Wednesday 21 May 2008

Do you follow Raff?

Raff.......
He's my youngest darling daughter's friend in life.....
She's often found in bed at night hugging him so tightly around the neck that it must be decidedly uncomfortable for him......
Raff has lived through many other soft toy fads that have come and gone, disney princess dolls, barbies, and anything else that may have been in fashion for a brief period in a nearly 5 year old's life......
Raff has stayed on hospital wards on many an occasion, Raff has more airmiles than most 20 year old something adults that I know...Raff has flown european and internationally and given many an immigration office a stern looking at....not to mention had his insides inspected in xray machines much to the dismay of my DD who thought he was being microwaved (imagine that as you're clearing security at the airport)
I've written a couple of photobox books about Raff for my DD's much delight at bedtimes.....we've taken photographs of Raff in the strangest of places.....volcanic ranges, cockpits on planes, you name it, Raff has been there. A few people have told me to try and get my Raff books published.....but I don't know.....
The day that Raff is found under my DD's bed, forgotten in dust balls and obscured by teenage paraphenalia will be a sad day for all.....
So today, we'll celebrate him and the solace, sanctitude and utter joy that he brings to my dd's life. If it's been a rough one, or if something has happened that she feels she's got to share, you'll find her sat in her room with him perched on a chair and she'll jabber away to him, and he'll sit and listen with that silly Raff stare of his.....
Today, will now be known as Raff Day.
He was such a bargain too.....£3.99 at woolies.....gotta love a bargain......
PS....leave a comment about / for Raff and I'll read them to my DD...she loves to see Raff on the computer and hear what people say about him....go on....indulge the child in you, tell her your stories of your favourite toy when you were a child......
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19 comments:

Jay said...

Here's the story of my bear.
He never had a "real" name,just Teddy. He even had his own name tape on his back so he could come to hospital with me when I was four and again when I was five.
Teddy came everywhere with me, just like Raff. He never went in a plane though, when I was young air travel was not so popular.
When Teddy got dirty he had to go in the washing machine and be hung on the line to dry. I didn't like seeing him hanging by his ear.
Teddy is now a very old bear, he's 55 years old. I've had him since I was a very tiny baby and I still love him. Because Teddy was so loved all his life, he's a bit battered and bald now. He sleeps in a special little cot (made from a shoe box) and is kept warm by a small blanket that my babies were wrapped in when they were born.
I hope Raff is always loved the way I love Teddy, and I hope he's never found under the bed in the dust.
I love the photos of Raff, he's lovely.

dddeeebbbzzz said...

Raff rocks!! He certainly does have a very busy lifestyle! I'm glad to see he wears his sun hat on holiday but I think he needs to go easy on the booze!!!!

Mrsjobee said...

I'm a bit concerned about the amount of beer in these photos - Raff looks underage to me!!

In our house we have Patchy - a rather motheaten dog from Asda - who goes everywhere.

Keep him safe.

Jo said...

what a fabby little fella raff is, and he is such a good boy! My little girl has a bear called molly, and i hope molly is as good as raff, and looks after her too!

Keep giving raff lots of lovely cuddles, he sure does seem to enjoy it!

Jazzy1972 said...

Raff Rocks, he looks good in pictures too. I can see he gets up to all sorts. Does he ever do anything naughty? He looks soft and snuggly, I bet he is.

I do hope we see more of raff in the future.

Jay xx

Inspiration Alley said...

My son had loads of friends who occupied his room during the day and shared his bed at night. All had precise places in the bed and were carefully placed to ensure their comfort. Over the years Ashleigh favoured some more than others, until Rex arrived. Rex was a dark brown dog who yapped like mad and wagged his tail continuously. Unlike Ashleigh's other friends, Rex wasn't soft and cuddly, he was hard and had ribs made of metal that protected his insides from harm. Rex was a loner, he didn't want to share the bed with the other friends but spent his time alone at the bottom of the bed. But, Ashleigh knew that although Rex didn't like to be too close to others, he did want to be included in their talk and in their games and Ashleigh made sure that they knew that and included him. He built Rex a bed of his own from a shoe box and covered him with blankets to keep him warm. Like Raff, Rex is a well travelled bear, taking many transatlantic flights to America, which was actually his birth place and was where Ashleigh and he first met. Ashleigh is now 16 and Rex still holds a very special place in his life. Rex has helped him through many difficult times and shared many good times. I don't think they will ever stop being friends even though they no longer spend all their time together.

