Archives for category: bullying

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The “Embrace Diversity” couple that faces the public today is Lapdog and Cool Cat.  Everyone knows cats and dogs don’t like each other! Really? Yes really, but they can be civil to each other. Here Cool Cat give Lapdog a little kiss on the forehead, that is as far as she will go.

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They usually don’t see eye to eye as they have totally different attitudes. Cool Cat has even called Lapdog a “slut” which curries favour with everyone. Lapdog doesn’t think much better of Cool Cat. She finds her up her self and arrogant. So, the cat is a loner who looks after her appearance and does yoga to keep fit. She does not allow anyone to touch her, particularly her tummy. Lapdog on the other hand likes rough and tumble play and you virtually have to force her to have a bath afterwards. She totally dislikes to be on her own, so she is friendly with everyone, like a little ray of sunshine and she loves to be patted on every part of her body.

With so many differences, to name but a few, it is not surprising that these two will never be bosom buddies. But they do respect each other deeply and therefore can co-exist peacefully. Their secret is that neither of them tries to force their way of life on the other.

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Lapdog grabbed the robe of Foxy Lady. “Stay!” she begged her. “All he wants is a referendum. It is the most grassroot democratic process there is, isn’t it?” Foxy Lady stopped for a brief moment “I beg to differ,” she replied and tried to wiggle herself free. “It offers no solution whatsoever, as it is just a simple yes/no answer. It usually attracts all the disgruntled nay-sayers to the ballot boxes.” Lapdog let her go but muttered disappointedly “Walking away isn’t a solution either.”

Of course I will vote, should Top Dog get his wish,” promised the fox and was out the door.

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She hadn’t gone far before she bumped into Mouse. It was very obvious that the little thing wasn’t her usual self.

“I am really scared” she confided in Foxy Lady. “I always took freedom for granted. But Top Dog…” Foxy Lady didn’t even let her finish her sentence, seeing her friend distressed and intimidated was the final straw for her. “Right!” she said quite resolutely now, “we have to show everyone what we Dedes stand for! Top Dog is definitely the odd puppet out!”

Watch this space!

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Yesterday, after the summaries were completed and all the contestants had left the stage to get their deserved rest before the big finale on Friday, Mouse started to tidy up the stage. All of a sudden Top Dog came running in, balloon and flag in hand. Mouse looked at this paraphernalia, which he had obviously done through a marketing agency. Mouse doesn’t like confrontation, but she had to remind him “Top Dog, you are not in the competition.” Then she tried to move him off the stage, so she could get on with her job. “You will see,” replied Top Dog confidently waving his flag wildly, “I will get the most likes!” This was a very awkward situation for little Mouse on her own. If only her mate Devil was here, he would tell Top Dog where to go, but he wasn’t. And since Top Dog didn’t leave, Mouse decided to moved on and do some other work somewhere else for now.

First thing in the morning, Mouse checked the current results and was more than pleased to see her wait-and-see approach had worked just fine. Top Dog did not get the most votes. To be precise, he didn’t even get close to any of the contestants. No way could he argue with these facts. This was a real confidence booster for Mouse and she could face him again. So Mouse came back on stage and announced excitedly “Our readers have once again proven they are very wise. They didn’t fall for cheap election tricks and no, Top Dog, you didn’t get the most likes.” Then she very quickly turned around to scuttle off the stage. Top Dog called after her “It’s all your fault…” But she was already out of earshot.

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Another one of our instagram followers,  from_delphine sent in a question last night. She asked: “Dear Dedes… do you like to go outside and feel the wind on your skin?” Lapdog wanted to cry when she heard that question. She would just love to go outside and romp around the garden. But all she could do is jump off the stage and look out the window. Okay, it is raining heavily today, but that is not the main reason that holds her back. “To feel the wind would be amazing” she said dolefully, “but we Dedes are very sensitive to the sun and we have to stay out of it as much as possible.” Then she admitted quietly, “sadly the only wind I feel is the one that rumbles in my tummy.”

 

Welcome to the Super Dede Competition 2016.

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This week is a preliminary round and you are asked to vote for your favourite puppet or puppets, those you would like to be contestants in the Super Dede Competition. Of course, not all Dedes are in favour of the competition and Detail has done a great job of rustling up these 10 brave Dedes to choose from. The five with the highest score will go on to compete. The others will be sent home. To help you with your decision the ten puppets were asked to briefly state why they are here.

It will be a bit tricky establishing the winner of the preliminary round, as the competition runs on Instagram, Facebook and this blog. Mouse will simply add the Instagram and Facebook likes to the poll result on the blog. We have until next Saturday to establish who will become contestants.

You can vote for more than one puppet and please, please, please tell all your friends to vote too :)

The Dedes work impromptu and they appreciate any comments and suggestions. We are all very excited about what is going to happen in the next four weeks. All comments will go into the draw for a signed copy of the first Dede puppet book Hermit’s Web or the few friends I need, I handcraft myself.

Now give a big hand for the applicants!

(In alphabetical order)

Alley Cat

“I am here because it wasn’t cool enough for Cool Cat, but we felines need a representative in the cast.”

