Decorating the tree

I've just been learning a bit about Christmas trees, Butterflywings doesn't have a real one as Harrie would only try and climb it but she does have quite a nice 'pretend' one. I thought I'd see what tree climbing was like...phew made half way up anyway, this is hard work, don't know how Harrie does it, I've seen her out in the garden when she thinks no-one is looking.

What's that? If I stay here I have to be the fairy? I'd better get down quickly then. I've been reading about sidhe which is what Irish fairies are called and I'm not sure they'd want to sit on top of a Christmas tree. If they wouldn't do it I'm sure a Shaman wouldn't want to either.

I found these in a box. I think they go on the tree or something, don't tell me I'll have to climb all the way up again.

Oooh look, more stuff. Don't you think they suit me? These crackers are just Sham size and they sound great when you rattle them I think there is something inside them. All I need now is someone to pull them with me.

Great here's Harrie, maybe she'll help me pull the crackers.

Oops it wasn't me, it was her. It really was all nice and tidy until Harrie arrived. I hope I don't have to clear it all up.

Well that's the tree finished. Harrie and I are quite pleased with it really, it's not bad for our first attempt.

Making Christmas Cake

I've been really busy the last few days, I've learnt to make a Christmas cake. I didn't know what one was, this is my first Christmas after all, but Butterflywings told me its a special cake that you only have at Christmas, whatever that is, I expect I'll find out soon.

First I helped mix all the ingredients together. We put in stuff that looked like ants and flies but I was told they were currants and raisins. I hope they taste as good as ants and flies.

The cake went into an oven to be cooked which is strange, I don't cook my food. This is what it looked like when it came out again. It smelt ok I suppose but not as good as snails.

We took the cake out of the tin and I got a good look at it. I wanted to taste it but I was told I had to wait. I'm not sure what I have to wait for though.

Today Butterflywings cut some off the cake to make it flat. I got to eat it. It's quite good really. I'll have to be careful I don't end up as fat as Snowball a hedgehog in England who kept eating dog food. I've tried Harrie's but she has biscuits and they're quite hard so the Christmas cake is better.

This was great, I got to make myself some worms from something called marzipan. Don't suppose they're as good as real ones but I'm going to eat them now and find out.

Today was brilliant, I found lots of shiny things in The Haven that June has in the Indie Shaman shop. I didn't ask June if I could play with hers because she said they were for sale, but I did manage to get hold of Butterflywings ones and boy do they make a lot of noise, sorry I mean beautiful sounds :)

Really I saw these the other day when I was using the labyrinth but I didn't get chance to play them then, I think they are called desk chimes. I've been waiting for a chance to climb back onto the desk and have a go and today I made it. It's easy really, all you have to do is touch them and they play themselves. I don't know why humans make so much fuss about playing instruments.

As I was having so much fun, Butterflywings got the Aura Chimes down from the window sill as she thought I'd fall off if I tried to climb up to them. I like these as when I hit them with the stick, I think it's called a beater, I got shivers all through me. It felt really nice. I think I'd like to keep these. I hope my suitcase is big enough. Maybe if I ask real nice I could have a new suitcase. I think there are lots of things I'd like to keep and I still need space for my food........
I think these are called singing bowls. One of them was a bit big for me but it made a nice deep sound, like the Earth humming. Butterflywings says she got this one from the Indie Shaman shop. I think it's a good size for humans but not for hedgehogs. The little one was perfect for me and I managed to hold onto it even when I ran the beater round the outside. I think I played too much and the sound got too high or something as Harrie the cat ran away and even the spider hid. I asked Butterflywings about it and she told me it's the singing bowl she uses for healing and that the sound changes when you play it, sometimes it's very high but sometimes its low. If I hold onto this I can keep practicing, maybe I'll try while the others are asleep.

Exploring the Haven

Ireland is nice but it's very wet and it keeps raining. Butterflywings says that the garden is too soggy for me to go in as I forgot to bring my wellies, so she's letting me explore The Haven instead.

I like The Haven as it's where Butterflywings works and its full of brilliant stuff. She doesn't have anything to eat in there except for a spider I found but I don't like the taste of them much. I have found loads of books though. My favourite shelf is one with lots of books on Shamanism and I even found Jim PathFinder Ewing's book. Jim is going to be in the next Indie Shaman Magazine and I've held one of his books, maybe I can pretend I read it too. I really was thinking about it but then I saw...

...the labyrinth. Butterflywings says she has a really big one in the garden and we can go there when it's dry. She let me sit on her desk so I could work with this one though and my paws are just the right size.

When she wasn't looking I climbed into the willow and sat inside with all her pendulums.

This is my favourite one. Its a blue tourmaline and Butterflywings says it's a Shaman's stone so I think I'm going to see if she will let me keep it, after all I am Shaman Sham.

