Tea and burps.....

'Well yes, yes, yes, we were on an escapade....the call was irresistible, oh it is wonderful to see you Archimedes - seems an age since we last met, how are you?' Archimedes chuckled, 'very well Archibold, very well indeed, are you going to introduce me to this young apprentice of yours?' Archibold had to push Stephanotis forward rather hard, so poor Stephanotis who was feeling a bit shy, almost bumped into the older gnome. 'Proud to present Stephanotis, my new apprentice, Archimedes - Stephanotis, Stephanotis - Archimedes'.

Poor Stephanotis tried very hard to say something polite but all that came out of his mouth was a sort of snuffle, he was finding all too much to take in and desperately wanted to sit down and recover his breath after the climb. 'Perfectly alright, just take your time, I am so pleased to have made your acquaintance, I've known Archibold a long time so we have much to discuss! If you wouldn't mind it would be most helpful if you could make the tea, everything that you need is all over there in the chest'.

Archimedes gestured to an old wooden chest pushed against the side of the tree house. Stephanotis felt much better, making tea was something he knew how to do, and as everyone knows all things look better after a good cup of tea. 'It is my own blend - a bit of this and a bit of that, very good for the damp in the joints you know, not that you need any help at your age'. Stephanotis smiled at the so obviously kind venerable gnome, he had a feeling today was going to be the most extraordinary day of his life. Just wait till he told Isabel, he had been asked to make tea in the presence of one the most legendary gnomes of all time - Archimedes Bonaparte.

As Stephanoits rattled about in the chest finding the tea things, Archibold and Archimedes sat together by the fire. Stephanoits couldn't hear much, but the others seemed to be having a very serious conversation. 'So many changes so fast now....... new homes needed......... we need to hold steady more than ever........... the deep music is the only way forward............. the forest is a last haven......... keep listening, keep listening, your feet will always guide your way.'

So as the little kettle began to whistle and the leaves rustle all around, the three gnomes settled down by the fire, Archimedes was most appreciative of his large slice of Hortensia's cake (gnomes never travel without a selection of tasty supplies), though Stephanotis found the tea a bit sour to taste and much to the others amusement, at his first sip started to burp!

Ivy and mystery......

True to form, Archibold and Stephanotis scrambled ashore and set to exploring and finding the perfect place for a picnic - you can imagine the sort of place they were searching for - fresh water, flat ground, perfect view, lots of dry firewood, nearby branches to hang two hammocks on - a really rousing challenge to be rewarded by fresh mint tea and a slice of Hortensia's chestnut cake. Suddenly Archibold stopped and putting a protective arm out to hold Stephanotis back, said  'steady on Lad, gently does it, someone else is here!'

Archibold wiggled his toes in his stripy socks and boots, ' just let me have a listen' and with that he sat down on a nearby rock, closed his eyes and began to listen to the ground beneath his feet. 'Well, well well, Stephanotis, this is a surprise for my boots - well you are in for a treat'. He set off at a fast trot with Stephanotis agog with impatience clambering behind him. 'Smell the woodsmoke yet? 'Archibold turned and winked - this was too much for his poor apprentice 'No, what smoke? What treat? Where, oh where are we going?'

Stephanotis was feeling a bit anxious, he was a long way from home and though he had been enjoying being a brave and dashing gnome on an escapade, he wasn't that fond of mysteries, the idea of an unknown someone else being on the island was unsettling to say the least.

Then with a twinkle and a wiggle of his corduroy clad bottom, Archibold suddenly disappeared. 'Over here Stephanoits, behind the ivy.' Stephanotis blinked and shuffled his feet, the thing was, he was worrying about what was behind the ivy, he remembered the day Archibold had forgotten about him and they had suddenly found themselves white water rafting with Archibold standing proud at the helm and not noticing that he had felt utterly terrified. 'Now then, all is well, hold out your hand and I'll guide you in.....'

Shutting his eyes Stpehanotis let Archibold pull him through the ivy and into the middle of a most splendid old oak tree. 'See the steps, just follow me and soon you'll see the view and meet someone very special - what an honour, what an honour indeed....' the two gnomes climbed the little steps for what seemed a very long and to be frank, rather an exhausting time. At the top they found themselves walking out onto a small wooden platform, surrounded by sunshine and the greenest of leaves and full of the sound of birdsong. Archibold was bowing low, Stephanotis looked up to see a very venerable gnome, dressed all in sage and linden greens, sitting on a log in front of a fire burning in a little stove. Looking up at Stephanotis he gave him an amused wink - 'On an escapade then Archibold?'

Berries and daydreaming..............

Archibold and Stephanotis were practicing their yodelling and bird song imitations whilst paddling their little boat into the river - suddenly Archibold pointed to the bank, 'Look over there Stephanotis - can you see the blackberries are already on the way? We must tell Hortensia'.

