Thursday 25 February 2010

Aberdeen surprise


What a surprise Oldrock had for me! He was visiting his daughter in Scotland and he took me with him. I got to fly on a plane properly. I've been on a plane before of course when I came to Ireland but I didn't see much of it because I was in my travelling box that time. It was so much better flying with Oldrock.

So we went to Aberdeen. We flew from Cork to Dublin and then to Aberdeen where we stayed with Oldrock's eldest daughter. She gave a funny look to Oldrock when I was taken out of his backpack. I can't think why ...



While I was there I was taught how to swim in the North Sea. I was very safe because Oldrock put something on my arms so I wouldn't sink even if I didn't kick hard enough. Ohhhhh it was cold and afterwards I had to dry myself warm again quickly.



We also visited Duthie Park which was a fantasic place with lots of plants and trees. I felt really at home there.

I even sat on a cactus plant. I don't recommend that ... my spikes didn't protect me so I'm sure it would be even worse for people without spikes. Ouch! I learned lots of cactus aren't called cactuses. I also learned to treat cacti with respect and not to get so close to them in future.



At one stage I got so tired Oldrock's daughter carried me. I like her a lot because it was very nice of her to notice my legs were wearing out.
To finish the day I practiced my swimming and went skinny dipping in a pond I found in the tropical part of the Park. Luckily no-one was around to see.

Saturday 13 February 2010

Shaman Sham goes to University


I had a treatment from Oldrock who is a Neuromuscular Therapist. He did explain what this means and its something to do with using static pressure points. The treatment was absolute heaven. You would have thought he would have been nervous about giving a treatment to a hedgehog but he wasn't and amazingingly my spikes did not stick into him at all.
I have booked in to get more treatments before I leave here. It helps no end when you have to travel in a very small travelling compartment which can leave you a bit achey even if you are a very young hedgehog like I am.

So on to the university where I saw where Oldrock works. I think he has a easy life here because I sat on his desk while he "worked" and look - is that the Indie Shaman site on his computer? He took some photos of me for my blog while we were there then the battery failed in the camera so we will get more pictures later.

I wanted to give a lecture in a lecture hall that has had the same seating for the last 120 years but unfortunately no students turned up. I'm sure I would have been very good though if they had and the lecture hall was very big and impressive.
So instead I had a sit down and let Oldrock have his say instead. I had a lovely day at the university and I'm sure I soaked up lots of learning from just being in the building as well as from listening to Oldrock.

Oldrock tells me he has a surprise for me later this week. Watch this space and I will let you know as soon as he tells me.

Thursday 4 February 2010

Meeting Old Rock and Pebbles


Butterflywings told me there would be a surprise for my last night staying with her so I was really excited last Friday evening. It always makes me happy sad when I hit the road again - happy to be on the move and meeting more friends and sad to be leaving my old friends.

The surprise was a drumming session with my Indie Shaman friends and some new friends as well. We all had a wonderful time and I think a drumming session is a very good idea for a Shaman's move-on party. Actually I have a sneaking suspicion that Butterflywings may hold these full moon drumming sessions once a month anyway but it was still a wonderful gathering for my last evening so it doesn't matter does it? After the drumming I said a sad bye bye to Butterflywings and a happy hello to Old Rock.

Old Rock then took me to his home and let me light a night light at his alter to bring in the new day.


Then on Saturday he introduced me to some more new friends so I won't be lonely when he goes to work and we relaxed and sat around the fire.


On Sunday, Old Rock took me to Kerry to meet his daughter and grandson. I got on very well with Pebbles. We both fell asleep in the car when we went out. Well there would be lots to see and do, so I wanted to make some more energy and you do that when you are asleep.


We did lots of exploring and visited Listowel and Tralee. Luckily Pebbles has short legs like me so we didn't have to walk very fast. I also like to have a rest now and again and this was a very comfy hedge to rest on. I like to listen to the song of the river and this was the perfect seat to do that.



We even did some tree climbing and I was very brave and had a go too. Old Rock had to give me a bit of a hand though as hedgehogs aren't really designed for climbing trees.
Look out for my next blog because Old Rock said I'm going to university soon! I wasn't sure what a university was but he explained its a place where people go to learn so it sounds just my type of place.