I wished on a star
and changed my life
no longer alone but
a mother, a wife
A lifetime of work
and love that pours out
from soft faces with kisses
and arms wrapped about
a body so different,
a heart that's so changed
a mother, a wife now
my old life estranged
from this face in the mirror
this shape in the dark
her voice soothing whispers
keeping nightmares apart
from soft faces with kisses
and arms wrapped around
her children, her life now
not making a sound.
Friday 14 June 2013
Thursday 18 April 2013
Sid the penguin
Sid was a little penguin, with a bright yellow beak, lovely black feathers and a smart white tummy.
"You are too vain, Sid - you must help us to hunt!" they insisted.
One day he was so busy grooming that he didn't notice when his brothers and sisters hatched a plan.
Sid knew that if he wanted to eat tonight he would have to dive in - but he still didn't really want to. But his tummy rumbled and, looking around, he saw no other penguins.
Sid was very proud of his smart tummy and his very yellow beak, and spent many happy hours admiring his glossy black feathers.
He watched his brothers and sisters diving into the sea and shivered, thinking how the cold water would spoil his handsome looks.
He wouldn't help his brothers and sisters hunt and each day they would bring him fish to eat.
"Don't get scales on my handsome feathers!" Sid would shout, carefully picking up the fish with his bright yellow beak, and very daintily he would eat his lunch.
Sid would spend so much time grooming to look as handsome as he could that his brothers and sisters were soon fed up.
"You are too vain, Sid - you must help us to hunt!" they insisted.
But Sid ignored them, and carried on grooming.
One day he was so busy grooming that he didn't notice when his brothers and sisters hatched a plan.
"We will move to another island in the sea - Sid is too vain to swim so he won't follow us. When nobody brings him any fish to eat he will soon be so hungry that he will have to hunt for himself."
And that is just what they did!
Sid didn't notice that they had gone until his rumbling tummy told him that he hadn't been brought any fish for breakfast, or lunch, or even dinner - and now it was almost supper time and there was nobody around!
What was Sid to do? He looked all around him and there wasn't a single fish to be seen - and his belly was rumbling louder and louder!
But Sid had never dived into the cold water to hunt his own fish - he didn't know what to do!
He liked sitting on the ice, watching the others, grooming himself and admiring his handsome reflection in the surface of the sea.
Sid walked closer to the edge of his island of ice, peering over the edge. The water was blue and cold and deep.
Sid knew that if he wanted to eat tonight he would have to dive in - but he still didn't really want to. But his tummy rumbled and, looking around, he saw no other penguins.
With a grumpy face and a deep breath Sid dived into the water for the very first time.
Under the water he was amazed to find that he felt more beautiful and more graceful than ever before.
Deep, deep down he dived, swimming in the swirling waves, and Sid was amazed to see a whole new world.
Bright colours, waving plants and swirling shiny sand spun around him as he dived beneath the water.
All kinds of animals and fish swooped and dived in the currents below the sea's surface.
Sid had never known anything more beautiful.
For the first time in his life Sid stopped thinking about himself, and about how handsome and special he was. Compared to the beauty below the waters Sid realised that, though he was a lovely penguin, he was just a small part of an incredible, rich world.
Sid spent an entire day and night swimming in the sea, diving to collect fish for his brothers and sisters, gifting a meal to each and every penguin in his large family.
Never again did he think of himself as too special - and never again did he ignore the beauty of things around him.
Instead Sid spent every day helping others to hunt, showing the young penguins the beauty at the bottom of the sea and teaching the babies to swim.
Even though it sometimes made his handsome black feathers and smart white tummy grubby.
Wednesday 27 February 2013
The Wuggle and the wide awake boy - part three
(Part one of the story is here, part two of the story is here)
There was a huge pile of blankets all around the Wuggle's box, and it was very tempting to just climb down in among them on the floor, but Mummy, Daddy and the little boy decided to think some thinks about what they could do with all those blankets.
The little boy thought and thought about who might be the coldest in all the world, and the thoughts were that penguins living on all the ice with no houses are probably the coldest. Polar bears at least have all that fur, after all, but penguins must be chilly, particularly since they get all wet swimming around in all that icy sea to catch their dinner.
He was just sitting down, stroking the super super soft blankets with his little hands and thinking that perhaps he might just have a tiny, teeny, tinsy little snooze, when the Wuggle did a stretch and a yawn, and opened his big big eyes.
"Oh! Hello little boy! I quite forgot where I was for a moment!" said the Wuggle. He wriggled out of his blankets, which took a while because he really had been snuggle buggled down well, and he did another huge yawn and another even huger stretch.
Mummy and Daddy yawned, then the little boy yawned, and told the Wuggle his idea.
