Thursday 3 September 2009

A party to remember - and still rockin'!



Thank you, all my dear human bloggy friends, for your lovely birthday wishes! We've had a party long even by giraffe standards ... The culmination was a necktacular performance by the Stiffnex band at dawn on Tuesday. Have you ever seen about a hundred giraffes doing air guitar? We danced, we sang, we celebrated until the morning mists lifted.

Now I'm resting, but still rocking!




Allow me to show you my wonderful birthday present from Maureen and the kids - a beautiful new rocking chair! It's just the right height for my neck, and makes a lovely creaking noise.



Our eldest daughter Nexi made the cushion, with giraffes and ice-creams stamped all over it with rainbow coloured fabric dyes.



She also stamped a special design on the headrest, featuring me with our youngest child Littl' Nicky. I am depicted sitting on my old rocking chair, (the one I left outside in the rain too often!!).




Ah, dear bloggy friends, wouldn't it be marvellous if my new rocker was a magic chair which could fly up to a secret portal between our Giraffe World and your planet Earth, and ferry you through the clouds to Necky Knoll House to help us eat the rest of the cakes!

52 comments:

Anne said...

Hi Ralph,
Yes, that would be marvellous to be picked up and brought to your giraffe world. Your daughter did a beautiful job in her creations. Glad you had such a joyous time.

Cloudia said...

Yes! I would so enjoy having cakes and songs with you, my dear Raph!
Such a lovely post.
Aloha, friend-

Comfort Spiral

PERBS said...

What a wonderful rocker bench for a present! You done good! I love all the photos in your post. Enjoy that rocker "bench." Drop by and see mine this week.

Janet said...

Now that sounds like a great idea! Maybe if we wish hard enough?? You must pop past my house and see who we visited!! I asked him if he knew you, but he wasn't in the mood for talking! :)

Rune Eide said...

How can I but applaud loudly for this one? You'll have a queue of both humans and long-necked friends at your doorstep wanting one! :-)

Heather said...

Your rocking chair is splendid Raph and the stamina of giraffes must be amazing. I would have fallen at the first hurdle. If you take a peek at my post for Sat. 29 August you will see a photo just for you and yours. Glad your birthday was such a great occasion.

Eleanor said...

I would love to fly over and assist you with the rest of the birthday cakes. Happy birthday too! Your rocking chair and wish for magic makes me think of Enid Blyton and the Magic Faraway tree? Was Enid Blyton part of your childhood? Among others, the Faraway tree took the children to such delights as the Land of Topsy-Turvy and The Land of Do-as-you-please. I think a giraffe could have fun in both of those exotic destinations!

Eleanor said...

I sure wish I could fly over in my office chair and help you finish the birthday cakes. Happy Birtday, Raph! Your rocking chair and wish for magic made me think of Enid Blyton and the magic Faraway Tree. Was Enid Blyton part of your childhood? The Faraway tree took the children to delights such as the Land of Topsy Turvy and the Land of Do as you please. I think a giraffe could have fun in those exotic destinations!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hi Choices, Thank you - I will pass your compliment to Nexi, she will be pleased!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Cakes and songs would be nexcellent, Cloudia - I'll see if I can get the rocking chair to fly!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

PERBS, I'll see if I can make my rocker bench fly across to planet Earth to see your bench of the week!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I'm intrigued, Janet! Who do you know who may know me? I shall come and see!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh, my goodness, RuneE! We've had a queue of giraffes along the garden path all week wanting cake! I'd better let Gaffer Giraffter know, at Our Neck of the Woods TImber and Furniture!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Heather, our stamina was greatly assisted by mountains of delicious food!

A photo just for us?! Thank you - I shall come and have a look!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Ooh yes, Eleanor - I did read Enid Blyton as a young giraffe, and loved the Magic Faraway Tree books. I must read them again!

Thank you for your birthday wishes - and I do hope you can fly across and join us for tea and cakes!

EG CameraGirl said...

What could be more special than a rocker that creaks and has hand-decorated cushions? I can see you had a rockin' birthday indeed!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous rocking chair Raph! Happy belated birthday.

Rosemary said...

What party animals giraffes are!never knew......... lovely rocker and the best part the made with love cushion and stamp.......

The Weaver of Grass said...

Do hope Necky knoll house doesn't sink under the weight of all those cakes Raph - glad you had such a lovely birthday - was it a special O one? Enjoy rocking in the chair but don't forget to blog - I do miss you when you don't put a post on. Have a good weekend and keeeeeep rockin'

Unknown said...

