Buon Natale!

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Can anyone write a Tiddles story?

I am really enjoying my job as Eco-Schools Coordinator, but I don't want to give up on my dream of having a Tiddles the Tiger book published. I was chatting to a colleague yesterday, and he suggested I try and find someone who can write a story, and I illustrate it. I thought this was a good idea, and wondered if anyone in Blog Land could, or would write a Tiddles story. If you browse through my blog, you will see what kind of a tiger Tiddles is (small and orange!) and you will also find out about his 'friends', the Stepford Bunnies...... They all live in Fluffville, which is a small town by the sea. So, if anyone feels inspired by this, please get in touch! Here are some sketches of Tiddles on one of his holidays, which I hope you like!

Crunchy!

Here's Ashley the Dragon eating his crunchy breakfast cereal (Fire Crunch and Puff Pops, to be exact!) Bit of an oldie, this one!

Underground, Overground, Wombling Free!

It has occurred to me, as I get out and about visiting Schools with my Eco Presentations, that all those years ago, when I was a Small Person, the Wombles taught us about 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle', so it's hardly a new thing! The Wombles ( for anyone who doesn't know) are little furry creatures with pointy noses who live on Wimbledon Common. The author Elisabeth Beresford wrote a series of Wombles stories from 1968, and it became a television show in the 1970's - I was a big fan!

'Wombles are organised, work as a team

Wombles are tidy and Wombles are clean

Underground, overground, wombling free

The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we'.

I was lucky enough to find this Womble (Orinoco) in a junk shop recently. I will have fun using him in my work with the kids, as they will, no doubt, think he is an antique from the past (A bit like me!) Tiddles and the Bunnies are kind of Womble-like, in their own little way too, as Fluffville has recently become carbon neutral!

You Gotta Love a List!

We really like to make lists! Lists are the stuff of life , they help you get organised - and stop you forgetting important things! Here is a new character, Energy-Saving Piglet - with a pencil and the obligatory list! No doubt I will be rushing off to the Puppet Shop next, to buy a piglet, Oh Yes I Will!

Tiddles says, 'Hi Owen'!

Tiddles is a very busy tiger these days, visiting lots of schools with his talk on renewable energy. He asked me to put this up for him, as he has had to dash off again! He hasn't forgotten you all, and sends his love and best wishes to everyone. In his spare time, he has been discussing setting up new projects with the Stepford Bunnies, and has been taking lessons in public speaking to get a bit more confident delivering his talks! He has asked me to show you these photographs of him and one of the Stepford Bunnies, getting ready to go to a school!

Bob Goes to the Shop and Fluffy saves the World!

I have had the absolute pleasure of working with 295 Primary School children this week. At the end of my Energy Presentation, I get them to do a little task - here are a couple of cute examples of their 'Energy-Saving' comic strips! I think they are such fun, and wanted to share a couple with you!

Educational Bunny

So it just goes to prove, the Stepford Bunnies have changed their ways and become role models for young minds! Big up those Bunnies!

The Nine Eco-Schools Topics

Here are The Stepford Bunnies cleverly demonstrating the nine Eco-topics which I work to in schools. My job is to specifically deliver the 'energy' topic, but I still help with all the others. It's great fun, and I'm really enjoying working with the kids - they have such great ideas, and are so up for saving the planet, what an inspiration they are! I am finding it pretty tiring, though, and go to bed about eight o'clock every night - but I'm hoping that as I get more used to the commuting etc, I will get a bit more of a life, ha ha!

Tiddles' Tips!

Here's Tiddles explaining all about hydro-electric power- well, he will be, this is just the introduction! I see he has bought himself another new jumper too! Next, there will be a new car on the drive!

So far, so good!