"That is extremely clever! The penguins ARE very cold!" said the Wuggle, and he pulled his box back out of the corner and told the little boy to climb in.
The little boy said that Mummy and Daddy would be worried - but then behind him he heard a little snore, and turned around and saw Mummy and Daddy, curled up on a soft stripey blanket.
He covered them with another of the lovely blankets - which still left plenty and heaps and lots for the penguins - and he piled them all onto the box around him and the Wuggle, and away they went in the blink of an eye!
Up up up in the sky they whoooooooshed along, and before he knew it the little boy could see ice and snow all around him, in every direction. He could see his breath poofing out in little poofs.
"Look down there!" said the Wuggle - and there, waddling across the ice in a big long line that looked like a wiggle worm from up in the sky, were the penguins!
The little boy was VERY excited - penguins were his very favourite animals and he had never been able to get any closer than the fences at the zoo - and how he could see hundreds of penguins!
They landed the box with a bump, and slid along the ice a little way, knocking in to one of the penguins - and all of a sudden it was like skittles! The penguins all bumped into each other bash bash bash and over they went, sliding around all over the white ice!
The little boy thought it looked terribly funny, but he felt a bit guilty because the penguins only had flippers instead of arms and they seemed to find it a little hard to get back up!
He and the Wuggle helped all the penguins stand up, and they said they were sorry for knocking them all down. The penguins rubbed their bottoms with their flippers and said "It's ok, but it is a little bit horrible getting an icy cold bottom!"
"We have brought you something that might help!" said the little boy, and he ran to the Wuggle's box and started pulling out all the blankets. It was amazing how many big, fluffy, multi-coloured stripey blankets fit inside that box, it was as if it was a magic box!
The penguins were so excited, they clapped their flippers and honked their honks. They loved the blankets, and loved wrapping them around themselves. It helped if they slipped over on the slippy slidey ice, stopping their bottoms getting bruises, and they were so fluffy and nice to waddle around in.
The Daddy penguins thought the blankets would help to keep their eggs extra warm, and the Mummy penguins said they were very excited that they had something warm to wrap up in after hunting for their dinner.
Normally when you see the penguins waddling around on the ice everything is black and white, so cold and frosty, and they are very brilliant but not very colourful.
The little boy thought they looked much happier and brighter with the stripes and swirls of the blankets all over the ice.
With a big smile the Wuggle said "I think they are very happy - and I am getting very hungry for my dinner - we should go home!"
And the little boy said "Yes, and we can tell Mummy and Daddy all about the penguins!"
So they climbed back into the box (which the little boy was even MORE sure was magic now) and snuggle buggled down into the snuggly wuggly blankets and whoosh, they were in the sky. The penguins waved their flippers happily, shouting thank you, and faster than ever, they were home in the playroom where Mummy and Daddy were still fast-a-fast-asleep in the blankets on the floor!
The little boy woke them up and told them all about his adventure with the Wuggle and the penguins. Mummy and Daddy turned to thank the Wuggle for doing such a very nice thing, but he was fast-a-fast-asleep!
It was turning out to be a very, very exciting day - and the little boy was ever so ever so happy that the Wuggle had come to play. But he did look ever so ever so comfortable snuggle buggled up in that box - so the little boy curled up beside him, yawning, and asked Mummy and Daddy to wake him in time for dinner, because he did just want a teeny tiny little snooze.
Mummy and Daddy smiled and crept quietly out of the playroom, letting the little boy and the Wuggle have their nap, and went to make some delicious dinner.
There was a huge pile of blankets all around the Wuggle's box, and it was very tempting to just climb down in among them on the floor, but Mummy, Daddy and the little boy decided to think some thinks about what they could do with all those blankets.
The little boy thought and thought about who might be the coldest in all the world, and the thoughts were that penguins living on all the ice with no houses are probably the coldest. Polar bears at least have all that fur, after all, but penguins must be chilly, particularly since they get all wet swimming around in all that icy sea to catch their dinner.
He was just sitting down, stroking the super super soft blankets with his little hands and thinking that perhaps he might just have a tiny, teeny, tinsy little snooze, when the Wuggle did a stretch and a yawn, and opened his big big eyes.
"Oh! Hello little boy! I quite forgot where I was for a moment!" said the Wuggle. He wriggled out of his blankets, which took a while because he really had been snuggle buggled down well, and he did another huge yawn and another even huger stretch.
Mummy and Daddy yawned, then the little boy yawned, and told the Wuggle his idea.
"That is extremely clever! The penguins ARE very cold!" said the Wuggle, and he pulled his box back out of the corner and told the little boy to climb in.
The little boy said that Mummy and Daddy would be worried - but then behind him he heard a little snore, and turned around and saw Mummy and Daddy, curled up on a soft stripey blanket.
