I couldn’t resist sharing these Olympic-inspired animal pictures, especially Bob the burrowing owl, who is the star of a daily Animal Athletes in Action demonstration at London Zoo, where he runs a 100cm sprint.

Another picture shows an African blackfooted penguin, standing on the new London 2012 Olympics -theme diving board, which has been installed at the penguin beach exhibit at the zoo.

These meerkats are posing with a model of the Olympic torch at Knowsley Safari Park.

Birthdays

Happy birthday: Jessica Darbyshire, seven on July 28, Nakeesha Needham, eight on July 28, Jasmine Chloe Green, nine on July 29, Jessica Smith, eight on July 29, James Mould, 10 on July 29, Alicia Mao, five on July 29, Tiernan Carlton Moss, seven on July 30, Dominic Crocker, three on July 30, Issy Roberts, 11 on July 30, Tiernan Moss, seven on July 30, Jay Trickett, 10 on July 31, Johnny-Jay Rowe, six on Aug 1, Amy Hartley, seven on Aug 2, Owen Hartley, seven on Aug 2.

Jokes

A man turned up for the Olympics with some barbed wire under his arm, and came third in the fencing.


Why isn’t sun tanning an Olympic sport at London 2012?


Because the best you can ever get is bronze.


What is an owl’s favourite subject at school?


Owlgebra.