Chicago 2010

After being forgotten for far too long, my keepers finally remembered to take me with them to Chicago this past week...

Here I am trying to look as tall as the Hancock Tower

They wouldn't let me in the Chicago Theater citing the fact that patrons behind me wouldn't be able to see the stage. Hey, I could have taken my hat off!

Eye saw this I on Van Beuren Avenue

A pretty little fountain near the Art Institute. It was nice to be in the shade on such a hot day.

It does what it says on the wall. Several people commented on my handsomeness whilst I stood here.

That's the Cloud Gate sculpture behind me, otherwise known as the Bean. So this photo represents "PB & the Bean"

Me, being all reflective

"PB & the Bean 2: Back Off Boogaloo"

Me by the Pritzker Pavilion - it's groovy!

I found this piece of art near Millenium Park - perfect for me to paddle my feet in

Oak Street Beach - right in the middle of the bustling city! It was lovely.

I was taken to Navy Pier. That's the Chicago skyline behind me

These pirates arrrrrogantly threatened me. I reminded them how tall I was and they backed off.

Weeeeee........... I'm up on the big Ferris wheel!!

A walk for my owner, a mere few steps for me

The lovely Centennial fountain on the North shore of the river. Was very nice.

Where are we all going next?

The Olden Days

In the olden days people used to use things like "public telephones" and "the postal service" to keep in contact with one another.

Here I am outside a pair of iconic "olde worlde" images from England!

Pilgrim House Chinese Restaurant 3/12/09

It seems that all I'm doing this vacation is eating?....


Here I am at the most excellent Pilgrim House Chinese Restaurant in Southampton.


I don't know what everyone else was having, but here's my selection

Kuti's Indian Restaurant 3/9/09

I was taken out for a curry at a posh Indian Restaurant!


Here, it looks suspiciously like I was being left as part of the tip?!


The waiter refused to take me, and instead rewarded me with a free liqueur

Overseas!

Well, my carers paid to get me back. Bit upsetting really as the people who giraffenapped me treated me to a posher lifestyle than that I was used to!

Oh well....


To celebrate my freedom I was taken back to England for a deserved vacation. Here I am collecting my boarding pass at the Delta Airlines check-in desk.

Giraffenapped!!!!!!!!

Oh no, I've been giraffenapped!!!...




I hope this ends well?!!

Epcot & a Disney Sea Cruise Dec 2008

What a FANTASTIC treat I got for Christmas!!

My usual (quite cheap) carers let me go off on a very lovely Christmas holiday with their friends Christian & Michelle.

C & M are always swanning off somewhere luxurious and expensive somewhere in the world. This is because they are famous, totally posh and completely loaded with money.


First, the three of us went to Disney's Epcot Center in Florida. Here I am photographed at the world's most difficult golf course. Humans have to practise for months just to be able to pick up the HUGE heavy clubs!


This is me lining up to get on a ride called "Soarin". Disney describe it on their website like this... With the wind in your hair, glide 40 feet in the air as you look down upon the breathtaking vistas of Yosemite and redwood forests. Soar as high as your imagination over a world of wonders. Of course for someone as tall as me this really wasn't so much of a big deal.


We walked all around Epcot's World Showcase, stopping at the Moroccan area, where I sampled a beer. The rest of the day was a blur.


We boarded our cruise liner. Christian & Michelle bought me a Christmas Present! I opened it straight away. It was a DVD box set of the first three seasons of "Lost" and a knitted scarf. I hope the scarf is long enough?


We all went for a big posh meal, sitting - of course - at the Captain's table. Does the menu really suggest "Crappa" as a course? It's the first time I've been ordered to do that at the dining table. I still can't work out why we got thrown out of the restaurant?!


We stayed at Walt Disney's private island (I think he's in a freezer somewhere at the back of the 7-11) Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. It was very posh indeed, but overrun with mice. One in particular.


We played charades on the beach. Here I am impersonating the late Hollywood starlet Cyd Charisse. For a giraffe, I make a darned good peacock!


I got some sunbathing in. Whilst I was asleep someone buried me up to my neck in sand. That must have taken a LOT of digging!!




They never had any snorkels for me, but I went swimming for a while. It was okay until the lionfish turned up, then I got a little scared.

All in all it was a fabulous time!!

Sorrentos Pizza House Dec 2008

My carers took me to my good friend Michelle's surprise birthday party in Cincinnati

It was at Sorrentos Pizza place. I'd never tried pizza before....

It's yummmmm!

This little boy told me he was a veterinarian. His bedside manner was terrible.

Boooooooooooo!

My carers went to Detroit and visited the Motown Museum.

They left me behind and I didn't even get a lousy t-shirt.

Boooooooooooooooooo!

England Pt 6 (Winchester 24th October 2008)

We spent a day in Winchester, which used to be the capital of England


Here I am with King Alfred - also known as Alfred the Great - there's not many people taller than me!


Here I am outside Winchester Cathedral. There's a great song about this place, but you have to be able to whistle to join in!

England Pt 5

Whilst my carers visited their friends Simon & Lou, I caught up with some friends of my own, including "Tiny" who is on the left in the photo above

England Pt 4 (London October 17th/18th 2008)

We went up to London last weekened and stayed with my friends Adrian & Dawn.

When we got there we went for a cruise up the Thames, starting near the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben!



This is the Mayor of London's office block. It looks like a crash helmet. The mayor, Boris Johnson, needs to wear a crash helmet. He's crazier than a box of frogs.


This is Tate Modern, the largest modern art gallery in the whole world. It's in a rebuilt power station on the South Bank of the river.


The Tower of London. Off with his head!


Tower Bridge. Yes, it had to open to let me through.


This is part of the City of London's skyline. That rocket about to take off is called the "Gherkin". My carers call it the pickle.


Back near Westminster on the other side of the river is the London Eye. The tallest ferris wheel in the whole of Europe. Maybe I should rent my neck out as a tourist attraction?


In the evening we went to a comedy club. I discovered that two bottles of wine makes me feel quite peculiar!


I did a quick stand-up routine. "My dog has no nose".... "how does he smell?" .... bloomin' terrible!" I'm here all week. Tapes and CD's are at the door.

England Pt 3 (Brighton October 14th/15th 2008)

We went to Brighton for a couple of days. It's my carers' favourite place in the whole of England


Here's the East Pier which contains all kinds of entertainment and even a funfair! Cool!


This is sadly all that's left of the West Pier which has suffered a succession of bad fires over the years


Here I am waiting for a bus driver to take me up and down the seafront


On the seafront I met up with my old pal Kwyjibo the Crab. He told me that in this current economic crisis he's really feeling the pinch.


This is the rather funky looking Brighton Royal Pavilion. It was designed as an old English King's seaside residence apparently. Looks like the blueprint got wet or something?


I discovered how the cops in Brighton get drunk!


Here's just a few of the shops, restaurants and businesses that have opened up in the old deckchair storage arches underneath the promenade.


We stayed in a lovely little bed & breakfast place called Motel Schmotel. The proprietors were a very nice couple who even brought us our breakfast in bed! This is what was left of my own fry-up! I munched through organic sausages, bacon, eggs, home fries, mushrooms, tomatoes and more.

I'll stick my neck out and hope we go back to Brighton again very soon!