He covered them with another of the lovely blankets - which still left plenty and heaps and lots for the penguins - and he piled them all onto the box around him and the Wuggle, and away they went in the blink of an eye!
Up up up in the sky they whoooooooshed along, and before he knew it the little boy could see ice and snow all around him, in every direction. He could see his breath poofing out in little poofs.
"Look down there!" said the Wuggle - and there, waddling across the ice in a big long line that looked like a wiggle worm from up in the sky, were the penguins!
The little boy was VERY excited - penguins were his very favourite animals and he had never been able to get any closer than the fences at the zoo - and how he could see hundreds of penguins!
They landed the box with a bump, and slid along the ice a little way, knocking in to one of the penguins - and all of a sudden it was like skittles! The penguins all bumped into each other bash bash bash and over they went, sliding around all over the white ice!
The little boy thought it looked terribly funny, but he felt a bit guilty because the penguins only had flippers instead of arms and they seemed to find it a little hard to get back up!
He and the Wuggle helped all the penguins stand up, and they said they were sorry for knocking them all down. The penguins rubbed their bottoms with their flippers and said "It's ok, but it is a little bit horrible getting an icy cold bottom!"
"We have brought you something that might help!" said the little boy, and he ran to the Wuggle's box and started pulling out all the blankets. It was amazing how many big, fluffy, multi-coloured stripey blankets fit inside that box, it was as if it was a magic box!
The penguins were so excited, they clapped their flippers and honked their honks. They loved the blankets, and loved wrapping them around themselves. It helped if they slipped over on the slippy slidey ice, stopping their bottoms getting bruises, and they were so fluffy and nice to waddle around in.
The Daddy penguins thought the blankets would help to keep their eggs extra warm, and the Mummy penguins said they were very excited that they had something warm to wrap up in after hunting for their dinner.
Normally when you see the penguins waddling around on the ice everything is black and white, so cold and frosty, and they are very brilliant but not very colourful.
The little boy thought they looked much happier and brighter with the stripes and swirls of the blankets all over the ice.
With a big smile the Wuggle said "I think they are very happy - and I am getting very hungry for my dinner - we should go home!"
And the little boy said "Yes, and we can tell Mummy and Daddy all about the penguins!"
So they climbed back into the box (which the little boy was even MORE sure was magic now) and snuggle buggled down into the snuggly wuggly blankets and whoosh, they were in the sky. The penguins waved their flippers happily, shouting thank you, and faster than ever, they were home in the playroom where Mummy and Daddy were still fast-a-fast-asleep in the blankets on the floor!
The little boy woke them up and told them all about his adventure with the Wuggle and the penguins. Mummy and Daddy turned to thank the Wuggle for doing such a very nice thing, but he was fast-a-fast-asleep!
It was turning out to be a very, very exciting day - and the little boy was ever so ever so happy that the Wuggle had come to play. But he did look ever so ever so comfortable snuggle buggled up in that box - so the little boy curled up beside him, yawning, and asked Mummy and Daddy to wake him in time for dinner, because he did just want a teeny tiny little snooze.
Mummy and Daddy smiled and crept quietly out of the playroom, letting the little boy and the Wuggle have their nap, and went to make some delicious dinner.
Thursday 21 February 2013
A lullaby
This is the lullaby I sing to my children every night.
Hush now my angel,
hush now my baby,
hush now my little one,
it's time to close your eyes
sleep now my angel,
sleep now my baby,
sleep now my little one
it's time to rest your head
I love you my angel,
love you my baby,
love you my little one
it's time to go to sleep
Hush now my angel,
hush now my baby,
hush now my little one,
it's time to close your eyes
sleep now my angel,
sleep now my baby,
sleep now my little one
it's time to rest your head
I love you my angel,
love you my baby,
love you my little one
it's time to go to sleep
Sunday 17 February 2013
The Wuggle and the wide awake boy, part two
(Read part one of the story here, part three can be found here)
The little boy smiled a shy smile at the Wuggle, and the Wuggle did another big yawn and smiled back and scratched his little round tummy.
"What are we going to do today?" asked the little boy. "We can't go to sleep NOW, it's breakfast time!"
"Oh...but I would quite like a little nap" said the Wuggle "I'm ever so tired" and he did another yawn.
The little boy smiled, and Mummy and Daddy yawned along with the Wuggle, and poured themselves another coffee, then pulled out another chair at the table for the Wuggle to sit beside the little boy.
The little boy forgot all about the snooze he had been having, and helped the Wuggle pour some cereal. "How are you going to help me sleep?" he asked the Wuggle.
"Oh, that is easy - sleep is the bestest most very best thing in all the world!" said the Wuggle. "Don't you think?"
"Oh no!" said the little boy "The bestest most very best thing in all the world is bubbles and trumping."
