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!'

The Daisy Coronation…!

Of course, as you can imagine, Archimedes' special friends the ducks, insisted on attending his coronation ceremony too. Aunt Mildred had tried in vain flapping her umbrella at them to make them behave, 'so noisy, no one will hear anything that anyone says - if you are coming you must sit quietly.'

Well, as anyone who has had a duck for a friend knows, telling an excited duck to sit quietly is an impossibility!  'Perhaps we should let them celebrate first, then perhaps they will want to settle down naturally?' Uncle Humperdinck began to wave his arms vigorously at the ducks as he started singing 'Toodleoodle oomp pa pa' very loudly. Soon everyone, both gnome and duck, was singing and quacking as loudly as possible, 'Hooray for Archimedes' shouted Uncle Humerpdinck 'Quack, quack, honk, Hooray' roared back the ducks and gnomes.

Uncle Humperdinck was proved right, because it seems that everyone naturally wanted to sit down and have a little rest after such energetic singing. Then with the golden flecks of light floating through the trees and touching the mossy seats with warmth, everyone settled down and the ceremony began in earnest.

Slowly the gnomes began to hum a special song just for Archimedes, a gentle, light breeze of a song full of harmony and kindness and the peace of light on a summer's morning - of hope and the beauty of a truly noble heart.

Archimedes sat in his chair with his head held up to the sunlight and with his eyes shut, ' so beautiful My Dears, so beautiful, thank you for such a special gift'. As the music faded away, a brightly dressed party of young gnomes came forward in procession, each of them was holding a shiny bright daisy which they laid at the foot of Archimedes' throne.

Then a group of acrobatic gnomes burst into the centre of the clearing, some even swinging in on ivy ropes as they threw primrose petals in the air. 'My favourite bit' whispered Hortensia to Archibold, 'doesnt he look wonderful?' And indeed Archimedes did look wonderful, as very carefully, Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck took the green Cape of Hope and fastened it about his shoulders.

Then came the most solemn moment of the ceremony, the young gnomes came forward again this time carrying The Daisy Crown on a green cushion. Suddenly Aunt Mildred turned around, 'this year, because of their great kindness and courage, we have decided that Hortensia and Archibold shall crown The Daisy King!' She winked at Hortensia who was speechless with surprise and Archibold, who was pink with pride held Hortensia's hand as they gently walked towards Archimedes who had just remembered to take his hat off in time.

Together they held the crown up in the sunlight and then gently placed it on Archimedes' head. Then as a giant roar of celebration, quacking, singing, dancing, hat tossing took hold, Archimedes stood up - 'Long may we live in joy, Long may we live in hope, long may we live in peace!' and with that the dancing really did begin!!!

Sunlight and excitement, green moss and daisies…..Coronation Day at last!

'What a day! No question abut it, Spring is in the air - I can smell it!' Archibold straightened his best waistcoat and held his face up to the sunlight,' couldn't have asked for better day for a coronation!'

Hortensia smiled with happiness, 'always a good omen for the year ahead - a sunny coronation day!'

Hortensia and Archibold were very busy sweeping and clearing and helping Stephanotis and his gang  hang the garlands of daisy chains and set up the tables. They were preparing their most precious place in the forest, The Sacred Circle, where they had held all of their meetings and ceremonies for as long as anyone could remember.

'Aunt Mildred has invited everyone she could think of, what will we do if we need extra seating!' Hortensia wasn't exactly in a panic but was certainly feeling flustered. 'Perhaps we can place some mushrooms around the edge for late arrivals and extra guests?' Hortensia smiled her special smile that made Archibold blush, 'Oooh Archie you are wonderful, you always come up with the perfect solution'. Archibold coughed with embarrassment and continued sweeping up the pine needles and dried leaves very vigorously.

