Travelog for: Gustav

Hi, I'm Gustav! Wooow, today in the morning I still sat in a toy shop and now I'm already ready for my journey around the world! Aileen asked me in the shop whether I wanted to come with her and finally go out into the world. At first I said no because I though she was just kidding but obviously she wasn't. I'm glad that she convinced me! Because now she told me that she has already found my first host in the USA! Unbelievable, I've never been so far away from home (and I never imagined I could be). But I'm so much looking forward to see the world, although I'm scared that I could miss my friends from the toy shop. Hopefully I meet a lot of other toys during my journey and find friends all over the world! Please help me to discover this planet!

We already had a lot of fun today. The first day since long ago that I didn't need to sit still on a shelve the whole day.

At first Aileen sewed some clothes for me and I even got a cap and gloves. Aileen's mother also made a cap for me. They told me that I could visit quite cold places, so I probably need that.



I'm so proud of this cap!



Later I became hungry and found yome nuts.



When they saw me eating the nuts they decided to cook something for all of us.





Those potatoes tasted really nice but the honey was even better! I've never eaten honey with such a huge spoon before!





Oooops. I didn't notice that Aileen took a picture.



Then we played together. It was Aileen's mum's idea to use the candle-holder as a swing. They told me that it would be too wet outside to use a swing there.





Then I helped with a Sudoku, It was sooo complicated! But we managed!



In the toy shop we weren't allowed to play with the other things there. But here I can even play with the FLOWER! Cool.



Aileen also showed me froggy's travelog and then we created my own .





There it so much space for me to play! And somehow I'm allowed to play with most of the things...





Okay, sometimes Aileen is a bit scared that I could break things...



I even listened to music! She has a great taste



But now it's really late and I need to go to bed. But first I'll get a good-night-story: "Als Gustav Bär klein war" ("When Gustav-bear was young"). That's also where my name comes from.



I got to go to bed now! It was a very exciting, special and wonderful day! I hope that there will be many more like this.

Next week I'll travel to the USA! I don't have any plans yet what I'll do afterwards, if you would host me please tell Aileen. She promised me to organize everything.
Good night!

Hi!
Today's a great day! The sky is blue and we could go outside!
Of course we took some photos. Do you want to see them? Here they are!

When we went outside we passed the postbox. I actually wanted to check if there is some post... But finally I hung there upside down and almost fell! Fortunuately Aileen was there and saved me. Okay, next time I'll wait for the key as Aileen told me...





Then she showed me where we live. Went went to the street and looked into both directions.





There's a lot of nature around the house, and there is also a brook close by.



Then I tried to climb on a tree. YES, I did it!





Finally I needed some time to relax. I found a bench in the garden.  But could anyone tell me why benches, chairs and tables are always so big? Why are there no in MY size?



Behind the house is a company that produces roofs. Aileen told me that it can be quite hard to transport them because the pieces are so big. That's also why they use those big cars! Wooow I'd love to sit in such a big truck one day!









Then we went back inside. There's also a shop and some offices for chimney sweepers where we took some photos. Aileen said that they needed all the stuff to clean shimneys... Really?!









Now Aileen and I'll go outside again.
The sky starts to turn grey and that's why we should enjoy the last rays of sunshine for today! And Aileen said that I would need a lot of action during the day... I think she was a little bit annoyed when I jumped on her bed yesterday night and she couldn't sleep...

See you later!

Today and yesterday Aileen and I went outside to visit my hometown, Fürstenau!







This is the shop from which Aileen saved me



Then we visited the "Hohe Tor", an old building.



And we found another old building, a castle that's surronded my a big pond.



Today she showed me a church right in the middle of town. That's close to the shop where Aileen bought me and there are also plenty of other shops close by. It's in the street you can see further up.



Aileen needed to buy some "Spätzle", a german kind of pasta (she loves them!). So we went to a shopping center. Although Aileen told me that it's a quite small center compared to others I can't really believe it. it was really big!!



There's also a Mc Donald's, a fast food restaurant. Big we didn't eat anything. (Man, I was hungry!)



But that was just because we ate maybe three quaters later.
I checked out the pasta (no Spätzle actually) before they boiled them. ÄÄÄHM okay, I actually wasn't allowed to do so.



But it was ME who took care of the sauce!



In the evening Aileen told me that another Voyager would come and visit us maybe already the next day. I was sooo excited! So I could meet someone else of my kind!

And here he is! Willy W.
He came with the post already this morning. I was sooo excited when I opened the envelope!











He's a really nice guy. I think we can become big friends. Aileen told me that I would leave soon so there are probably only a very few days we can spend together.
And äähm... I wonder whether Willy shares those chocolate-pieces with me. They look sooo tasty!
Later Aileen washed Willy's shirt. Olgamaus asked her to do so in an e-mail.





Gustav was really curious about what's going on in the water. He desperately wanted to have a closer look. Furtnately Aileen was out of sight so we tried to reach the shirt.