Well, I've survived my first three weeks! Tiddles and I gave a presentation to a class of real, live children last Monday. The subject was 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle', so I had a great time showing them rubbish out of the bin, and discussing ways in which we can reduce the amount of waste we produce...the kids were so lovely and enthusiastic! They adored Tiddles and the Stepford Bunnies, and after my talk, we all got down to drawing our own Fluffville comic strips, with an eco-theme! Brilliant! I will show you some of these as soon as I get copies of them, they're very sweet and funny!

Tiddles is not-as-anxious-as-he-was-this-time-last-week

Whew! What a week that was! I started in my new post last Monday, and haven't come for air since! I'm really enjoying the job, but I'm finding it pretty tiring, as I have a sixty-mile commute every day now - and there's never anywhere to park the car! I work with lovely people in a very nice office, so all is good, so far! I've been working in partnership (ha ha!) with Tiddles on an energy presentation for primary school children. Here are a couple of pictures of Tid turning his heating down and wearing a fetching pink aran jumper, and being blown by a wind turbine! I hope you're all well - I can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you've all been doing - but first, I have to go and iron all my 'posh' clothes!

Tiddles is Anxious

Tiddles starts his new job tomorrow as Eco-Schools Co-ordinator.....OK, really it's me who is starting the new gig, and I am feeling really nervous and anxious. I was so happy being at home with my pussycats, drawing Fluffville comic strips and chopping logs. But I didn't actually earn any money; well one or two pennies - not enough for cars bills, electricity, council tax etc. Oh well, ho hum.....

Please keep your fingers and paws crossed for Tiddles and I tomorrow!

Tiddles' Presentation

Here are a couple of pics of the presentation I gave yesterday, featuring 'The Wee Striped Wonder' (Thanks, Louciao!) Tiddles the Tiger!

Tiddles has done it!

Wow! Tiddles had his interview this morning, and he has just received a phone call to say he has got the job! Well, Tiddles hid in my briefcase and I answered the questions for him, but he told me what to say! It's a wonderful job, as I will become 'The Eco Lady', visiting all the schools in Dumfries and Galloway to help them reduce their energy consumption, and maybe even find ways to use sustainable energy! Tiddles always was a green tiger (green and orange!) and all his hard work has paid off at last! Well done Tiddles!

......and the Stepford Bunnies

They wanted to help too!

Ways to save Energy with Tiddles

As Tiddles is now home, I've got him working on the presentation for tomorrow. Here are some of his ideas for saving energy.

Eco-Schools with Energy Co-ordinator Interview

I have been short-listed for a cool job and the interview is on Tuesday; part of the interview process is to deliver a presentation on 'Energy' to 7 - 10 year old kids. I am going to use Tiddles and his friends to get the message across about ways to save energy etc, as I thought the young people might enjoy the illustrations. I've planned various bits and pieces, and first up is a Tiddles Word search! Now all I need is Tiddles himself to get back in time for my interview on Tuesday - I thought it would be nice if he came with me, so I've bought him a British Airways ticket to get him home. I need to get this job to pay for it!

Tiddles is stranded in Italy!

Tiddles is stuck in Italy! Ryan Air needs £40.00 because he didn't check in on-line and he's spent all his money. He is going to try and sell some old bicycles, then he can catch a plane and get home..... Let's keep our paws crossed!

The Tiny, Totty Caravan is home!

We towed the caravan back from Glasgow to its new home in Kirkcudbright yesterday, and I'm pleased to say it went without a hitch, ha ha! (hitch, get it!) Needless to say, I have been fiddling my head off , ignoring all other jobs in order to get these shots for you all to see! Isn't it sweet? It's so very tiny, that I have to keep going outside to look at it! I can't wait for seaside trips with thermos flasks, sand sandwiches and woolly blankets!

The Dangers of eBay and a Tiddles-sized Caravan!

Tiddles has bought a caravan! Isn't it sweet? It's just about the littlest sort of caravan you can buy, and just right if you are a short, orange tiger. We have been searching and searching for a little van like this for ages, and now it's nearly here! I can hardly contain my excitement, as it will be just perfect for holidays at the seaside, making flasks of tea and picnics in laybys. What fun! How jolly it will be! Oh, I'm so happy! As many of you will know, Toad of Toad Hall has a Canary-Coloured Caravan, which he gives up for a shiny red motor car - well, that's what I will get next! A shiny red motor car for Tiddles and I to hit the road in!

