Back from under the Ocean!

Hello again, dear human bloggy friends! I hope all is well with you on planet Earth!

What a very long time since blogging ... and what adventures we giraffes have had! We've been on a fantastic nexcursion with Captain Gurgle in our new submarine, Necktunes' Chariot. I wanted to keep you all posted during our underwater journeys, but couldn't get the Interneck. Then I dropped my neckbook computer into the sea, and have had to wait till our return to buy a new one in Raffsburgh.



There is so much to tell you ... Captain Gurgle sailed Necktune's Chariot down and down into the depths of our Camelopardalian seas. We sailed past ancient giraffe citadels which have been submerged for centuries.



As the submarine went deeper and deeper, we caught glimpses through the portholes of floating seaweed, and shy giraffe sea-creatures.



And what wondrous life there was on the seabed! All these nexquisite little persons chatting together among the rocks.

We managed to film this friendly Fringey, who waved at us and sang it's little sea song! I hope you enjoy it, and look forward to visiting you all over the next few days.

The Interneck is running slow!

I don't know about you friends on planet Earth, but our Interneck has been running really slow ... I have considered sending my comments to you by snail mail, as it may be quicker!



There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with our phone connecktion ...




So I looked through my telescope to see if I could spot anything amiss in the space between our worlds. All looked peaceful and harmonious.

Maureen suggested I speak to our computer nexpert, Nekky Tekky. Rather surprisingly he told me to bring the bus, the family, warm clothes and skis!

I followed his instructions, and we all set off on a journey to our polar regions. As on planet Earth, many of our server farms are situated there to keep the servers cool. Nekky Tekky suspected this may be where the problem lay.

The family wandered around enjoying the ethereal scenery, while Nekky Tekky muttered around in the server farm.

We were summoned by his triumphant squeal, "Pengrins!"

Our problem, dear bloggy friends, has been caused by colonies of pengrins warming their bottoms on the heat rising from our underground servers and blocking the intergalactic cyber-waves!

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We didn't have the heart to move them, so I'll just have to put up with slower blogging ... I guess it'll give me time to eat more chocolate biscuits while the comments load up!

Giraffe Greetings of the Season!

Giraffe Greetings of the Season!

To all my dear bloggy friends, may you have a nextra special holiday! Thank you so much for your treasured friendship throughout the year and your wonderful blogs.

Much love from Raph, Maureen and all of us at Necky Knoll House!

Where's the best place for our fabulous photo?

Some time ago, at the Secret Portal behind the Intergalactic Cacti, a beautiful shell photograph arrived for me from Country Girl!
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The whole family fell in love with its subtle colours and entrancing spiral shape receding softly into the background.
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After having it framed, we have nexperimented with hanging it in various rooms. As usual, the family all want to hang it in different places ... I'm calling on you, dear bloggy friends, to help us in the nexciting task of deciding!

I rather like it by the fireplace, near Derrick's Melrose photos, so I can gaze at it in comfort from my rocking chair ...

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Uncle Girth thinks it should be in the hall by the front door, so it's the first thing people see on entering Necky Knoll House.

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Our toddler son, Littl' Nicky says that as his neck is not yet as long as ours, he cannot see it when it's too high - so how about just above the work surface in the kitchen?

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Both Nexi and Nektareeni think that a shell is a good subject to have in the bathroom. But Maureen pointed out that it may get spoiled by all the steam and condensation.

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She suggested hanging it just outside the bathroom on the landing. We tried it there just as Necky Becky was climbing the ladder up to her attic bedroom.

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"Ooh!" she yelled, "I want it! In my secret attic room!"

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Sounds familiar! But it wouldn't benefit the rest of us, as she doesn't allow anyone in her room ...
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Over to you! Where would you hang the lovely shell photo if you lived in our house?
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And of course, a big giraffy Thank You to Country Girl for our wonderful present! Do visit her blog, Chronicles of a Country Girl, and see all her beautiful photographs.

A Tree of Gold

A few days ago I dreamed about a tree of gold.

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Dee of 'A Desert Observer' had asked if anyone knew the identity of a lovely tree in her neighbour's garden, and I must have been thinking about the yellow leaves as I went to sleep that night. When I awoke I had the above image very vividly in my mind.

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Feeling that there could be some neckouragement in this for my bloggy-friends, I thought I would share it. Maybe it will have different meanings for each of you.

November Dream-digging

November is very special in Giraffe World. It is dream-digging time!

As you know, dear bloggy-friends, our gleeful motto is 'Stick your neck out for your dreams!' During the year, our dreams often become a little clouded. We use this time of new beginning to review and re-energize our aspirations.

First of all, we take special leaves from the garden, and write onto them our cherished dreams for the year to come.

Then as a whole family, we busily dig over our vegetable plots ready for winter. Even youngest child Littl' Nicky loves to help, and is very nexcited about our dream-digging!




As the moon rises, we all go out to the Forest to collect fallen leaves from among the pale dappled tree-trunks.

The drive at Necky Knoll House is soon piled high with beautiful leaves.

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They are dug deep into our vegetable and flower gardens. For us, this is both a solemn and gleeful occasion, during which we review the past year, and look ahead to the year to come.

At the first signs of dawn, we take our special 'dream-leaves' and dig them deep into the tilled earth. Along with all the other leaves, they will be transformed over winter, and take part in the magical rebirth of spring. Through all the seasons, whenever we look at our lovely garden, we will be reminded to stick our necks out for our dreams!

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What helps you to follow your dreams, dear human bloggy-friends?

Happy Birthday Weaver of Grass, and Happy Hallowe'en Everyone!

Happy Birthday to our dear bloggy-friend the Weaver of Grass!

(Did you know, Weaver, that you were the first human to comment on my blog!)

Here Maureen and I and Littl' Nicky are strolling down one of our favourite lanes past the tall barn at the edge of the Wood. There's a lovely Autumn feel in the air, and the breeze is swishing through the trees. The Wood beckons and we lift our necks in glee knowing we have a lovely walk ahead of us.

And Happy Hallowe'en to everyone!

Here's a special 'spooky' picture, taken in our Forest. (Necky Becky wanted to be on this one!) Our trees like to dance before the moon, and we'll soon be having our Hallowe'en party! (We haven't a clue what Hallowe'en is about, but all you dear bloggy friends seem to enjoy it, so we thought we'd stick our necks out and celebrate it too!).