More photos

Here are a couple more photos from Sunday - I hope you like them!

Janna doing an elegant two step dance!

Meanwhile JB makes some waves...

Do you think Janna likes the beach? Hmm...

WATER BABIES

Photographs from a recent visit to the beach by some of the pack:

Doesn't JB look like he loves the water?

And could this be Funghi, diving among the waves?????

THE BIG NIGHT!

Finally the big night arrived - December 31st!


Mummy Iseult prepared a lovely meal, and her room looked great. The nodpots all dressed in their best, and everyone looked forward to a fun filled night.




Mungo exchanging jokes with fellow nominee Parsley

After the meal was devoured, the excitement mounted. Mummy Valerie kept going round saying "I hope Mungo won't be too disappointed!" I think she really felt concerned but she shouldn't have worried.

Mummy Iseult showing her steady hand shortly before the vote


It was getting close to the finale of the night. Tottie and I were nervous, the fur of our paws damp... Would justice be done that night?

Mungo remained his insouciant self.

Graciously acknowledging his fans before the result

Three soft flat packages appeared, one for Mungo, one for Mummy Iseult and one for Mummy Valerie (strangely none for Marvin and Parsley, the other two nominees).

Then the cup was placed on the table, a strip of paper covering the name of the winner.

A hushed silence fell.

Together, Mummy Iseult and Mummy Valerie seized one end of the paper each, and - ripped it off. The winner was ... MUNGO!

Mummy Iseult was devastated.

Mummy Iseult moves aside while the toys congratulate Mungo

But we did our best to console her.

We knew that justice had been done, though, and although we felt sorry for Mummy Iseult not making her three in a row, we are still celebrating!


'COS MUNGO IS DISRESPONSIBLE NODPOT OF THE YEAR!

Even Marvin looks thrilled!

THE VOTES...

Some months ago, Tottie and I started our campaign to ensure Mungo won Disresponsible Nodpot of the Year 2006.

We knew it would have to be a good one, in case there was stiff competition. First we campaigned among the toys in Theotokos. Then in Churchtown. Finally we moved onto people - not just the residents of the house where we were staying, but all of the neighbours, and voters of the burrough.




I must say they were very supportive - thank you, voters of Dun Laoghaire & Rathdown!

Unfortunately voting was restricted to the members of The Disresponsible Nodpots. This was tough - neither Tottie nor I could vote!

At the start of the campaign, we were only guaranteed one vote. There were rumours of a cartel, a unified front against Mungo.

But we were undeterred.

We talked to the Nodpots. We pointed out Mungo's superiority (as if they could fail to notice it). We reminded them of the brilliance of LEAF, in case they forgot it. We gave them badges. We got endorsements from famous toys (eg Snuggles) and famous actors (Vin Diseal). We even took out ads in the national newspapers (until someone told me that the DNs don't read newspapers).

Then there was a set back.

Without our knowledge, and without Mungo's presence, the other DNs decided to cast their votes ...

Nobbles stood in for Mungo - could we trust him?? (Of course we could!)

But could we trust ANY of the others?

Fortunately there was one ray of hope - Auntie Pamela was chosen to be auditor and vote counter. We knew we could trust her to make sure justice was done!

Tomorrow I shall tell you about the excitment on the night, the last minute attempts to nobble Mungo, and the unveiling of the trophy!

MUNGO

Mungo is great.

But everyone knows that.

Unless they're blind, deaf, dumb and dead.

Mungo decided early last year to show the members of the Disresponsible Nodpots how to write. On January 10th 2006, he put pen to paper - or rather, paw to keyboard - and started the wonderful novel "In Search of Ramune". Because Mummy Iseult copied his title for her story "In Search of the Moon" (sincerest form of flattery, so don't be embarrassed, Mummy), Mungo kindly renamed his book "Leaf: In search of Raumne."

Mungo's book is brilliant. Just as you would expect. Fast paced, witty, exciting, and imaginative, I have never read its equal! Just as Mungo's equal does not exist either.

To win Disresponsible Nodpot of the year, you do not have to write a brilliant book, nor does a masterpiece automatically win you the title (though you might think it would). No, it is a mixture of points and votes. The points are based on reading as much as writing and submitting. Despite this disadvantage (Mungo only reads brilliant books that he has written), Mungo tied with Mummy Valerie with 3 points apiece (see the advantage of reading a lot?), with Mummy Iseult (who writes a lot) at 2 points, and Marvin and Parsley with 1 each.

So it came down to the votes...ten votes, which would decide the outcome...

I will tell you more tomorrow!

2007 - Year of Mungo!

Well, I've being saying it, he's being saying it but now it's official - MUNGO IS GREAT!!!!!

As voted by the Disresponsible Nodpots, Mungo is Disresponsible Nodpot of the Year 2006, which means for 2007 he is the Champ. The King. Master of the world.

I said that he would do it, and indeed he did!

We're in Blackrock at the moment, touring a tour for the fans, a sort of lap of honour, but I will be back in Dublin soon, ready to reveal the whole story.