Some of you may be wondering just that, others of you not & some aren't really bothered either way. For those that would know make yourselves comfortable & read on, the rest of you can carry on or booger off as takes your fancy. 
So, are we sitting comfortably ? good now look in.
Long, long ago in a distant place, I happened upon a Yorkshire Chap & his family, he bore a remarkable resemblance to that most Ogreish of Ogres Shrek, but this being the late 80's early 90's the name Shrek was as yet unknown. We both had a passion for Angling, Quaffing, Carousing & ending up in the Doghouse, with our admonishing (& long suffering
) Wifeys. Merrily we went along our chosen paths of "Ah what ? not again !" & "It was him !" "It's his fault !" until the Army decided that for the safety of the Nation our ways should diverge.The big daft Mick was returned to Englands green & pleasant shores & I remained in Germany.
We kept in touch & when possible we met up & carried on with our escapades & adventures much to the shoulder shrugging (what can you do ? they're worse than Kids !) of our ever patient Womenfolk. But once again for the safety of England our ways were best served separated. Her Maj sent Mick & Family on their way to foreign shores & I , well I stayed in Germany, no longer in the cabbage patch suit I ambled along with life as a civilian 
I did a bit of this, a bit of that, ducking & diving, dodging & weaving, but we kept in touch as we had a plan. 
After spending several years working for Civi firms doing Civi jobs an opportunity arose in 2008 to go work with the Army again, but here's the good bit, I won't have to go somewhere where someone is actually trying to kill me ! Or having to wear a uniform (Hmm what shall I wear today ? Oh yes the sack like green number) ! PT is something hideous that happens to other people ! Or have obnoxious little men (& women nowadays) with attitudes screaming & shouting at me because their dress sense has been offended !
I mean there's only so much you can do with black,brown & green & as for saluting ? 1 or 2 fingers is usually sufficient nowadays to have these people apoplectic, my how we chuckled !
Anyway my "first tour" as a Welfare driver had me working along with the "1st Batt. Jockanese Guards", a great bunch of lads & lasses once we got past the language barrier & our cultural differences, some fun was had there I can tell you. I must say the modern Army doesn't seem to shout quite as much as I remember, still they had their moments. Once the lads came back from Iraq & Afghanistan, it was a quick leave break then pack up for the unit to return to UK late Summer 2008. Question was, who would be the replacement Unit ? I already had heard through the grapevine twas to be the "1st Batt. the Yorkshire Regt." formerly the "Prince of Wales own Yorkshire Regt." affectionately known as POW's which didn't half set them to ticking, can't understand why !! 
So, with the return of the Tykes ...... Shrek would also be along & the merriment could begin again !
I was taken on by the Tykes to be their welfare driver, a decision the Welfare Officer made without the prior knowledge that he would be working with Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee (A decent fella, brought to his knees by cruel fate). We picked up where we'd left off, happy days, well maybe not for everyone. OK, OK, the Donkey bit, well one day we were round at Micks having a brew, the usual banter was being exchanged & Micks' youngest (who was still in nappies when we last darkened their doorway) was sticking up for her Dad (bless her) because I was calling him Shrek, so with the riposte of youth she said "If my Dad's Shrek, you must be Donkey then !" Oh my didn't we grin, because as she carried this train of thought on the gaping chasm of "oh sht !" was opening up in front of her as we grinningly asked " So that makes your Mum ..... ?" To which she replied "Fio .... I'm off to watch telly !" So the Legend that is Donkey was born, from the mouths of babes !
The names, as they often do have stuck, we were then in everyday verbiage referred to as "Shrek & Donkey" even the Mums terrified Kids with us ! the threat of "Behave yourself ! or I'll take you to see Shrek & Donkey & then you'll get it !" could often be heard shrieked across the estate in an effort to contain the rambunctiousness of certain offspring, even on picking up families from airports & harbours with wide eyes & snotty noses the scions of Yorkshire would often ask in awe "Where are we going Mum ?" only to receive the reply "On one of Shrek & Donkeys magical mystery tours ........ AGAIN !" So there you have it, I hope that your curiosity is now sated & the origin of Donkey & hence the Avatar choice are more understandable.