Archibold was feeling ecstatic about being on the scent of an adventure, he was also proud of having discovered a new patch of brambles with so much fruit beginning to ripen. Usually as they collected the soft berries, gnomes always made sure that they left lots for the birds and other animals, so finding a large patch meant a bumper crop for them - enough for some of Hortensia's precious preserves and cordial - and of course a day of berry crushing and general messy fun.

Berry crushing was one of the highlights of the year, with carefully washed feet, the gnomes would take turns to dance and stomp around the large wooden tub full of berries, crushing the purple blue fruit with their feet - though no matter how much they scrubbed them afterwards, their hands and feet always stayed blue for weeks afterwards. Hortensia made her utterly delicious bramble pie with a lattice pastry crust and of course they celebrated afterwards with dancing and lots of singing.

As he daydreamed about hot blackberry cordial, Archibold forgot to steer and suddenly the little boat was nudged to a stop by bumping into a half sunken log. Stephanotis leapt up and grabbing a branch, tied the boat to the trunk of a tree, which though half submerged, still grew on the shore of a small island. 'Time for a picnic Archibold?' and with that Stephanotis leapt along the tree and onto the shore.

Laughter and adventure.....

Little did Archibold know as he sat wiggling his toes in the cool water - that Stephanotis was creeping up behind him and was about to pounce on him to try to steal his hat. Gnomes love playing games such as stealing each other's hats - and creep up and surprise games were a particular favourite of Stephanotis's.

Just as he was getting near, Archibold leapt to his feet, grabbed his boots and socks and turning around to run at great speed, bumped straight into him - well they fell about laughing and every time they tried to get up, would start giggling so much that in the end, they had to lie down and surrender to just lying on the grass and laughing. 'Where were you going Archibold?' Stephanotis looked so silly trying to keep a straight face that Archibold started laughing again, 'I don't know - I was on an adventure!' And with that they sat down and tried to recover a little as Archibold put on his red and yellow stripy socks and then his boots.

'Can I come too please?' Stephanotis looked so eager and excited that Archibold's heart leapt with anticipation, all gnomes know that two is much better than one for an escapade - 'Of course you can Stephanotis, it will be a good experience for you to practice listening and following the call of an adventure'. Archibold was taking his responsibilities towards his apprentice very seriously. 'I have an idea that we will pick up the call over there....' and with that the two gnomes set off at a brisk trot along the edge of the stream heading towards the call of the unknown.......

Archibold begins to listen..........

It wasn't that Archibold was being naughty, it was just that sometimes only freedom would do. He knew that he was expected to be out and about doing useful things, but he had woken up feeling frisky and was determined to stay that way - only an escapade would do! The sky was bright blue with not even a wisp of a cloud in sight, the air cool - with the promise of afternoon warmth -and Archibiold knew with all of his being - that the moment had come.

An escapade is when a gnome takes off on an adventure - just for the sheer joy of going with the flow. Most of the time gnomes are much more aware than humans of the subtle currents of flow, after all they are masters of merge and blend, but Archibold had been so busy of late, since well before The Midsummer Revels, that duties had overtaken the joy of being free on a whimsy - the following of a curiosity that could lead to an adventure.

Stephanotis was busy on a courting walk with Isabel so Archibold was free. He sat down on a grassy bank by the side of the stream and began to listen. It is always easier to hear the call of an adventure if you sit quietly by a stream, and Archibold took off his boots and socks and wiggling his feet in the cool water, began to listen to where the music called him........

Dancing reels and planting on..................

'What do you think Stephanotis - shall we have a grand stamping?' Archibold and Stephanotis had been dividing and planting on all manner of different plants and bulbs, and now of course the moment had come to tuck each plant into the rich earth of the forest floor. Gnomes traditionally use any excuse to enjoy a bit of a dance, so soon the two gnomes were stamping away and enjoying a wild reel or two. 'Well that's a job well done, should be beautiful next Spring, I have to say Stephanotis - I could get used to having an apprentice - so much more fun!'

Archibold winked at Stephanotis, he had never had an apprentice before, and apart from the few moments on the boat when he had abandoned himself to over excitement and forgotten about Stephanotis - he was relishing passing on all of his skills and having such an eager helper. The two of them had taken time out from scouting to keep up with all their gardening duties. Gnomes all have duties, some like Archibold are assigned special missions, but most of all they like to encourage the beauty and abundant growth of all their favorite plants and trees. 

Archibold especially liked trees, so he often collected chestnuts and pine cones to plant in the Autumn - so far Stephanotis thought that he would specialise in bluebells - this of course could have something to do with the fact that they reminded him of Isabel, and as we know Hortensia loved violets so much that she had been given the very special misson of looking after the tender plants. 

