My new housemates.

Hello friends!

My goodness, I have so much to tell you!
But firstly, let’s kick off with the biggun – life at university!

So, we’ve been here for over 4 months now, but it feels like yeeeeeeears and yeeeears have passed. It’s a wonderful place to live; the student village is all cosy and pretty, and it’s only a 2 minute walk to the illustration studios and library – we can practically fall out of bed and roll down the hill and into the classroom.

But, aside from location and the exciting new course, the thing that makes being here really wondrous is the people. There are 7 other people living in our house, and the bestest thing about it is that they all have their own animal friends too! So, let me tell you all about the crazy folk of House 87...

1. Ace, the tiger

Let’s meet Ace.
Straight from the streets of London, he has thick, wild fur that curls and tangles into a little beard under his chin; similarly, his jagged whiskers curl into a Poirot style moustache under his little pink nose. Coloured the brightest oranges, golds and reds of fire, his fur is a reflection of his fierce sense of humour. He often references various films and TV programs by throwing out the odd quote every now and then to a sea of blank faces.
This crazy old cat is a hilarious (and slightly disturbing) little animal with bundles of character, and a bit of a sweet little singing voice to boot.

2. Russell, the hedgehog

Russell; now he’s a special one. A lover of all things musical, he can tap out a mean, melodic little beat with his paws in a jiffer and is always humming or singing along to the tunes in his headphones. He's an avid festival-goer, and proudly wears his Reading wristband like a little bow-tie around his neck. He's a productive little hedgehog too; he has a job working in the local Iceland store. They rather like having a hedgehog in their midst - he's very useful. When they need to take all those boxes of food out of the freezer and into the store, they can spear them onto the spikes on his back and off he shuffles: Very efficient.
He's a sweet little thing, full of laughs and stories to tell. Also from near the capital, he speaks with a bit of a Londoner's twinge, which makes the things he comes out with that much more enjoyable to hear.

3.  Lisa the bunny rabbit

Lisa is a sweet little thing. A basket of kindness, this little bunny rabbit is full of giggles and happiness. She's also one of the most talented artists I know! She'll be sat doodling at the kitchen table, and in a matter of seconds a beautiful masterpiece will be sketched out onto the back of an old pizza box, or the corner of a squirrel's crossword.
She loves Japanese art and culture, and is hoping to take lessons to learn the language soon, which is very exciting! And one final essential thing to know about this little rabbit: She cooks a mean aubergine and roast potato.

4. Lui, the panther

Ah, Lui. You've never known a smile until you've seen hers. The most beautiful grin greets her cheeks like a long-lost friend, and she's never without it. She's always laughing and full of happiness and kindness - there's not one mean bone in her body.
She's the kind of cat who loooooves film, so enjoys curling up on her blanket with a bundle of DVDs from the library; happy to watch Spiderman on repeat until the early hours of the morning. Lisa and I join her every now and again for a wonderful night of movies, snacks and tea... What more could you wish for?

5. Bradders the squirrel

Oh Bradders, where do I begin.
The funniest squirrel you'd ever have the pleasure of meeting, he can whack out a witty pun at devilish speed and have you laughing until the tears roll with his terribly good jokes.
He can often be found perched on the edge of the table, clutching the local paper and chugging through the crosswords. A studier and lover of sports, he also frequently joins Russell in a game of Pool, make-shift-kitchen-table-ping-pong, or on a trip to the local Public House to watch the football with a cool, refreshing glass of milk and a slice of fudge cake.
A bit competitive too, this one... But with style. To be fair, he's pretty nimble on his little paws: his love of playing the game puts a beat in his step that moves his paws so enthusiastically during table tennis, he may tumble into the occasional wall or floor or table. But he plays a mean game, and is the picture of humbleness and modesty with each well-earned victory.

6.  Al the Bald Eagle

Al is the kind of bird who loves getting healthy and a good film. One of the only few that understands the source of one of Ace's random movie quotes, Al himself will often crack out a line from a good flick. He's a healthy eater, perhaps the healthiest in the house, and this guy loves his sweet potatoes. He's also big on the gym, and often pops down there in the week: just ask him to flex those wings! And that's not the only exercise he gets - this eagle is one hell of a dancer! When he feels that music, he gives Patrick Swayze a run for his money and owns the dance floor!

And 7. Andy the dog

Dogs are very wise creatures, we know this. But Andy is in a league all of his own. He's full of facts, and frequently baffles us all with information on anything from vegetables to the human brain. He also has a passion for making his own mulled blackcurrant and stinging-nettle juices; quite the culinary genius, even if they are somewhat of an 'acquired taste'... Nonetheless, he is a friendly and humorous chap, and knows his way around cooking and fitting a turkey perhaps twice the size of our oven. Often found curled up in his dressing gown and playing video games with Ace, this is a kid you'd find a treat to get to know.

Quite a mix, huh?
But crazily enough, we get on like a forest on fire. (In only the nicest and bestest kind of way). These characters will pop up in future blog-posts every now and then as I tell you all about our new adventures at university!

I hope you enjoyed getting a taste of this little bundle just as much as I've enjoyed getting to know them!
Until next time, friends, see you soon!

All my love,
Fox