Acetaia Piglet

Piglet recently made their first visit to an acetaia in Modena, and learned all about the process. Here you see them guarding the oldest barrel.

Here Piglet looks proudly at the final product. With thanks to Acetaia Gambigliani Zoccoli!

Spotlight on Teatre Grec Piglet

Looking through some old pics I found this one of Piglet in Barcelona in 2015 when we visited the Teatre Grec amphitheatre. In fact, it's not very old. It was built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition. It fell out of use for a while but these days it is the focal point of the summer GREC Festival. The place was completely empty on the crisp December day we visited. Piglet was thus able to be the focal point of the photo!

San Siro Piglet

Although we weren't able to attend an actual football match, there is still something to be said for visiting an iconic stadium. The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza is the biggest stadium in Italy, and home to both Milan teams. I don't really have a preference, although in the era of the great Dutch footballers that played for A.C. Milan (Gullit, Rijkaard & Van Basten) I was definitely more red than blue. And now they have Zlatan, my (not-so) secret love. So ...

Anyway, it was a thrill to get to see the San Siro in its concrete flesh, and thanks to Ire for driving me there and Piglet for posing.

Routemaster Piglet

I do so love an old Routemaster, especially when it is a Number 9. Piglet is also clearly riveted, and posed for me I think when we saw a stationary example on the Strand one afternoon. Approaching the end of 2021, my mind is wandering through random memories. 

Seeing this photo reminds me of when there were no traffic lights at Hyde Park Corner, and you could stand on the platform as the bus took the Corner, holding onto the pole with one hand, and leaning out to swing round with the bus, jumping off as it turned left into Knightsbridge while the conductor shouted at you. Hard to accept how long ago that was!

Piglet's Empathy

We are in Castelnuovo Rangone, near Modena. The production and treatment of pork is the major economic activity of the town, as celebrated by this statue in the centre in front of the church. Piglet is delighted that he is fated to live with a vegetarian & someone who keeps kosher, and is relatively glad he's not a sentient creature. Yet he still manages to feel some empathy for his porcine compatriots, and stands here in solidarity with their plight.

 

Battersea Power Station Station

In this archival photo from 19 years ago we see Piglet stranded on the north side of the river, yearning to visit Battersea Power Station.

Thanks to TfL, such situations are no longer a problem! The new Northern Line extension from Kennington to Nine Elms & Battersea Power Station opened today. The big question now of course is, since the name of the station is "Battersea Power Station", will we be referring to it as Battersea Power Station station?

Piglet Returns to Modena

The pandemic has certainly curtailed his travels, but after Piglet returned from his day trip to Milano, he stopped to admire the chimney at the former tobacco factory in downtown Modena. Here's hoping that he'll be able to head out on another journey soon!

 

Piglet Retrospective XX

It's been a tough day, but this picture always cheers me up. It's one of my favourite Piglet pics, and (if it were not for the Disney copyright issues) was always planned to be the cover of a collection of such photos. It brings me back to a wonderful trip I took to Ireland a long time ago, it reminds me that I do like to be beside the seaside, and it conjures up the image that was on my bedroom wall for many years and inspired the shot:

Wishing you all sweet dreams.

Piglet Retrospective XVII

I'd like to say that this post of Piglet is in solidarity with the Euros Round of 16 footy match tonight between Croatia & Spain. However, tbh, Piglet isn't that much of a fan. Of course he has been to Loftus Road several times (#COYRS) but that is more a family loyalty than any real interest. 

Meanwhile, this shot recalls for me my very first trip to Italy. It was a lovely birthday gift of a long weekend in Rome with my mother, and I remember that when Piglet was done posing, I cooled off in the fountain at the bottom of the steps.

Trooping the Piglet

This weekend the UK celebrates the 95th official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. Trooping the Colour is an official parade that marks such a day. A few years ago, Piglet (thanks to his friend Angel) was able to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the stables where the horses of the Horse Guards live. Here he is meeting one of the Guards.