After all the exploring I was tired so I had to have a lie down on the treatment table. I must say it is really snuggly here so I think I'll just have a bit of a snooze.

Arriving in Ireland

Phew, I'm glad Winter packed me so well in such a warm box and remembered to include some tasty snails and worms. It seemed a very long way to Ireland and I had to go in a van again and then across some water and then when I got to Ireland they had floods so I was stuck in Winter's box for days and days. Some nice people in An Post took care of me though and made sure I didn't get wet but I was very glad when I reached Butterflywing's house and she freed me.

After I met Butterflywings she introduced me to Mr BW and Harrie the cat. As you can see Harrie and I got on really well and she wanted to hear all about my adventures - so of course I had to tell her! I asked Harrie about the Sidhe and where they lived but she said they were a secret and I'd have to be very clever if I was to find them. Of course as I am clever I'm bound to find them while I'm here.
After Harrie and I had had a nice chat Mr BW made me a nice cup of tea in his brand new mug. I felt really welcome especially as he then gave me a can of something called Murphys which he said I'd enjoy.

Butterflywings was going on and on about my being under age and took it away from me so I'm not really sure what Murphys is but it smelt good though. Maybe Mr BW will give me some more when she's not around.

The Hunt Continues

Here is a photo of me with Whitby Abbey in the background. When you've gone up all the steps it is a good idea to visit Whitby Abbey on the same day as St Mary's Church. There is a lift up from the visitor's centre though for those who can't travel up in a bag like I did. Whitby Abbey was once a Benedictine Monastery until the Vikings came. It was refounded in 1078 and lasted until the reign of Henry V111 in 1540 when he got rid of all the monasteries.

Apparently Whitby Abbey was a big inspiration for Dracula. I'm not sure why as he doesn't sound the type of chap to hang around with monks. I think we visited it a bit late as it appeared to have fallen down.

Still time to explore Whitby though and see if Dracula is hanging about anywhere else. From this spot I had a nice view over the harbour. I can see the sea and it looks pretty big! I wonder if Dracula got on a boat and went on his holidays while I am on mine?

It's pretty tiring exploring so here I am having another little rest. I'm not sure why but I'd only just got comfy when Winter came rushing up shouting something about reading signposts and grabbed me off my nice perch. It looks like its time to go back to Winter's home and I never did find Dracula. Never mind, I had a lovely time anyway and made lots of new friends. Thank you very much Winter for letting me stay with you and for taking me to Whitby.

Winter said I am off to Ireland next! That's where the Sidhe live! Ooh ... I can feel another adventure beginning ...

The Hunt for Dracula

Once we got to Whitby my hunt for Dracula began. I wasn't sure exactly where he lives so started at St Mary's Church. St Mary's Church is on the cliff top near the Abbey. You have to climb a lot of steps to get there. There were far too many steps for my little legs so I got carried which was nice. The oldest parts of the church are Norman. Norman must have been very old as apparently he is dated around 1110, so he doesn't live there anymore.

Dracula was seen in the church around 1897 so I may be a bit late to find him there. It's worth a try though.
Here I am again looking round the graveyard. No sign of Dracula here either. I wonder if it would have been better if I had come round at night?

Looking for Dracula is hard work so I sat down to have a little rest. This is a tombstone apparently so after a brief snail snack I got off it and carried on with my search.

Here I am near the stained glass window of the whale bones in Whitby. As you can see it looks as if there is a bat in the sky. I wonder if it is Dracula?

I had no luck finding him this time. Back soon with more adventures from Whitby.

Visiting Winter

Here I am again to tell you all about when I stayed at Winter's house and went on a very exciting holiday to Whitby. As you can see the first thing I did was make some new friends. But when I got to go on holiday unfortunately they couldn't all come too. Not all animals are as well travelled as I am you know.
Winter tried to teach me how to read my own personal oracle with some angel cards.

Some of the words were a bit difficult to read but I'm getting better at reading and the pictures were very helpful.

Whitby is apparently where Dracula lives. Dracula is a Vampire which means he drinks blood and turns into a bat. I don't know why you would want to turn into a bat. Surely its much nicer to turn into a hedgehog? Well apart from his black cloak would get stuck on his prickles if he did...

Anyway I was looking forward to my holiday and to meeting Dracula. Apparently he likes graveyards and doesn't like steaks. I agree with him about the steaks ....... snails are much nicer.

Will post more about my holiday with Winter soon.

After housesitting for Bluebell, I helped out with the wallpapering, I thought the paper was very nice, with lots of trees on it, but did get my fingers covered in paste but Bluebell soon cleaned me up!

Then Bluebell took me into her workroom where I helped out making the flower orders. I really liked it in there as it was full of beautiful smells from the flowers and kept Bluebell company while she worked.

Bluebell loves her garden and I was honoured to be able to plant some lovely little violas in in the pots just outside her front door.