The sacred circle was in a clearing in-between five ancient pine trees with lovely soft hummocks of brilliant green moss for everyone to sit on. Where the sunlight shone through the branches, the golden light lit up the air and touched the moss with warmth. ' Doesn't the throne look lovely My Dear? Stephanotis and his helpers were carefully placing the throne in the extact spot where the mid day sun would alight . 'Hortensia was very proud, she had made a beautiful and very soft red velvet cushion for Archimedes to sit on, ' He is very arthriticky now, Aunt Mildred says we need to look after him and his bones and make sure he is comfortable!'

Soon, in fact just as everything was ready, Lupin arrived so out of breath and so excited that he could barely get his words out 'Ducks sighted flying overhead, he is on his way, he is COMING!' That was the signal they were all were waiting for, 'Off with your aprons, tidy your hair, keep your hats straight!' Hortensia and Archibold, Stephanotis and all his helpers began to line up to prepare to welcome their guests.

Meanwhile, downstream Archimedes who was happily oblivious to all the excitement, was rowing along accompanied by a flotilla of very noisy ducks. 'Deafening that's what you are, calm down! I am sure you will be able to come to the ceremony, I can manage on my own no need to push the boat!' Eventually the bank was in sight and as the ducks swam ahead to become a guard of honour. Archimedes saw the archway covered in daises and his dear friends Humperdinck and Mildred waiting for him on the jetty, 'Oh My, must keep calm, what a day, Dear oh Dear'.

Soon the little boat was all tied up and Archimedes was being helped up onto the bank and into The Cart of Honour. 'Were coming with you so you won't be on your own,' Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck climbed in too and settled into the comfortable seats either side of Archimedes. 'Off we go, here's to a wonderful day!' and with that, the ceremonial party set off at a slow roll through crowds of excited well-wishers, all singing and tossing their hats with joy!

An important announcement and camomile tea …..

Aunt Mildred was feeling more than a little bit pleased with herself as she prepared to make her important announcement, 'I think My Dear Archimedes, that it might have slipped your mind that yesterday was the Spring Meeting of The Council of Elders?'

Archimedes huffed and then looked crestfallen. He felt a conflict of emotions in his chest, thrilled that he had missed the meeting, as he found the effort of going to meetings such an effort, and then, as he started explaining to Aunt Mildred, 'I've never forgotten about a meeting so well that I have missed sending my apologies!' Gnomes don't like to be rude, and not sending your apologies before not attending a meeting was considered exceedingly rude by any gnomes standards.

Aunt Mildred wasn't having any of it, 'Just as well you didn't come, terrible weather for a crossing anyway, far to blustery for you to row across, besides, we came to a decision much more easily without you present!'

Now Archimedes looked seriously alarmed, 'The Council has decided that since the first daisies have been sighted in full bloom on Mrs Partridge's lawn, that the time has come to elect this year's King of The Daises and Gnome in Chief  - and Archimedes can you guess, we have chosen YOU!'

It was a very good thing for Archimedes that he was sitting down, at first all he could say was a sort of snuffly mumble of 'well, really, toss my hat I will, fancy that, oh Dear!' Then, much to both of their astonishment, he found himself blushing!

Aunt Mildred stood up, ignoring Herbert who was looking for too interested in what what wasn't his business in her opinion. 'So, Archimedes Bonaparte, I hereby invite you to attend The Grand Ceremony of The Order of The Daisy next Thursday at one o'clock on the Lawn.' And with that she presented Archimedes with a beautiful ceremonial hat, apple green velvet with embroidered daises all along the rim with a golden tassel hanging from it's peak. 'I made it myself for Humperdinck's coronation more years ago than I care to remember (gnomes live a very long time, so as you can imagine, it is sometimes very hard to remember an exact year out of so many).

Archimedes sat in his chair feeling bewildered and pleased and all confused, 'Well I never, such a surprise Mildred'. Aunt Mildred smiled, 'I think perhaps My Dear, it is time for a new pot of tea?' Archimedes smiled with relief, having something useful to do would help clear his mind, 'I'll just put the kettle on, perhaps golden camomile with a touch of honey might be appropriate?'