But suddenly Willy fell into the water! He was so close to the water and got heavier and heavier with every move. I couldn't hold him back anymore.



OH NO! What will Aileen say? Ahhh.
So we tried to get Willy out as soon as possible. But it wasn't easy at all. The border was far away from Willy. So I climbed on tab tab and tried to pull him out. But it's just didn't work!
Suddenly Aileen stand behind us...





Too late... But she wasn't angry, only laughing!
So she decided to wash Willy right away.



After some minutes Willy was ready to get out of the water. I handed him a kitchen towel and we tried to dry him. Then Aileen came with a bigger towel - that was better.







Willy needed to dry and so we looked for a warm place. Finally he sat down on the radiator. I stayed with him so that he doesn't get bored. And actually I didn't want to help Aileen with this stuff called household. She needed to iron - aaah. No thanks.





After about two hours Willy has already been dry! So we went outside together.





There was a quite well-shaped cloud so we took some pictures.





Then we went back inside again and played on the lamp. But we needed to be careful because Aileen was scared that we could break it. But nothing happend! So hopefully we can do that again .





Finally we prepared lunch. Yummiiie!


Enough pictures for today.
You'll hear from me later this week!

Huhu!
I'm back with some updates!
It's so great that Willy is here, we have a lot of fun together! I like him a lot!
Yesterday we went to the next bigger town called "Osnarück". There we visited the town and went into a few shops.
Aileen showed us around because both Willy and me haven't been there before.

Aileen told us that she once made a practical training in a theater.
This is the main building and a plan of the actual plays.





There are also other historic and old buildings we had a look at.







Enough culture, now it's time for a little shopping!





That's one of her favourite book shops.





Finally we went into the "Markthalle" to eat a Crêpe (with nutella, hmmmmmm!)






I plan to leave for the US on Tuesday! Wooow.
I actually wanted to be there on Wednesday but there is almost no chance to get there so fast. So I'll stay here over the weekend and probably meet some friends and celebrate Aileen's mother's birthday.

Hi!
I'm back online with some very mixed pictures!
We drove around quite a lot during the past few days, to Aileen's grandma again, grocery shopping, to Osnabrück (as you know...).
Those pictures were taken in Fürstenau, on the way from her grandma.



There has been sooooo much of this white stuff outside! I've never seen that before! Aileen told me that it's called "snow" and that it's frozen water that comes down from the clouds like rain. Aha. Now it's already gone, Aileen said it's to warm for it so stay.



I also found out where Aileen's socks come from when we visited her grandma:



Afterwards Aileen showed us how many socks she already got from her grandma... WOW! Quite a lot!

In the evening we drove to a small town close by. One of Aileen's friends picked us up and then the five of us drank Cocktails (two friends, Willy, Aileen and me). Hmmmm they tasted so well! We chose "Coconut Kiss" because Aileen didn't want us to drink alcohol. She said it was enough that Willy has been tipsy once...
And guess what?? I completed my first mission! But I'd like to spend another night out anyway.









The next day we rescued Ellie Muh, the cow, from the same toyshop where I come from! I'm soo glad that we chose Ellie because she's really nice! I already knew her. But somehow it was hard to decide who we should take with us. I mean they are all locked up and nobody deserves that! I asked Aileen to take all of them with us but she said it was too expensive. Can't I do something like "work & travel" and earn enough money to rescue all of them?



Ellie is really funny! And she allows us to ride on her back!! Cooool.



Then we prepared Aileen's private tuition. We waited more than a quater for the girl to come. I thought she would be there in time if she wants to get help?! Obviously not.





Tomorrow is Aileen's mother's birthday! I already know things her mum doesn't... haha! AND I've got pictures she should better not see now.

Huhu,
today is Aileen's Mum's birthday and so I can upload the wrapping-pictures!
We chose blue paper with light spots. Then we started wrapping...



















I actually wanted to hide inside the present and jump out of it when Aileen's mum opens it. But Aileen told me that I needed to wait a whole night and so I decided that it's better to leave it and spend the night in bed.

Of course cake also belongs to a real birthday! I don't know whether it's typical to have cake for birthday everywhere in the world but at least here it is.

Hi there!
In the afternoon some guests visited us.
When the guests were gone we spend a lazy evening playing cards and watching TV.
And guess what? Willy W. and me each got a Hanuta! Hmmmm, have a look!























Tomorrow I'm going on my first trip to the US! Great, isn't it?? But I'm scared... And I don't want to say goodbye!

Hi!

Now it's time to say goodbye...

Can you remember the sweets Willy W. brought here? He hasn't eaten any of it yet. I thought he had eaten it while I have been away or asleep but obviouly he didn't! In the beginning I was wondering whether he would share them with me... They looked so tasty! But I didn't want to ask him. That's why I was really happy when we got the hanuta yersterday.
Willy obviously remembered the sweets that were still in the envelope. On my very last day he came to me with the chocolate and really shared it with me! Wooow! I was really happy about that, especially beause I didn't think he would do so anymore.













