Start of Another Work Week

Here, imperial bureaucrats arrive for work at the office wing of the HamsterPalace. Another day, another Imperial Hamster Piaster!

You callin' me fat? -or- Read the labels carefully

So we're tooting around Yorkshire, and in many a shop there is an assortment of very Yorkshire products, from teas, and tea-cakes, to little sheep toys, you get the picture. Amongst the wares I always found some lovely looking soaps. But they all seemed to me to be made with sheep fat. I'm certain the soaps were very nice, but the idea of washing with sheep fat was not terribly appealing. Eventually, I succumbed out of curiosity and, mostly, because this particular little bar of soap had such a pretty wrapper on it. I figure "souvenir," and the thing certainly didn't smell like left-over mutton.

So we get home and I put the bar away with my other soaps. (I have developed a thing for quality soaps. Blame DG. He started it. He has really a rather nice philosophy of "affordable luxury." There are certain commodities that, given their nature, are priced so that one could reasonably afford the best in the world. Soap is one such item, there's socks, underwear is another. We won't get into the underwear aspect here... ever. But you get the picture. I've come to really, really love good soap.)

So I finally get around to opening my adorable little bar of soap. I mention to DG that I opened "the sheep fat soap" and it was really very nice. DG then pointed out that the soap was not made with sheep fat, but with wool fat, i.e. lanolin. Oh... lanolin... that's a whole different story. As you can tell from the wrapper, it clearly says "wool fat" not "sheep fat." They all said "wool fat." My poor little hamster-brain. To add insult to injury, "lanolin" comes from the Latin words for wool and oil, i.e., wool fat. Duh! I only realized that afterwards.

Don't tell anybody about this.

More Diversions for Kel...

so that hard-working field rodents can sneak out for another wee pint...

Imperial Scottish Hamster Gardens

for Kel:

10,000 years to the penguin!

In honor of the august occasion of Travel Penguin's second anniversary (see http://travelpenguin.blogspot.com/), I will now perform the Penguin dance!

The Road to Conquest - Part 3

The Fruits of Victory

Here I am holding captured enemy standards after our illustrious triumph on the battlefield. Note I possess the royal banner of the Scottish king, personally taken from him in daring-do, mano-a-mano, and all that.

For me, the funnest part of conquest is, of course, the plunder. All sorts of goodies I get to have - cheap! The King of Scotland, poor chap, had all sorts of neat stuff, all of which now is mine all mine:

First and foremost, of course, were the pretty baubles. I just love pretty baubles! Here I'm overseeing the crating up of the Scottish crown jewels before they're schlepped off to the HamsterPalace.Speaking of palaces, here I am in front of my latest acquisition, thanks to the King of Scotland - tee hee hee!The place has nice gardens too! For Kel's delectation, I'll devote an entire post to the lovely new plantings I inherited. Ooooo! Picnics!Of course, like any conscientious tyrant, I make sure I share the booty with my loyal troops!
As I went by in my triumphant progress back south after the conquest, the good people of Oxford gave a gala concert in my honor.
Of course, the bloated and corrupt Scottish aristocracy was still far from pleased at the turn of events...

Wicked I

of the House of Hamster
King of Scotland
& Lord of The Isles

We interrupt this victory for an important message!

As many of you already know, Our Beloved & Right-Trusty Mr. Squirrel (http://hopfodder.blogspot.com/), Supreme Arch-Prefect for Brewing Affairs & Inspector-in-Chief of Ales, Arch-Provost of Spirits, First Secretary and Deputy General to the Minister of Automotive Affairs, and Chair of the Imperial Hamster Nut Conservation Directorate, and his Lovely and Beauteous wife, The Squirrelina, are expecting.

Who me ????

We rejoice at this splendid news, especially after the heroic service done by Our Squirrel in leading our distillery commando brigades in the recent conquest of Scotland. We were, of course, a little concerned when he went MIA for a couple weeks right after he assaulted his first target, so it's good to know he came out of battle in fine fettle! (Bet you didn't know squirrels had fettles!)

Yes, I can see it all a few short years from now. . .This also might come in handy: http://www.squirrel-rehab.org/faq.html.

The Road to Conquest - Part 2

Once preparations had been made and all was in order for march, Our Imperial Forces headed for Scotland.

Our Good and Trusty Bert skillfully pilots the Imperial War Chariot Northward to the border, keeping constant lookout for TRACTORS and RABBITS. The Goodly and Loyal Someone rides shotgun, carefully planning the requisite tea stops along the route of march.

Here I personally lead the troops across the border. Showing Ourselves to Our legions and bearing in person the Imperial Hamster Battle Guidon inspired the troops to acts of the greatest daring.

The common inhabitants welcomed us enthusiastically as liberators. . .

Whilst Our shock and awe filled the bloated and corrupt ruling classes with terror and dread.

Oh yes, and there was inevitably some slight damage to infrastructure.

The Road to Conquest - Part 1

As some may have seen elsewhere, here I am in front of my advance command HQ at Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire. In addition to its strategic location, the town boasts a bakery with excellent custard tarts and the best espresso machine in all England.

It was also necessary to secure local provisioning. Nothing but the best for The Hamster's Invincible Warriors! As Napoleon said, "An army travels on its stomach," and luscious, authentic Wensleydale cheese hits just the right spot for the hungry legionnaire!

Of course, there were numerous other necessities that had to be attended to, such as inspecting the troop trains. We gave that job to DG.

Since he is a native Yorkshireman, We appointed our right trusty Bert as majordomo, in charge of the logistics of the Imperial Hamster Court whilst on maneuvers. The fiendish Scots, as it turns out, sent out their feared commando battalions of RABBITS mounted on TRACTORS to attempt to ambush the Imperial Progress and impede our march northward. Our good Bert deftly managed to fend off the attack by the dreaded RABBITS and TRACTORS and saved Our Rodentine Person from the greatest peril!

In recognition of such faithful and selfless service,
WE hereby deign and create
Our Right Trusty & Most Loyal Minion
MR. BERT
Imperial Hamster Minister of Education
&
First Overseer of Schools
and bestow upon him the added title and dignity of
Marquess of Harrogate
Viscount of Giggleswich
Baron of Hawes

--by decree of The Hamster