The Wuggle thought the little boy had a good point, but he did love sleeping so very very much, and being snuggle buggled in his lovely soft blankets.
Through breakfast the little boy had a lot of questions for the Wuggle, who was such a very lovely snuggly looking thing, and the Wuggle tried his very very best to stay as wide-a-wide-awake as the little boy so that he could answer all the questions.
I don't know if you know this about yawns, but they are very easy to catch, and if one person has the yawns soon enough everyone else catches the yawns too, until the whole room is full of big wide yawns.
So very quickly Mummy, Daddy and the Wuggle were yawning - and they yawned so much even the little boy couldn't help but YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN.
He was so excited by the Wuggle, though, that he absolutely did not want to be asleep today, he wanted to play!
After a very yawny breakfast the little boy took the Wuggle into the playroom to show him all his very favourite toys.
The Wuggle liked the toys, but he could barely keep his beautiful eyes open he was so tired. The little boy pulled the Wuggle's box, which was a very snuggly buggly bed, into the corner of the room, the Wuggle climbed inside and snuggle buggled down, and was almost immediately FAST asleep.
The little boy smiled, and just like his Mummy did for him, he pulled the fluffy blankets right up to the Wuggle's fluffy little chin and tucked him in nice and snug. The Wuggle smiled in his sleep and snuggle buggled even more into the blankets.
The blankets were softer than the little boy had ever felt - even softer and fluffier than the blankets on his very own bed, which were ever so ever so soft.
He wondered where the Wuggle had found such wonderfully soft blankets, and kept stroking the soft bright colourful wool and soon realised his little head was nodding.
He thought that if he just had blankets as bright and colourful and soft as these perhaps he would be able to sleep all night long too - after all, who can resist snuggle buggling into something THAT soft? He was almost tempted to climb into the box with the Wuggle and snuggle buggle down, but it was much too small.
The more he stroked the blankets and listened to the Wuggle's little snuffly snores the more heavy his eyes felt, and the more he KNEW that if he could just have some blankets like these he would certainly, absolutely, definitely be able to sleep. At night. All night.
So he gave the Wuggle a little shake, and a little bit bigger shake, and a really rather big shake, to wake him up.
"Hello little boy, what is the matter?" asked the Wuggle.
"Please, Wuggle, tell me where you got your lovely soft colourful blankets, I would like some for my very own bed, and then I think I could sleep as well as you."
The Wuggle yawned, and didn't seem even a little upset to have been woken up, because Wuggles are such friendly creatures and never ever get cross. Not even when they are VERY tired.
"Well that's easy - I make them!" said the Wuggle. The little boy couldn't believe that this fluffy round little creature could make such glorious blankets - they felt as soft as a cloud must feel, and the Wuggle was so very sleepy and drowsy that the little boy was sure he must be making a joke.
The Wuggle could see that the little boy wasn't sure what he was saying was true, so he smiled, and said "climb into my box and snuggle buggle down, we're going on a journey".
The little boy wasn't sure that he could fit - it was, after all, a Wuggle sized box, but he climbed in and sat down, and pulled the blankets (which really were terribly, terribly soft) and the Wuggle did a little wave of his fluffy little hands and, somehow, the little boy couldn't quite be sure, they were flying through the sky and over a little green hill with lots and lots of brightly coloured sheep!
The little boy thought the sheep were wonderful - he had only ever seen, white sheep before and he didn't know they came in such wonderful, rainbow colours - but there they were, all different sizes, all very, VERY fluffy and bright, and all very pleased to see the Wuggle.
"We're so glad you're here, Wuggle!" said the sheep "It is very hot with these big woolly coats on, please can you take some of our wool to make your blankets, so we can cool down and go to sleep? It is impossible to sleep when you are toooooo hot!"
The little boy didn't think it was too hot, he thought it was just right - but he wasn't wearing a woolly coat, and he had climbed out of the box (which was just a little bit too small to be VERY comfortable) when they landed beside the sheep on the little green hill.
The Wuggle smiled and said "Of course I can help, colourful sheep, come and sit with me".
The sheep all sat in an big circle around the Wuggle. From the very bottom of his box of fluffy blankets the Wuggle pulled out a little stripey bag, and from inside the little stripey bag he pulled out some big scissors, a spindle and some knitting needles!
The little boy watched in amazement as, quicker than quick, far quicker than magic, the Wuggle snip snip snipped the colourful wool off the sheep (which made them look less like rainbow clouds, and made the sheep very happy indeed) and spun it into balls and balls and balls of bright wool, softer than any wool the little boy had ever felt before.
The little boy watched the Wuggle, who was getting drowsier and drowsier, as he knitted quicker than a flash, his needles blurring as he went, and stripey blanket after stripey blanket fell from his hands into a huge, fluffy, soft, inviting pile.