Of course all the gnomes deferred to the wisdom of the Council of Venerables and any confusion or alarm would be brought before them and all decisions gratefully accepted. To be a Venerable was a special honour - only the wisest and kindest and obviously the oldest gnomes could be called Venerable - they could be trusted to guide and cherish and to make decisions for the good of all the gnomes in the little community. Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck were both Venerables and took their responsibilities very seriously - Aunt Mildred had even made special hats for the other Venerables in the Council, all very tall and in shades of forest green, though of course for Old Uncle Theodopholus she made one of the softest wool and the colour of golden Autumn leaves .

Golden hearts and stripy socks.......

'Well then, what is a home Stephanotis?' Everyone was sitting around the table at Persimmon Heights after a particularly delicious dinner. Hortensia was thinking of putting some porridge on to cook gently overnight on the back of the stove (she knew that it was supposed to be summer time, but the mornings had been so chilly of late that porridge seemed a very lovely prospect for breakfast). 'You can't just say it is a dwelling where you sleep'.

Archibold piped up with a comment that 'home is where your extra comfy socks live', he smiled at Hortensia as he said it because as everyone knew, Hortensia knitted the best socks and he loved his stripy brightly colored socks and took them as a symbol of his status as a gnome of dashing derring do.

'I think that home is somewhere where we can truly be who we really are', Uncle Humperdinck stroked his beard ' without a home a gnome is lost indeed'. Aunt Mildred was sucking on a mint leaf and thinking, 'My Dear, as ever you are most wise' - she smiled at him, poured him another cup of camomile tea and thought how very lucky she was to love and be loved by a gentleman gnome of singular spirit and golden heart.

Picnics and decisions...

By now most of the gnomes in Blue Bell Wood and a bit beyond had been to see Stephanotis's courting gift for Isabel. Word had spread about the wondrous roofing, the little flap table and the view.....well the view was a topic all of itself. The only difficulty was that gnomes being gnomes like picnics - and the trip was uphill and quite a way out of the way - well one thing led to another and before long the area around the base of the tree had become a favorite picnic spot.

True to Stephanotis's wishes though, the visiting gnomes left Isabel's haven as her special place, sometimes even leaving offerings of flowers and fruit by the entrance to encourage her in her composing. Isabel and Stephanotis were often to be seen walking hand in hand of a summer's evening, so as Hortensia frequently remarked to Archiblod - 'that boy certainly made a good impression'.

For all the general happiness though there was an undercurrent of sadness amongst the gnomes, some of Bluebell Wood was being cut down to make way for new houses for humans, and that meant that some of the gnomes would soon be homeless - gnomes are nothing if not adaptable but they grieve for the loss of their trees and homes. So you can see why going for a picnic under a courting gift of a tree house was so appealing, more than anything else it was a reminder that the old ways still lived on and that true love could even make a Hero out of a very young apprentice gnome.

Being adaptable though meant creating opportunities too and so Archibold was leading reconnaissance missions to local gardens and waste land in the area, scouting for suitable new locations for gnomes' homes. Once he and Stephanotis had made up their list of suitable spots they were going to report to the Council of Venerables and then after much fair consultation - designs would be made and brave decisions undertaken! Archibold was full of energy for the project and had made charts and maps and was all of a bustle with enthusiasm - house building brought the little community together and was often an occasion of celebration and feats of courage and prowess.

Tree houses and kisses......

Now that it was twilight and the forest was full of golden light, Stephanotis walked Isabel along the path at the far edge of the forest. He had asked her if she would like to go for an evening stroll and though Isabel was shy, her face had been so radiant as she replied that Stephanotis's tummy had gone flip flop at the warmth of her gaze. 'I wanted to make you something Isabel, something that would be just for you.'

He had asked her to shut her eyes and was carefully leading her along gently step by step to where his present awaited. 'If you walk a little backwards now you will feel a bench against your legs, when you have sat down - you can open your eyes.' Isabel did as she was bid - as she opened her eyes her hands flew up to her mouth and her beautiful violet eyes filled with tears. For you see Stephanotis had made her a tree house arbour, for three days he had been rushing in and out with barely a word to anyone - rushing to make his courting gift as perfect as could be. 'It is a safe haven for you to listen Isabel, so that you can hear the deep music - then you can sing for us all and we will remember too'.

Taking Archibold's idea from the Pavilion at the Revels, Stephanotis had made a little tree house in an old fir tree, looking out over the fields and surrounded by the sounds of bird song and the gentle murmur of the leaves moving in the breeze, it was truly a place of peace. 'There is a little wooden flap that lifts up for a writing table, and I have lined the roof with an old plastic bag in between the branches so that you will keep dry, I have started a wild rose too at the base so that by next year you will have roses all around too'.

Isabel held Stephanotis hands in hers, she knew by the mention of the rose that Stephanotis was declaring his love for her. As she thanked him she gently moved his hands in hers and held them together over her heart 'Thank you Stephanotis, thank you, I treasure and love your gift - am I right on thinking that it is your courting gift....?' Now it was Stephanotis's turn to blush as Isabel suddenly twinkled and laughed and kissed him!