Here he is, sitting on an upturned flower pot in the garden, hoping that the cat isn't about to push him off into the cold snow. (She did.)
Monday, 21 December 2009
Wombat in a Winter Wonderland
After the disappointing amount of snow he saw in Austria, The Wombat was pretty astonished when an awful lot of the white stuff fell on Northern Ireland - just in time for Christmas!
Here he is, sitting on an upturned flower pot in the garden, hoping that the cat isn't about to push him off into the cold snow. (She did.)
Here he is, sitting on an upturned flower pot in the garden, hoping that the cat isn't about to push him off into the cold snow. (She did.)
Monday, 14 December 2009
A Christmas market in Belfast
A bit closer to home, the Wombat also visited the Christmas market in Belfast. He had a look at the big shiny Christmas tree...
And he tried out some strawberry-flavoured beer in the German beer tent.
And he tried out some strawberry-flavoured beer in the German beer tent.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Christmas markets in Austria
The Wombat tagged along with some friends to visit the Christmas markets in Austria.
He tried making a new friend of this Alpine mountain goat, but its behaviour was a bit too stiff for The Wombat...
Santa Claus doesn't seem to be sure what to make of The Wombat - hopefully The Wombat isn't on the naughty list? (Click the pic to get a better look at Santa's expression!)
The Wombat was a bit disappointed at the lack of snow, although the scenery was very pretty.
He was a lot more impressed by all the chocolates he saw on the way home through Belgium!
He tried making a new friend of this Alpine mountain goat, but its behaviour was a bit too stiff for The Wombat...
Santa Claus doesn't seem to be sure what to make of The Wombat - hopefully The Wombat isn't on the naughty list? (Click the pic to get a better look at Santa's expression!)
The Wombat was a bit disappointed at the lack of snow, although the scenery was very pretty.
He was a lot more impressed by all the chocolates he saw on the way home through Belgium!
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
The Novelling Wombat #2
As part of his NaNoWriMo activities, The Wombat attended the infamous and amazing Night of Writing Dangerously in San Francisco (much to the envy of his blogger).
The Wombat was privileged to meet the one-and-only Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo (on the right), and the incredible Lindsey Grant, Municipal Liaison wrangler extraordinaire.
He was a bit more creeped out when he met the one-and-only Chris Baty doll...
At least he got to dive into Cybele's candy buffet (in a very literal way).
And he performed his solemn mascot duties for his handler Emily, as she wrote her way towards 50,000 words.
The Wombat was privileged to meet the one-and-only Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo (on the right), and the incredible Lindsey Grant, Municipal Liaison wrangler extraordinaire.
He was a bit more creeped out when he met the one-and-only Chris Baty doll...
At least he got to dive into Cybele's candy buffet (in a very literal way).
And he performed his solemn mascot duties for his handler Emily, as she wrote her way towards 50,000 words.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
The Novelling Wombat #1
November is National Novel Writing Month, and although The Wombat himself isn't taking part (typing is too slow, and handling a pen too awkward, with those furry little paws), several of his friends are. So at the start of November, The Wombat set off for Austin, Texas, to join some of them.
He hung out with the Austin WriMos and their penguins at a write-in at Genuine Joe's cafe (click the link for a photo), and then at another at Cafe Caffeine (below).
The Wombat also joined in worshipping William Shatner during a lock-down write-in at the Writer's League of Texas... (Best not to ask about this, really.)
Novellists also like to read, so The Wombat visited a bookshop too. He seems to like children's mystery novels...
He hung out with the Austin WriMos and their penguins at a write-in at Genuine Joe's cafe (click the link for a photo), and then at another at Cafe Caffeine (below).
The Wombat also joined in worshipping William Shatner during a lock-down write-in at the Writer's League of Texas... (Best not to ask about this, really.)
Novellists also like to read, so The Wombat visited a bookshop too. He seems to like children's mystery novels...
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Happy Halloween from The Wombat
The Wombat got dressed up for a Halloween party; shame his moustache kept falling off.
To make up for his lack of interest in fancy dress, here's a photo from earlier in the year. It has a pumpkin in it. (And a less-groomed Wombat.)
To make up for his lack of interest in fancy dress, here's a photo from earlier in the year. It has a pumpkin in it. (And a less-groomed Wombat.)
Thursday, 29 October 2009
The Wombat in China
The Wombat spent the last couple of weeks of October travelling through China (with a new handler). Here are some of his holiday snaps...
If The Wombat sits on the Great Wall, can he be seen from space?
The Wombat checks out the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, and dreams of winning gold... in the marsupial sprint, perhaps? (Shame he's a year late.)
If this is the Forbidden Palace, is it OK for The Wombat to look at it?
The Wombat took a trip down the River Yangtze - he's not actually on the edge of the boat here, which he was very relieved about.
The Wombat is impressed by the giant head, although he's not sure who it belongs to...
