Going

Yes, it's me:  finally back to my blog.  I'll again remind everyone that you can see me on Instagram too:  andrew1987young

There are lots of things to tell you about but the first is a rather strange one.  Lots of my fellow Disney toys are moving out.

There are 38 Mickey or Minnie beanies in this picture and the humans put them all in a box and left the house with it.  They were all very carefully wrapped but I think they have now gone for ever.

I'm not sure what I think about this.  They were all very cute little toys even though I never allowed any of them near the bed but sometimes I think my human Mikki treated them more like ornaments.  A lot of those in the picture were on a shelf in her study and never moved ("Shelved!").  The rest were in a large plastic box ("Storage!!").  It may be they are going to a better life where there is a collector who appreciates them specially or even a child who will play with them.  I certainly hope so.

And now, Mikki has a bit of empty shelf  I suspect it will not be for long.

More soon, I hope.

Prrrr

Off to Walt Disney World

Less than a week to go before my humans and I will be in Walt Disney World.  We will arrive on Wednesday 6th at Kidani, Animal Kingdom Lodge after flying by Virgin Upper Class to Orlando International (I'm really looking forward to that).  We will rush straight to the Animal Kingdom park to get our park passes because we will need them for the Sunrise Safari we are doing the very next morning.

We are staying at Kidani for only 2 nights before going away from Disney to do other things over the weekend.  We come back to Kidani on Monday 11th August and will be staying until Saturday 16th.

We are all pleased to hear the latest news that London Gatwick Airport is hiring more staff to deal with luggage delays but we just hope everything is sorted and we are not affected.  Of course, I always travel in hand luggage but that's not the point.

We are looking forward to seeing a number of friends from Intercot while we are in Walt Disney World.

My apologies for all my blog fans but please remember there are also chances to see me on Instagram and I have been a lot more active there recently. I get my pictures posted by my human andrew1987young

Prrrr.

Disruption

My apologies for the lack of Blog posts recently but I remind you  I have been appearing on Instagram from time to time.  Look for:  andrew1987young

It's chaos around here at the moment.  It's great that we will soon be off on holiday (vacation) to somewhere warm (sadly, not Walt Disney World), but meanwhile the humans are rushing around getting everything packed and ready.  On top of this, they are having lots of cupboards replaced in our own bedroom and the room the rest of my family live in (which I know as "the kitten room" but they sometimes call "the guest bedroom").  For the moment, the bed has been moved into a much smaller room and many of my brothers and cousins have been put in there.  Here I am trying to reassure them they will be all right.

They have to stay here for the moment because as soon as we go on holiday, our builder friend/neighbour will come in and rip out all the old furniture that they used to sit on.  The new ones will be fitted soon after we return.  I am trying to convince everyone that the new system will be much nicer for them.  Actually, I am trying to convince myself that the new system will be much better for them.  It't a bit like how humans feel when public authorities announce a new road system that will make things much better "when it's finished"!  In the short term, however, things will get worse before they get better.  This is not the whole family.  They all have to get in here.

Meanwhile, I think all of us deserve a cuddle - especially me.

New Family Photograph

My apologies for the time I have been away from the blog. It's time I got back to you.

As Christmas approaches, the humans think about getting their website up to date (www.andrewandmikki.co.uk). Naturally, the website has a section devoted to me and one feature is a group picture of me with all the rest of my family - the other Figaro cuddly toys/plushes in the house - around me.

In the last year, two new members have joined the family and I'm sorry to report the humans have neglected to update the family photograph until now.  So here's the result.  This is a special preview for the blog as it is not yet on the website.

We have found a different settee to pose on but, as you can see, I am still in the middle.  The new members of the family are "Twin" (who looks a little like I did when I was young) and "Flat Tail" (who joined us on our August trip to Disney World).  "Twin" is on one of the stools in front of the settee and "Flat Tail" in on one of the cushions behind me. 

It's quite an effort getting all the Figaros in the house into one place but I must say we are very good at sitting still while one of the humans takes our portrait picture.  I think I shall add this to my list of "Why Toy Cats are Better than Real cats".  Imagine trying to get 24 real cats to sit still for a group picture!

