I was asked to be in a Pantomime this Christmas. It was Beauty and the Beast in Rugby at the Benn hall. “OH YES IT WAS!”
This is why I look a bit sad in these photos from the official photo shoot.
For Christmas I got an Elf hat, don’t I look cute?!!
On Christmas morning we went for a walk.
On Boxing day we went for another walk this time to a lovely beach. The water was very cold but I couldn’t resist running and biting the waves, it was great fun!
I’m hoping to put a film up of Jan and Mike singing Christmas songs. I’m not sure I like it when Jan sings, Mike’s OK though.
Hope you all had a Happy Christmas and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Big woofs Chico Chugg.
Jan, Mike and Anita had a lovely evening in Birmingham at the Royal Television Society awards this week.
My TV series didn’t win but a really funny comedian, from the Midlands, called Frank Skinner received the Baird Medal and at the end of his speech mentioned the episode that had been shown, which was ‘Poo’.
He said how much he’d liked it and how funny it was.
Everyone was so excited that Jan even gave my double, who was there for the evening, to Frank.
Here are some photos.
Here is our nomination certificate. Everyone enjoyed watching a bit from the episode called ‘Poo”.
Jan and Frank Skinner. Can you see he’s got my double? I’m so glad Jan gave it to him, Frank looks like he’s great fun.
I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to really meet him or speak with him? You never know one day I might.
Jan, Mike and Anita want to say a big thank you to everyone for a great night and a special thanks to Jayne Greene for organising such a wonderful evening!!
Big woofs, Chico.
In November Janet’s doing a book tour to celebrate our RTS nomination.
Here are some photos of the schools so far.
Many thanks to all the schools for their invites and warm welcomes, Jan and Mike are having a lovely time meeting lots of really wonderful children and staff.
Malcolm Arnold Prep School.
Kineton Primary School
Wooton Primary School
Some children from Wooton School have a pet pig called Boris and they sent me a photo. Isn’t he lovely.
Willows Primary School.
Helmdon Primary School, was a lovely little village school.
I love the big photo with all the children in it! I was just wondering what Mike was doing with another dog?! He told me her name was Lila and she belongs to the school, isn’t she lucky! She looks lovely and very happy, but I’m not surprised being around children all day must be great fun
Stockingford Primary.
Weddinton primary school.
For her final assembly of this book tour Jan and Mike were at Weddington Primary School. We would all like to say a big thank you to the staff, children and parents who were amazing! They made Jan and Mike feel very welcome and the children joined in brilliantly, even lots of the reception children!! Look at the lovely special signing table they made for Jan to sit at, it made her feel very special!! What a lovely final assembly to be finishing Jan’s book tour.
We went chugging for 2 weeks and almost got to a place called Rugley.
We had lots of misfortunes and adventures along the way.
At Watford locks we had to wait 3 hours for 12 boats to come up but we didn’t mind. The only problem was that by the time we started chugging it was pouring with rain and we got absolutely soaked!
The next morning, moored at the top of the Braunston locks, the engine wouldn’t start so Mike was going to phone the RCR but the phone was dead, then the generator, he was using to charge the phone, ran out of petrol. So it was a 30 minutes walk down the locks to the chandlers where they kindly let us use their phone. The RCR are special people who come and mend your boat if it breaks down. RCR stands for River Canal Rescue. A bit like people have the AA or RAC for their cars.
The RCR man was lovely and soon mended the boat and we were on our way down the locks and moored in Braunston.
The next morning Jan had a bad leg and couldn’t walk so Mike chugged the boat to Hillmorton. Phil from the marina kindly drove our car to meet us and then Mike and Jan dropped me off at the Kennels while they took Jan to A and E. I had a lovely night with all my friends but I was happy to see that Jan was on the mend when Mike came to pick me up the next day. She just had to rest and not pull the boat in with the rope.
Wow we’d only been away 3 days and so much had happened.
I helped Mike do lots of locks while Jan steered the boat. The weather was rather wet and very windy. In fact we came back early because someone told us a tree had blown down across the canal ahead of us in Rugley and boats couldn’t get through.
Most rainy days we stayed inside and made a fire, I love snuggly days.
In the evenings I was very tired after a long day chugging.
We met some lovely people along the way. Here’s a little boy who had one of my finger puppets.
Mike and Jan kept saying “You’re driving us crazy!” All I was doing was warning them when the water moved, which it does quite a lot on the boat when you speed up or slow down. Barking grabs everyone’s attention, so it was the only thing I could do. Look what they did! They put the canopy around the edge thinking it would stop me seeing the water, but as you can see, it didn’t!
I love chugging holidays because there’s so much to do and see, but do you know what, I’m ever so glad we’re home again now!
I wonder when we’ll go chugging again?
Big woofs until next time, Chico Chugg.
We’ve been in the dry dock!
Wah Wah needed her bottom blacking again so we went into the dry dock to do it.
Jan doesn’t like it in the dry dock but I love it. It’s so exciting, check out the photos to see why.
Chugging into the dry dock. Putting the planks in and covering with a cover to make a dam wall. I love it when the water is pumped out, look can you see it?
Can you see the water going down? Next we jet wash off all the old blacking…so we can grind off all the rust and then paint her. I had to keep watching the water pump to make sure it kept working.
Jan and Mike also touched up some of the blue paint. We had to walk carefully over the plank and bridge to get on and off the boat.
Then after a few days we were ready to come out. I tried to help take off the plastic cover and enjoyed barking at the water rushing back in when they took out the planks.
