Interviewed by Willow!

What an honour! I am being interviewed by Willow!

Pondering Willow's questions during the small hours gave me much food for thought and I filled several sheets of paper with my ruminations ... I've cut out a lot of my giraffe waffle and streamlined my answers to blog-size!

At the end of the post I will give an invitation to you, fellow bloggers, to be interviewed by me.

Here are Willow's wonderful interview questions!

1. How did you meet your inspiration, the lovely Ms. Maureen?

My first meeting with Maureen Treeging, my dear wife? Ah, now that is a whole story in itself! One that is complex, emotional and far too lengthy to be told in a few sentences. I will not spoil the story for you for the future; for now I give you the setting:

'On the wild Neckmoors north of Raffsburgh grows a forest ...'

2. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

The word 'perfect' makes this question particularly interesting! Lots of things make me 'ordinarily' happy, most of them quite simple, such as a nice cup of tea or a walk in the woods, and of course, the company of folk I love and like.

However, I see happiness more as a choice - and a very active state of mind, rather than a reaction to pleasant things. I desire what is often referred to as 'background happiness' - the state of being free from 'what if?' thoughts and niggly worries, even in worrying circumstances. This requires, (for me), a lot of hard graft, practise and mental discipline, but - oh yes - it does work! Gradually ...

Then there are those transcendent moments of happiness, which are closest to perfection ... those unbidden 'glimpses' - when suddenly there is an upsurge of pure joy, a bubbling of a kind of golden fountain that seems to rise from within. Difficult to describe, but you'll know what I mean if you get them too!

3. What is your most marked characteristic?


My neck? Probably, to humans - although in Giraffe World it is very commonplace!

Or maybe my perpetual expression of bemused intelligence??

4. Other than your loved ones, what is your most treasured possession?

I appreciate and enjoy all my many possessions, but those things I treasure most I do not 'possess'. You cannot hold them, I feel they kind of flow through you and multiply by sharing; hope, love, affection, encouragement, inspiration and humour - oh yes, exuberant, gleeful humour!

(And I am very fond of my new telescope!)

5. What is your motto?

'Stick Your Neck Out For Your Dreams!'



Or in its longer version: 'Giraffitude! finding out who you are and sticking your neck out for your dreams with integrity, respect for others and gleeful fun!'

Thank you for interviewing me, Willow!

Here are the directions;

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3.You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Go on - stick your neck out and dare ... I'll be nice to you!

Do, please still leave comments, even if you don't want to be interviewed - I love your comments!

Hearty, Healthy Takeaway Meals!

All the seasonal talk about dieting is making me think about food constantly ...

It therefore seems like a good time to give you a little 'taste' of Girth's hearty healthy takeaway meals. There is not really a lot I need to say about them other than that they are delicious, highly nutritious and exceedingly popular. It would appear that the residents of Neckelchester hardly cook at all, so in demand are the Gleeful & Greedy meals!

Maybe one day Girth will let me post one or two of his secret recipes!

Our Family Favourites

Necky Becky has insisted that I include a post about our favourite presents this year! Who am I to argue ...

First of all, she would have everyone know that her 'bestest pressie' was the pencil case printed with the image of a wild giraffe sticking it's tongue out. A pose which she now proudly emulates whenever she can!

Next in her order of importance is, of course, her beloved Neckshund dog Hals. He received a football, which we have all fallen over several times in the last week.

Nexi couldn't decide which of her presents was her favourite - she loves them all. She received lots of nailvarnish and other strong-smelling items with which to paint herself, her room, everyone else's room, and anything else she can get her hands on.

Toddler Littl' Nicky also follows the artistic line and has been enjoying his new paints and easel. His painting below is a portrait of me.

Which leaves Maureen and I! We had many beautiful gifts. Maureen received a bottle of her favourite honey drink, I have a subscription to the Raffsburgh Astronomical Society, and we both have stacks of new books to read.

*

Best of all is our special Intergalactic Viewing Box. Fitted to our TV, it receives many extra Planet Earth channels, enabling us to see some of the wonderful films and music performances recommended by our dear new bloggy friends!

Feeding our World's Tallest Giraffe

The Weaver of Grass and The Solitary Walker both left such kind comments on my New Year's Day post, regarding the abundance of my food supply.

*

This jogged something in my memory about an article in the Knollshire News a few years ago. I have managed to find it in our cuttings file.

*

A nextraordinarily tall wild giraffe had appeared on the Neckmoors north of Raffsburgh. The Rangers were concerned that she couldn't comfortably bend her long neck sufficiently to reach down to the trees for food. After much discussion it was decided to charter a helicopter to fly up portions of fresh green shoots from the nearby Biomass Plantation.

*

(We have a dual energy supply here in Knollshire, from Biomass and our AFF Gas).

*

'Granny' as she was affectionately named, spent a year on the Neckmoors, before heading north towards the Far Mountains. It is believed that other Giraffa camelopardalis giganteum dwell there, so we hope she has found plenty of friends - and food!

Necky Knoll New Year Greetings!

Happy New Year Everyone! To all our friends, human and giraffe, bloggers and readers!

Our fancy dress party yesterday was hilarious! After wishing our guests a merry farewell, we grabbed a couple of hours' sleep, then got up to watch our early Giraffe World sunrise.

Gathered on our drive, we experienced a magical moment as the sun emerged from the grey sky. Shafts of golden light illuminated the Knollshire landscape and the copses of bare trees seemed to reach up to drink in the new sunlight. We stood in silence for a few moments. Gently Maureen started to sing our special family song, 'With our Necks Entwined'. (Click on song title to hear).

May your Year be luminous, harmonious and fun, dear friends!

Birthday Greetings to our special friend, Brendy Neckson!

Sharp Dressed Neckmann

I've decided on my costume for our New Year's Eve Fancy Dress Party!

Initially I had thought of going as Prankman Cheng, but it would have been too complicated for Nexi to sew at such short notice. Who could I be? I was getting my neck in a bit of a twist about it, so I started singing to cheer myself up. As I began one of my favourite songs, 'Sharp Dressed Man', there I had it! I'll be 'Sharp Dressed Neckmann' - in true ZZ Top attire!

Nexi threw up her hands in mock despair when I told her, and said I'd be better calling myself 'Zzzz Up Top'. However, she promised to get my costume together - just a beard, hat and dark glasses really. I'm borrowing one of Neko's guitars, (as long as I promise not to play it ...)

How on earth am I going to eat my sprouts and New Year Pudding with this on?

I've been watching a film of the song, so I get all the actions right. I love the bit where they both kind of bend their knees in synchronisation.

This is going to be fantastic - I so love this track! Hey, everybody ... does Raph rock?!!

Sport, sport, marvellous sport, permits a giraffe some sobriety ..

I have no interest in sport whatsoever. Oh, but how grateful I am to benefit from a sibling-squabble-free environment, thanks to marvellous sport!

Nukkle has taken his nephew and Necky Becky to the football match in Raffsburgh. Littl' Nicky is at the Gleeful & Greedy Restaurant with his auntie and uncle, where they are holding their annual 'Bounciest Custard' competition.

Nexi and her boyfriend Neko have gone ice skating.


What a haven of peace and tranquillity for Maureen and me! Maureen is at her beautiful carved desk by the window, writing with her antique quill pen. I am at the kitchen table typing on my necktop.

We've had a wonderful family time over the last few days, but isn't it lovely to get a bit of peace!