This is as close as The Wombat managed to get to a real panda - they are vegetarians, right?
If The Wombat sits on the Great Wall, can he be seen from space?
The Wombat checks out the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, and dreams of winning gold... in the marsupial sprint, perhaps? (Shame he's a year late.)
If this is the Forbidden Palace, is it OK for The Wombat to look at it?
The Wombat took a trip down the River Yangtze - he's not actually on the edge of the boat here, which he was very relieved about.
The Wombat is impressed by the giant head, although he's not sure who it belongs to...
This is as close as The Wombat managed to get to a real panda - they are vegetarians, right?
Saturday, 24 October 2009
More castle-visiting for The Wombat
Back in the summer, The Wombat took a trip around Donegal, including through the Glenveagh National Park. He liked it so much that he decided to go back in September, and this time, to visit the castle. (He likes castles a lot.)
Although no photos were allowed in Glenveagh Castle itself, The Wombat greatly enjoyed the short tour. Even if all the stag motifs all over the place were a bit much.
The weather wasn't all that great, but the gardens still looked lovely - here The Wombat is looking at the back of the orangery.
Outside of the sheltered grounds, the weather was very blustery - The Wombat had to cling tightly to this fence to avoid being blown into the old swimming pool or the lough below!
Although no photos were allowed in Glenveagh Castle itself, The Wombat greatly enjoyed the short tour. Even if all the stag motifs all over the place were a bit much.
The weather wasn't all that great, but the gardens still looked lovely - here The Wombat is looking at the back of the orangery.
Outside of the sheltered grounds, the weather was very blustery - The Wombat had to cling tightly to this fence to avoid being blown into the old swimming pool or the lough below!
Sunday, 18 October 2009
How we used to live - USA & Ireland
Near Omagh in Northern Ireland is the Ulster-American Folk Park, a mostly-outdoor museum which aims to show how people lived in the mid-1800s - those who stayed in Ireland and those who left for the States. It has lots of reconstructed buildings which illustrate life on both sides of the Atlantic, with lots of farmland around them.
Here The Wombat is trying to decide what this piece of farm equipment might have been used for.
He wasn't too sure whether it was safe to be surrounded by so many chicken. Maybe he'd be OK if he sat up high?
In the bar, he was thwarted by an empty glass (probably just as well).
And in school, he learnt a valuable lesson.
Finally, in preparation for his future travels, he checked out the cost of being posted to the US. Not sure if he realises those are 1800s prices, though...
Here The Wombat is trying to decide what this piece of farm equipment might have been used for.
He wasn't too sure whether it was safe to be surrounded by so many chicken. Maybe he'd be OK if he sat up high?
In the bar, he was thwarted by an empty glass (probably just as well).
And in school, he learnt a valuable lesson.
Finally, in preparation for his future travels, he checked out the cost of being posted to the US. Not sure if he realises those are 1800s prices, though...
Monday, 5 October 2009
Views of Belfast
It's a general rule that when you live in an area, you don't usually do much sight-seeing there. Well, The Wombat is happy to be an exception to that rule, and spent a fairly bright autumn afternoon last week wandering around some bits of Belfast.
He started out by going up in the dome at the Victoria Square shopping centre, to take in the views. Thankfully, there's a lift; his short little legs would never have managed the stairs.
Back at ground level, he went to view the Albert memorial clock - it was built back in the 1860s on rather soggy ground and has a worrying lean.
He then had a stroll down to the weir to view the River Lagan - here you can see the M3 bridge, with the World Heritage-listed cranes, Samson and Goliath, in the background.
And also down at the weir, he had a look at the Big Fish - its ceramic scales have prints of playbills, newspaper cartoons and advertisements, and other things to commerate Belfast's history.
He started out by going up in the dome at the Victoria Square shopping centre, to take in the views. Thankfully, there's a lift; his short little legs would never have managed the stairs.
Back at ground level, he went to view the Albert memorial clock - it was built back in the 1860s on rather soggy ground and has a worrying lean.
He then had a stroll down to the weir to view the River Lagan - here you can see the M3 bridge, with the World Heritage-listed cranes, Samson and Goliath, in the background.
And also down at the weir, he had a look at the Big Fish - its ceramic scales have prints of playbills, newspaper cartoons and advertisements, and other things to commerate Belfast's history.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Travelling back in time
The reason for The Wombat's recent absence has finally been explained - he'd taken a trip across the Atlantic, and while there, attempted to travel back in time (and not just in the sense of having to post archive photos). The best he could manage, however, was a trip to the Maryland Renaissance Festival, where he ate, drank, and made merry with the best of them.
The Wombat tried on a dashing red cloak - if only it came in his size!
The Wombat considered buying a dress for a particular lady-wombat... alas, this also did not come in wombat sizes.
He got to sample some Steak on a Stake, a traditional RF staple! (Although he wasn't sure if curly fries were very authentically medieval.)