Mid-Life Crisis and Middle-Age Spread!

Ha ha! I am 47, which is a bit weird as I still feel twenty-something; where did all the years go? This is my new Elmo T shirt (they're probably for 16 year-olds, but i don't care!) I always thought Sesame Street was pretty cool, and my friend has a cat called Elmo, so it had to be bought. 'Buy me, buy me', it squeaked in the shop, so I did.

Tiddles is Under-dressed, Part Three

Here, Dear Readers, is the final instalment of the Gripping Tale of Tiddles' Adventures at a Posh Dinner Party. Tiddles has taken sound advice from Trinny and Susanna, and gone shopping to Savile Row to buy bespoke suits, shirts and waistcoats, which make him look very nice indeed! Will this stop the Evil Bunnies' stares? Will Tiddles get invited to anything else ever again? We will just have to wait and see, Dear Readers, trying to contain our excitement and wait for Liz to stop fiddling about in that garden!

The End.

Tiddles is Under-dressed, Part Two

Oh no! Tiddles has come 'casual smart', I knew it was the wrong thing to wear; The Stepford Bunnies are so dapper in their formal jackets and bow-ties - Tiddles looks as if he is still in his pyjama's! He should have worn something smarter (this was supposed to be for Illustration Friday, 'worn', but I have been obsessively planting seedlings for the past week!) I hope everyone in Blogland is well and happy - Don't miss the third and final part of this gripping tale, coming as soon as I've finished my gardening!

Tiddles is Under-dressed, Part One

Uh oh, I wonder how this story will unfold? Stay tooned!

Illustration a-week-last Friday

Goodness me, I am very late with this one! I've been spending too much time in the garden - and not enough in Fluffville! Here is Tiddles 'drifting' up into the clouds at the Fluffville Balloon Festival. He seems to getting on well with the Stepford Bunnies, which is a good thing - I think! I have my suspicions that they have put extra floating gas in his balloon, as they all have their paws on terra-ferma, and Tiddles is floating. Hmm, strange, isn't it? I'm still not sure about those Bunnies....

Illustration Friday 'Unfold'

Oh dear! I knew something like this would happen.....Tiddles and the Stepford Bunnies have got lost on their day-trip to the seaside. I told Tiddles to take the satnav, but being a Traditional Tiger, he declined, as he says he 'likes a map'. Well it's all very well liking them, but you also have to be able to read them! Even having them the right way up would be a start!

Ooh, the smell of canvas!

Yesterday was so hot and sunny I decided it was a Day for Erecting Old Canvas Tents, and that is what I did! I had great fun trying to work out where all the poles went, and fiddling to my hearts content. Then I took them down again and packed them away in their canvas bags. These old tents really tell a story - I think about all the fun and excitement people must have had, planning their holidays, all their adventures in the sun and rain.... so much more romantic than a package holiday to the Costa Del something or other, don't you think? Well, I intend to use them, and I also have my beady eye on an old VW camper which I think is unwanted. Watch this space!

Tiddles' Tricycle, A Cheeky Cat and some veg!

At last, I have battled with the mountains of junk, some enormous spiders, and so much random stuff it makes me think I must have some sort of a problem.....to bring you, Dear Readers, Tiddles' Tricycle! OK, so it needs a bit of work, bit it will be just the thing for his short legs (balancing problems). Here, also, is Bacon looking cheeky (cute, gets away with anything / everything, looking like that!) and some pics of the garden and inside the greenhouse. Finally, Tiddles 'Big Purchase' - his very own house! He has now moved from under my bed to this bijou residence, on the window sill! (Tiddles' house was £8.00 from the local fete a few weeks ago).