Elemania

Elemania hit London recently and I got the bug bigtime. Basically a herd of over 200 elephants have been sprinkled around the rather grey streets of the City, herded into park corners and shoehorned into shopfronts. There's a serious point of course, to highlight the plight of the Asian elephant which is now seriously endangered. It'd be sad if there were no more Nellie's to pack up their trunks or go trumpety trump so hopefully these guys will make a difference. I think they will because seems like it's a bunch of very nice people behind this little plan. Nice guys get to win sometimes right?

I've probably driven people mad with my ele of the day selections, hopefully though it made them smile when Dandyphant popped up on their screen, marauding through St Pancras or made them feel a little bit like, "ooh pass the chip cone with extra vinegar" as Fish and Chip Ele floated by.


Not to mention feeling a little bit mushy when Mr Stole My Heart or Tree of Love or Kisses on the Trunk rolled across their wall.




Oran (You Stole My Heart)by Adam Bridgland

Anway I had to go, to rush about and get over excited and take lots of pictures of lots of very bright and very silly ele's just because it made me smile. So a lightening tour of the City was undertaken with regular rest breaks of course generally involving Pimms or a nice glass of wine , oh and a quick lunch at the Pieminister - pie, mash , minty mushy peas and gravy - very tasty indeed. There were rosey eles', rainbow ele's, taxi's and policeman ele's. A James Bond ele and some flashy gold and shiny ele's.

Here's a little glimpse into my elemania tour:

My favourite? Well that's tricky, but I do have a soft spot for Cubeelephant by Andre Ritins whose hanging out near Tower Bridge, you can see me dancing with him in the collage pic, yep that's me the mad girl in red, who'd had a Pimm's and a glass of chardonnay and really didn't care if people thought I was silly because I'm not full of myself like some. Anyway I don't think people thought I was silly, I think they thought I was nice and sweet and maybe a bit mad, pretty accurate really.

Cubeelephant is sort of glittery, a party elephant, he needs some blue fairy lights and some colour change love hearts. He's a colourful curly wurly straws and cheese and pineapple on sticks, a cupcake happy garden party sort of elephant. I think he'd look rather nice in my garden, but I expect lots of girlies think that too, much richer girlies who probably have rich oligarchs in tow. Maybe they'd let me visit him though when they move him to their achingly gorgeous mansion in Kensington. I'd make the cupcakes and even bring some Pimms.

I also love Soju Tanaka's elephants The Illustrated Elephant and Whisper, covered in cuddly doodle characters who seem to giggle and dance. Here's his ele's below:





See, cute little guys.

Anyway I could go on and on about ele's as I said it's a real case of elemania for me. There's a link to their website here if you'd like more information and a map in case you also feel the need to pack up some cheese and pickle butties and have a day exploring . http://www.elephantparadelondon.org/

The whole herd will be on display together soon though at the Royal Chelsea Hospital at the end of June. I might go, let me know if you'd like to join me. We can have a Pimms and a Pie perhaps or even Afternoon Tea (now that's a whole entry in itself)

TTFN xx

Ferret Fancying, Fudge and Falafels

This entry may be a little after "the event" known in these parts as "The Lincolnshire Show". I attribute this fact, in part, to my ferret related trauma.

I suppose I should explain the logic behind me even attending such an event, family induced and well, after a couple of sherries one Sunday lunch this welly wearer said yes. And then of course, in true me stylee was far too polite to say actually I'd rather chop off my own foot.

So off I was carted for a day of ponies, puppies and posh people. Ooh yes and some Pimms, that bit was rather nice. Oh yes, and there were the pigs, but of course have always had rather a soft spot for them. Though as a rather rugged farmer pointed out to me "not pets love, top quality sausage that'll be". Was tempted to locate Heather Mills phone number so she could come sort him out, but figured that would be a rather disproportionate punishment for his crime. (For those that don't know this country girl still sticks firmly to her vegetarian sensibilities and is a confirmed tofu muncher). Not wanting to cause a diplomatic incident howvere I instead made some rather vacant comment about "Gosh, that's a lot of sausage" which prompted a chortle from companions at least and a rather proud smile from aforementioned farmer

And what of the ferrets I hear you cry? Yes, sorry, as ever diverted from the original inspiration of my tale.

Anyway, it happened just after a wander through the food area, country girl quite cheery having been plied with Pimms (by some estate agency types keen to discuss the price of agricultural property). Which foodwise had been absorbed only by some Lincolnshire fudge (v nice ta)(but perhaps not the most alcohol absorbing of substances). (Am scene setting here btw)

So stumbling through the food vans we came upon another showring, "ooh look its the ferrets love" was the rather enthusiastic cry from fellow show attender. (Who may have thought I imagined they were guinea pigs - as if, I am a Northerner ta). So enthusistically, (I swear it was the Pimms and the fact of too much sun), I replied "Oh we just must watch , aren't they cute". Er yes I know the use of the word cute was perhaps a bit girly and yes it did prompt raised eyebrows from the rather more serious field sports (if it moves shoot it) audience. In my defence they are just pets where I'm from indeed I believe taht in Stoke its rather more de rigeur to dress your ferret rather than you Bichon Frisee. So watch we did and its truly amazing just how many fake holes ferrets can retrieve fake rabbits from. Indeed they are rather talented in all aspects of climbing, running, diving into things after fake furry things and indeed squeaking (well I think that was the ferrets but may have been the overexcited toddlers nearby)

But then, oh dear, as the annoying bimb I used to work with would shriek "lightbulb moment". I was on a dangerous path for a vegetarian. What the hell next? actually attending a hunt ball without a protest banner? Whats a girl to do in such a case, it was near panic attack time here I tell you??

Well you guessed it, back for more Pimms. Pimms I believe is rather magical. For some a tawny port may be a cure all for me its Pimms. Mmmm Pimms. And on that thought TTFN. Mmmm Pimms.

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