Hi Raph,

What a marvellous party. The rocker seems like a wonderful answer after all that dancing! IF ONLY we could drop in for tea and cakes!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hello EG Tour Guide!

Oh yes, such a musical creak my rocker has, which varies in tonality depending on whether it is placed on the wooden verandah or the carpets indoors!

I see you are a Tour Guide! I must come over and see your blog. Trachelus Aplombus is the Guide on our Giraffe World Tours Bus, and a splendid one!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Gaston Studio! We're eating banana and syrup cake today - would you like a slice?

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I suppose we are party animals, Rosemary! We like to celebrate everything possible!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Weaver of Grass! It's nice to be missed - I'll have to bring my neckdrop computer out and blog from my rocking chair!

No danger of Necky Knoll House sinking - if it can survive the din of the Stiffnex practising in the cellars it must be strong!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

It is certainly restful, Derrick, and Nexi's cushion is very comfortable.

Do try and drop in - you'll be able to see your Melrose Abbey photos by our fireplace!

Jeane Myers said...

well all I can say is Giraffes know how to rock a party and one would need such a wonderful rocker after the festivities end!

Sara said...

That is simply the most beautiful chair I have ever seen :-D You must be a very much loved giraffe. It is sure to have magical properties, even if just to remind you of what a lucky giraffe you are each time you sit upon it. x

Lyn said...

What a party, indeed..and you never know when things will become magical, and portals appear!
I believe that rocking chairs should creak...

Madame DeFarge said...

Everyone needs a rocking chair of this sort. Most restful in a refined way. Glad you enjoyed the party - must be season for it.

Viola said...

First.. Happy birthday!
What a wonderful present you got! And ordinary. The last photo I admired as well.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Jeane - giraffes rock! :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I do feel like a very lucky giraffe, Sara! I've been sitting on my new chair with a mug of hot chocolate, gazing out towards the Forest and reminiscing about the fun we've had at our party!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Lyn - I wonder if all rocking chairs creak ... it would be interesting to put them all on a CD and write a symphony for rocking chairs!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh, Madame DeFarge - I'm glad you think my chair is refined! I'm wearing some new slippers, with purple giraffe markings on, which I'm sure add a further refined touch.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Voila! Glad you like my chair and photo, and thank you for your birthday wishes!

The Pink Cowboy said...

You got to love a giraffe rock concert, the best!!!! Giraffes Rule!!!!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Pink Cowboy - I'll let you know when we have the next one and you can try and find a secret portal!

Crafty Green Poet said...

giraffes doing air guitar and heaadbanging, now there's a sight for stiff necks....

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Air guitar is very good for keeping the neck supple, Crafty Green Poet!

Cloudia said...

This quote made me think of you for some reason, Raph!

"I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe, and someone said I was a snake, I'd think, no, actually I'm a giraffe."
Richard Gere

Aloha!

Cloudia's Comfort Spiral

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Cloudia! Richard Gere sounds interesting - is he a giraffe?

Totalfeckineejit said...

Very happy birthday and what continuosly lovely drawings ,your imagination is boundless.Ps.Did I catch you necking with Mrs Neckman after the party? ;)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Totalfeckineejit! I'm glad you like my pictures - though surely you don't think I imagined them!?!

PS Ooh - where did you see us? ;)

Eryl said...

You are a rock god!

nollyposh said...

oh sighhhh Yes wouldn't it be ~wonderful~

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Eryl!

I've tried doing air guitar while sitting on my new rocking chair, but the arm-rests get in the way ...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Keep looking for a portal, Nollyposh!

bindu said...

It would be lovely indeed! Great details on the chair, and perfect design for long necks. :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Bindu! I've put three cushions under my neck and it's doing wonders for my party-and-air-guitar-neck-ache!

BT said...

Oh yes please Ralph. It was my birthday too on Sunday. Happy Birthday to meeeee, etc.

Such a party you had, I got soaked in Ireland and went down a cave. Hmmm. I did get a cake though.

Your rocker is wonderful. Don't fall off it - or you'll be off...... Just a thought!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Necky Becky says I've always been off my rocker, BT!

(Hope you got my birthday wishes earlier - I was admiring your green patterned wellies present!)

Barbara Martin said...

It's a lovely rocker, Raph. You have to enjoy birthdays each time they come.

And I visited Janet's blog. How wonderful for her to be up close and personal to such a fine example.