Strathmore family uses giant monkey to bring joy to families
From tea parties to ‘beach holidays’, reading books to standing in the rain, this very active Strathmore monkey is putting a smile on the faces of passers-by. SEE PICTURES
North West
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A Strathmore family is taking isolation entertainment to a new level with the help of a giant plush monkey.
Inspired by the recent bear hunt phenomenon, the family has been dressing up the oversized monkey and posing him doing different activities each day on their balcony for passers-by.
So far, the monkey has been spotted having a tea party, escaping over the balcony, reading a book in a rocking chair, having a beach holiday and even holding an umbrella in the rain.
Mother Felicity Fewster said creating new ideas and activities to showcase each day had helped her children stave off isolation boredom.
“In the morning we’re like quick – we need to change him and we look around to see what we’ve got,” she said.
“It’s quite spontaneous, nothing is really planned.”
The busy monkey has been a hit for passers-by doing their daily walks.
“So many more people are walking past, that’s why we’ve kept it going so that way they can see something different,” Mrs Fewster said.
“Just sitting in a room you can hear kids go past and scream.”
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She said the monkey, owned by her son Isaac, had helped lift people’s spirits so much during the pandemic that the family even received a note thanking them for their hard work.
“It made us want to up the ante a bit and keep doing it, it made us realise it was worth it,” Mrs Fewster said.
The monkey has been out and about on the balcony for almost three weeks now, with no plans of slowing down until after the lockdown is lifted.