The little boy couldn't help himself - he climbed into the pile of blankets and snuggle buggled down, and before he knew it he was FAST-A-FAST-ASLEEP.
When the little boy woke up all he could hear was snuffly little snores. He looked around, and every single sheep, with their smart new haircuts, was asleep all around him, each one lying on a beautiful, fluffy new blanket - all bright colours, all kinds of designs, all stripes and swirls and bursts of colour.
The Wuggle was curled up beside the little boy, snoring louder than anyone else, and the little boy felt a little guilty about needing to wake him, but he was sure it must be almost lunch time, and he was feeling rather hungry - after all, he had been too excited by the Wuggle arriving to eat much breakfast at all!
So he gave the Wuggle a tiny shake - and then a little bit bigger shake - and then a really rather big shake. The Wuggle woke up, smiled, yawned, stretched and said "I feel rather hungry, shall we go home for some lunch?"
The little boy was pleased, and he climbed back into the box, with the Wuggle on his knees, and the sheep piled the new blankets all around them so they were even more snuggly buggly than before (but perhaps a little too warm) and in a flash they were flying through the sky again, faster than fast, and landing back in the playroom.
The little boy climbed out of his box, ran through to the kitchen pulling the Wuggle by the hand, and as they all sat down to lunch he told his Mummy and Daddy all about the adventure he had been on that morning.
He was sure his Mummy and Daddy thought he was making up a story - so he ran to get a super soft new blanket to show them, and Mummy and Daddy cuddled the blanket and very very nearly fell fast-a-fast-asleep at the table!
"This is SUCH a soft blanket!" said Mummy. "I almost think I could snuggle buggle right here and sleep the whole day through!"
"That is a JOLLY good idea" said the Wuggle, and he promptly fell fast-a-fast-asleep at the table!
Mummy, Daddy and the little boy carried the Wuggle through to his box of blankets, tucked him in so that he could feel snuggle buggled, and then looked around at all the new colourful, fluffy blankets and wondered what on EARTH they should do with them!
The little boy smiled a shy smile at the Wuggle, and the Wuggle did another big yawn and smiled back and scratched his little round tummy.
"What are we going to do today?" asked the little boy. "We can't go to sleep NOW, it's breakfast time!"
"Oh...but I would quite like a little nap" said the Wuggle "I'm ever so tired" and he did another yawn.
The little boy smiled, and Mummy and Daddy yawned along with the Wuggle, and poured themselves another coffee, then pulled out another chair at the table for the Wuggle to sit beside the little boy.
The little boy forgot all about the snooze he had been having, and helped the Wuggle pour some cereal. "How are you going to help me sleep?" he asked the Wuggle.
"Oh, that is easy - sleep is the bestest most very best thing in all the world!" said the Wuggle. "Don't you think?"
"Oh no!" said the little boy "The bestest most very best thing in all the world is bubbles and trumping."
The Wuggle thought the little boy had a good point, but he did love sleeping so very very much, and being snuggle buggled in his lovely soft blankets.
Through breakfast the little boy had a lot of questions for the Wuggle, who was such a very lovely snuggly looking thing, and the Wuggle tried his very very best to stay as wide-a-wide-awake as the little boy so that he could answer all the questions.
I don't know if you know this about yawns, but they are very easy to catch, and if one person has the yawns soon enough everyone else catches the yawns too, until the whole room is full of big wide yawns.
So very quickly Mummy, Daddy and the Wuggle were yawning - and they yawned so much even the little boy couldn't help but YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN.
He was so excited by the Wuggle, though, that he absolutely did not want to be asleep today, he wanted to play!
After a very yawny breakfast the little boy took the Wuggle into the playroom to show him all his very favourite toys.
The Wuggle liked the toys, but he could barely keep his beautiful eyes open he was so tired. The little boy pulled the Wuggle's box, which was a very snuggly buggly bed, into the corner of the room, the Wuggle climbed inside and snuggle buggled down, and was almost immediately FAST asleep.
The little boy smiled, and just like his Mummy did for him, he pulled the fluffy blankets right up to the Wuggle's fluffy little chin and tucked him in nice and snug. The Wuggle smiled in his sleep and snuggle buggled even more into the blankets.
The blankets were softer than the little boy had ever felt - even softer and fluffier than the blankets on his very own bed, which were ever so ever so soft.
He wondered where the Wuggle had found such wonderfully soft blankets, and kept stroking the soft bright colourful wool and soon realised his little head was nodding.
He thought that if he just had blankets as bright and colourful and soft as these perhaps he would be able to sleep all night long too - after all, who can resist snuggle buggling into something THAT soft? He was almost tempted to climb into the box with the Wuggle and snuggle buggle down, but it was much too small.
