderful time

Esther and William actually enjoyed it more

For the puddles I think

It made walking much more fun!

We did try to keep under cover though

We had a ride through the rain on the train

And we went to the animal encounters area

To get up close to snakes and spiders

Esther and William were both very brave with the animals

We also went on the boat

And were lucky enough to see gorillas, hippos and pelicans

We also fed the sea lions as they swam alongside the boat

There were two new attractions this year

Penguin Island and Sting Ray Bay

Penguins and giraffes are my favourite animals

So the penguins were a natural highlight for me

And because of our new found obsession with Octonauts

Penguins and Rays are also popular with the twins

We spent a lot of time

Walking and talking with the penguins

And playing with the rays

Being able to get so close to the penguins was truly amazing

And quite emotional for me

And they seemed to like us

Were definitely curious

For me it was the highlight of the day

All this time

And it was still raining

So we decided to go and play in the mirror maze

A place that we had loved the year before

Esther and William loved it again

And it kept us all amused as well as warm and dry

As soon as we saw the sun peeking through the clouds

We got ourselves outside for a run around

Esther and William love the line maze just by the train

There are also some little hidey holes there

That they love to play inside

It was time for Daddy and I to have a rest

And to watch two of our children play

It is bittersweet to reflect

And what has changed in a year

How we have grown as a family

Esther and William are so very different now

Than when Baby Tilda was here

It makes me long to know

What Toddler Tilda would have been like

What would have been her Longleat highlight?

So many questions without answers

Tilda will never be able to celebrate her own birthday

But each year we will do it for her

By coming here to Longleat

On our way to Coombe Mill

By living our lives the best we can

To make our forever baby proud

Esther and William adore the tradition we have started

Getting up extra early

Travelling in their holiday pyjamas

Arriving early at Longleat

Driving through the safari park

Getting close to all the animals

Quality time with Mummy and Daddy

Riding on boats and trains

Exploring the village of Postman Pat

Playing in the wonderful play area

Each year we come back and find more to do

More to experience

More to see

We love Longleat in the clouds and the rain

Imagine what fun we will have when one year we come

And the sun is shining

The Penguin Island experience is wonderful

The Sting Ray Bay inspired

The train and the boat perfect for preschoolers

A wonderful way to learn and explore

But Longleat is about more than that

It is a place we feel at peace

It is a place to be brave!

This year we ventured in the bat cave

It was so dark and the bats were so active

Swooping so close you could feel them against your skin

An experience never to be forgotten

There is so much to do and see at Longleat

We have not been into the house at all yet

We have not tried the many food outlets

We are already looking forward to going back again

And to discovering what might be new for next year

As Esther and William get older I am looking forward to

Including VIP experiences as part of our day

As a special present from our baby in the sky

Everything we do Matilda Mae

We do with you

We carry you always in our hearts

Be at peace Baby Tilda

Be at peace x

We were given a free family ticket to Longleat for the purpose of this review