Tuesday 31 December 2013

A Happy New Year Story by Dippy

The SeaToday it was New Years Eve 2013, at this time of year when the Park is closed to visitors myself and the rest of the animals still like to have a little bit of fun. I remember last year I had been given the very important responsibility of organising the evenings entertainment for the entire Park. I had started preparing for this huge extravagant party at the end of the summer and I had to make sure everything was ready in time for my guests arriving at 8 pm.
Many of the girls in the Park went off to the hairdressers to get fancy hairdos done and have their nails manicured for the night. Smart dinner suits and crisp white shirts were ironed in the laundry room by the rats, Templeton and Rizzo. They were experts at costume presentation and enjoyed dressing all the animals smartly on nights like these.
As dusk fell about 4 pm, I wandered around the Park switching on all the Christmas tree lights, it looked wonderful, like a magical twinkling fairyland. The party was held in the Park restaurant, all the tables and chairs had been moved to the edge to create a large area for a dance floor. A special stage had been built by the otters, Frank, Sammy and Dean for the nights visiting jazz band. Our entertainment guests, were a fabulous bunch who travelled all the way down from London by train.
I popped on my dinner jacket and bow tie, combed my hair and then had a little taster of the Bucks Fizz which had been prepared by Cookie, the Kookaburra, who was in charge of serving drinks. Cookie was able to create the most delicious cocktails of tantalising tastes and flavours.
The guests began to arrive dressed in glamorous glitter costumes, bringing with them plates of fancy party food as contributions towards the grand party buffet. The rich smell of steamed Christmas pudding covered in brandy drifted through the air and melted away as you moved down the table towards the savoury snacks of smoked salmon on buttered brown bread triangles and cocktail sausages presented on a plate in the shape of a Christmas tree. The food looked and tasted absolutely delicious!!
Alfie and Willis, the black pigs had been selling raffle tickets for the past few weeks before the party and that night the grand prize was revealed, it was a reservation for two at a luxury hotel in the West Wight with a gourmet dinner and champagne followed by a day in the hotel spa. What a treat!
As the evening went on, the dance floor filled and all the Park animals whirled around to the wonderful jazz music. The band was truly amazing, all of the penguins playing were enormoursly talented and they seemed to be having as much fun as all of us on what was a wonderful night.
As midnight approached, tall glasses filled with sparkling champagne were passed around to each guest, so that everyone had one to hold in their flippers, wings or paws for the countdown – 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. As the restaurant clock’s hands reached the number twelve we all joined in together and shouted ‘Happy New Year’ followed by a ‘Hip, Hip, Horray’ Cheer!!!

Saturday 7 December 2013

Extracts from Dippy’s Adventures on the Isle Of Wight


Dippy at Totland Bay (2) This afternoon I met up with my rabbit friends who live in burrows amongst the ferns on Headon Warren which overlooks Totland Bay. Their names are Rabbit Rocket and Rabbit Raspberry.
We sat together on the worn wooden planks of the boat ramp and gazed at the gently rocking waves as they splashed up onto the shore. The sun was beginning to set and  light up the sky turning the clouds to colours of yellow, orange, and pinks. It was starting to feel a little bit chilly, I looked up towards the sky and felt the suns last rays of warmth upon my face before the evening cold began to set in.
Rocket Rabbit suggested a quick game of hide and seek to warm our little bodies up before going on our journeys home to be back in time for dinner. What a super idea!
I said I would count to 100 and promised not to peek as I covered my eyes with my flippers.
It took me quite a while to find the rabbits, there were so many hiding places under all the upside down wooden boats resting against the iron railings on the pebbled Bay. Eventually I found them under the pier hiding really high up on one of the large wooden structural beams. They waved down at me and both had very cheeky smiles on their faces!
Before saying our goodbyes the rabbits helped me fill up 5 jam jars I had brought with me in my rucksack. It was a special treat for the otters at the Park, Frank, Sammy and Dean they absolutely love to bathe in fresh sea water and they asked me to pick some up for them on my trip out today.
I carefully tightened each metal lid of the jars and packed them into my bag. I said goodbye to my friends, wished them a safe journey home and set off towards Seaview.