I'm going to buy a forest!

One of the things I like to do is to look at the BBC news website. It’s all part of my education as a home schooled owl.

The other day I came across an article which took me by surprise. Did you know that England is selling one of its forests to a man who lives in Greece?

It’s one of their forests in Nottingham (that's a place in England in case you didn't know). I wonder why they want to do that. Maybe Greece hasn’t got very many forests of its own and they want more and decided to offer England lots of Greek money. Maybe when I am famous and rich, I can buy one of their forests too!

I don’t tend to read the whole articles on the website - I just like to look at the headlines and the pictures. Because I am a home-schooled owl I am so very well educated and can usually pick up the gist of the story without having to read the whole thing.

This particular article about the forest had a picture of a big scary man with the headline “Greek Marinakis (that's the name of the big scary man in the photo) buys Nottingham Forest”.

I understand most things but what I don’t understand is why the article was in the sports section. I personally think it would be better in the nature section.

More letters!

Mummy has just handed me three more letters. This is what happens with fan mail. It starts off small and then grows and grows and grows until there are sacks and sacks of letters. I wonder who the first one is from.....

....Oh! Now that’s a surprise. The first letter is from Mummy:

Dear Octavia, I tried talking to you the other day but you wouldn’t listen to me so I am writing you a letter instead because I know that you will read it. I know that you were very very excited to get your first piece of fan mail but you have to understand that the letter was not for you. Silvia did not spell your name wrong, because the letter wasn’t for you. It was for Odeletta. I know this will be hard for you to accept, but please try to be a gracious little owl. Love from Mummy xxx.

Of all the aubergines in the whole wide world! I don’t know what to say. Why does Odeletta get fan mail and not me? I am so very very sad. My eyes are leaking salty water. It’s not fair. I’m the one writing the book. I’m the one with the blog. I’m the one with 16 (and counting) Facebook friends. I’m the one that goes on adventures with Mummy and Daddy. What’s Odeletta ever done??

At least the second letter isn’t Mummy’s handwriting again! Let’s see what it says....

...Dear Octavia. I know you will be upset that the fan mail was for Odeletta and not you, but please try to understand that Odeletta really does deserve it. If it wasn’t for her, there would be no photos in some of your blogs. She’s been very kind in agreeing to be your stunt double. I think you owe Odeletta an apology. Be strong little Octavia. Be a brave little owl and do the right thing. Kind regards as always. Oxford Owl.

Oh alienated aubergines! Why can’t I be brave like Odeletta. Why am I not as special as she is? I’m just one silly little owl who won’t even say boo to the local cicada. Why does Oxford always have to be right?

I don’t feel special any more but at least I can do the right thing and be especially nice to Odeletta and tell her I’m sorry I got cross with her and give her a great big cuddle.

i suppose i had better get this last letter over and done with.....


....OFFICIAL FAN MAIL FOR OCTAVIA OWL

Dear Octavia. I wanted to write you this letter because you are my friend. I like playing with you. You are fun to be with and you make me laugh. I like how we dance silly dances and sing silly songs together and how we try to play tricks on Oxford. Please don’t ever change. You may not be as brave as Odeletta but I like you the way you are. Lots of love from your number one fan. Mr Smiley Face Sunshine. xxxxxxx

Oh Mr Smiley Face Sunshine, I love you so very much! I am special after all!

Fan mail

Oh tremendously delicious chocolate mice! I have just received my very first piece of fan mail. I feel like a very important little owl.

The letter was from someone called Silvia who is 6 years old and lives in Canada. Oh I am so very excited to have fan mail from Canada. I must be one very special little owl.

Here is what the letter said:

Dear Odeletta (silly Silvia! she mixed up my name with Odeletta!!!!)

My mama showed me a blog about you. I am very happy that you are brave. When I grow up I want to be just like you but not with the beak, wings and feathers.

Love from Silvia. xxx

ps. will you come to my birthday party?

pps. sorry about the mess. my pencils keep breaking

ppps. mama helped me spell the big words.

I feel so very proud that I am an inspiration to little human beings all over the world and that I set a good example. I will write back to her saying that I would be pleased to come to her birthday party and would she please try and remember that my name is Octavia and not Odeletta.

Oh trimormous aubergines! I had better not show the fan mail to Odeletta – she will think it’s for her!!