Rehoming update!!

Oh dear, it has been a while since I did an update on the re-homed baboons.  This has been partly because my person has been off their game, partly because I have had trouble downloading photos and partly because we have had worries about a baboon who took a very long time to arrive.  However, all are safely in their new homes now so I feel its about time I did an update.

Yes, we are still re-homing baboons although it has been slower recently. There are three re-homings to report on, one on the way to his new home and one I would like help with.

I still haven't managed to download the pictures people have sent. However, rather than do a blog with no pictures some of the Baboon HQ baboons have agreed to act as stand-ins for re-homed baboons that look like them.

The first baboon to reach his new home, in September, was Benny who has stayed in England to live with our dear friend Sugah, @sugarmice.  Benny looks like our HQ baboon Ozzie, although he is larger than Ozzie.

We hear that Benny has had a great Christmas eating cherry liqueurs and watching television.  We know he has fitted into Sugah's family very well and is very happy.

The next baboon to be re-homed was Aldric, who has gone to live in Chicago with our dear lovely Sid's Lisa and the new kitties.  We know Aldric has been on a road trip to Iowa already, lucky boy!  He has been a great comfort to Lisa since she lost lovely Sid.  We had the great pleasure of meeting Lisa in Chicago this summer and talked to her about re-homing a baboon them.

Aldric looks like our Baboon HQ, detective mad baboon, Barnaby (apart from the Arsenal shirt)!!  We heard that, with his long arms, he is happy putting his arms around kitties necks and riding around on their backs.  What fun!

We were very relieved this morning to find out that another baboon had arrived in Georgia to live with @ellieandedmund.  Marshall Sheldon suggested them as great potential baboon re-homers as they do so much for wild animals.  Thank you for the suggestion Marshall.  This baboon took weeks and weeks to arrive.  We had not addressed it well (I said person was off their game), so well done to the US Mail for getting him where he needs to be.

Again, we could not download the picture but this baboon, yet to be named, is another one that looks like our Ozzie, but bigger.

Another baboon is on his way to live with our pal Sir Scamp in England, more about him when he arrives.

Now, I need your help!  A mother and baby baboon have arrived at Baboon HQ and need a home.  This is a large baboon, nearly as large as me!  So she needs a home where they are happy to re-home a big baboon with a very sweet baby.

You will see that this mother and baby will need a lot of bananas and banana milk.  If you are interested in re-homing them baboon please let me know by leaving a comment on this blog, sending me a DM on Twitter or a message on CBS, by 15 January.  On 16 January I will have a draw to see how will re-home them.  All entrants welcome, it doesn't matter where you live or whether you already have a re-homed baboon.  If you are interested please say.

Thank you for reading and for being interested in the re-homed baboons.

HUGS HUGS HUGS

Christmas Message

Hello friends. I am sorry that with all the disruption that's been going on at Baboon HQ this winter, we have not got around to sending out many cards.  So, I thought I would follow the example of our Queen and send a message to everyone.  However, our Queen has never sent one quite like this.  I want to tell an old familiar story but with some new characters.  Some of you!!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even @SnuffyNorton.

The beer glasses were placed on the bar with care,

In hopes that @ToddyFur soon would be there.

The anipals were nestled all snug at the bar,

While visions of #TweetChoir danced in their heads,

And @Mogsbear in her kerchief and @HenryandFriends in his cap,

Had just settled down for long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

I sprang from the bar to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like  flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow

Gave a lusture of midday to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eye should appear,

But a minature sleigh with eight tiny anipals

With a handsome driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be @ToddyFur

More rapid than @Chalkybear13 his courses they came,

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

Now @OllyTed! now, @SpencerTeddy! now, @SirScamp and @Pete_Bear07!

On, Storm_Bear-Bill! on, @Sugermice! on @spybear007 and @NancyCakeFace!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the bar!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!