Piglet Retrospective XV

The day that Elvis met Piglet at Graceland. Clearly a bucket-list moment for them both. We took this for a birthday card for my father, who spent his first years in Mississippi in the town of Baldwyn MS with the wonderful Gorden family (whose son Phillip was born in Tupelo in the same hospital & 2 weeks apart from Elvis). As you can see, Elvis was thrilled to hear of this connection.

It was quite wonderful to see Graceland. And you may remember from my February post that this was also when I was chased by the security guard, who thought that I had stolen Piglet from the graveside collection of fuzzy tributes. 

Piglet Retrospective XII

 

It has been rather a while since we went on a trip to see friends and did anything touristy. It may yet be another while before we can do it again. Meanwhile, as the new James Bond movie prepares to open, the trailers show that they filmed some scenes in the town of Matera. Let's just say that Piglet got there first.

Piglet Retrospective XI

 

This is one of my all-time favourite Piglet pics. Very An Affair to Remember (or Sleepless in Seattle for the slightly less ancient). This view from the top of the Empire State Building includes the World Trade Center towers, Liberty Island (with a teeny tiny statue) and my beloved Flatiron building amongst others. It evokes a lot of memories.

Piglet Retrospective VI

 

I miss the Tube. I even miss the Northern Line. The idea of public transport being a safe way to travel seems so far away. So here is a picture of Piglet on the platform at Highgate, waiting for the train to Finchley Central. In fact, this is probably what the station looks like as you regard the photo - empty. (If people in Italy ever get vaccinated) I do hope to use the Underground again. Stay safe & well y'all.

Piglet Retrospective V

It's February already? Wow. Let's start the month with a bit of February fun. This photo is from a visit to Graceland. This is one of the entrance gates whence you walk up to the house. Can you spot Piglet? & can you spot me?!

I think I need to make this a twofer, as there's a second shot that goes with this one. Apart from looking around the house itself, it is also possible to visit Elvis's grave. Here is Piglet paying homage:

Nu, after taking this photo, I picked Piglet up, put him back in my pocket, and headed towards the exit (the Union flags weren't mine so I left them there. Lucky coincidence). I was all shook up to realise that I was being chased by a security guard, and even more surprised to learn that she was accusing me of stealing Piglet from the graveside. Luckily, there were some photos of Piglet in other places on the memory card of the camera so I could prove that I'd had him with me beforehand. So the guard enjoyed the slideshow, then sent me on my way.

Happy February y'all!

Piglet Retrospective IV

 

Just another pig in the crowd, eh? QPR are live on Sky again tomorrow, so the nation and fans across the world will be able to see how we do. We don't have a great record on tv, but who knows. Part of the beauty of football is that anything is possible when the whistle is blown to start the match!

In this pic Piglet is in the Upper Loft with me. I think we might have been playing Chesterfield, but can't quite remember. Looking forward to the time when it will be safe to do this once again!

Pigoletto

Larger travel plans may have been delayed, but L's suggestion of a celebratory day trip to Mantova on the anniversary of my birth was an inspired choice. We stopped by the tourist information centre to get a map, and it was based in Rigoletto's House, so we took a couple of photos with the statue in the garden. This was Piglet's contribution to the shoot. Can only label it "Pigoletto"!

Roman Piglet

Sadly for Piglet, and his fans, he hasn't had much opportunity to travel recently. However, looking for something in the files, I came across some previously unshared Piglet pics from our trip to Rome in 2012. A little moody, but Piglet has always been an emotionally sensitive creature!

Colosseum Piglet

Piglet descending the Spanish Steps

Piglet Magritte

It's dragging towards 4 pm on a dreary Monday. If you get a kick from cute pics of puppies and kittens, this is the page for you. I'm diabetic so that's no good for me. When I find myself in times of trouble, E. H. Shepard comes to me ... it's time for a Piglet picture!

Piglet was visiting the Magritte Museum in Brussels, when he noticed this mirror in a shop window.

Colosseum Piglet

It's been a while, Piglet fans. Here is a shot from his recent visit to Rome. It was his first time there, and the first thing he did on his first day was to check out the most iconic place in the city - the Colosseum.

NB it's totally worth 30 Euro for a 3-day pass called the Roma. Not only do you get free travel on bus and train, but also it lets you walk past the 2-hour queue to get into the Colosseum and enter immediately!