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Chambermaid

“I want to be in the competition because I am sick of tidying up after all the other Dedes.”

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Granddad Max

“I am old but I am not dead. We seniors have something to say.”

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Milky Bar Devil

“I am a devil in training and I want to learn how to become ruthless.”

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Lapdog

“I am here because I’m soooo prettaay.”

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Loudmouth

“Honestly, I am the only Dede who can sing. This is a singing contest, isn’t it?”

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Snippedy

“I didn’t make it last time, so I’m trying again.”

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Snotty Nosed Prince

“The king said I should experience what the commoners enjoy.”

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Sunny

“I want to be an artist and the prize money might set me up.”

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Top Dog

“I will win. I am a joker, I simply trump them all.”

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Now, please vote for you favorite puppets!

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Devil pushed Bad Conscience to free Mr Vague from his grip. We all know it is not particularly nice when Bad Conscience latches on to you, but now that he was on the receiving end of unpleasant treatment, he made a big scene. He fell to the ground and whinged incessantly, calling Devil a bully. Devil immediately checked whether he sustained an injury and once he found out that this was not the case said, “You really deserved that!”

Devil is also responsible for educating the little devils – there are quite a few among the Dedes, not all of them show their horns openly. As a good educator,  he likes to make his teaching relevant and posed the question; “What actually makes you a devil?” Milky Bar Devil, who is the starpupil, immediately raised his hand to give the answer, but Devil wanted to hear from the audience. Sadly no-one came forward with an answer, so Milky Bar Devil got his chance in the end. But instead of answering, the inquisitive little mind asked if being a devil wouldn’t be a matter of perception.

Now Evan G List, who is a stickler for rules, entered the scene. Very patronisingly he patted the little scholar on his back and said while there is something in the question, the pupil should look into morals, values and beliefs. Milky Bar Devil got a little annoyed and reminded him that he is only in Lesson 1 of his training. He can’t possibly know the ins and outs of such a tricky and contentious subject already.

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The Dedes are currently discussing love. I am sure, we all agree, love is the most wonderful thing that can happen to someone. However, when there is an imbalance in affection it can also become scary. Lou, the young puppy, is infatuated with Skeleton Edeltraut. Who can blame him? Any young puppy will fall in love with a pile of bones. Whenever she shows up, he gets all excited, jumps up and down, tries to lick her and basically follows her around sniffing and worshipping the ground she walks on. Skeleton Edeltraut is outright scared, but no-one offers support. Everyone believes she should be able to cope with it. After all, she is in the scaring business herself. When she comes out of her closet, a lot of people are very frightened. It doesn’t help that she is generally a bit distant and cold and not as cute as Lou. No one takes her cry for help seriously. They put Lou’s behaviour down to his nature and advise her to harden up. Mhm. That is such a classic dede conundrum. How can this be resolved?

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Bobby the policeman is always in uniform. He even sleeps in it so it wasn’t stolen along with the other ones. It’s lucky he does because he still has a body! The Dedes asked him to investigate to find out what happened to their robes. Bobby rounded up some of the Lil’Dedes and started questioning them. They were quite incensed. With the assertiveness only a short puppet can have, one of them stepped forward, looked Bobby firmly in the eye and said, “just because we’re little doesn’t mean we’re guilty!” Look at their clothes. Honestly, they are much more elaborate than the black robes the Dedes always wear. What was he thinking?

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…my true love brought to me Four thrown-off frocks, three strange friends, two purple gloves and a chicken in a dread tree.

These four chums threw away their beautiful and very useful black robes, sorry Rae! (Rae made the frocks for the Dedes, so they got bodies). And now they are sitting once again heads only on their sticks, just as  they were invented. Three of them seem to be very happy to be No bodies again. Only Bad Conscience, the one in the front, looks uncomfortable. But why do they bring me their frocks? Does this mean they want to slip back into oblivion. Do I push them too hard?

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I can assure you, the Dedes are wrong, I wasn’t slack in the past months. I just had an energy-sucker of a job. I have recently resigned from this absolute terrible workplace. Let me rephrase that, the job as such wasn’t terrible, to be honest it was my dream job. I loved the students and every minute of teaching, but the school was suffering from a bullying culture, created by a bunch of alcoholics. One of them also showed very strong signs of a cluster B personality disorder. I only realised how much the situation sucked me dry – particularly my creativity – once I had resigned. It was an, how can I say that… “interesting” experience and I am surprised that I got to my age without having come across such a dysfunctional workplace before. Unfortunately I am very loyal person and often stick around longer than I should, because I so believe I can make a difference. Not!

Okay this was my rant for the day!

I hope the Dedes understand now why they have been a little neglected lately. And they were right, they didn’t get as much attention as they deserved. My first peace offering to them was, that I set up a new zazzle product for sale: An apron with the image of  Milky Bar Devil presenting his delicious hamburger bun – the cover shot of The Artist’s Survival Cookbook. My old mate Devil got all emotional after he’d realised I am back on board. He shook my hand and said we should renew our pact. I didn’t know we had one!

Artist's Survival Apron
Artist's Survival Apron by dededesign
Many more kitchen apron designs online at zazzle” apron designs on zazzle