The Easter Monkey is currently self-isolating with his key workers in the jungle, so although he will not be visiting homes this year with cards and treats, he sends Easter wishes to you all and his hopes for much better times soon. Take care and be safe.
At the end of 2019, a deadly disease came to our attention. Starting in China, it quickly spread across the globe to almost every other country in the world. Coronavirus, as it is called, is highly infectious, spreading through the air and entering human bodies via the eyes, mouth and nose infecting at an alarming rate. It causes the disease Covid-19. Most humans recover from the infection but for some, it is fatal. On Wednesday, March 11th, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global pandemic.
To stop health services being quickly overwhelmed by the weight of numbers of patients needing to be admitted to hospital (this virus spreads at an exponential rate) and in an attempt to reduce the huge numbers of predicted casualties, governments across the world make the difficult decision to force everybody to stay in their homes, self-isolating themselves from everyone else and thereby help to slow the transmission rate.
Work stops, streets empty and scenes never seen before become the norm. We witness panic buying of basic staples and a surge in online activity as we remain stuck in our houses, glued to the news, watching and waiting for signs that the infection is becoming under control as hundreds of thousands of people become infected and tens of thousands die.
We are living in unprecedented times as a chapter of human history we will never forget is written. The world we left to go into lockdown may be gone for good when we get out.
Lockdown
Early 2020, Coronavirus came to our shores
Bringing with it times we’ve never seen before
People starting getting sick with symptoms like flu
Friends, an invisible enemy, standing right next to you
As it spread, a pandemic it became
Every day lives changed, never the same
Governments forced us into our homes
Stockpiling madness picked shelves to the bone
Toilet rolls, pasta and every type of soap
Crammed into trolleys and bags along with the hope
That by hiding away in self-isolation
There would be swift end to the decimation
So many lives lost as twice seen before
Counting in zeroes – our Third World War
Hospitals fill, resources stretching to break
All doing our bit for everyone’s sake
From front line support to just staying inside
To slow the spread and turn back the tide
It’s only three months, so many have died
So many more will – there’s nowhere to hide
From the fact that lockdown came too late
COVID-19 infecting at an alarming rate
We were not prepared, how long will we stay
In lockdown and fighting, surviving each day
Protecting our loved ones and strangers alike
Watching and hoping that today is the spike
That vital moment when we gain control
Downward the numbers begin to roll
Testing, more testing, a vaccine, immunity
Every day closer to once more being free
No longer closed off, instead closer than ever
Once more looking forward to a future together.
Jimmy is making the most of his Christmas present doing security wherever it is needed. Eddy keeps acquiring things.
Most people find the likeness of God or Jesus, for example, in everyday objects – not our Rudi…
Chilli dogs and milkshakes are the order of the day. Moody has a day out and has lunch at Trenchers, the most delicious of fish & chip restaurants.
Burny celebrates his birthday with a special cake and there are some extra special Monkey Rescues as the year goes on.
Sporting their new cowboy hats, relaxing in their Xmas pajamas (complete with matching slippers), Willy and Rudi enjoy the season. Welly looks fab in his Christmas jumper.
Jimmy is overjoyed to receive weights and new training shorts and wastes no time starting his new regime with pullovers. Best of all, though, is his new T-shirt. Now, you can see he means business and is geared up to protect his principal, best mate Eddy.
There can be only one Willy The Travelling Monkey.
There can be only one Rudi…
Uti and Upsi thank Santa Claus for his kindness by guarding his LED runway.
Willy & Rudi and the Travelling Monkey gang visit a country estate to do some gardening and hang about among the summer flowers.
Rudi takes his work home with him.
2018 witnesses our Lord of Mirth, Rudi, first getting his hands on a very questionable potato.
He finally unboxes his Christmas present and the reality is even more “oh, dear” than the illustration on the box.
Mackey D’s makes his month by releasing the giant version of their most popular burger, while devonshire splits make for the perfect dessert.
June brings the birthdays of both Johnny and The Stuffers and they can’t wait to get stuck into that creamy goodness.
Bobo starts the Christmas festivities as he means to go on. The Travelling Monkeys have a night away. Braydy is transfixed with the new Christmas TV Guide – 2 whole weeks of tele to plan, helped by Wally! Rosie the Reindeer joins in the seasonal fun.
Rudi gets a typically appropriate present for his sense of humour, while Eddy finds his stocking full to bursting. Uti and Upsi celebrate that they are both on the nice list.
Halloween brings out the beast in Rudi this year and the Count in Willy.
Mikey may have been missing out on milkshakes looking at him.
And while Jimmy looks magic in his wizard’s hat and cloak, Big Doug and Johnny join in the fun with flashing skull heads.
A very special day out takes The Travelling Monkeys to Doncaster in Yorkshire to YWP, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, home to some amazing animals and the site of sensational rescues, including lions and polar bears.
One of the lemurs is starstruck to see Willy and Rudi on site, whereas a young giraffe pokes his tongue out at them. One of the tigers gives them a great view of her tonsils before doing what all cats do, falling asleep. Upsi’s cousins are there, too, running wild.
A fabulous day out, complimented by delicious food in the on site Safari Cafe.
Check it out: yorkshirewildlifepark.com