The more he stroked the blankets and listened to the Wuggle's little snuffly snores the more heavy his eyes felt, and the more he KNEW that if he could just have some blankets like these he would certainly, absolutely, definitely be able to sleep. At night. All night.
So he gave the Wuggle a little shake, and a little bit bigger shake, and a really rather big shake, to wake him up.
"Hello little boy, what is the matter?" asked the Wuggle.
"Please, Wuggle, tell me where you got your lovely soft colourful blankets, I would like some for my very own bed, and then I think I could sleep as well as you."
The Wuggle yawned, and didn't seem even a little upset to have been woken up, because Wuggles are such friendly creatures and never ever get cross. Not even when they are VERY tired.
"Well that's easy - I make them!" said the Wuggle. The little boy couldn't believe that this fluffy round little creature could make such glorious blankets - they felt as soft as a cloud must feel, and the Wuggle was so very sleepy and drowsy that the little boy was sure he must be making a joke.
The Wuggle could see that the little boy wasn't sure what he was saying was true, so he smiled, and said "climb into my box and snuggle buggle down, we're going on a journey".
The little boy wasn't sure that he could fit - it was, after all, a Wuggle sized box, but he climbed in and sat down, and pulled the blankets (which really were terribly, terribly soft) and the Wuggle did a little wave of his fluffy little hands and, somehow, the little boy couldn't quite be sure, they were flying through the sky and over a little green hill with lots and lots of brightly coloured sheep!
The little boy thought the sheep were wonderful - he had only ever seen, white sheep before and he didn't know they came in such wonderful, rainbow colours - but there they were, all different sizes, all very, VERY fluffy and bright, and all very pleased to see the Wuggle.
"We're so glad you're here, Wuggle!" said the sheep "It is very hot with these big woolly coats on, please can you take some of our wool to make your blankets, so we can cool down and go to sleep? It is impossible to sleep when you are toooooo hot!"
The little boy didn't think it was too hot, he thought it was just right - but he wasn't wearing a woolly coat, and he had climbed out of the box (which was just a little bit too small to be VERY comfortable) when they landed beside the sheep on the little green hill.
The Wuggle smiled and said "Of course I can help, colourful sheep, come and sit with me".
The sheep all sat in an big circle around the Wuggle. From the very bottom of his box of fluffy blankets the Wuggle pulled out a little stripey bag, and from inside the little stripey bag he pulled out some big scissors, a spindle and some knitting needles!
The little boy watched in amazement as, quicker than quick, far quicker than magic, the Wuggle snip snip snipped the colourful wool off the sheep (which made them look less like rainbow clouds, and made the sheep very happy indeed) and spun it into balls and balls and balls of bright wool, softer than any wool the little boy had ever felt before.
The little boy watched the Wuggle, who was getting drowsier and drowsier, as he knitted quicker than a flash, his needles blurring as he went, and stripey blanket after stripey blanket fell from his hands into a huge, fluffy, soft, inviting pile.
The little boy couldn't help himself - he climbed into the pile of blankets and snuggle buggled down, and before he knew it he was FAST-A-FAST-ASLEEP.
When the little boy woke up all he could hear was snuffly little snores. He looked around, and every single sheep, with their smart new haircuts, was asleep all around him, each one lying on a beautiful, fluffy new blanket - all bright colours, all kinds of designs, all stripes and swirls and bursts of colour.
The Wuggle was curled up beside the little boy, snoring louder than anyone else, and the little boy felt a little guilty about needing to wake him, but he was sure it must be almost lunch time, and he was feeling rather hungry - after all, he had been too excited by the Wuggle arriving to eat much breakfast at all!
So he gave the Wuggle a tiny shake - and then a little bit bigger shake - and then a really rather big shake. The Wuggle woke up, smiled, yawned, stretched and said "I feel rather hungry, shall we go home for some lunch?"
The little boy was pleased, and he climbed back into the box, with the Wuggle on his knees, and the sheep piled the new blankets all around them so they were even more snuggly buggly than before (but perhaps a little too warm) and in a flash they were flying through the sky again, faster than fast, and landing back in the playroom.
The little boy climbed out of his box, ran through to the kitchen pulling the Wuggle by the hand, and as they all sat down to lunch he told his Mummy and Daddy all about the adventure he had been on that morning.
He was sure his Mummy and Daddy thought he was making up a story - so he ran to get a super soft new blanket to show them, and Mummy and Daddy cuddled the blanket and very very nearly fell fast-a-fast-asleep at the table!
"This is SUCH a soft blanket!" said Mummy. "I almost think I could snuggle buggle right here and sleep the whole day through!"