As wild leaves that before the wild hurrican fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to #FurryTails roof the courses they fly,

With the sleigh full of beer, and @ToddyFur too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the bar

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around

Into the bar @ToddyFur came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all white with the snow underfoot,

A bundle of beer barrels he had flung on his back,

And he looked like @TeddyBearScouts hiking with a backpack

His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like @RosieBear90, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the whiskers on his chin were as white as beer froth

The end of a bottle opener he held in his teeth
And anipals crowded around him like a wreath,

He had a broad face and a round little smoking cap

That looked very dapper a smart little hat

He was handsome and cheerful a jolly fine ted,

And I laughed when I saw him inspite of myself,

A wink of his eye and  a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread

He spoke not a word,but went straight to serving beer

And filled all our glasses with yummy banana beer

And laying a finger aside of his nose

And giving a nod onto the bar he rose

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle

And away they all flew like the head off my beer

But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight

Happy Christmas to all and all welcome at #FurryTails

A very special bookplate

Hi everyone, I really want all of you to see this.  Our good friend from Twitter @xlografie made me some lovely book plates, specially designed for me.  You stick bookplates into the front of your books to show they are yours.  They are great because, as well as showing everyone it is yours, when you look at books in a secondhand bookshop, it is so thrilling to know who the book belonged to.

@xlografie designed this for me.  You can see there is a baboon, then other things related to me.  The shape below the baboon is the end of our island where you can see the famous Needles, further down you can see the Needles with the red and white Needles lighthouse.  You can see boats with Union Flags flying, our island is famous for sailing, with the famous Cowes week every August.  At the bottom you can see the Arsenal crest!  You can see how much research she has done about me.  At the bottom she has signed the plates although I don't think you can really read that on this picture.

The book plates take a lot of work, wood carving and several print processes, so they are not quick to make.  I feel that @xolografin has done fantastic work here.  I am so pleased with them and wanted you all to see.

You can find out more about @xlografie's work on her English website: http://www.xlographie.de/en/

 you can see the lovely work she does.

I think she is fantastically clever and if anyone is interested in getting bookplates she is definitely the person to get in touch with.

The Monkey Haven

We like to go to the Owl and Monkey Haven as often as possible and we always go after we have returned from our summer holiday.  When he got back from the US of A Mini-Kolo was all traveled out so we decided another baboon would go on the visit.  Freddy went last year so this year Aboo wanted to go.  He is good at climbing and swinging so we thought he might get on well there.

Since Freddy's visit the haven had got some Barbary macaques.  We particularly wanted to see them.  I always feel they are sort of like baboons without tails.  They are very cheeky in Gibraltar, teasing holiday makers.  Aboo was very excited to chat with this one.

They seemed to get on well, maybe that is because Aboo also doesn't have a tail.

He seems interested in what Aboo is saying to him.  Aboo was thrilled to have met him, we have been looking forward to their arrival in the haven.

We know lots of our friends like these little chaps, the marmosets, so Aboo visited them.  They were not keen to be filmed with him there, not sure why but he seemed to disturb them.  Well that didn't surprise us, he tends to disturb us too.

We always like the Lar Gibbons, they usually like swinging so Aboo taught them some new techniques, they seem interested but they are pretty good at swinging already.

We love the Jarvan langurs. We loved Fudge but sadly he died.  Now they have Wheat, he is the ginger one, the darker ones are all his girlfriends.  They are very mischievous and rush around all the time.

This one came over to have a look at Aboo swinging and have a chat!

A lot of the monkeys were not feeling like being photographed, they were so busy playing and moving around, we are always lucky to find a few who do.  However, we chatted with all the monkeys.

We always like this chap.  He is a red-tailed Guenon.  He has to live on his own because he was raised as a pet and when other zoos have tried to find him someone to live with it has not worked out because he has not been socialised that way.

Aboo really enjoyed his visit to the sanctuary.  All that chatting and swinging made him hungry so it was time for tea and cake at the Bluebell Cafe at Briddlesford farm.  It always gets a great baboon rating for cakes.

Aboo enjoyed that enormous piece of lemon drizzle cake.

If anyone is coming to our island remember the haven, they will always welcome you.

Fun in Chicago

After four great days in Portland Mini-Kolo caught his flight to Chicago, Alaska Airlines again of course!  This airline gets a very high baboon rating for efficiency, snacks and customer service.

