The Continued Adventures of (a very naughty) Hippo.

Hello Ariya! Hippo Here, I have been very busy looking after your daddy, he is such hard work and I'm doing my best to make sure he is safe and happy, i know he misses you very much and so do i :) now your daddy is doing very well for himself, he has just moved to a new house and it's very nice by human standards. It needs a proper inspection by a Hippo otherwise it's not a proper home. So i thought id have a look around and get all the proper checks done.....i may have gotten distracted.

I woke up and found that your Daddy had gone to work, he had left me a coffee on the side in my Hippo mug, it has an H for Hippo and is the certain shade of grey that i like best. Full of coffee i began the extremely thorough inspection that we hippos are famous for. I began with the sweets and treats and inspected the internet needed to check my hippo mails, I'm a very important hippo you see.

Hippo Has all the Treats!

Next, i had to check the bed was nice and comfy so i took the snacks, i had to try all of them it was very hard, I had to make sure your daddy had super soft pyjamas so i tried a pair on and then i had to make sure his comics were good, so i made a den in the bed and tried to read them. The pictures were pretty good for humans, but i couldn't understand the silly words, so i had a brilliant idea.

Thinking of becoming a Model

Your daddy is always wearing these silly goggles when he reads so i thought id try some on, these must be the secret to reading human words. None of them worked but you have to admit i do look good in these eye gogs, All this work made hippo very tired, so i decided to put on my best friends t-shirt and get back to what hippos do best and have a nap, i can finish my checks another day, I'm sure it's all fine your Daddy is really clever for a human.

Ready for Bed

Hippo loves Ariya and will keep an eye on daddy like he always does, ill also talk to you more soon, I'm getting the hang of this internet thing, its like hipponet just not as good. Night Night.

X

King Hippo

Moving On, Moving Faster, Stronger, Better, Still Always on the Move.

Hello Dear Ariya, no time for pleasantries I'm afraid as I have a lot to get through. Lots of changes for me in the last few months so ill get straight into it.

Moving On

 So the time has come to move onward, it been a lovely year but my current flat has become a little cramped of late so with the help of my new fox friend (more on her later) I've found a super new place to live. It's a beautiful new house, with a huge kitchen and a wonderful garden! it's incredible and its the same price I was paying so its win-win! Daddy is very, very happy.  

Living Area & Garden!

Cooking in Style

The only downside is its a bit of a way out from Daddy's work, so to combat this new distance I have bought myself a new toy. A super-fast road bike! and not only that it's a hybrid electric so every hill I get to I just zip up it like a rocket! my new house has a bike shed in the garden and is right next to a bike path so I have been zipping into work in no time flat! not to mention keeping fit, I used to run to work every day but again thanks to my new friend, I've upgraded to the fast lane.

Super Electric Road Bike of Wonder!

 So I'm doing really well, I have a fantastic new job and have made a ton of new friends, One friend ( or Fren as we now say) Is Connie, she is a beautiful and brilliant person who loves animals, mainly Doggos, she really likes Lush soaps and is an amazing singer! she loves all the musicals! so you don't have to worry about daddy cause she is taking really good care of me.

Daddy Duck and Connie Fox

Few, Daddy is exhausted, i told you there was a lot to get through, and i promise you there is so much more to come, Hippo has been very busy too! You be safe little lady and know I'm always thinking of you.

Love Always

X

Your Daddy

Words and verse to aspire too.

If you grow up, to have half the values that this song has, then i will be a very proud daddy. If the world forces you to be something you are not, then the world is wrong. We are capable of change, but only if its what we choose, never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Be kind

Be Respectful to Others

No matter Race or Creed

Cause no Harm

Be Happy.

I forgot this, somewhere along the line i got losses in my own madness. i was scared and i didn't know who to turn to. I've changed into a better Daddy because i remembered what's important.

X

Your Daddy

I'm Still Standing.

This is something that makes daddy feel proud of who he is, and i want to share it with you.

Still Standing, Still Thriving, Still Winning.

I promise more soon my dear one. But for now, I'm doing great and I'm always thinking about you,

X

Your Daddy

Happy 4th Birthday and Merry Christmas Ariya Starr

10.26pm December 25th 2019 Happy Fourth Birthday, My Beautiful Little Girl.

At 10.26 i light a candle for you to celebrate the moment your light came into this world. It shines bright and strong, It shines out into the dark, a beacon amongst the stars, guiding you home with love and kindness, to us, your family and me, your daddy.

we all love you very much Ariya Starr, we all miss you, we all think of you on this your special day.  We will never give up on you, and we know that one day we will all be together again.

It's important to me that one day you know this, one day you will be old enough to understand and i hope you will look back on these pages and know the truth.

Happy Birthday Ariya and Merry Christmas

Love Always

X

Your Daddy

Brown paper packages tied up with strings.

Merry Christmas my dear sweet Ariya Starr. 

I'm so sorry i haven't posted recently, this time of year is the busiest for a super Chef like your daddy, but that doesn't mean i have forgotten you, oh no. You are never far from my thoughts especially as we get closer to your special day. we are all sending our love and it seems like Santa has dropped off something for you a little bit early, no doubt its because you have been a super, mega, wonderful girl this year. 

These are a few of my favourite things. 

There will always be a present for you under our tree Ariya, No matter where you are in this big wide world, you will always be welcome, always be thought of, and always be loved. there's more to come, watch this space.

All my love

x

Your Daddy

Where in the world has your daddy been?

Answer: Daddy has been super busy, he has done so many wonderful things over the last month or so and it has been really hard to find the time to sit down and edit everything for you Ariya. So first of my apologies, But daddy is doing so very well. below is just a taste of all the things i have been getting up to.

First off I ran the Another Half marathon

So last time i ran the Edinburgh Marathon to give something back to the people who helped me in my time of greatest need, This Half Marathon was for me, for my own self-esteem, for my own well being, and most important of all to continue the confidence and positive physical attributes i have cultivated over the last few years. I smashed it! Finished in just under 2 hours, was aiming for 1.45, but it was so very hot that day it really took it out of me. It was a very good day.

Medal, Medal, Medal, and My Running Jersy.

Next up was a very special trip to Switzerland to attend a Buddhist Retreat hosted by Stephan Bachelor and his wife Martine. It was a wonderful experience, a week of silence, meditation, contemplation and some of the best vegetarian and vegan food i have ever tasted. It is the most beautiful and calming place i have ever been.

Interlaken - Buddhist Retreat 

True Beauty

Centred.

After a week of hard concentration, I'm not going to lie it was really hard at times i came away knowing more about myself than i ever dreamed possible, It was an experience like no other and has helped me continue to cultivate the positive mindset and mental awareness that has finally allowed me to thrive and grow. It was a very good week.

Dream Job.

And finally, all my hard work has started to pay off. I started a wonderful new job, a dream job, cooking fresh organic, locally sourced produce in a beautiful kitchen. I'm managing a brigade of chefs and its truly a wonderful thing. It has been a very good month.

A lot to take in i know, I'm still adjusting to it myself. But all this hard work has left me feeling something i don't think I've felt for a very long time. so i will leave you with this thought my dear sweet Ariya.

I am a good person. 

x

Your Daddy