Thanks for reading
So, are we sitting comfortably ? good now look in. Long, long ago in a distant place, I happened upon a Yorkshire Chap & his family, he bore a remarkable resemblance to that most Ogreish of Ogres Shrek, but this being the late 80's early 90's the name Shrek was as yet unknown. We both had a passion for Angling, Quaffing, Carousing & ending up in the Doghouse, with our admonishing (& long suffering
) Wifeys. Merrily we went along our chosen paths of "Ah what ? not again !" & "It was him !" "It's his fault !" until the Army decided that for the safety of the Nation our ways should diverge.The big daft Mick was returned to Englands green & pleasant shores & I remained in Germany.We kept in touch & when possible we met up & carried on with our escapades & adventures much to the shoulder shrugging (what can you do ? they're worse than Kids !) of our ever patient Womenfolk. But once again for the safety of England our ways were best served separated.
Her Maj sent Mick & Family on their way to foreign shores & I , well I stayed in Germany, no longer in the cabbage patch suit I ambled along with life as a civilian I did a bit of this, a bit of that, ducking & diving, dodging & weaving, but we kept in touch as we had a plan. After spending several years working for Civi firms doing Civi jobs an opportunity arose in 2008 to go work with the Army again, but here's the good bit, I won't have to go somewhere where someone is actually trying to kill me ! Or having to wear a uniform (Hmm what shall I wear today ? Oh yes the sack like green number) ! PT is something hideous that happens to other people ! Or have obnoxious little men (& women nowadays) with attitudes screaming & shouting at me because their dress sense has been offended !
I mean there's only so much you can do with black,brown & green & as for saluting ? 1 or 2 fingers is usually sufficient nowadays to have these people apoplectic, my how we chuckled ! Anyway my "first tour" as a Welfare driver had me working along with the "1st Batt. Jockanese Guards", a great bunch of lads & lasses once we got past the language barrier & our cultural differences, some fun was had there I can tell you. I must say the modern Army doesn't seem to shout quite as much as I remember, still they had their moments. Once the lads came back from Iraq & Afghanistan, it was a quick leave break then pack up for the unit to return to UK late Summer 2008. Question was, who would be the replacement Unit ? I already had heard through the grapevine twas to be the "1st Batt. the Yorkshire Regt."
formerly the "Prince of Wales own Yorkshire Regt." affectionately known as POW's which didn't half set them to ticking, can't understand why !! So, with the return of the Tykes ...... Shrek would also be along & the merriment could begin again !I was taken on by the Tykes to be their welfare driver, a decision the Welfare Officer made without the prior knowledge that he would be working with Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee (A decent fella, brought to his knees by cruel fate). We picked up where we'd left off, happy days, well maybe not for everyone.
OK, OK, the Donkey bit, well one day we were round at Micks having a brew, the usual banter was being exchanged & Micks' youngest (who was still in nappies when we last darkened their doorway) was sticking up for her Dad (bless her) because I was calling him Shrek, so with the riposte of youth she said "If my Dad's Shrek, you must be Donkey then !" Oh my didn't we grin, because as she carried this train of thought on the gaping chasm of "oh sht !" was opening up in front of her as we grinningly asked " So that makes your Mum ..... ?" To which she replied "Fio .... I'm off to watch telly !" So the Legend that is Donkey was born, from the mouths of babes !The names, as they often do have stuck, we were then in everyday verbiage referred to as "Shrek & Donkey" even the Mums terrified Kids with us ! the threat of "Behave yourself ! or I'll take you to see Shrek & Donkey & then you'll get it !" could often be heard shrieked across the estate in an effort to contain the rambunctiousness of certain offspring, even on picking up families from airports & harbours with wide eyes & snotty noses the scions of Yorkshire would often ask in awe "Where are we going Mum ?" only to receive the reply "On one of Shrek & Donkeys magical mystery tours ........ AGAIN !"
So there you have it, I hope that your curiosity is now sated & the origin of Donkey & hence the Avatar choice are more understandable.Thanks for reading