I have written a few posts about Kirstin Baybars and her delightful Ostrobogulous creations. Peter Hoot and the Ostrobogulous is that kind of particularly niche topic that means that when people search Google for inspiration, they may well come across me.

This has meant that visitors have got in touch directly to share their memories and photos of their Peter Hoots. You can see some of that engagement in the earlier pieces, see links below.

When Pam from the States got in touch, I was able to help her, through David Ward, source a replacement for her Peter Hoot that was lost when she was a child.  

And quite recently a lady called Jane got in touch with me because she wanted to find her Peter a new home. I offered my help and, long story short, I ended up buying a second owl for myself.  

Twit two    

Peter Hoot 2 was brought to life relatively recently. It was an old kit from Kristin’s shop, but one that had never been sewn together. Back in 2018 I think, it was finally constructed and then sold to Jane.

This Peter is presented in brown and orange (they are my favourite colours) and he has a proper seventies look about him. He is larger in size (though technically a medium) than my original owl and that makes him a nice companion.

After buying him, I found a lovely photo of Kristin with her newly commissioned parliament of Peters. No. 2 is in the picture. Very cool!

It turns out that Sarah Harrop, who has the best collection of Ostrobogulous creations in the country (and helped me in my research for my earlier posts) actually took the photo.

Kristin passed away in late 2021 and so finding this photo of her with the Peters felt rather poignant. I never got to meet her in person, which I always thought was a shame.

And Aristo too
Since 2013 when I first wrote about Peter Hoot, I have also acquired an Aristo clown. This one is an original and he shows his age, but he sits on his throne in the lounge, and I think he looks terrific.  I really fancied having one of these … it took me a long time to find one.

Related links:
07/02/20 Kristin Baybars and the Ostrobogulous 
07/07/20 More on Ostrobogulous Toys 
​Meet Peter Hoot from the zoo of the Ostrobogulous 11/13 - you'll have to scroll down a little

https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/tributes-to-kristin-baybars-the-toymaker-with-a-shop-of-dreams

Since Donald Trump came to power I have found myself getting more and more appalled by his behaviours and his apparent belief that the truth is whatever he says it is.

Trump might be American, but he is just like Putin, Xi Jinping or Yong Un when it comes to the playbook of power. For example:

• Lie until something becomes the truth because others have given up questioning or believe it to be true because they have heard it so often.
• Bully and threaten others with force or the removal of friendship if they don’t give way (Greenland, Mexico, Gaza for example).
• Do everything to hold on to power by removing dissenters from office.

The man is a narcissistic, egotistic megalomaniac and arguably a criminal too. The world is a much more dangerous place than it was before he came to power, and I think we all have reason to be quite afraid. He doesn’t care about the planet, decency, honesty or integrity and instead promotes division, aggression, expansionism and capitalism.

I don’t know how he can spout such lies (Ukraine started the war, Zelensky is a dictator, Putin is a genius etc.) to the world without being embarrassed. He seems to believe his own bullshit.

To me, America has always been a great and inspiring country, a place associated with living the dream – the united states of aspiration if you will. Now I am thinking that the USA is losing its shine and appeal. For the foreseeable future, Trump will be America’s own dictator, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll look to amend the constitution so that he can be in power for longer.

The next four years are going to be uncomfortable for the rest of the world.   

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Update 02/03/2025

Since writing this post, Zelensky was on the receiving end of an orchestrated mugging by Trump and Vance in the notorious televised meeting at the White House. I listened and was angered by the diplomatic indecency.

There is a well-known saying “with great power comes great responsibility” and so as not to forget, Trump would do well to have that tattooed on to his body. He shows none of the tact and diplomacy that befits someone in his position.
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I was slightly heartened to read in the news over the weekend that protesters have been taking to the streets in the States to show their support for Ukraine. Hopefully there were far more Americans upset by Trump’s antics than were visible in New York, Boston. Los Angeles and Vermont. They voted him in and, because he claims to be acting on their behalf, they need to manage his outrageous behaviours.