Now that's right this is when he was meant to be wearing his Cubs shirt.  Mini-Kolo's travelling wardrobe is very carefully planned!  The flight was fine and Mini-Kolo got a cab to the airB&B apartment that our people were renting.

It looks like a very grand entrance.  Mini-Kolo guarded all the luggage while they waited for the key-holder.  The apartment was spectacular.

How grand!!

The apartment was very near to Lake Michigan.  Mini-Kolo couldn't wait to have a look at that.  It is massive!!

You can't see the other side.

Mini-Kolo's next Chicago project was to have pizza.  The first night he tried the thin crust pizza.

Woo Mini-Kolo that was a bigggg pizza.  After that Mini-Kolo was full and tired and went back to bed.  He had a quiet breakfast at home the next day and then it was time for the big Chicago (Pugcago) Tweet-up!!

Mini-Kolo met @TommyPug's person, @Koosa_Party, @Sid_The_Catahoula's Lisa and @JennyRosePetal's mum (she came later and met Mini-Kolo for dinner).

They met at Navy Pier where Mini-Kolo nearly got hijacked by an adoring official Chicago Tour Guide.  @TommyPug's person brought their rehomed baboon Austin and Alan their bear from @ThisBear, one of the Koosa's came with their rehomed baboon Cornelius and Captain Bananas.  The baboons and Captain Bananas soon wanted to climb a tree.

They would have been able to see Lake Michigan and he Chicago skyline, if only they didn't have their backs to it!!

A portrait shot was required with everyone.

You can see Cornelius, Captain Bananas, one of the Koosas, Mini Kolo and  in front are Austin and Alan.

More climbing of course, there is an anchor at the end of the pier and what monkey, baboon, Koosa or bear could resist climbing on that.  Austin and Alan are high up in the little hole, Mr Koosa is sunbathing and Mni-Kolo, Cornelius and Captain Bananas are in the foreground!

It was a lovely day and they spent some time walking on the pier until lunch time.  They went to Bubba Gumps, where Mini-Kolo had a Dixie Fishwich.  This would have made him feel as though he was in New Orleans, but he hasn't been there, Leroy (@Leroy_Sealion) has.

Mini-Kolo really enjoyed this, oh yes there were chips (fries) with that and a blueberry smoothie, that was yummy too!

On the way back from the wonderful Tweet-up Mini Kolo came across the beginning of Route 66.

Leroy and his brother Henry found the end of it in LA in 2011, so we have seen both ends.  Maybe one day we will see the middle!  Mini-Kolo met @JennyRosePetal's mum later and they had burgers (veggie burger for Mini-Kolo), unfortunately it was dark and we didn't get a photo.  After a long, busy and hot day Mini-Kolo went home to bed.

The next day he went out to breakfast in a cafe in the neighbourhood where they were staying, French Toast appealed to him that day.

This was yummy and got him ready for his architectural river cruise.  It was rather wet during the cruise but Mini-Kolo got a couple of good pictures.

The cruise was very interesting and the skyline of Chicago was fascinating.  After the cruise Mini-Kolo had a mission.  He needed to go to Chicago's famous chocolate ship, Fanny May!

This was a great shop and money was spent there! Well buying all that chocolate was enough to make a baboon hungry so it was time for a late lunch of deep dish pizza.

This was nice and very filling!!  Mini-Kolo was so full he couldn't eat any dinner, in fact shock!  horror!  He couldn't even eat any of the chocolate he had bought.  Instead of dinner he went for a walk around a little bit of Lake Michigan.  What!!!  A baboon missing dinner!  Horrifying!!  Unheard of!!

At least that gave Mini-Kolo a bigggg appetite for breakfast the next morning.  He had:

crepes and, well after missing dinner he had:

French toast.  If any of you go to Chicago go to mHenrietta for breakfast, it was so good!!

Well sadly, after breakfast it was time for Mini-Kolo and our people to get to Chicago O'Hare airport for the  flight home.

