Thursday 29 May 2014

Silk scarves and questions …….

Archibold and Hortensia had been thinking hard about what to make for Uncle Humperdinck's birthday. 'It's all very well thinking that socks are useful, but a birthday is supposed to be a special day and socks aren't a special present!' Hortensia sighed, of course gnomes are very sensitive about their feet, what with the big toe problem and the occasional chilblain, but she truly didn't feel, however useful, that unwrapping up a pair of socks would make her Uncle feel loved on his birthday.

'What about a new waistcoat?' asked Archibold, Hortensia thought for a few minutes, 'if you cut it out I'll do the embroidery?' Archibold winked at her, 'course I'll do the tailoring My Dear! but what will we use for fabric?'

Well that was the question, gnomes can and do weave their own materials, but the truth is that for a really special outfit finding a piece of unusual human fabric - say an abandoned hat or the usual handkerchief (excellent for sheets and pillow cases) or even an occasional jacket or sweater was a bonanza!

'What we really need is a scarf, Archie and preferably of silk!' Archie looked a bit flummoxed, 'humans don't wear silk like they used to, its all weatherproof plastic nowadays, unless they are old, most ladies don't even wear headscarves!'

'That's it Archie' exclaimed Hortensia 'we will have to leave a message for Mrs Partridge, she'll have lots of scarves and I am sure won't mind donating one!'

Mrs Partridge was the gnomes' friend. She lived in her house on the edge of the forest with a beautiful garden which the gnomes helped to look after. She did in fact, own the wood and had set up plans to keep it in trust for the local community as a nature reserve. As she said to herself one evening after seeing her solicitor about her will, 'I can't ever explain that the community includes gnomes as well as people, but I know, and now the land and everyone who lives there or visits is safe!'

Over the years she had been very generous donating the contents of an old dolls house to the gnomes, and had even been to several of the gnomes parties and in return, had invited them to a memorable tea party in her lounge!

So it was with delight that as she washed up her tea cup one morning that she saw a familiar sight out her window. The gnomes, though very fond of Mrs Partridge and devoted to her garden, were still shy, so leaving a message on the lawn was a way of introducing a question without too much pressure.

Mrs Partridge popped on her glasses and a sweater as it was a bit nippy outside and went to look. There as usual carefully spelt out in with pebbles and in modern English was a message.

'DEAR MRS PARTRIDGE, DO YOU HAVE A SPARE SILK SCARF FOR US TO USE'

'Certainly straight to the point' thought Mrs Partridge, 'I suppose I do!" and with that she set to rearranging the pebbles with her walking stick so they spelt out, 'YES I WILL LOOK NOW'.

'Hooray' said Hortensia, 'success!' Archie gave her a wink and rushed off to sharpen his scissors!







Sunday 11 May 2014

Happy memories and the Coronation Delights!

'Well that was that! what a day my oh my!' Archimedes was sitting soaking his feet in a egg cup full of warm lavender water (gnomes cherish and pass down through their families treasured egg cup foot baths. After all what is perfect for a human to eat an egg from, is even more perfect for a gnome to soak their feet in)!

'Oh Dear my poor feet, to be expected I suppose, dancing till dawn at my age!' Archimedes looked down at his rather red and sore feet, 'thank goodness for Mildred's foot balm'. He carefully wiped his feet dry and after smothering his poor big toe and feet in ointment, wiggled his feet into a pair of fluffy red socks especially knitted for him by Hortensia for his last birthday. Comfortable at last, he settled into his chair and began to dream of the wonderful events of the previous evening…...

His face lit up as he remembered the music, wild reels with leaping gnomes laughing as they twirled and circled, Humperdinck playing his bag pipes and flute and Hortensia on her cornet, and then the drumming! Hector back from his duties in the city with renewed vigour and energy, drumming the rhythms of spring and the joy of friendships till the dawn lit the sky with pale pink and radiant gold.

Oh and then the feasting, Archimedes began to smile in his sleep as he remembered the pasties and pies, the acorn cups of pumpkin soup and all the tasty treats all laid out on the long tables. Then of course there was the cake, no coronation would be complete without a celebration cake. Three layers tall, a hazelnut and meringue cake of such moistness and deliciousness that once tasted, the gnomes found themselves closing their eyes and smiling in appreciative silence as they cherished every mouthful of the delectable delight.

Hortensia of course had made the cake, she was renowned for her cake making skills, but this year, because of her love for Archimedes, she had excelled herself and her cake would be remembered and talked about for years, as Archimedes Glorious Hazelnut Coronation Cake!

Ah and then the singing, Archimedes sighed with the remembrance of the beauty of the voices, everyone perched high up in the trees as the dawn broke. A wind had come up, and as the trees in all their vivid greenness began to toss and roar, the gnomes had started to sing a song of freedom, peace and of the wild joy of living in their beautiful forest home.

Archimedes smiled as he woke up, 'I can almost hear it now, what a wonderful memories, how lucky I am!' He sat happily listening as outside on the little veranda of his tree house home, the leaves of the old oak tossed and rustled. 'All is well' he thought 'all is very, very well!'