He had one of the best seats in the house to watch the Rogues playing some excellent music!
And after the show, The Wombat had an opportunity to meet the bodhran player and lead singer of the Rogues, Nelson Stewart.
Oh, no! Nelson turned out to have a secret taste for Wombat! Help!
Safe from the hungry bodhran player, and having had an otherwise fantastic day, The Wombatflew away on admired a beautiful piece of dragon metalwork.
The Wombat tried on a dashing red cloak - if only it came in his size!
The Wombat considered buying a dress for a particular lady-wombat... alas, this also did not come in wombat sizes.
He got to sample some Steak on a Stake, a traditional RF staple! (Although he wasn't sure if curly fries were very authentically medieval.)
He had one of the best seats in the house to watch the Rogues playing some excellent music!
And after the show, The Wombat had an opportunity to meet the bodhran player and lead singer of the Rogues, Nelson Stewart.
Oh, no! Nelson turned out to have a secret taste for Wombat! Help!
Safe from the hungry bodhran player, and having had an otherwise fantastic day, The Wombat
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
More from the archive
The Wombat had a bit of a jaunt around parts of County Donegal earlier this summer (back when the weather in Ireland was actually decent).
Here he is in front of the Grianán of Aileach, an Iron Age stone fort. It was too windy to actually take a photo of The Wombat sitting on top of the walls, but on a calmer day, it's great to stand up there (about 250m above sea level) and look at the fantastic views.
Later, he was taken on a long car journey through Glenveagh National Park and around the coast up to the Bloody Foreland. This photo was taken somewhere near Gweedore.
Here he is in front of the Grianán of Aileach, an Iron Age stone fort. It was too windy to actually take a photo of The Wombat sitting on top of the walls, but on a calmer day, it's great to stand up there (about 250m above sea level) and look at the fantastic views.
Later, he was taken on a long car journey through Glenveagh National Park and around the coast up to the Bloody Foreland. This photo was taken somewhere near Gweedore.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
The Wombat in Northern Ireland #2
Since The Wombat is currently plotting his next visit, he's had a look back through his archives for something to post.
This one was taken back in June, and features The Wombat perched on one of the cannons up on Derry city walls, opposite the Guildhall.
This one was taken back in June, and features The Wombat perched on one of the cannons up on Derry city walls, opposite the Guildhall.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
A visit to Tattershall Castle
The Wombat recently spent a week at Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire - you can read all about his adventures with bell-ringing, beer, and Trusty the Hedgehog, on the Duly Moated blog.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
The Wombat in Wales
The Wombat has been fairly whizzing round the UK lately, and his most recent stop was in the capital of Wales, Cardiff.
Some day, maybe he'll get to actually go into the Millennium Stadium. For a concert or for a sports event, he doesn't mind in the slightest...
He didn't go into Cardiff Castle either, but he did have a good look from the gates - he could just about see the Norman keep inside the grounds.
He (and his minder) rested for a while on the lawn outside City Hall (it's on the left in this photo, with the National Museum of Wales on the right) before having a look at some of the new exhibits in the museum. The Wombat couldn't find any of his own species in the natural history section though; he's not sure whether to be sad or relieved about that!
Sadly, his way down to St John's Church was blocked by a travelling Tyrannosaurus Rex (with an entourage of stegosauruses and charity collectors), and The Wombat decided that a hasty retreat was in order.
Some day, maybe he'll get to actually go into the Millennium Stadium. For a concert or for a sports event, he doesn't mind in the slightest...
He didn't go into Cardiff Castle either, but he did have a good look from the gates - he could just about see the Norman keep inside the grounds.
He (and his minder) rested for a while on the lawn outside City Hall (it's on the left in this photo, with the National Museum of Wales on the right) before having a look at some of the new exhibits in the museum. The Wombat couldn't find any of his own species in the natural history section though; he's not sure whether to be sad or relieved about that!
Sadly, his way down to St John's Church was blocked by a travelling Tyrannosaurus Rex (with an entourage of stegosauruses and charity collectors), and The Wombat decided that a hasty retreat was in order.
Monday, 10 August 2009
A tired little Wombat
The Wombat had the opportunity the other day to hike to the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland, near the lovely fishing village of Craster - where they smoke the kippers.
Here he is, checking out the seaside walk to the castle.
And here he is, halfway there, wondering how much further his legs can carry him.
He's not too sure about all those sheep between him and the castle, either.
So in the end, he gave up and went down to the sea, to try fishing for prawns in some rock pools. He looks like he would have had more luck collecting seaweed instead...
Here he is, checking out the seaside walk to the castle.
And here he is, halfway there, wondering how much further his legs can carry him.
He's not too sure about all those sheep between him and the castle, either.
So in the end, he gave up and went down to the sea, to try fishing for prawns in some rock pools. He looks like he would have had more luck collecting seaweed instead...
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