Then we needed to say goodbye. Suddenly I didn't want to leave anymore! Although Aileen told me a lot of cool stuff about the US and about where I'm going to I just wanted to stay... I felt homesik although I hadn't left yet.

Aileen also told me that she would move in early April. And probably WITHOUT ME because I would be travelling at that time!
Willy tried to save me and to pull me out of the envelope, but Aileen held him back. I think Willy was also sad that I'm leaving.
Bye bye!

Hiiiiii everybody!!!

I'm still at home!

Yes, it's true. I wanted to leave for the US and I really tried it, but I just couldn't go. I was so sad not to join Aileen on her trip to Borkum. Borkum is a german island where Aileen has been for work before and now she's going to spend some month there again! Before she knew that she always told me about the sea, the beaches, the great sunset during summertime, the dunes... So went she told me that she would go there again I desperately wanted to join her, but I had already other plans.

Finally I was sitting on the kitchen table, crying, while Ellie Muh was with me and just couldn't understand what was going on with me. I think she has been jealous because I already had travelplans. She was more than ready to discover the world so finally she pushed me out of the envelope and climbed into it herself.

I stopped crying immediately and Aileen didn't want to force me to go (although she tried to convince me that I had a great host in the USA and that I would spend a great time there). I think Aileen's right, I really miss something, but anyway. Now I'm home having fun with Willy W. and Smokey.

Of course we always took pictures and here are some of them.

We've been to the cinema together (watching "Kokowääh"). Smokey hasn't been here at that time.









Then Smokey arrived!! She comes from Ellie Muh's current host in the USA!



We've also been a lot outside together, visiting the castle and a bastion.















There's a real canon inside the castle! I'm the ammunition!



Then we drove to Osnabrück because Aileen needed some special clothes. Finally we made a stop at the IKEA.









It was already dark when we arrived there but the shop has quite long opening hours so that was no problem.
We also found some other stuffed toys. We wanted to release them but they prefered to stay. Maybe the just don't want to leave home like me.



See you soon (with more pictures ).

Did you actually notice my new pullover?

Aileen made it for me.


It was one of her first knitting-tried for years! Doesn't it look good?





At least I like it! It's much warmer now.

Maybe Aileen was just thankful because I helped cleaning the bathroom.







I'm having much fun with Willy and Smokey here.
While Aileen took a shower we made funny copies of ourselves.



Everyday we look for post. Well, sometimes we sleep too long so somebody else is faster...



We also prepared a present Aileen wanted to send to a friend in Great Britain. I hope we didn't ruin it (we used all colours we could find to decorate it....).



From time to time we also eat unhealthy stuff like chips  .
It just tasts too good!

I had the very first ice-cream of my life last week! For Aileen and Willy it was the first ice-cream of the year. I think Smokey hasn't eaten ice-cream before as well. So I wasn't the only one who thought that ice-cream is warm... Okay, it's called ICE-cream. But we also chose Spaghetti-ice-cream and there was no pasta at all! So how should I know that it's really ice??





In the evening we had fun making pyramides!











Love,
Gustav

We baked again! This time no cake but bread, olive-bread!

We cut the olives into smaller pieces...



cut an onion and braised it... (although we finally didn't need all of it)



and then mixed it with flour and some other ingredients.



Finally it needed to be in the oven for a while.


(...quite a long while...)

And then it was ready to eat!


In the evening we watched a family TV-show (television, not ToyVoyagers ) called "Die perfekte Minute" ("the perfect minute"). But instead of just sitting and watching we tried some of the games they played on out own. It wasn't as easy as it seemed to be (although Aileen managed some of them).

In this game you had to throw the glass with the ruler and catch it again, BUT you needed to catch it the other way round, that it to say the top needed to be in the bottom.





Here you needed to blow all cards down except for the one in the bottom. It was really difficult because the card just didn't want to stay on the bottle! OR all cards stayed on the bottle...



I think that's it for now!
Lots of hugs!

Hi there!
Today it was carnival!
Aileen explained to me that a lot of people would wear costumes that day and that there were a lot of parties and parades around. Unfortunately there was no parade here in Fürstenau but we took a walk outside anyway. There it didn't look like carnival at all.

We passed a house that looked quite strange because it did not have a roof, the windows were broken and everthing else didn't look like you wanted to live in it as well. Willy W. asked Aileen about it (because some week's ago it was still there!). She said that people are tearing it down at the moment because it's just too old and in a bad state of repair.



The sun was shining all day! Unbelievable!





There's also a building behind the house that will soon be torn down as well in order to re-build it. But first the shop that's currently inside needs to sell most things out. That's why they have a 20% discount on everything at the moment!



Aileen said that they would sell all different kind of things and that's why Gustav and me had a look whether some toys inside needed our help.
And guess what?! They did!!



As you can see we convinced Aileen of paying for them!






Back home we started to prepare our costumes. We all had different costumes: Smokey was a mummy, Willy W. was a lion and I was the most colourful one! A flower!



Party!!!





throwing confetti