Quirky, Crazy and very British

My humans watched some of the Olympic opening ceremony last night (Mikki watched more than Andrew:  once Andrew's in bed he doesn't stay awake for the television, whatever's showing).  They also recorded it and watched the rest today.

There was some clever story telling in it and some fun fantasy.  I was pleased when Mary Poppins turned up.  It reminded me of when my humans and I met her.  Somehow I have been left out of this photo taken during breakfast at the Grand Floridian resort.  I also met her in Epcot but she wasn't wearing her formal outfit then.

Walt Disney was a very clever story teller and never missed a trick with clever ideas.  I liked it when, in the original "Fantasia", Mickey Mouse went up to shake the hand of the conductor.  My humans saw this happen again, live, during the London premier of "Fantasia 2000" at the Royal Albert Hall.  By then it might seem an old trick, but the old ones are the best (as I keep telling the other toy Figaros in this house).

Generally, the Olympic opening ceremony has been called quirky, crazy, very British and things like that.  I suppose it was a bit crazy.  Then, British people do crazy but very nice things, like letting their toy cat write a Blog.

And giving him a cuddle.

Prrrr.

Bringing Happiness and Fun - Even Unintentially

As a toy, I'm used to letting humans have fun playing with me.  I don't get to choose the game.  As a Disney character, I know my job is to bring happiness to people.  So I'm well qualified both to tell you about my human Andrew bringing a little fun to people in our region - and to reassure him he has done well.

My first picture is a graphic used by Disney to illustrate their service theme.  It is the corporate "Mission Statement".  Andrew was given it as one of the papers for a management course he attended at Walt Disney World as long ago as 1991 (yes, before I lived with him at all).  It was called, "The Disney Approach".  The presenters told the delegates that the company was thinking of reducing it to just the three words, "We Create Happiness" - which brings me back to what I'm talking about today.


I may have mentioned that my human, Andrew, started using "Twitter". Some of the first people he "followed" were the local BBC weather forecasters.  They were sometimes amusing and he got the weather forecast without having to watch the rest of the BBC morning and evening programmes.

After getting more used to "Twitter", my human plucked up courage and started "tweeting" himself and (mischievous little thing he can be) sometimes sent replies to some of the weather people. Anyway, he finally decided it was time to send a nice message to them all at the tv station.

I now need to tell you that the station concerned is the BBC and the programme "Look North" based in Hull.  I think the weather people are all in Leeds.  That probably appeals to Andrew since he trained and worked in Leeds after growing up in Harrogate, which is just to the north.  There is often some banter between the presenter Peter Levy and the weather forecaster.  It's often silly and that may be why Andrew makes so much use of "Twitter" and web pages to see weather forecasts. But on Monday he happened to be watching when the banter started - and it was all about his message.  He was probably quite pleased but definitely surprised.  The forecaster, Paul Hudson, was very nice and thanked Andrew for his kind words but the presenter, Peter Levy, was trying to poke fun at my human.

I was able to comfort and reassure Andrew.  He had created a little fun and happiness to a few people.  I told him that in a troubled world where most of the news is sad, this is a rare and noble achievement.  Indeed, the challenge for him now is to avoid getting big-headed and think he can count on regular television appearances.  Like we toys, he can't think about himself but only what he does for others.  It's like Walt himself said, which was also quoted in his management course.

Incidentally, I can't be sure but it looks like Disney never changed the "Mission Statement" after all.  It's nice to know they are still a fairly traditional company.  I'm a fairly traditional character myself.

And Andrew, while you're in the mood of thinking of others, how about a cuddle for me?

Prrrr.

Being on Your Own

My human Mikki has been away a lot this week and last.  Most of the time she left Andrew to look after me and I suppose he's done his best but it's not the same.  For one night, he went too!  I miss my humans when they leave me alone.

So here's a picture of me with no humans to cuddle me and no other toys to play with.  Pinocchio may be a Disney character but this one is just a bronze statue (it's one of the ones around the "Hub" at the Magic Kingdom).

Mikki has been away watching tennis.  Last week, she went to the tournament at Eastbourne, on the south  coast of England.  This is the town where Mikki grew up so she also visited people and places she hadn't seen for a long time.  This week it was Wimbledon for the tennis there.  Andrew doesn't go to the tennis because he can't see well enough to appreciate it so thinks it unfair to deprive someone else, who can see and enjoys the game, of the ticket.  Mikki has taken her aunt.

