Christmas Presents

My humans didn't take their Christmas presents for each other with them to Andrew's brother - who they spent Christmas day with.  So, they forgot about them completely until last night.  Both presents were Disney memorabilia.  Andrew's for Mikki was a Lennox statue of Mickey Mouse holding a lovely big heart.  Mikki's for Andrew was this statue - of Tinker Bell!!  (Well, they didn't have one of Figaro).

Apparently this was made to commemorate 25 years of the Disney Store.  I must admit it is quite striking.  It has something of the idea of a trophy or award to it. I think Andrew may put it on his desk in his study so he can pretend it was something he was presented with.  Don't worry, Andrew, until they give awards for weirdness, you are quite safe. 

Oh.  I have a few comments of my own before anyone asks.

1.  Tinker Bell is not running away from me.  Nor, sadly, is she turning round to stroke me.  She is an ornament.  It's just how the photographer chose to place her.

2.  Mikki insists Andrrew would get every award for "best husband" she could give.

3.  Did I tell you my humans were nos. 11 and 12 through the door of the first Disney Store to open in London?  Yes, they've been weird for a long time.

Back to business and to wish everyone a happy, lucky and successful 2012. I'm looking forward to a lot of new pictures with characters starting in just a few days time.

Prrrrr.

Merry Christmas: Ho, Ho, Ho.

This is my last post before Christmas and may be my last of the year.  Tomorrow, I am off with my humans to join other members of Andrew's family for the Holidays.  I have to say I'm amazed how much work I have done this month and I won't mind a little time to relax.

So Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays from me and my humans.  I hope Santa brings us all what we have asked for and we all have a happy and prosperous time in 2012.

Figaro the Toy Cat.

Prrrrrrrrrrr.....

We Are Not Alone: and Christmas Wishes

I was planning to put up a photo of Figaro's Christmas stocking just before Christmas - but I had not expected that I would already have received some lovely presents myself.

Warm welcome to Brian who has started following me (and to Ellen and Brian who are following my picture on Andrew's tweets).  Hope they forgive me, however, if I reserve my most special Prrrrrr for Buttons the toy rabbit.  He also has a Blog on Blogger. A Rabbit's Ramblings.  Meet him at:
 http://buttonsbunnyblog.blogspot.com/

Buttons is my first real toy friend in this wonderful world of the internet and social networking.  It is taking my humans (OK, I mean Andrew) quite a lot to get used to and I am way behind the times.

Still, it would be very nice to hear from any other cuddly or chatty toys out there who would like to join us.  Felines of all sorts welcome but so too are all bears, sheep, hamsters, mice, horses, etc - even d*gs.    You don't have to be Disney.  Buttons isn't.

Meanwhile, here is my picture of Figaro's Christmas stocking - which we saw as part of a display of Geppetto's workshop in the Contemporary Resort in 2009.  See that!  The humans have put me where it looks like I'm a puppet and Geppetto is controlling me.  The things we stars have to put up with.  They've also got too much flash in my face.  Sometimes stars even have to work with amateurs - and it does make me look very clean and white.

What would I tell Santa I would like in the stocking?  I was just looking forward to a few more cuddles but a new friend has been a lovely early bonus.  Happy Christmas, Buttons.

Prrrrrr.

Life's Tough When You're a Star

It's one thing that my humans seem to enjoy dressing up and looking silly but when they do it to their toys it needs explanation.

The humans went out last night (Friday) and joined friends and neighbours in a large party for Christmas dinner in our local restaurant.  There was lots of good food and joking  (I am told) - and Christmas crackers to pull.  Well, my Mikki pulled hers and took out the paper party hat - but found it had been glued in the wrong place and was tiny (with a long tail).  She immediatly announced it was my size - and that she would prove it with a photo on the web.  Soon another human found an eye patch as the novelty in their cracker.  Mikki said I would like that too.  So here I am:  on my Blog and another photo on Twitter,  @andrew1987Young.  I think it is the very first picture Andrew has put up there.

It all seems rather humiliating in some ways.  Not only do they dress me up like this but put me up on the mantelpiece next to mere ornaments.  And they're ornamants of mice and a pixie!  There's a nice Armani statue of a really cute kitten on the end of the mantelpiece but they're not showing that.  They've even put a Christmas card in front of it!  Meeeoow.

It's taking a lot of work for me to remain calm and dignified.  After all, Figaro is not just any Disney character:  he is a star.  He has short films of his own - and his own little song to accompany them.  I know people like to see me and, like a true star, I must keep the fans happy.  Besides, the least I can say is that the humans were thinking about me when they were out last night.

And the hat's actually a bit big - but we stars sometimes have to cope with ill-fitting costumes, don't we?

I think I deserve a cuddle now.

Prrrrr.

Preparations Continue

The humans are still busy getting ready both for the Festive Season here and the trip to Walt Disney World.

Mikki has been playing Christmas music in the car for a few days now but she hasn't yet completed one "tradition" of making a fresh compilation.  She has been waiting for the "Military Wives" CD.  It is due to be released on Monday but Amazon have just sent an "e-mail" to say it has been dispatched (so we expect it tomorrow).  That'll be that job done.

For the holiday (by which I mean vacation, not Christsmas!) Mikki is downloading the latest US maps for her SatNav (GPS).  She did a great deal when she bought it in the USA:  free US map upgrades for life.  Now we just have to keep visiting to use them.

For my picture, I've chosen another of those small discreetly decorated trees that you find all over WDW :).  Seriously, they do work hard and do a great job. This one was at the Grand Floridian Resort.  DVC have just sent Andrew an e-mail saying they are going to build villas there. "Knew that" said Mikki.  Perhaps we will have somewhere new to go to in a few years time.

Prrr.

December in Florida

It's cold and miserable outside here in England so I'm cheering myself up with a picture taken on one of our previous December trips to Walt Disney World.  Those in "the north" (UK or USA) just imagine the warmth.

This is at our "Home" DVC resort of Old Key West.  Of course, when my humans joined it was just "The Disney Vacation Club".  And there was a sales centre ("The Commodore House") where the building behind me to the right of the picture is.  My humans remember looking out at that fountain while going through the papers and talking about buying.  They say that in those days it was the softest sell in the world.  All that was a long time ago: 1992!  That's so long ago that it was before I had even gone to live with my humans.

The picture is a lot more recent.  Since then, Disney has carried out a major refurbishment of the interior - which has quite spoilt it for us.  We will not be staying at Old Key West during our January visit.  But outside, it still looks idyllic.

Yes, yes.  It's sunny in the picture but how warm was it really?  I can't remember:  I'm only a toy cat.  So it probably wasn't as warm as in the summer.  It still makes you wish you were there, though.  Doesn't it?

Now I wish for a little cuddle, please.

Prrrrr

Places Friends can Take You

Christmas is a time to remember your friends, and my humans and I have made a lot of friends through our interest in Disney. 

One December visit a friend was able to do something special for us.  He worked for GM, the sponsors of Test Track, and he was able to get a group of us into the VIP lounge there.  You can probably see Mission Space on this picture but the most spectacular thing is the cars wizzing past just below the window.  I was content to have my picture with the Christmas Tree.  Andrew is holding me nicely and Mikki says I look really good (I always do, don't I).

We are looking forward to seeing some friends in January.  Mikki is hoping to see lots more in October.

When I look through my pictures I see lots with friends from Disney.  there are a lot of nice people out there!  I have had lots of nice cuddles.

Prrrr.