Happy Raff Day.

Mandy Charlton, Photographer, Writer, Blogger said...

Me-thinks that Raff likes to have a drink or two now and again!!

I love all of these photos, that giraffe has travelled far more than I ever have. big squidgy hugs to your DD :)

Looby has a doggy called Dorito and he goes everywhere too!

jay670120 said...

why are their fave toys really big ???? we have to lump these favourites here there and everywhere and as for sticking them in the washing machine its a nightmare even sugesting it to a youngster let alone fitting it in :D
My DD has a cat called Jessie from sing and sign classes its black and white well black and browny grey !!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Raff Day!!

I shall have to introduce Raff to our friends: we have Henry Warmheart, Henrietta Blue and Obadiah: they are all bears and they have their own pet dog called Suki. This year they were joined by Jack Badger.

Henry and Blue are the most travelled having been to Poland, and all over the place in England. Henry even drives the car! Yes, I shall have to find the photo so you can see him.

They all send their love and bear hugs to you and Raff :o)

x Rachel x said...

Hello Raff, my you are a busy giraffe! you go on lovely holidays & do exciting things, i hope you have lots more adventures & i look forward to seeing lots more photos of you, lots of love Rachel x

Shirley said...

Raff certainly gets around, I think he is so lucky to live with you all.
Not only does he travel abroad to all the exotic places that are in the photos but he has one of the prettiest little girls in the country to look after him.
I bet he gets up to alsorts of adventures, maybe one day we will be able to read about them all:)
XXXX

Cass said...

Raff looks like he's living a fabby life.He's been to more places than me.
I've still got a little scruffy lamb who's ears and tail are hanging off that I've had since I was a toddler.So it's nigh on 40 years old.My mum and dad got it for me at a church fair.He's called a very unoriginal Lamby.I wouldn't part with him for the world though.

Cass xx

Tinkerbelle said...

Nice to meet you Raff xxx Looks like you have had a busy little life and you are looked after very well... I am sure that you are also loved very much and you are very lucky to have travelled on a plane.. well be good xxx

Tinkerbelle said...

Well hello, there great to meet you raff. Looks like you are a well loved little giraffe and that you have been to so many places. I bet you had fun on the aeroplane.... Well I hope that you are being good, and that you are extra specially good when you are in hospital for the nurses... hope to hear more about your travels soon... Take Care xxx love Tinkerbelle xxxx

Claire aka Feline said...

We LOVE Raff, he's one cool, well travelled giraffe.

I have a teddy bear that my DH bought me many years ago (not that many MJ :P) he's called Scrufty Tufty and he went to School for show and tell and he gets lots of cuddles, and so he sends a wave to Raff and lots of kisses to you too {{{hugs}}} sweetheart xxx

Unknown said...

when Raff makes it over to N.Ireland,he can meet Teddy - he has been with me for 33 years and is now sitting in DD's room on her shelf (he did live in her cot for a while till i realised he was not surviving as well these days!) - he has been to all over europe and america - i must get the photo on our blog when he was in the west indies with me when i was three/four!! he almost went round the world with me after uni but i decided i might lose him the youth hostels somewhere down under. Now DD has Sheepy who might start swopping postcards with Raff about their travels!

Bagpuss said...

Oh NO we missed Raff day! Hope that he had a lovely one anyway, both DD and I love seeing what he has been up to and I have to say a better friend you could not have! Hugs to DD and Raff too from me and my DD!

ally said...

from one raff lover to another. my middle son james has a beloved raff too! he comes out most places with us but i have not taken his picture, so that is something which i think i start doing. today raff went into surgery with my little boy and kept him safe for me. raff's are super and i love his raff. So give your raff a huge hug and kiss from me.

julietk said...

Well Raff sure is lucky to have such a devoted owner. I didn't have a favourite toy when I was little, my two brothers were the loves of my life : ) but I have lots of lovely soft toy friends now and I even make my own.
I hope you show DD the Photostory on my blog so that she can see them x Juliet
Ps the Cup cake Case on my blog was only made as you inspired me to do some altered pieces, TY

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