Home at last.......

Archibold and Hortensia were sitting on a sunny bank, surrounded by golden leaves gently floating in the crisp air as they fell all around them in the clear morning light. They were out for their first morning walk together since Archibold had returned home. 'I am so glad to have you back', Hortensia was rocking Baby Harriet's basket with her foot to try to encourage her to have a little sleep, but of course Baby Harriet was having none of it and continued to stare happily at the luminous leaves glowing yellow against the clear blue morning sky. 'Such amazing adventures, imagine having to set up camp in a park, Oh Archibold, did you get all the planting done that you wanted to?'

Archibold grinned 'I more than did my bit, and quite frankly my Dear, next on Hector's list was roof, gutter and drainpipe planting - not really my cup of tea!' Hortensia laughed as Archibold explained, 'just now Hector will be leading the expedition out along the edge of a chimney or a perilous ledge, to plant a bit of ivy or a young sapling - I am better off leaving him to it!'

They set off arm and arm together with Baby Harriet snug in her basket on her mother's back, for Hortensia was eager to point out all the new things that had happened in the Forest since Archibold had been away. 'Such mushrooms Archibold, so many and such variety', Archibold unfurled a hessian sack from around his middle, and set to collecting fresh greens, some elder berries and of course, several large mushrooms. Soon the little sack on his back was bulging with delights as they set off home.

Hortensia had been very busy cleaning and polishing their winter home in the old Fir tree. All summer long they had revelled in the freedom and delights of their summer house high up in the oak tree,  but now with the chill in the air and the evenings drawing in, it was definitely time to move back inside.

'Archibold, we just need to bring down the furniture and then we are done. We can move in this very evening!' So just as soon as they were back Archibold set up the pulley, and started lowering the bed and chairs and tables to his sled at the base of the tree, and then pushed and pulled the sled all the way to the Fir tree. 'Just leave them outside Archie, I want to polish them before we take them in.' Hortensia darted about with her duster and pot of beeswax, and soon the furniture gleamed and smelt delicious. 'Ready Darling', so with more than a little huffing and puffing they pulled and pushed the furniture into their home.

'Well, I think that deserves a cup of tea and some flapjacks,' said Archibold, truth to tell he was feeling rather done in, it had been a long walk home and as we all know, furniture moving can be very tiring. As the kettle boiled and Hortensia bustled about spreading butter and jam on toast and setting out cake and flapjacks, the sound of snoring started to echo all around, poor Archibold had collapsed in the rocking chair and was fast asleep.