fredag 10 februari 2012

From all over the world...

It all started when Danne spent some hours in front of the computer, editing our video of Champis -the herding rabbit. When the video was finished, I wrote about it on my blog, then we linked it to the website of the Swedish Sheepdog Association. We thought it would be fun for our friends with sheepdogs to see something so strange as a herding rabbit... and we asked them a question for fun - do we really need sheepdogs...when there are rabbits?


NEVER...
...could we imagine that the movie about Champis -the Herding Rabbit would get so famous. We posted the video at friday, nearly two weeks ago and already on saturday, media started calling. The views on You Tube kept on increasing and we were amazed . What happened? Afterwards, we have talked about the expectations we had, before releasing the video. We remembered that we would have been satisfied with 1000 viewers. That was the ambitions we had...




Rebecca Crosson's amazing picture of her
Gårdsbackens Knockando, Billy



NEVER...
...could we imagine that Champis would charm the whole world. The video has reached over 2 200 000 views on less than two weeks. That means two people per second have watched it 24/7 in two weeks time! We have access to statistics on You Tube, and there we can see, though the statistics isn't up to date, that people from 200 different countries have seen Champis. On my blog, people from over 100 different countries have read what I have written. I have also found words written by me i foreign newspaper articles, where they quote me from my blog. Quite a strange feeling. Here I am, writing to you dear readers one day, and the other day I am quoted in some of the most well-known news media in the world.
Oh, how little do you know..



Our Gimmie, the mother, not so much better:))



NEVER...
...could we imagine, that the video would be such an huge success. It feels like all media of the world have wanted to tell the story of Champis - the herding rabbit. One day we got e-mails from people reading about him in newspapers in i Uruguay, Italy, India, Malaysia, Belgium, New Zealand, the next day someone wrote there was an article in the Metro News Canada, an free newspaper distributed all over Canada. The next comment on the blog was from two swedes, travelling in China. They had seen Champis on screens in the subway in Shanghai! BBC News in England, the home-country of herding sheep (with dogs, though), called and Danne was interviewed in BBC World News, and so on. Noone can imagine the chaos that we've been through at Gårdsbacken these last two weeks. Also, the news media have most often made longer articles, not just a press item. I can honestly say that we have material to a whole book :))


NEVER...
...could I imagine that Gårdsbacken blog would turn into a rabbitblog in two weeks time. But it has been two wonderful weeks and we have got so many new acquaintances. I will, from now on, return to write about our farm and our sheepdogs. It will probably be some stories about Champis in the future as well, but mainly I will write about sheepdogs and herding. Something that we have talked with a lot of people about, is that rabbits often are underestimated. They are really smart, extraordinary animals and they bring so much joy to many people. <3



You have not heard the last about Champis. I have thoughts and ideas, and the story is too amazing, not to continue telling.We have, ever since we realised how much Champis charmed the world, tried to do something good out of the story. While sharing our video with the world, we have noticed that we make some people happy. Some peoples comments and letters to us are so kind that we are moved to tears. Champis really affects people. The world probably was in need of an small cute rabbit, when there is so much evil.


-The small can stand up against the big ones.
As long as you don't realise how small you are;)
-Champis, the Big little Rabbit.




Gårdsbacken blog is written by Paula Lundberg & Dan Westman
Please contact Gårdsbacken
# +46 706597199

13 kommentarer:

  1. following from Boston, Massachusetts, USA!

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hi Boston!

      Nice to have you with us :))

      /Paula at Gardsbacken

      Radera
  2. We're from New York City, and my wife and I loved watching the video of little Champis herding the sheep, thanks so much for creating it. The story of how he saved Gullina was very sweet too.

    We have a question, how do you pronounce Champis in Swedish?

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hello New York City!

      We have visited your beautiful town and we absolutely loved it. Happy to hear that Champis charmed you as well :))
      You pronounce the first part of the name like Champagne, not like champion...
      All the best to you over there.

      /Paula at Gardsbacken

      Radera
  3. Wow, thanks so much for your quick response. For the second part of the name, do you pronounce the "s"? And is the "i" pronounced as in "pit", or is it closer to "peat"? (clearly I know nothing about Swedish pronunciation...) Glad you enjoyed visiting New York, it is a great city to live in or visit. Not too many rabbits running about tho...

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hello again... :)

      Yes, you pronounce the "s" and the "i" is like "pit".
      Hope we got it right :))
      We have a soft drink in Sweden called Champis and the colour of that drink is similar to the colour of Champis' coat.

      Take care of yourself

      /Paula at Gardsbacken

      Radera
  4. Hi, I found your blog via youtube. My mother and I really enjoyed the video of Champis herding the sheep!

    I've been following your blog for a few days now and having been enjoying the adventures of the farm animals! I hope it's alright that I've nominated you for The Versatile Blogger award.

    http://wp.me/p10mCk-79

    P.S. You blog is helping me improve my Swedish!

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hi Geetanjali!

      I'm glad that you, and your mother as well, enjoyed the video of Champis, and also that you will keep visiting our blog. Of course I'm honoured that you nominated my blog for The Versatile Blogger award :))

      All the best to you and take care of yourself.

      /Paula at Gardsbacken

      Radera
  5. You and Champis have made a lot of people smile, even more than the statistics you know! :) Thank you for sharing so much fun and lightness in a world that can seem ... less than happy. :)

    Blessings to you from me and my dogs in Nevada, USA.


    ~ Gloria

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Hello Gloria!

      You wrote us some very nice words and they made us really happy. Thanks a lot!
      I will take time and read your blog as well.

      Kind regards
      /Paula at Gardsbacken

      Radera
  6. Hello Paula!

    Thank you for posting the Champis video on youtube! We found it last evening and it made our day. Then we found the blog and life became even brighter.
    We've got a new amazing buddy and you are part of our life now.

    We are a couple from St.Petersburg staying in Thailand at the moment.

    God bless you and all your big "family"

    Marina and Alex

    SvaraRadera
  7. Hi Marina & Alex!

    Thank you for your kind words and it makes us really happy that you like the video of Champis. Your words make our hearts warm. We also enjoy to have people from Russia visiting our blog. It sounds nice staying in Thailand, the weather must be great. I have a cousin with her family, there at the moment as well, say hi from us,if you run in to her ;))

    Take really good care of yourself and thank you again for visiting us...

    /Paula at Gardsbacken

    SvaraRadera
  8. I just wanted to send a note from the east coast of Virginia (near Virginia Beach) and let you know that your video of Champis has brought so many smiles and cheerful hearts to me and my family. I was taking a break from studying for exams and saw the link and have giggled at Champis' quick maneuvers!! He's a true "Champ!" I enjoyed reading your stories from the farm too! Tell Champis he's a cutie who has brought many smiles to so many people!! <3
    Sincerely,
    Tammi Yates
    Portsmouth, VA
    USA

    SvaraRadera