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 ……….



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'

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.

Golden leaves and friendship!

Hortensia was walking through along the forest floor with Baby Harriet all snuggled in her basket on her back. 'You see Harriet, sometimes the leaves look even more beautiful on a grey and misty morning, see how our path is all golden and luminous ahead of us and smells so good!'  Harriet was gazing around intently, they were supposed to be looking for mushrooms, but the light of the golden leaves against the darker greens and trunks of the trees was so beautiful that Hortensia had decided to stop and and just gaze about for while.

Harriet wasn't really talking yet, at least she thought that she was, but no one could quite work out what she was saying, 'Brrrr bub, bub, booooo', she pointed at a little clump of mushrooms . 'Oh Harriet you are clever, just what we are looking for!' Hortensia carefully collected a few of the mushrooms in her basket and they set off on their way again. Two tiny gnomes - well, one grown up and a really tiny baby gnome, walking along in their forest home, rejoicing as they went in the glorious radiance of an autumn morning.

They were on their way to see Mrs Partridge, 'I want to ask her if she would like anything in particular for our Winter Festival, and truth to tell Harriet, we are all a bit relieved that she is spending Christmas with her son, it will be too cold to eat outside and the rules of hospitality demand that we entertain her next time!'

Since Mrs Partridge's tea party, the friendship between the gnomes and Mrs Partridge had deepened. 'We always liked you and knew you through your garden, it's just that some of the others where a bit shy, and now they know for sure now that you are our friend!' Aunt Mildred had confided to Mrs Partridge.

For her part Mrs Partridge couldn't remember a time when she had felt more happy or excited. She didn't mind what the neighbours thought, she was having a wonderful time sharing her garden, and truth to tell, a lot of her life with her new friends. When Hortensia and baby Harriet had arrived and were settled on a flower pot next to her bench, Mrs Partridge couldn't wait to share her news. 'That foot ointment of Aunt Mildred's, my Dear, quite miraculous, my hands haven't felt so good for ages, and my feet aren't nearly so sore!'

Just at that moment Uncle Humperdinck bobbed up amongst the winter pansies where he had been doing a spot of weeding, 'It's what has kept me going the past fifty years! I'd have been in my rocking chair years ago without her foot balm!' He winked at Mrs partridge 'she'll never tell you whats in it, but as long as it does the job and keeps me bringing home the chestnuts - that's all that matters! Mind you, best not to let her know I polish my boots with it too sometimes, keeps the ants away you know!' Hortensia and Mrs Partridge burst out laughing as Aunt Mildred's very fierce 'Humperdinck!' echoed around the garden, 'just joking my Dear!' Laughed Uncle Humperdinck as he hid behind the clematis.

So that was how it was, most days the gnomes came by for a chat and to see how Mrs Partridge and her garden were doing. Altogether a most unusual friendship  - but a truly precious one for everyone concerned!

Freesias and happiness, cheesy scones and honey baklava …….

After the gnomes had finished singing, they sat quietly waiting for Mrs Partridge to wake up. 'Doesn't she look peaceful' muttered Aunt Mildred loudly to Hortensia 'never have met a human who can stay awake once they hear us sing!' Hortensia smiled and then burst out laughing as Mrs Partridge suddenly woke up, 'I heard that Mildred, I could still hear the lovely singing, I was just shutting my eyes for a minute!'

The gnomes were awestruck at the amazing feast that was laid out on the tea table. 'Such a relief that she hasn't made any more of that jelly' Archibold was very relieved indeed, 'horribly rubbery and very hard on the digestion!' He had never forgotten the jelly that Mrs Partridge had brought to the midsummer revels picnic.

Today however Mrs Partridge had excelled herself. Not only had she prepared Aunt Mildred's special requests, but she had also included some of her own. There in the middle of the bower of freesias was the little dining table that she had taken from the dolls house. She had used one of her best handkerchiefs as a table cloth and an upturned egg cups as a cake stands. 'How about some tea my Dears? I'll be right back'.

