How high is a little bit high?

A day at Pleasurewood Hills is not complete without a cuddle with Woody. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

I can't believe that Thalia has actually decided she will go on the log flume Timber Falls at Pleasurewood Hills.

But she's seven and she's finally tall enough. We're there with big sister Keola and two friends who are all keen and Thalia, usually not that enthusiastic about heights or the unexpected, is in the queue.

She has already queued to the top of the big water slide and changed her mind at the last minute, but Timber Falls isn't as high.

I'm ready with my camera at the viewing point; they reach the front and, and nothing happens. I can see Thalia talking to the attendant, he looks very patient. He points at the slopes and at the chariots. He makes wave motions with his arms, he's smiling, Thalia is still chatting.

Thalia loved her photoshoot with Claude the sea lion. (Image: Archant)

This could take a while - she likes a chat.

I can see the rest of the queue leaning forward, trying to work out what the delay is. She's talking some more, lovely smiley attendant is speaking and there's more arm waving. Another group step ahead of our girls and go off, the rest of the queue looks restless. Then Thalia starts to get in the chariot, Keola and her friends get in, the attendant is still smiling, my camera is ready – and Thalia turns round and heads back down the stairs.

I can see the queue sighing, but the attendant clearly says something encouraging to Thalia as she comes back to me smiling and saying she'll do it when she's eight.

Later, the three rather wet girls explain that Thalia was asking how high and how fast the log flume went and how wet she'd get. She wanted to know if it was all just 'a little bit' and the very patient attendant was saying that it was slightly more than a little bit high and fast but not very or extremely.

Getting wet on Timber Falls was definitely part of the fun. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

She wasn't happy though. She wanted it to be a little bit.

We went and watched the sea lion show.

I'm reminded of Sunny and her friend at the Pleasure Beach for her tenth birthday. While her friend went on absolutely everything, Sunny would sit down on a ride, get strapped in, it would be about to start – and she'd suddenly insist on getting off. There was a fair amount of sighing from the queues then too.

But each time the ride attendants there were also all smiles, chatty and patient and they didn't make Sunny feel awkward. Now she will go on pretty much anything and feel confident saying no if she doesn't fancy something.

On their way on the log flume Timber Falls. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

Thanks to the positive Pleasurewood Hills attendant hopefully it'll be the same for Thalia.

I think it might be a while before Thalia considers this ride. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

The older ones loved the water slide. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

We met this colourful parrot at Pleasurewood Hills, but ran out of time to see the Parrot Show. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

Keola found it most amusing getting rather soaked at Pleasurewood Hills. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)

Thalia, right, was happy being the only dry one after the others rode Timber Falls. Picture: contributed (Image: Archant)