So soon they found themselves sitting by the little stove in the front room of Archimedes tree house, enjoying the warmth of a lovely pot of tea and smiling huge smiles of contentment as they happily listened to the rustle of leaves and the chirping of the birds all around.

Seedy cake and an unexpected guest …….

Archimedes was singing a little tune to himself as poured the boiling water into his shiny red teapot. 'Special blend today My Dear, Best Nettle and Peppermint with a pinch of lavender, just the thing after a stressful journey!'

Aunt Mildred was sitting quietly in Archimedes best armchair, it wasn't just that she was puffed after climbing all the stairs up to the tree house, but truth to tell she found herself in a bit of a bother. As ever Archimedes had filled every nock and cranny with the unusual objects that he had found on his walks, but what was bothering Aunt Mildred was that there appeared to be another guest for tea - and it wasn't someone that she expected to see.

Opposite her, perched on the back of Archimedes armchair and looking at her with suspicion, was a small sparrow. 'Don't mind Herbert' said Archimedes, 'damaged his wing in the storm, he'll be on his way soon, full of news he is, most chatty and very good company!' Herbert winked at Aunt Mildred who wasn't impressed.

'Now Archimedes, do be careful, remember the time you adopted that duck whose wing wouldn't mend and what a to do we had trying to get him down the stairs?' Aunt Mildred glared at the sparrow, 'No need to worry my Dear, Herbert and I have everything under control' and with that Archimedes sat down for tea.

Whatever is going on, or indeed has to be discussed, or even important news that has to be shared, a gnome's tea time is a too sacred moment to be distributed by anything unusual. Aunt Mildred and Archimedes settled down to the serious business of slurping tea, smothering scones with butter and jam and devouring the lovely moist seedy cake that Hortensia had sent wrapped in a clean tea towel.

Then of course they both settled down for the obligatory nap to freshen up before catching up with each others news. As soon as they were fast asleep, Herbert set to delicately extracting most of the seeds from the remaining seedy cake and then gobbled up the lot!

'Oh Archimedes, you've taken to spoiling him, how is going to want to go home when you feed him treats?' Herbert put his head on one side and tried to look contrite. 'Oh Dear' said Archimedes 'no supper for you tonight!' Herbert put his head under his wing and tried to pretend to be asleep. 'He is only young My Dear, now what have you come to see me about?'

Aunt Mildred straightened her apron (she always wore an apron, even when out and about and travelling) and reached for her basket. 'Not every day is as special as this Archimedes, can you remember why?'

'Can't say that I do My Dear, should I?' He looked up in surprise at Aunt Mildred carefully put on her best velvet hat with the red pom pom. A gnome only puts on their best hat at tea time if there is very, very important news so Archimedes sat up straight in his chair, straightened his waistcoat and waited expectantly ……….



.

'

Rowing upstream, ducks and peppermint tea!

Aunt Mildred was finding rowing against the current a bit of a struggle. 'There is nothing for it, I'll just have to zig zag back and forth until I am further along - slow and steady wins the race!' Soon though, she was so hot that she had had to take off her hat, scarf and jacket,' haven't rowed this much in years, what a to do, I'll be too puffed for tea by the time I arrive!'

So it was a very, very hot and flushed in the face Aunt Mildred that rounded the bend, and true to it's name - bumped straight into Look Out! Island! 'Ooooh Archimedes, it always catches me by surprise'. Aunt Mildred was feeling a little embarrassed by the loud scrape and rough landing of her boat. 'Not to worry My Dear, that's why it's called Look Out! Island, even after all these years of living here I find that landing my boat is sometimes tricky!'

Archimedes helped Aunt Mildred out of the boat and carried her basket back along the path to his tree house.' Dratted ducks won't bother you now, stubborn as stubborn can be they are, won't move without a bribe!' The ducks stood up to greet Aunt Mildred as she passed and waggled their tails in greeting. ' There, there My Dears, such handsome birds you are and what lovely shiny feathers you have!'