When we went into the back garden I met some other little helpers Bluebell has, including The Oak man who looks after all the trees and couldnt resist giving him a big hug.

Finally after an exhausting few days, i sat back with Bluebell in the garden with a refreshing glass of Elderberry wine watching an amazing sunset!!

I have enjoyed my time here, but i must get off on my travels again........lots more to see and do! I am really looking forward to seeing Winter. Bluebell said she will wrap me up for a safe journey and hope the postman don't delay in getting me there with any more strikes!

Shaman Sham arrives in Middlesex

I arrived safely at Bluebells, who was very pleased to see me and gave me lots of compliments and cuddles!

I have met 2 cats, one that purred at me very loudly, and 2 dogs, one that wanted to give me lots of kisses!

I have been taking things easy after my long trip. Bluebell has given me a lovely seat looking out onto the garden where I have been watching the birds feeding and feeling the lovely sunshine today.

Farewell to Kent

Today I am off on my travels again, I am leaving Kent behind to go and stay with Bluebell and family. Since returning from Dorset I have been resting aside from keeping Moonflower’s garden slug and snail free, I have a sneaking suspicion that is why she has kept me here so long!

I have had a great time here and I am sorry to leave my new friends behind, but they wouldn’t let me go without a big group hug, which made us all feel much better.

I wonder what exciting things lay ahead, Bluebell sounds very nice and I am looking forward to meeting her very soon.

Anyway I cannot delay as my lift into town is waiting. I do hope the ride won’t be too bumpy!

I will write again once I am settled. Bye for now Sham x

Sham Finds Fossils in Jurassic Dorset and Dips his Toe into Devon

I expect you are all eager to know what I did on holiday with Moonflower and family in Charmouth, Dorset along the Jurassic coastline.

On Saturday we arrived in Dorset after a very long drive, I had been pulled from my snug little bed while it was still dark to start the journey, but it was worth it as I saw lots of beautiful countryside along the way and passed so many places that I may one day travel to.

As everyone was a bit tired, I just rested mostly for the day to regain my energy. I had been given my own sleeping area in the ‘van’, as it affectionately called by Moonflower, and very cosy it was as well.

On Sunday I met friends of my hosts who were our neighbours on the caravan site and very nice they were too; a jolly chap and his charming wife. They drove around in a very odd vehicle called a Q Pod, which drew much interest from others, When no-one else was around I couldn’t resist sitting behind the wheel of it myself, and trying it for size.

During the week we all took a walk to the local beach at Charmouth to search for things called fossils. Apparently they are the remains of little creatures and plants, millions of years old that have been preserved in rocks and suchlike. As it would have been a long way for my little legs I was kindly carried in what was to be my travelling bag whenever we ventured out.

It was a lovely sunny day and I sat on the ancient rocks to examine some smaller stones for any sign of a fossil.

Moonflower discovered a few on some rather large rocks, too big to bring home with us, but Mr Moonflower took some nice photos of them. Fortunately I discovered some smaller ones myself. I don’t know what all the fuss was about really, while everyone else was frantically digging among the pebbles, I wandered a short way off and found a whole load of fossils just sitting there in a tub outside a shop!!!

There was much walking up hill and down dale throughout the week with spectacular views that I witnessed from the safety and warmth of my travelling bag; well it did get a bit windy on some of those clifftops!

On the last day we decided to go over the county line into Devon and travelled by bus to a place called Beer. Unfortunately I spent most of the time there securely zipped up in my bag as the weather that day was as wet as the town’s namesake! Luckily though I picked up a postcard in Beer, just before we boarded the bus back, to prove I had actually been there.

Then all too soon it seemed it was time to return to Kent, all aboard the van again for another long journey back. I had a lovely time in Dorset and have enjoyed my stay in Kent too, but I am sure it won’t be long before I’m off on my travels again.

A Visit to the Castle and Ready for the Off

I just about have enough time before I venture to Dorset to bring you all up to date.

As promised last week if I was good, and I am a very well behaved house guest, we took a short trip to Leeds Castle.

We didn’t go inside as we had Scruffy the dog with us, but we had a good long walk around the grounds and stopped by the lake to see the ducks, swans and geese.


There were lots of different trees and flowers, and plants for me to forage under for a snack to keep me going along the way. I had a good time although I did find it rather tiring. I do only have small legs you know. I managed to have a good long rest for most of the week, which is just as well as for the past couple days I have been very busy.

Moonflower has been rushing around, packing all manner of things into the motor home ready for our trip. I was a little concerned that she may overlook some essential items, so thought that I had better help.

Well with everything almost ready now, all that is left for me to do is have a good meal of slugs and snails and then get an early night as we are setting off very early in the morning. I hope I won’t be too excited to sleep, thinking about the adventures that await me in Dorset.
I will see you all when I return with many tales to tell I hope.
Goodbye for now……Sham xxx