A small gift

Wilson visits Father Xmas' Workshop. I could hear much excitement from inside, and W eventually emerged bearing a small gift and a large smile.

Choosing our tree...

It's much harder to choose an Xmas tree when one is accompanied by an anteater with such high standards. Our tree has to be perfect: it has to look perfect, smell perfect, be the perfect shape and size etc. I feel a bit Scrooge-like wishing it were the perfect price!


I had to put my foot down about cutting a hole in the ceiling to accommodate an extra-tall tree even though, as Wilson pointed out, 'it would decorate two rooms at once!'


Naturally, each tree-choosing trip includes lengthy a refreshments break. 

Xmas cards start to arrive

Wilson has received loads of Xmas cards from his family - his mum, Mrs Vermilingua and all his various half- and step-brothers and -sisters… even a couple from those stepfathers who have met him. 

All the cards are very similar (I don't suppose there's a lot of choice at the Drusillas Souvenir Shop) but I think W was touched to be remembered by them all.

Wilson posts his letter

Wilson's just been out to post his letter to Father Xmas…

He has received an email informing him that he has been unsuccessful in his application to carry the Olympic Torch. I expected him to be disappointed, but he's so caught up in preparations for Xmas he hardly paid it any attention; in fact I've half a suspicion he'd forgotten he even applied!

Wilson writes a Very Important Letter...

Wilson has written his letter to Father Xmas…

Keep Calm...

Home again, and Wilson realises that as well as receiving gifts he must give some too… so he's published this new Motivational Poster to raise some cash for his Xmas Present fund. Why not print it out and stick it up… somewhere?

Tea at the Apple Market

While we were at the Apple Market we had tea, and Wilson was delighted to see that the café stocked Ant Juice! (I can't imagine where they got that from, must be left-over stock at some food warehouse.) 

So, 'Xmas Bananas' washed down with Ant Juice - what could possible be better? Roll on Xmas!

Click on this or any other picture in the blog to see it full-size!

Apple Market

On the way back from Birmingham we visited London so I could take Wilson to the Apple Market at Covent Garden. He liked the buskers there and I had to stop him from doing some busking himself. 

He bought himself some 'Xmas Bananas' from the market, and assured me they were the 'loveliest and most delicious and altogether scrummiest' bananas he had ever eaten.

Xmas markets. Again.

Ant Wars II:

Who'd have thought there were so many German Xmas Markets in England - how do they manage in Germany when all the markets are over here? 

Still, Wilson is LOVING it… especially the Xmas food! There may be no ant-related snacks, but he's making up with extra jacket potatoes and crêpes :-)

Riding with Father Xmas

How many times can one anteater ride on one ride? I had to go visit the ATM twice to keep this ride fed to Wilson's satisfaction… and when we finally left (Cheesy Wotsits crisis) he still wanted more!

This anteater is insatiable!

Xmas market

Now it's Xmas Markets! I have to admit, it is quite fun, and it helps me see Xmas once more through the eyes of childhood, since everything about it is new and fresh and magical to Wilson, as it once was to me and many years later to my children…

A gift from Wilson!

You've just got time to make Wilson's Hi Wilson! Advent Calendar - it will really get you in the mood for Xmas. 

Download the first picture, print it out and cut round the solid 'door' lines. 

Then download the next picture, print it out and glue it behind the first picture. 

Wilson recommends that you do this second bit with your eyes closed, so you don't spoil the surprise of what's behind each door -- good luck with that!

W assures me that this Advent Calendar will get everyone in the Xmas Mood!

Wilson makes the news!

Oooh! Wilson is in the Birmingham local paper! 

He is very cross that the report got both our names wrong, by the spelling mistakes (ant-eter indeed!) etc, but I think he's quite pleased with his dare-devil depiction in the story... and secretly, he loves being called 'exotic'! Also, he thinks his profile works well in the photo!

This is definitely one for his Cuttings album!

In search of Xmas

We've been trekking from store to store visiting all the Xmas displays. Wilson keeps telling me, and anyone else who will listen, that Xmas will be better that Talk Like a Pirate Day and Halloween rolled into one!

For myself, I'm finding it a bit difficult to feel Xmassy when the sun is shining, the weather is warm and it's still only November, but W's mood is quite contagious!

Flying is 'in his blood'

While we were in Selfridges, Wilson saw something which brought back some painful memories for him: his expulsion from Flying School. Before I could stop him, he'd climbed up a shop display stand and was wing-walking across this amazing model bi-plane hanging from the ceiling. He says he 'wanted to get a better look at the robins on the landing-gear'.

It's £3000, it's diesel powered, and no, he's not getting it for Xmas!

Wilson learns about Xmas...

Back at the hotel, Wilson reacted pretty much as I expected when I explained Xmas to him: he was hysterical with excitement. I drew the curtains and made him breathe into a paper bag to calm him down, but I can't imagine he'll get much sleep tonight. Or on Xmas eve. Or possibly any night in between.

He remembers seeing a model of Father Xmas in Selfridges, so I had to take him back there so he could see him again, now that he knows who he is!

Wilson discovers Christmas...

Wilson and I visited The Bullring today. In Selfridges, Wilson noticed what he assumed were left-over Halloween decorations but in fact are Christmas decorations. He has never heard of Christmas but, remembering what happened at ASDA when I told him about Halloween, I tell him we'll talk about it when we get back to the hotel. 

I wonder whether the Pharmacy will let me have some Valium without a script?

Booking in...

Here is Wilson getting ready to check in at our hotel. We're sharing a room, so I hope W is not too restless... or flatulent!

I think the hotel's WiFi is expensive at £12 for 24 hours, but W insists he needs it to research Adam Ant. 

CityBreak!

Here we are on our CityBreak to… Birmingham! 

Wilson is very excited (although, naturally, he slept for most of the journey). As we approached Brum he woke and saw a roadside hoarding advertising a concert by none other than Adam Ant! 

I spent the rest of the journey telling him about Adam Ant, his band, the 80s, New Romanticism,  Malcolm McClaren and Bow Wow Wow, 'Prince Charming', 'Stand and Deliver', the two drummers… Ah, they were heady days!

I was enjoying my reminiscing when I noticed Wilson had nodded off again!

Fifth of November firework fun!

Bonfire Night! Sparklers, toasted marshmallows, hot soup with ant garnish, story-telling and singing round a roaring bonfire… 

No fur was singed and Wilson had a brilliant time!

To ease any sense of anticlimax, I've planned a short CityBreak holiday for the coming week -- I think Wilson will love it!