Crumpets and fighting talk.................

'It's a funny thing that humans spend so much of their talking and so little of it listening' Archimedes sucked on his pipe, 'they are a very different species as we know, but similar enough that it can sometimes seem confusing'. The younger gnomes were gathered around, eagerly taking in every word. To be sitting with Archimedes Bonaparte, discussing the future of their mission to the city - well it was a very special occasion indeed.

Horatio had been explaining about mobile phones and how humans seems to like being in constant contact via their telephones and computers. The younger gnomes had been mystified as to why they needed their little communication machines at all. Hence why Archimedes had been explaining some of the differences between humans and gnomes. Horatio, who had just returned from work experience at the Bluebell Garden Centre, was trying to describe what the world would be like without telepathy - a skill most gnomes took completely for granted.

'Most of them are quite lonely in one way or another, disconnected from something they yearn for. One of our most important jobs will be to help Hector create gardens where the humans can remember who they are and their connections to the bigger music'. This was serious talk and Hector stood up with his blue eyes flashing. He continued 'Sometimes they come out of the boxes where they work, to walk into the parks at lunchtime - and then they just sit in the light looking at the flowers and feeling the air as they eat their lunch. Imagine if in your day you only had a little time to listen to the wind in the leaves?'

The gnomes all sat in sad contemplation trying to imagine such a terrible existence.' And that is why my Dears, despite the dangers you must do your best to make every plant, tree, garden and park, a place of natural beauty and abundant growth.' Archimedes winked at Horatio who went pink and sat down with a bump. 'Must be time for tea, I distinctly heard a grumble from Archibold's tummy all of five minutes ago'.

So with much giggling they all headed back to Archimedes' tree top look-out for tea and toasted home made crumpets - sent by Hortensia of course in a basket, safely wrapped up in a tea cloth - still faintly warm and with a pot of her best creamy yellow butter.