They wouldn’t let me on the boat as Mike chugged out, but I kept shouting loudly to tell him how to do it. I didn’t want Mike to scratch the new paint! He didn’t seem to appreciate my help though!
Coming back to our mooring. Doesn’t Wah Wah look shiny and bright?!
If you click here you can watch my Dry Dock episode on Wizz youtube channel for kids.
I hope you enjoy it.
We’ll be back in the dry dock in a couple of years, I can’t wait.
See you soon, big woofs, Chico Chugg.
Mike, Jan and me had a wonderful day at Kenilworth Books yesterday.
We met lots of lovely children and parents. Some grown up children came to see Jan too, she had taught them many years ago.
Many thanks to everyone who came to see us, friends, family, children from schools where Jan has done my assemblies and new faces, I had a lovely day.
Here’s the winner’s colouring picture from the competition. Well done it was lovely! Finger puppets are waiting for you at Kenilworth Books.
Thanks again Kenilworth Books for inviting us, see you all soon! Big woofs, Chico Chugg.
Wow hasn’t it been hot?
I’m outside most days lying in the shade of the trees as it’s too hot for me at the moment.
Anyway here are a few photos from the last 2 months. I haven’t done a lot but Jan, Mike and Anita had an exciting time at the Children’s Media Conference in a place called Sheffield.
Mike, Anita and Jan had some very exciting meetings with all sorts of people. Can you see they took my double because I wasn’t allowed to go.
We are now very excited about what the future will be with my TV series and books as everyone loved me, of course!!
A famous children’s author called Michael Rosen did a speech. Jan said it was very good.
They took my double to lots of things called seminars. I’m not sure what that means but my double seemed to be listening well.
At the end of the conference they were all tired but came home very happy and excited.
One evening while we were eating dinner outside, I spotted two of our cushions fly off into the canal. No one seemed to notice but me, so I barked and barked and everyone got cross with me until Jan suddenly spotted them floating off down the canal.
I wasn’t sure how we were going to get them back until Mike cleverly got his kayak out and went and retrieved them. Of course I had to help by barking instructions to him!
Phew it’s a good job I notice what’s going on!
AUTHOR DAY at KENILWORTH BOOKS.
Oh yes and one last thing, this Saturday, which is the 4th August, we are all going to be at Kenilworth Books with my stories. Come along and meet us for some fun: making badges, joining in with a colouring competition and listening to Jan reading from my books.
Click here for a link to Kenilworth Books website.
Hope you’re all enjoying the sunshine but remember to drink lots of water and keep in the shade!!
Big woofs, a very hot Chico Chugg.
Oh my goodness so much happened in May!
I have been so busy.
Check out all these wonderful photos.
First Helen and Dean came to visit and they brought me some yummy treats. Thanks Helen and Dean they were yummy!
Anita came to do a short film for a friend. I was in it too of course!
Do you remember I was asked by #Canal and River Trust Explorers to go and be at the winning schools ”Corridor for nature’ opening. It was a competition held over a year ago. The winning school was Grewelthorpe Primary School in Ripon. Mrs Butler the Headteacher was lovely and even gave us lunch.
The children were so excited to see me and I got on really well with Mr Breckon, one of the teachers.
Thanks Emily from Explorers for asking me and many thanks to all the friendly staff and pupils of Grewelthorpe Primary.
Kenilworth Books had their 50th birthday! Jan went along to say Hi and wish them a very Happy Birthday. Judy and Tamsin are lovely and have sold my books and toys for many years. Thanks for all your support #Kenilworth Books.
Jan and Mike decided to paint Wah wah Chugg’s roof as it was looking very dirty. It was a big job, but doesn’t it look lovely now?
Then Uncle Colin and Uncle Rainier, I mean Uncle Sunny, came all the way from Canada for a visit! It was lovely to see them and the sun shone every day for us. I hope they come back and see us again soon.
Two little boys came and found me and said how they like my books. I love it when children come and say ‘Hi!’ Don’t forget to stop by anytime will you?!
Lastly here I am looking through the hatch side door. I was just checking to see what Jan was doing inside the boat and she clicked this photo.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading all about my busy month of May! Don’t forget to check out my fb page for regular news, photos and films.
See you later…..Big Woofs, Chico!
Jan and Mike had great fun at the London book fair last week.
They met lots of interesting people and are now very busy contacting them again.
They couldn’t take me so they took my soft toy double instead.
Here are some photos to show you how busy they were.
This photo shows only a small area of the book fair. Jan and Mike said it was enormous and took hours to walk around.
This was the end of the first day, Jan does looked pooped although my double looks quite perky doesn’t he!
Jan took lots of notes at things called seminars. Apparently people talk and give lots of interesting information about writing and publishing books.
My double also helped out when they had one to one meetings with lots of interesting people. It looks like Mike was showing one of my TV episodes here.
On the last day they all went to the CMC Exchange and had a table where they could meet people. They even took my roller blind and of course my soft toy double was there again!! I think I even spy biscuits on a plate, although there doesn’t look many left!
A really nice lady called Claire organised the day for them and they had lots and lots of meetings and met some really interesting people
When they got home I was so excited to see them and hear all about it. Mike just wanted to read the paper but I made sure he wasn’t going to go anywhere again soon!!
Jan and Mike just want to say many thanks to all the people they met and for all the help and positive support they were given. We are all very excited now to see where our journey with my books, TV series and of course me will go next!!
Watch this space!
Big woofs
Chico Chugg.