"That is a JOLLY good idea" said the Wuggle, and he promptly fell fast-a-fast-asleep at the table!
Mummy, Daddy and the little boy carried the Wuggle through to his box of blankets, tucked him in so that he could feel snuggle buggled, and then looked around at all the new colourful, fluffy blankets and wondered what on EARTH they should do with them!
Monday 11 February 2013
The Wuggle and the wide awake boy
Once upon a time there was a little boy who was always wide awake. He never, ever slept a whole night through.
He had a lovely bedroom, with a very lovely bed, all covered with fluffy pillows and blankets, and soft fluffy sheets. Every night his Mummy and Daddy would give him a nice warm bath, put him in nice soft pyjamas, read him two or three stories, sing a lullaby and tuck him into bed.
And the boy would lie there, in his comfy bed, wide awake.
They tried more stories, less stories, more singing, less singing, warm milk, counting sheep, different pillows, long busy days to tire him out, glow in the dark stars and classic FM.
They tried EVERYTHING they could think of - but still the boy was wide awake.
He wasn't a naughty boy. In fact he was a very nice boy, who was very very good, but he was often grouchy because he was so tired.
He would fall asleep at breakfast, or after his lunch, and almost always just before dinner, and his Mummy and Daddy would wonder whether to wake him up or put him to bed.
If they woke him up he would be cross, because he was always having such a very lovely dream.
If they put him to bed he would wake a little while later, before the time he SHOULD have been asleep, and would be ever so, ever so cross because he HADN'T had a very lovely dream.
His Mummy and Daddy tried to stay awake at night to begin with so that he wouldn't be alone. But they got too tired, and were even more grumpy than the boys own very worst grump.
So they began to take it in turns, sleeping in shifts so that someone was always awake with the little boy. But they still got too tired and very grumpy.
One night when his Mummy was sleeping in her bed and his Daddy was sitting on the sofa playing snap with the little boy, Daddy fell fast asleep.
He could have made mischief and been a little monster - but the little boy was good, because he's such a nice boy really.
Instead the little boy watched a cartoon, drank some milk, built a tower out of blocks, drove his toy cars around his toy garage, made a snail out of play dough and built a very big train track.
Then he got a felt tip pen and drew a little moustache on his sleeping Daddy. Which was a LITTLE bit naughty. So he got a wet wipe to wash it off, and woke his Daddy up.
"I wish you would go to sleep." said his Daddy.
"I wish I wasn't so very, very wide awake!" said the boy.
Daddy sighed a big sigh, and the little boy did the same.
As the sun rose and Daddy got ready for another day without enough sleep and made a great big pot of coffee, and Mummy woke from her own sleep, the little boy set the table for breakfast, curled up under the table and fell asleep.
His Mummy and Daddy didn't know WHAT to do. But just then there was a knock at the door, and the postman delivered a huge great big cardboard box. The tape on the box said 'fragile' and from inside they could hear some strange, snuffly noises.
There was a card with the box, and Mummy read the card. It said "Dear Mummy and Daddy, I heard that you were having some trouble getting your little boy to go to sleep for the whole night long, because he is so terribly wide awake. I thought this Wuggle would be a good help."
It didn't say WHO had sent the parcel, or what a Wuggle even WAS - but Mummy and Daddy were excited that someone might be able to help their little boy sleep for a whole night instead of being wide-a-wide-awake.
They opened up the parcel - and there, snuggle buggled in some lovely soft blankets in all kinds of colours, was a strange little creature, fast asleep and snoring quietly.
He had enormous eyes (which were closed) and very very very very long eyelashes with little feathers on the tips. He had really long arms which he had wrapped around and around himself. His feet were big and fat and hairy, and didn't smell at all. His body was small and round and covered in brown hair with green stripes, and his face was pink and friendly. His sleepy mouth was smiling a big big happy smile, and he had two big floppy green ears and spiky brown hair with feathery ends.
Mummy and Daddy lifted the Wuggle out of his blankets - he opened his eyes - which were the most beautiful eyes in the whole universe, one brown like melted chocolate and one blue like a summer day sky.
The Wuggle yawned a huge yawn, smiled a huge smile, and wriggled down to the floor and waddled over to the little boy, who was still asleep under the table, and poked him.
"Hello" said the Wuggle.
"Hello" said the little boy, who was wide awake again. "Who are you?"
"I am the Wuggle - and I am going to help you sleep."
(To read part two of the story go here part three is here)
He had a lovely bedroom, with a very lovely bed, all covered with fluffy pillows and blankets, and soft fluffy sheets. Every night his Mummy and Daddy would give him a nice warm bath, put him in nice soft pyjamas, read him two or three stories, sing a lullaby and tuck him into bed.
And the boy would lie there, in his comfy bed, wide awake.