It was a great holiday in the US.  Thank you to everyone who met us and entertained us.  We had a great time and hope to back somewhere next year.

HUGS HUGS HUGS

Activities in Portland

After a good night sleep Mini-Kolo went down to breakfast in the rather fun breakfast room in the hotel.

You could serve yourself to breakfast and there were always sweets available on the tables.  Mini-Kolo tried out the waffle maker.

After that he went for a walk.  One of the big things that Mini-Kolo was interested in seeing was Oregon woods so he walked a trail through some woods.

The woods were so beautiful that he wanted you to see them.  It was a long walk and Mini-Kolo needed a caffeine fix after that.  He found a cafe that had a table and chair just the right size for him.

The Dragonfly Cafe in Portland was great and Mini-Kolo gave it a high baboon rating.

After that he needed lunch and he found a cafe that did an eggplant (aubergine) sandwich, with very yummy crisps.

The next day Mini-Kolo visited the Rose Garden in Portland, another good walk for him.

He saw roses, which were nice, but he also saw his favourite Oregon thing, the pines!

Mini-Kolo is fascinated by large pine trees.

Another tiring walk and he was ready for lunch.  He found a French bakery and bought sandwiches back to the hotel to eat lunch in their roof garden.

This was a tuna mayonnaise sandwich!

In the afternoon Mini-Kolo was called upon to help out the Portland Fire Department.  They had obviously heard that he had done a good job helping out the LA Fire Department last year.

On the third day Mini-Kolo decided to go up in the cable car to see Portland from the air.  This was a little way from the hotel so Mini-Kolo had to get the streetcar.  He waited for it outside the hotel.

It came along quite quickly and took Mini-Kolo to the cable car stop.

Now we don't usually do this but here is a picture of our people.  Somebody kindly took pictures of them from the viewing platform of the cable car.

Our people don't expect anyone really wanted to see them, but the interesting thing in this picture is the view of Portland and the Rocky mountains behind.  It was very high and quite a spectacular view.  It was rather windy so Mini-Kolo stayed safely in the rucksack.

On the last night in Portland Mini-Kolo had the best fish and chips he had ever had.  Now note what I just said.  Mini-Kolo, like the rest of us at Baboon HQ, is English.  It is believed that fish and chips is a totally English dish, so note that the best fish and chips Mini-Kolo has ever had was in Oregon.

Now stupidly I cannot give you the address of this bar, but it is in 23rd North West, north of Northrup Street.  It was surprising to Mini-Kolo to get coleslaw with his fish and chips rather than mushy peas, but he reports that it was fantastic.

Well finishing his time in Portland on a high, the next day Mini-Kolo moved on the last stage of his holiday, in Chicago. We will blog about that tomorrow.

Thank you for following Mini-Kolo's adventures in Texas and Oregon.  More adventures and food to come in Illinois.

Arriving in Portland, Oregon

Well Mini-Kolo made his flight to Portland OK.  Alaskan Airlines have great snacks so as soon as he took his seat he chose his snacks for the journey.

Mini-Kolo chose the fruit and cheese platter, which was very nice!!  What I can't understand is why he is wearing his Cubs shirt, that is meant for him to wear in Chicago where the Cubs are based!!  Editorial error or wardrobe malfunction??

Last year when we went to Portland, we had a big tweet-up.  We really enjoyed that but many of the people had travelled a long way and we didn't like to ask them to do that again so soon, but we did miss them, so maybe next time.

We stayed in the same fantastic hotel as last year, Inn at Northrup Station.  It is so funky, you really must go there is you ever stay in Portland.  They looked after us very as well.  Just look at the room!

Mini-Kolo really loved this model of the hotel with the trams outside. The funky corridor above is really special too.

We arrived at dinner time and wanted to eat quickly so we went back to the Lucky Lab at NW, where we had the tweet-up last year.  Yes, of course, pizza!!

Salad with it???  Is that really Mini-Kolo??

After the pizza and what appears to look like wine (I will have to look into that), Mini-Kolo was tired so he went to bed in the hotel.

In the next post we will tell you all about his adventures in Portland.  He had three very active days!!