Mrs Partridge rushed to the kitchen to make a pot of nettle tea, 'even the smallest pot is still enormous for them - never mind it will have to do!' She placed the tea pot on the tray with a plate of warm mini cheese tarts and tiny scones and rushed back to her guests.

The gnomes were having a wonderful time admiring all the exotic treats on display. A bowl of peanut butter nestled next to a little glass dish full of the most beautiful and shiny ruby red seeds. 'They're pomegranate seeds!' Aunt Mildred was beside herself with excitement, 'it's my menu, what I requested! Look at the honey!' The gnomes fell silent at the sight and smell of the glistening Baklava 'look at the pastry, so fine and delicate', Hortensia had to sit down, 'what kindness, its all so very lovely'.

'Never mind lovely to look at, lets tuck in!' shouted Uncle Humperdinck, very excited indeed. For as long as he could remember he had heard Aunt Mildred describe the wonderful dishes she had read about in Mrs Partridge's cookbooks, and now at last the moment had come to taste some of them. 'Lets start with peanut butter spread on a scone and then some houmous with pomegranate seeds on top!'

Well I am sorry to say that there was rather a lot of enthusiastic tasting and talking with mouths full and all manner of wild gestures about how, ' simple the best, so tasty, perhaps a little more?' from the very happy and excited gnomes. Eventually they began to feel more than usually full and soon found themselves settling into the little chairs and seating areas that Mrs Partridge had made in-between the flowers. 'Stop snoring Dear!' Aunt Mildred shouted into Uncle Humperdinck's ear at close range 'its not polite at a tea party!'

However, gnomes are used to having a restorative nap after a feast and despite their very best intentions, they soon found themselves fast asleep as they breathed in the sweet air of fragrant freesias and honey, baklava, plum cake and cheesy scones.

Mrs Partridge smiled contentedly, 'well what a success! They seemed to have liked everything, perhaps this a moment for me to have a little rest too?' So that was that, Mrs partridge's house was soon filled with the sound of gentle snoring, golden sunlight and happiness - as everyone - human and gnome, enjoyed a little nap!

Tea time and an unexpected surprise!

Mrs Partridge was busy making napkins for the tea party. 'Very tricky' she thought 'very tricky indeed to make them the same size and so very small!' She was using her best scissors to cut up a tissue into tiny squares, 'drat, drat DRAT! there is no way that I am going to be able to fold them, my fingers just aren't as nimble as they used to be.' Mrs Partridge sighed, she so wanted the tea party to be a treat for the gnomes and had an idea in her head of how she wanted the little tea table to look.

'Not every day that gnomes come for tea!' Truth to tell Mrs Partridge was feeling pleased with herself. The shopping trip had been a great success due to her inspired idea of stopping off at the new health food shop for supplies. 'Fancy them having nettle tea and chestnut milk - and pomegranate juice, a bonanza, that was what it was, a bonanza!'

As for the gnomes, well there was much brushing of jackets and tweaking of hats as they assembled at Aunt Mildred's house to set off. Uncle Humperdinck had even decorated the cart, 'Nice as a jar of ointment is, looks a bit more special decorated, and we want our friend to know how special she is to us!'

Finally they were ready to set of, Aunt Mildred had decided to ride on the cart with Hortensia and baby Harriet, 'No point in walking in my best cape if we can ride in comfort.' Hortensia wasn't sure that sitting in oak leaves in a bumpy cart was comfortable, but thought that baby Harriet, however smelly the jar of ointment was at close quarters, would probably love the experience.

Of course there were frequent stops to check that no humans were out and about in the wood, but surprisingly soon they found themselves at the edge of Mrs Partridge's garden. There they stopped in amazement, because through the open patio doors they saw a most unusual sight.

'There you are my Dears, come along all is ready, come along this way please...' Mrs Partridge gestured to the long ramp she had made from an old bit of fencing that led up to her coffee table. 'Well I never'  muttered Aunt Mildred 'we are going to have tea on her table!' The gnomes valiantly pushed and puffed as they inched their cart up to the table, there was a bit of a bump and there they were, in Mrs Partridge's 'Tea Garden for Gnomes!'

