Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to you all!

Love from Fuzzy xxx

Eric

Eric has gone to live with Ilona and his little brother Oscar.  They all LOVE science! Here is Eric have a jolly good sniff around the school laboratory.

 Thanks Ilona!  x

The Graduate

Meet my brother Finlay.  He's a graduate!  We're not sure what he did his degree in EXACTLY.  Possibly fishing. Or lazing around.

He's a graduation gift, so I hope we get some pictures of Finlay and his new owner comparing notes on university and mackerel.

Otter Pick Up

Should I go and stand there and see what happens?!

Otto And Nemo

Goodness gracious!  Otto Otter travelled to Germany to hang out with a real live otter - little Nemo!  It looks like they are becoming good friends, and Nemo even appears to be letting Otto near his dinner as well as playing fun games with him, like rolling on the lawn.

 

 

Thanks to Dr Wolfgang Gettmann for the pictures.  For more info on Nemo click here.

What Olympia Did Next

Well, it seems that Olympia is having a whale of a time with Benjamin & Michael from TheBigForest!

She is having so much fun that they have been documenting her activities (which seem mostly concerned with property matters at the moment).  They are promising more fun and photos as time goes on, so I have kindly offered to devote this one post to her and update it as they come in. Stay tuned!

(Actually, I'm quite jealous.  Maybe I can go and stay with them for a while.)

Olympia's new seaside retreat (compact and bijou).

"Now, where's my medal? Ah - there it is".

I'm such a hungry girl! Now where are those kippers, donuts, trifle, full English, roast dinner . . .

Olympia meeting with a dashing Ginger. His name is Millard. At first we thought they were exchanging drugs but  then realised it was a boy/girl thang  . . .

Olympia was just off to the front garden to trim some mint to sprinkle on the new potatoes for their evening meal when she made a shock discovery! "A bear, Millard, a bear!"

Another little Olympia (yes, there is more than one!) went to live in France with a nice lady called Béatrice.  She is currently holidaying with her in Germany and Béatrice has kindly taken some pictures of Olympia trying to practice her diving in the pool. There appear to be a few issues with that, however.

Olympia finds a good vantage point to check out the facilities.

Now, shall I dive in from here . . . ?

. . . or here?

Er . . . oops.

In that case, better have a sit down

Fun With YouTube

PSSSSSST!

Is the coast clear? Has Olympia finally gone?

I mean, I do love you and everything, Olympia, but can I have a go now?

So now I've got my blog back, I'm going to share some of my favourite otter videos with you. These have been selected after positively YEARS of intensive research and are big favourites in our den.  Sarah likes to watch these when she's feeling a bit sad because they always make her laugh. (Click on the links below to see them.)

Here's our current fave, from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. We call it 'Nellie & The Cups'.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wavh47RpLz4

Her face when the red one won't fit is quite priceless.  I've been practising that expression in the mirror for when there are no more chocolate fish left in my bowl.

The next one, from Chris Cohen, clearly demonstrates just how talented otters are (but for God's sake don't let Olympia see this, or she'll get ideas and start showing off again).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1-MbAAnXJ0

Mwah! Mwah!

And finally . . . well, there really are no words for this one.  Turn up the volume.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFqeWTfVi3I&noredirect=1

It Must Be Love!

Olympia has begged me to share just ONE MORE shot with you before she goes into retirement.  Here she is having a cuddle with the magnificent lion made by the lovely chaps at TheBigForest, who won her in the Twitter competition.  Then they said some really nice things on their blog. Awww.

Fencing

It's the final day of the London 2012 Olympics and sadly this brings Olympia's sporting achievements to a close (and maybe I'll get my blog back now, Olympia).  However, we've saved the best 'til last, as this is our personal favourite. 

Who said she has a tea strainer on her head?

Canoeing

Olympia demonstrates why otters don't usually bother with boats. There is no room for tails.

Gymnastics - The Rings

Olympia bravely dangles by her back paws.

Gymnastics - The Beam

Olympia prepares for a forward roll.  I prefer a tuna roll myself.

Weightlifting

Or 'sweetlifting' in Olympia's case.

Water Polo

Another of Olympia's favourites (though she's not sure about that cap).

Jolly Hockey Sticks

It's just not croquet.

Sailing

Go Ben Ainslie!  Go Olympia!

Javelin

In honour of Jessica Ennis, the British heptathlete, Olympia gets busy with her javelin skills (though I reckon she's going to have someone's eye out in a minute).

Swimming

Here we go - Olympia's favourite sport.

Gymnastics - The Floor Discipline

I don't know, Olympia - is this gymnastics?  Or is it yoga?

Asymmetric Bars

Who knew the clothes horse could be such fun?

 

Diving

Olympia competes in a somewhat lo-fi diving competition.

Olympia's Big Night

Well, Olympia Otter had a lot of fun last night when she attended an Olympic Opening Ceremony party in Brighton.  I'm not at all sure why I wasn't invited, but never mind.

I do hope you didn't drink all that pink fizz by yourself

Everyone made a big fuss of her and she really got into the spirit of things (she also stayed up waaaaaaaaaay past her bedtime).

On the train to Preston Park

Olympia is a big hit with the boys

Wow!  Pyrotechnics!

Ahhh, here come the paps

 

Ring of FIRE!

 

Afer all that excitement, it's time to go straight for the chocolate

Then she got a front row seat for the REAL DEAL.

Olympia

 

Olympia otter and her chums have won gold medals in swimming, diving and water polo, and are looking suitably proud. 

They have been made especially to mark the Olympic games in London and will be available for a limited time until the end of the games on August 12th.  Snap one up here!

Marshall

Little Marshall the otter was auctioned off last night! 

He was the first lot, so he was a bit nervous, but bidding was lively and he helped to add to the £800 or so raised by illustrator James Hood for two charities - Women's Aid and the Wythenshawe Transplant Fund. 

Illustrators and designers from the Annexe Studios, Brighton donated prints and paintings (and otters) and many local businesses gave generous raffle prizes.

Lucky Nishant Choksi made the winning bid for Marshall - a brave decision, as Marshall's hobby is farting under the duvet. Well, Nish - don't say we didn't warn you.

The auction in full swing.