Day One Hundred and Ninety Five

It was another as beautiful as could be day today.

And when Zita and I got up it was already warm. 

And when we looked out the window we saw leaves on our beautiful trees. 

That made us very happy. 

So I ran all over the house as fast as fast could be. 

And I even ran into the wall and I just bounced off. 

Because I am very fast. Ha.

So after we had our breakfasts we got in the car and went to our farm. 

And our farm is not even a bit far away. It is just a bit over there. 

And there was not even one other person there except us. Ha. 

So I could run all over the whole place. And sniff everywhere. Twice. Ha.

When we got home Niamh was already awake too. 

Then Craig was up. And he did not have a nice sleep in. And it was sleep in Sunday. 

Then Zita went out to visit with Miss Bethany and Craig had his first too much coffee.

And we had two round toasts. The especially delicious full of holes round toasts. With jam all over the tops. Ha.

Then my friend Niamh came up stairs. And she sat on my chair with me. 

And then she had Craig had ice cream. 

They had Ice cream for breakfast. Oh my goodness me. 

But I got some. So it was all right. 

Then I helped Niamh write her next very important essay. 

And for lunch Niamh made us pizza from the refrigerator.  


Festis and Furrgus 

Well apologies all round. That was more than a bit embarrassing. 

Thank goodness for Mrs. T and her hot water bottles.

We have all recovered and were quite able to resume our duties by early this morning.

So we ventured forth and made an exhaustive check of the neighbourhood.

We were not so foolish as to tempt fate, or our stomachs by going to breakfast.

 Returning home we found Mrs. T and Miss dog about to go off to the Experimental Farm. 

After we expressed a few embarrassing thank you’s they were off. 

And we returned to relax for a few more hours. 

Miss Pancake 

I helped Niamh eat her pizza and it did not spoil my appetite for my lunch. Ha.

So when Niamh went to the expensive coffee store I had my own lunch.

Zita has a brand new for gardening hat. 

And after lunch she went outside to sweep our patio as clean as could be she had it on. 

But I could not go outside to be her best helper.

Because I had to mind Craig. Too bad for me. 

But then we did not have any giant bags. So Zita’s bicycle took her to our hardware store to find some.

Then everything would not just blow all away again. 

But I stayed here. Because I cannot ride a bicycle. Too bad for me.

So I minded Craig again. On my comfy chair. 

That is an easy job. But not so much fun as being an outside helper. 

Furrgus and Festis 

By the time lunchtime arrived we had sufficiently recovered to read aloud the sad history of Culloden. 

It is what we Blackthorn-Badgers do, every April sixteenth since 1746. It is the least we can do. 

We fought on the left flank, alongside our kin, the Donald’s of Lochaber, for what good it did. 

The Laird fell, sword in hand, as did all five of his brothers. 

And that scoundrel prince fled leaving better men than he to die on that field. What a disgrace. 

Fortunately our Lady Kepploch rallied the clan, and fronted down Butcher Cumberland when he arrived on her doorstep. 

We are given to understand that the bite mark on his arm lasted his lifetime. 

Cousin Morag, Lochlainn and the rest of Tiroam were on the field, at first light, to lay bluebells on the marker.

Damn’d shame that once again were are unable to attend. 

But they will do us proud. They always do. 

The stories about the aftermath abound. Many destined to be hidden for generations. 

With so many of the clansmen dead or fugitive it fell to the ladies to protect our lands and the wee people. 

By the time the dust had settled they had retained Tiroam, Breachacha and Dunstaffnage for the family. 

Our lore suggests that generous disbursements of french gold and some quite strategic romantic dalliances insured the clan’s future prosperity.

It also appears to account for the synergetic disappearance of the Prince’s gold, and the establishment of the Blackthorn-Badger Trust. 

But it was a long time ago and the scarcity of documents precluded much needless speculation. 

Young Miss Pancake was enthralled at our story and appalled at the prince’s cowardice. As well she should be.

Miss Pancake 

I got in trouble this afternoon. 

Because I was barking way too much and not even being a good listener. Oh dear. 

But I could not go outside to mind Zita. 

And there were people outside too. 

And I did not even know them. Oh my goodness. 

But then it was time for me to help Craig get his feet squeaky clean. 

When his feet were in the the shaking water machine the badgers told me a very sad story.

A long long time ago there was an important battle. 

And lots of Dugal’s and Furrgus’s and Festis’s long ago relatives were there. 

And Craig’s relatives too.

And lots of them died. 

Because the other side had big canons. And they only had their own pointy swords. Oh dear.

And now there are big stones there. 

So everybody knows where to say their goodbyes to their very old relatives. Oh dear. 

And then their prince just ran away. That is not all right. 

If you are a prince you have to be very brave, and not just run away. It is the rule. 

And he never went back. 

He went to Rome instead. My goodness. And could only eat pasta. With nothing on top. 

Because he forgot all his money in Scotland and did not enough for any tasty cannellonis or delicious pizzas with pepperonis. Ha. Too bad for him.

When Craig’s feet were all dry again Niamh came home and she brought Tarryn with her.

Because we had a very tasty chicken for dinner tonight. 

But after dinnertime we did not talk very long tonight.

Because Niamh had to write even more of her story. 

And Zita had to have a shower so she would not be smelly tomorrow. 

And then we had to watch our detective program. 

What a busy day I had today.