More of the blog soon, I hope.  Meanwhile, I should remind everyone that I have been busy getting my pictures on Andrew's Instagram account and I have no intention of letting him stop doing that.  Look for me on Instagram on andrew1987young

Prrrr.

I Have Been Busy - Honest

Many apologies to all my fans.  I know you must have been missing my blog posts terribly over the last month.  Please understand I have been busy and I have lots to tell you now.  I have been in Florida with my humans for about 3 weeks of the time.  We spent a few days in Tampa and then went on to Walt Disney World for the rest of the time. Here is one of Disney's Photopass pictures of my human Mikki with the mouse whose name sounds like hers.

While we were there, I had lots of pictures in new places or with other characters.  I also worked very hard writing a Trip Report for the Intercot discussion board.  I am afraid it has not gone up there yet but I am hoping Mikki will be able to deal with it soon.

Meanwhile, I shall also be using my human, Andrew's Instagram account to show you some of the pictures I had taken.  You can find them by looking for andrew1987young on Instagram.  I'm afraid that he does sometimes up up pictures that don't have me on them but I have given him enough good pictures to keep him busy for the next few days.

There are lots more I will be telling you about.  For one thing, I have a new cousin - "Flat Tail Figaro".  As so often, I'm not sure about the name the humans give to my family members but the new Figaro is really cute.  Look out for another post about him.

And here's a photo from our final day - again by Disney's Photopass.  Rapunzel was so nice and pleased to see me but I think it was Cinderella's idea that they both give me a kiss.

I like kisses - and cuddles.

Prrrrr.

Disney Pin Trading

My humans and I have been visiting Walt Disney World for a long time now.  We remember lots of changes.  One big one is the arrival of ;in trading as a "big thing".  Like everything, it appeals to some people more than others.  You can meet some lovely people through it - but also some rogues who will try to rip you off.  It can get very expensive - but it can also give you fascinating a beautiful mementos at a much smaller cost (and taking up much less space) than some alternatives.

My Mikki has enjoyed some pin trading over the years although she is much less active now than once.  We have a collection of various pins.  Obviously, Mikki collects Mickey.  Less obviously, Andrew has a small collection of Tinker Bell.  Here I am with my favourite pins.

There are nothing like as many Figaro pins as for some other characters.  Some people say this is because he is not popular but I can't believe that.  I think it must be because he is rare and special.  Whatever the reason, it means that I never get any objection when I see one and tell my humans to buy it or trade for it.  They really are beautiful, aren't they?

But not as cuddly.

Prrrr

Oh, we're off now so maybe no posts until I'm back.  We fly to Florida tomorrow and are in WDW from next Monday.

The Moods of Minnie Mouse

Just a week to go until we set out for our trip to Walt Disney World and I am still thinking about the fun I am going to have with the other Disney characters.

In the classic shorts, Figaro lives with Minnie Mouse so it's natural that we all want to see her.  Here is a picture of her being very nice with me when we visited in January this year.  This was taken at the temporary "Character Spot" in Epcot.

Minnie was very nice for this photo.  About the worst thing is that you will see my humans made me wear "mouse ears".  How undignified!  I have noted the hat is still about in our house and has been seen near the packing for this trip.  I would arrange for it to get lost but I suppose they'd only buy a new one.  My Mikki can get so determined.

Here is Minnie again on a different visit during our January stay.  No, that's not me.  It's our latest addition to the Figaro family, named "Twin".  This is because he is quite old and looks like I did when I was new.  Poor "Twin" has not had a lot of cuddles like I have but has, I fear, spent a lot of his time in sto**ge.  We like to give all the new arrivals their chance of a picture with characters - but only once.  Twin is not going anywhere near the packing this time.

And here's Minnie Mouse in a very different, and unusual, mood.  Mikki caught this shot of her in the "Character Spot" before its latest revamp.

Mikki was almost as surprised as the cast member "minder" and the families in the line behind us when Minnie grabbed Andrew as if to take him for herself.  We didn't get photographic evidence of her holding up her hand to push Mikki away.  And in case anyone from Disney is reading this, Mikki isn't jealous really.  We love this sort of silliness!

And I need not remind anyone that I love cuddles too.

Prrr.