Thankfully nothing catastrophic happened at lunch, except for the fact that I had to sit with Cian who, even though lunch was being provided, had still brought in smelly egg sandwiches.

Anyway, after everyone had finished lunch, we got to go on the small train that brings you around the park, which was a great laugh, because we got to wave at all the other park visitors and everyone could see that we were VIPs and, amazingly, while we were on the train nothing dreadful happened. I told Laura that we needn’t worry anymore – obviously my luck had changed.

The train brought us right to the Tropical House, where Katie explained that we would get to see the snakes, fish and iguanas, and learn all about moths. Inside, there were lots of plants and tanks. Colourful butterflies the size of my hand flew around over our heads. It was like a rainforest and as HOT as an oven.

We all stood around fanning ourselves with our quiz sheets and Katie talked and talked about the life cycle of a moth and I really, really tried to pay attention, because I wanted to hear the answer for question seven which was:

7. How many pairs of wings do butterflies and moths have?

But the heat made me sleepy and I kind of ZONED OUT. Then I realised that she had stopped talking and was looking straight at me and saying, ‘And do you have any questions?’

And I was actually really happy that she’d asked because I did have some. In fact, because I had been thinking about ANIMALS all day, questions kept popping into my head, so I said, ‘Well, there are a few things I would like to know, like …

I was very proud because I thought these were really good questions, but Katie just looked at me like I was STUPID and everyone giggled and Múinteoir Emer said, ‘Éist! Any questions about the life cycle of a moth? Really, Milly McCarthy, do you ever listen?’

And then I started to feel really annoyed because:

1. I didn’t get answers to any of my questions,

2. Múinteoir Emer was, once again, doing her eye-rolling,

3. Ellie Jones was LAUGHING at me again.

So, I decided to respond like a mature and responsible person. I walked outside to wait and cool down and totally resist the urge to punch Ellie in the arm.

And so, I was standing outside, really enjoying the FRESH air, when I heard Katie yell, ‘The butterflies! Who in heaven’s name left the door open?’ And I turned around and saw lots of blue and red butterflies fluttering off up into the sky, which I thought was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen, then I turned back towards the open door and saw Katie standing there with her hands on her hips, staring at me, and muttering, ‘You again?’

She FRANTICALLY radioed back to Seán to inform him that there’d been a butterfly breakout, only Seán had to send someone else to help because he was still trying to calm down the rioting giraffes and deal with the baby giraffe, who had developed a severe case of gas from eating a designer straw hat.