The table was covered in a pale green table cloth with lots of Mrs Partridges house plants and small vases and jars of fresh flowers carefully arranged all over the tabletop. 'Look Archie she has made a pathway through the flowers!' Hortensia and Harriet set off leading the other gnomes around the path until they came to a bower of freesias and the little tea table itself.

Mrs Partridge found herself near to tears as she saw the gnomes gasp in wonder at the beautiful sight before them. 'I found the table and chairs in the old dolls house, you can take it all home with you if you like it?' She sat down in her chair, 'I just wanted to be able to see your faces and talk with you more easily, I hope it's suitable?'

There was only one thing to do, the gnomes turned to face her and started to sing. They sang of friendship and of golden autumn leaves, of loss and of coming home and of the precious gift of kindness and the gentle warmth of a hot cup of nettle tea!

Preparations and excitement all around!

It is true that Mrs Partridge had gasped when she had seen Aunt Mildred's suggestions for the tea party - that is after she had found her glasses and spent about half an hour trying to read Aunt Mildred's writing. 'I suppose she learnt to write rather a long time ago, and writing giant letters when you are very small must be tricky, especially with such a large pencil!' Mrs Partridge felt sympathy for Aunt Mildred's efforts but was truely shocked at the recipe selection. 'I've never even heard of Aloo Gobi, I remember lovely sticky baklava from our holiday in Greece all those years ago, but to make it myself, Oh Dear, Oh Dear, what a to do!'

'I don't suppose we need more than one pomegranate, a seed per gnome will be more than enough, and peanut butter, how do I serve that to the gnomes?! After a few days of careful thinking and planning, Mrs Partridge caught the bus to the supermarket. She wore a straw hat with a blue ribbon for courage.

'Nothing like a hat for boosting ones morale' she had thought as she checked the angle of the brim in the mirror before she left. Between you and me, Aunt Mildred often made the same kind of comment about wearing a cape, of which of course, she had rather a large selection.

The gnomes were wondering what to bring Mrs Partridge as a gift at the tea party. Everyone was so very busy with the harvest that there wasn't a lot of time to even think. Hortensia's kitchen smelt of blackberry jam and apple sauce, blackcurrant cordial and drying crab apples. 'Can't remember a better year for blackberries Archie, and the cobnuts - just so firm and tasty! All that rain and sunshine has served us well!' Archibold had mumbled a crumbly sort of 'yes' as his mouth had been full of fresh apple pie at the time. Everyday he had been out from dawn to dusk gathering the harvest and extra supplies of wood for the fire.

'I've been thinking Hortie' Hortensia's eyebrow raised, sometimes Archibold's thoughts could lead to wild escapades. 'About Mrs Partridge's present, what she really needs and will never have experienced, is the benefits of Aunt Mildred's foot balm!' 'Oh Archie what a good idea!' and with that Hortensia took off her apron, put on her second best tweed jacket, kissed Archibold on the cheek and rushed out to speak with Aunt Mildred.

So that was that, Uncle Humperdinck had found a huge jar (for the gnomes that is) and Aunt Mildred had spent a whole day becoming increasingly hot and cross, locked in her kitchen making up up an enormous quantity of her famous foot balm. She had refused all offers of help, 'even you Hortensia, when the time's right I'll tell you the recipe but till then I'll manage on my own.' Secretly Hortensia had been relieved, even talking through the closed door to Aunt Mildred had made her feel very faint, 'the fumes, Archie, the fumes, I don't know how they sleep at night.'

The tea party was just a week away and preparations were well on the way at Mrs Partridge's. She had been trying out all kinds of recipes and even taken more furniture from the old doll's house to make a seating area for the gnomes. 'Just so lovely to see it being used at last, they can take it home afterwards if they want any of the furniture!' She thought that she hadn't felt so happy for a very long time. 'Sad that I can't tell anyone about the gnomes' she sighed, 'but there we are, not everything makes sense to everybody!' and with that she settled down to watch the rugby on television. Mrs Partridge liked the rugby 'such handsome young men, and so brave too!'