There is an air of desperation about some of the ideas emanating from the VisitScotland Borders people. The Dog Ambassador at large (see previous rants) is not featuring too much in their literature at present so the focus this week is on being 'Child Friendly' Apparently there is a childrens trail across the Borders-less obvious than any left by the Canine Diplomat with attendant pooh scuttle-linking the 35 participating child friendly attractions and 'establishments' At each port of call the befriended child can pick up an icon in the form of a sheep symbol -seemingly a black sheep with a white ruff licking its lips (the photo in the Berwickshire is indistinct but the sheep is certainly black and looks a way 'off message' to the untrained eye-'Borders welcomes your Black Sheep says local police spokesman'? ) When the child has collected 5 sheep icons, he/she/it is entitled to claim a 'special free Goodie Baaa..g' (honest its in the Berwickshire Page 9) from any of the Tourist Information centres. Some of the 35 attractions which are icon earning are listed including, locally, Paxton House and Country Park (counts as one only) but not, curiously,the Amazing Maize Maze at Fishwick which is now back on stream even if the maize is only ankle height, being seasonally adjusted-very child friendly in my book.
TheLittle Hutton House of Horrors and the Horndean Child Correction Centre are not featured either but as they still only exist on file in the Hutton Think Tank's Creative Ideas Section this is not too surprising.
Befriended kids are encouraged to enter a competition to choose a name for the 'new sheep figure' After the first week the front runners are thought to be : Baaa-sil (5 votes), Black Booty (4) Larry (1-suggested by a grand father who used to enjoy ToyTown) and Baaaaaa-zooker (123 votes -some postal, from the Middle East) The winner may get a voucher to be redeemed against a holiday elsewhere in Scotland.
BTW any ideas from Bloggees about what to call the sheep figure , not necessarily to its (black) faceare very welcome and will be passed on, anonymously, toVisitScotland Borders, PO Box 2, Elgin.