Mikki has been telephoning - using one of those awful new electronic toys (which she did take with her) and told us she had really enjoyed the tennis she saw on both days at Wimbledon.  She also offered Andrew and me "zen hugs" over the 'phone, but it wasn't the same.

And now, Saturday afternoon, she is home.  Yippeee.  Prrrr,  Prrrr,  Prrrr

Clever Electronic Toys

You can never tell with humans!  You work hard on them for years, you think you've got them well trained, and then they start having silly ideas of their own and almost forget you entirely.

As you must know, we traditional toys live in special fear of clever electronic toys (as Woody was with Buzz).  My humans have been really full of their electronic toys lately.  First came a "capsule" computer (or was it "tablet", I don't like learning all this human electronic jargon either).  The big advantage of these (or as I see it, big disadvantage) is that they are very portable.  So the humans started carrying it about the house with them.  Worst of all, they sat playing with it in the bed when they woke up in the morning.  That's what I'm for.  Next it was something to help them use the "tablet" away from home.  This ended up with Mikki getting a new telephone - which she now plays with constantly.  Today, we went on a car ride and they even played with both.  They used the telephone as a mobile (let me get this right) "hot spot" and "tethered" the capsule to it.  I often go with them in the car and whoever is not driving is supposed to play with me!

I was getting a little depressed, so I thought of Walt Disney World. This is a nice picture from when we were there during one of the "Flower and Garden Festival" events.  We all like the flowers and it's a lovely time of year (May) when it's not too hot or too crowded.  More recently, they have done more and more topiary type arrangements - although I fear very few are "true" topiary in the sense of being grown as bushes and shaped just by clipping.

So I have this picture of me with my "stunt kitten" and a topiary.  It reminds me that there are some people who get permanently depressed - and I don't want to be like them.

And for the next few days, Mikki is taking all the new electronic gadgetry away when she goes to watch tennis in her home town of Eastbourne.  She will also be visiting old family friends.  This means that I will have Andrew completely to myself.

It also means, Mikki, that you won't be able to cuddle me for several days - so what about now?

Prrrr Prrrr.

  

Our Jubilee Celebrations

It's high time I told you about our celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The village held a street party on the Monday of the Jubilee weekend (4th June). For the weather, it turned out to be the best day of the weekend to hold an outdoor party and I was able to inspect the preparations in sunshine.

The day started with a large group of the humans from the village getting together to sing "God Save the Queen" and have an official picture taken.  They then went to the village playing field where a tree was planted and a plaque unveiled before games were played.  Then they processed back to the village for the party at the tables behind me.  There was lots of food and drink and everyone seemed to have fun.

Adults were encouraged to dress up the way humans did in the 1950s and children as kings or queens.  A "king" and "queen" for the day were chosen.  Some of the outfits were very impressive.

In the evening, the local pub put on a barbecue and there was lots more fun and relaxation for the humans.  I had gone home by then.  Ah, yes, here are my bodyguards to escort me.  And if you think that style of dress is not very "1950s", they will say that uniform is as accurate for then as it is for now (or any of hundreds of other years).

Do you really want to argue?  Now take me home for a cuddle.

Prrrr.

My Humans' Silver Wedding

As promised, here are a couple of pictures of my humans at and after their Silver Wedding anniversary party.

The first one was taken at the party (quite early on!) where they enjoyed the company of many friends from the village and beyond.

This one was taken in the house a couple of days later and shows some of the many cards friends and family sent.  They were really delighted with all the cards, gifts and messages they received.

A special day for them..  I'll give them a cuddle.

Prrrr.

The Big Party

The whole of Britain (and a lot of the rest of the world) is celebrating this weekend, including our village.  However, our big personal party was last weekend to mark my humans' silver wedding anniversary.  It was a lovely weekend for weather and I enjoyed supervising as the humans set up tables chairs and bunting on their decking.  There were even a couple of gazebos for shade.

You can't see it in this picture, but the river Witham is just beyond the decking.  One purpose of the bunting was to remind guests they were close to the edge of the deck and the risk of an unwelcome way of cooling off from the hot sun.

Lots of very nice people came to the party.  Most were from our village but quite a few were from other nearby villages and some from even further.  Some very good friends came from London and Andrew's brother and his wife came from Northumberland.

I think the humans say, "a good time was had by all".  I suppose they must have because everyone seemed to stay and lots of empty bottles and food trays were taken away at the end.  All the humans look to be enjoying themselves in this picture.

I think you may be able to make out my Mikki in this photo.  Andrew must be hidden somewhere among the trees.  There were also some other pictures just of them   They say I should put one or two of those up in another post.

Prrrr.