Norfolk Island
Here I am once again being dragged off to parts unknown. This time to an island in the Pacific Ocean called Norfolk which is about two hours from Sydney. I am not very happy 'cause MUM said I couldn't bring anyone from the cupboard and I knew I was going to get dragged 'round like a bored kid. If you turn your computer back to front you can see how grumpy I look.
I cheered up a little when we arrived and I saw how beautiful the island is. In no time we were organised as MUM and DAD had a few excursions lined up. We were on a week's holiday with Unkee Bill and Auntie Helen who are lots of fun. Especially Auntie Helen, who kept giving me cuddles. I was hoping she would give me sachets of honey, but kept remembering MUM's wise words,
"Don't expect and then you won't get disappointed". So I wasn't - when she didn't.
"Don't expect and then you won't get disappointed". So I wasn't - when she didn't.
Two weeks before we arrived the Australian Government had taken over the island's autonomy. That's a BIG word for little ol' me, but I sure learnt what it meant 'cause everyone was moaning about the changes. I kept my mouth shut so they wouldn't think I was from Australia, but really a bear from the Arctic, as I didn't want to get into any squabbles. I snuck over to the park and stuck my paw print up on the democracy banners to show my solidarity with the locals. If you look closely in the bottom right-hand corner you can see my smudge.
One day I was feeling particularly mischievous and kept telling MUM that I was bored and wanted to go home. She stuck me on top of this pole which was holding up an electric fence and made me sit there for ages. I was so scared I would nod off and fall on the wire. I started calling out for Geoffrey Robertson to come and save me as he campaigns for human rights. However, he didn't turn up. Maybe 'cause I am a bear he doesn't care?
I soon cheered up when I saw this rainbow over the small island in the distance. I kept a lookout for the pot of gold that I could scoop up and run away with. However, like many things, it turned out to be a big fib as there wasn't one. Maybe MUM nicked it when I wasn't looking. She can be so mean at times. Ouch! I just got a you know what...
I saw this sign for a Masked Booby which reminded me of the blue-footed ones we saw in the Galapagos. I covered my eyes and pretended I was one of them to see if I could fly away home. Unfortunately it didn't work and I was dragged off to the local museum.
This is when things really started to pick up. I became very interested in the exhibits especially when I found this old photo of MUM washed up on the shore. I asked her if the six men standing on top of her were tap dancing. She looked very upset and started to tear up. I finally paid her back for the years of misery. She got even more upset when I found this next exhibit.
"MUM", I yelled, "how the heck did you get to squeeze into that jar!"
That did it. She ran from the museum and DAD had to take her over the road to the Norfolk Sweeties shop and buy her a packet of gummy teddies which she chewed slowly as she glared at me for the rest of the day!
That did it. She ran from the museum and DAD had to take her over the road to the Norfolk Sweeties shop and buy her a packet of gummy teddies which she chewed slowly as she glared at me for the rest of the day!
I like the way the Norfolk Islanders spell. It reminds me of my brother Beans when he tries to write as he just puts down what he hears. If you read this sign out loud you will understand what I mean.
Here's a picture of me on our second last night on the island. We went on a bus tour to Wonderland to listen to night poetry and learn all about the islanders and their weird ways.
The best bit was seeing MUM's underpants hanging out to dry in one of the installations. My glass eyes were shining from the tears brought on by the laughs I tried to supress. I felt mean, but well, every picture tells a story.