They tried more stories, less stories, more singing, less singing, warm milk, counting sheep, different pillows, long busy days to tire him out, glow in the dark stars and classic FM.
They tried EVERYTHING they could think of - but still the boy was wide awake.
He wasn't a naughty boy. In fact he was a very nice boy, who was very very good, but he was often grouchy because he was so tired.
He would fall asleep at breakfast, or after his lunch, and almost always just before dinner, and his Mummy and Daddy would wonder whether to wake him up or put him to bed.
If they woke him up he would be cross, because he was always having such a very lovely dream.
If they put him to bed he would wake a little while later, before the time he SHOULD have been asleep, and would be ever so, ever so cross because he HADN'T had a very lovely dream.
His Mummy and Daddy tried to stay awake at night to begin with so that he wouldn't be alone. But they got too tired, and were even more grumpy than the boys own very worst grump.
So they began to take it in turns, sleeping in shifts so that someone was always awake with the little boy. But they still got too tired and very grumpy.
One night when his Mummy was sleeping in her bed and his Daddy was sitting on the sofa playing snap with the little boy, Daddy fell fast asleep.
He could have made mischief and been a little monster - but the little boy was good, because he's such a nice boy really.
Instead the little boy watched a cartoon, drank some milk, built a tower out of blocks, drove his toy cars around his toy garage, made a snail out of play dough and built a very big train track.
Then he got a felt tip pen and drew a little moustache on his sleeping Daddy. Which was a LITTLE bit naughty. So he got a wet wipe to wash it off, and woke his Daddy up.
"I wish you would go to sleep." said his Daddy.
"I wish I wasn't so very, very wide awake!" said the boy.
Daddy sighed a big sigh, and the little boy did the same.
As the sun rose and Daddy got ready for another day without enough sleep and made a great big pot of coffee, and Mummy woke from her own sleep, the little boy set the table for breakfast, curled up under the table and fell asleep.
His Mummy and Daddy didn't know WHAT to do. But just then there was a knock at the door, and the postman delivered a huge great big cardboard box. The tape on the box said 'fragile' and from inside they could hear some strange, snuffly noises.
There was a card with the box, and Mummy read the card. It said "Dear Mummy and Daddy, I heard that you were having some trouble getting your little boy to go to sleep for the whole night long, because he is so terribly wide awake. I thought this Wuggle would be a good help."
It didn't say WHO had sent the parcel, or what a Wuggle even WAS - but Mummy and Daddy were excited that someone might be able to help their little boy sleep for a whole night instead of being wide-a-wide-awake.
They opened up the parcel - and there, snuggle buggled in some lovely soft blankets in all kinds of colours, was a strange little creature, fast asleep and snoring quietly.
He had enormous eyes (which were closed) and very very very very long eyelashes with little feathers on the tips. He had really long arms which he had wrapped around and around himself. His feet were big and fat and hairy, and didn't smell at all. His body was small and round and covered in brown hair with green stripes, and his face was pink and friendly. His sleepy mouth was smiling a big big happy smile, and he had two big floppy green ears and spiky brown hair with feathery ends.
Mummy and Daddy lifted the Wuggle out of his blankets - he opened his eyes - which were the most beautiful eyes in the whole universe, one brown like melted chocolate and one blue like a summer day sky.
The Wuggle yawned a huge yawn, smiled a huge smile, and wriggled down to the floor and waddled over to the little boy, who was still asleep under the table, and poked him.
"Hello" said the Wuggle.
"Hello" said the little boy, who was wide awake again. "Who are you?"
"I am the Wuggle - and I am going to help you sleep."
(To read part two of the story go here part three is here)
Shy spring sun
In a boat in a river in the shy spring sun I dreamed a dream of the life I won.
With the clouds drifting by and a smile in my eye I saw a bird sky walking by,
The trees they waved and the flowers danced on the sun warmed green grass river banks.
In the golden light and a happy daze I knew I'd found my rightful place.
I gave a hummingbird a smile and drifted through the fields for miles
as the rainbows leaped from west to east I idled with my heart at peace.
Dragonfly wings and colours sparkling purple, blue and golden green
saplings stretching leaf filled arms I knew that I could see no harm
in dappled shade and rippling light, my happiness, my soul in flight.
With the clouds drifting by and a smile in my eye I saw a bird sky walking by,
The trees they waved and the flowers danced on the sun warmed green grass river banks.
In the golden light and a happy daze I knew I'd found my rightful place.
I gave a hummingbird a smile and drifted through the fields for miles
as the rainbows leaped from west to east I idled with my heart at peace.
Dragonfly wings and colours sparkling purple, blue and golden green
saplings stretching leaf filled arms I knew that I could see no harm
in dappled shade and rippling light, my happiness, my soul in flight.
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