... do you notice you can't trot around like you used to? Well, age is creeping up on me but I'm still getting up to mischief when I can! Out on the yard a few days ago, I noticed that my left hoof was a little painful, so my grooms made an appointment for one of the vets to drop by to take a look.

With the sun shining and me strolling out on the main yard, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. If it had been a few minutes earlier, then my donkey friend Jubilee would have loved to have taken my place. What was happening? Let me tell you...

... me! Out of all the 2,000 plus contestant long-ears here at the Sanctuary, I made it through to becoming this year's face on the tourism leaflet along with my new friend, Connie, who's pictured alongside me.

It was just one of those moments when we were having a quiet word to each other, when we heard the click-click of a camera. And what a pose we struck - and on my best side too.

You've been looking after all our donkey hooves for about 30 years (so we hear) and you've been my own personal farrier since I moved to the Sanctuary in October 2007. Just think I was only a 3 year old when you joined the Sanctuary all those years ago!

Take a look at my new shoes... don't they just sparkle?

It was my turn this week for an appointment with Colin our farrier. He's so charming you know and is beginning to get into the Christmas spirit by adding a touch of glitter to us long-ears who wear plastic shoes.

I've been looking forward to this morning all week... it's my turn to go out for a walkabout and catch up with news from the other long-ears.

George is coming along too. He tried to go for a walk earlier in the week - even managing to sneak through the gate a couple of times before being noticed, so it's third time lucky for him.