Aunt Mildred adored ducks, and both she and Archimedes had a long history of friendship with this particular family. 'Still guarding the place well My Dears and keeping an eye on him too I hope?' The ducks quacked loudly, they all remembered Aunt Mildred's kindness in helping their Grandfather the time he broke his leg on the ice in the Great Freeze. She had made a splint for his poor leg and set and bandaged it herself. Archimedes had nursed him back to health with lots of donated corn and careful monitoring, which was a very noble act indeed as ducks can be exceedingly grumpy when injured and prone to snapping unexpectedly.

'I've left the kettle on, should be boiling by now, all ready for a nice pot of peppermint tea!' Archimedes smiled kindly at Aunt Mildred, 'I expect you'd like a sit down after all that rowing My Dear, take your time coming up the steps!'

That was good advice as Archimedes lived in a most wonderful house, 'one of the nicest homes a gnome could dream of living in - if it weren't for all theses stairs!' As Aunt Mildred was fond of telling Uncle Humperdinck every time he thought longingly of building something similar.

Slowly she kept climbing up the little spiraling steps hidden under the curtain of ivy, ' good thing he's carrying the basket' she thought, ''might have to have a scone or two myself after the day I've had!'

At last she reached the front porch and there at the front door stood Archimedes in his red waistcoat, smiling proudly as he held the door open and gestured for her to sit down in his most comfortable armchair - which she promptly did, too tired to even utter one word!

Aunt Mildred sets off on an adventure …..

'Toodle Pip!' shouted Aunt Mildred, 'don't forget to keep an eye on the stew!' Uncle Humperdinck waved back and called out, 'it smells so good, won't be long before I'll be eating it - don't worry I'll leave you some for tea!' He laughed as Aunt Mildred smiled back and waved her hat in the air - between you and me, it is always a good sign when a gnome waves their hat in the air, a sure sign of happiness that all gnomes recognise the world over!

As was usual when they parted, Uncle Humperdick began to sing. Gnomes usually sing when they leave or arrive on a special journey, as well as at parties and special occasions and well, pretty well anytime they feel like it. Uncle Humperdinck sang of sure footedness, of a radiant sky and of the lift to the heart that an adventure can bring and most especially of a warm home waiting at the end of a day.

Aunt Mildred waved again and then turned and went busily on her way. Soon she was indistinguishable amongst the fallen leaves and the tree roots as she set off along the path to the river's edge. 'What a day! Such a treat to be out and about on such a glorious day, Archimedes will be pleased!' For Aunt Mildred was on her way to see her cousin Archimedes who lived on Look Out Island in the middle of a bend in the river.

'Shooo, whis, whis, off you go, on your way, Mildred is coming and she wants to be able to moor her boat, move along now!' Archimedes was trying to persuade several rather obstinate ducks to make room on his little beach for Aunt Mildred's boat. Now if you have ever tried to persuade a duck to move when it doesn't want to - then you know what a job it can be. 'Always so time consuming, I suppose I'll have to bribe them again!' With that the ducks stood up, waggled their tail feathers and started waddling up to the foot of Archimedes' tree house. 'Now I know you understand, you naughty ducks, still I suppose I've trained you up out of desperation.' And with that poor Archimedes who was very, very old and more than a bit arthritic, climbed all the stairs up to his tree house to fetch some bits of stale bread for the ducks.

Meanwhile Aunt Mildred had reached the shore and was busy uncovering Archibold's boat from under it's blanket of leaves. 'Best bale it out before I get in' she muttered. Soon she had finished her preparations and after carefully stowing her basket of treats, was ready to push off. 'Not a day for much of a sail' she thought, 'bit too breezy, best use the oars'. Soon she was rowing the little blue boat out from under the trees and into the fast current of the river.