Stargazer4moon's blog: "Years of Pen Pushing and still fond of butterflies."

'N' A shortened way of typing AND. NAP. Short sleep. NARKED. Irritated, annoyed. NARROWLY ESCAPED. Only just managed to get out of NATIONAL HOOT SERVICE. A play on words. In England, we have the National Health Service, which is the health service for the whole of England that is run by the Government. The National Hoot Service is run by Dr. Hoot therefore it is Owlopathic. NATIONAL HOOT. National Health. NATTY DRESSER One who is neat and smart in their appearance or dress. NATURALLY ORIENTATED. Built in the way that nature intended. NEEDLED. Annoyed, angered or angry. NEGOTIATING. Working to agree on something. NEST EGG. Savings that are saved for the future, which will be useful or needed years later when times are not as good. NEST REST. A period of rest and recovery from illness or trauma. Rehabilitation, Convalescence for birds. NESTLESS. Homeless NETTLE NUMBING GEL A substance made from nettles. Nettles are a plant that when touched cause much pain and stinging. They are called Stinging nettles. The leaves are hairy and when they brush the skin, they cause great irritation and leave a stinging sensation on the skin. This stinging causes the skin to feel numb so there is no feeling at the point the nettles touched. This substance then has been made into a gel for killing pain because it anaesthetises (kills pain) the area. The nurse put the anaesthetic substance to stop the patient’s pain. NEUF PAPILLON NINE BUTTERFLIES. This is French, neuf being nine. NEW PIN. Bright, shiny and new. NIBBLED AND GNAWED. Bit gently and then bit with more determination or harder using the front teeth. NICK IN ROLIE'S TAIL. Small cut or groove in Rolie's Tail. NIGH ON. Nearly, almost. NIGHTLY ATTIRED. Nightly clothed, they were dresses in pale clothing at night. NIGHTMARE OF LIFE may not be fair but Dreams are never in vain no matter how you view them. This means that even though life can be awful dreams are there for a reason NO END. So much, a great deal, huge amount. Help no end - There is no way to say what a great amount this will help. NO HARM IN TRYING. There is no reason to not try it because nothing bad would happen if they did. NO ONE IS AN ISLAND. We are all on the same planet and joined in one way or another. NOM DE PLUME. A French expression and translated it means Pen name or pseudonym. A false name used by someone, usually a writer, to hide their real identity. In history, women were not allowed to write books publicly so to do it they had to use a false name, A Masculine (male) Name, to publish their work. NONE-THE-LESS. Even so. NONPLUSSED. Surprised, confused and unsure of what to say. NOPE. A firm, sulky or abrupt way of saying, “No.” NORMAL OR FORMAL. Usual or routine NOT THE ONLY DUCK IN THE NEST. From the expression that means not the only one on the planet. It is said when someone is objecting to something they do not personally like. NOURISHMENT. In this instance it means food. NURTURED. Fed, looked after, also can mean loved. NUZZLED. Rubbed up closely in an affectionate manner. OAK PRACTICE. The name of Dr. Hoot's Surgery. Where a doctor works is called a Practice, because at this place he practises his medicine or does his job. Owls mainly live in Oak Trees. OBLIGATORY. Required my law or rules or conscience to do something. OBLIGED. Pleased or thankful. Also indebted or owed. OCCUPANTS. Residents, people who live in a place. O'DRAKE. An Irish surname for a duck. OFF COLOUR. Ill, unwell. OFFBEAT. Different to the usual. Unusual. Not normal. OFFENDING. It is something that should not be where it is. It causes irritation or hurt. Something which is the cause of the trouble or problem. OFFERED. Given, given out. OFFSPRING. The Children or babies of the ones who had bred. OLD CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. The friends that you used to have around you. OLIVE BRANCH Gave a peace offering and apologised OMINOUSLY. Something that looks to be in a horrible and threatening manner. OMITTED. Forgot of left something out usually a piece of information but can be an item that was not put in. In this case it was something that was said. ONE AND ALL. Everyone. OOH LA LA. A French way of saying something like, “Oh goodness or well, well, well etc. A verbal sign of surprise. OPEN MINDED. Prepared to look at everything and believe anything until it was proven to be false or wrong. Not judging straight at the first sight or hearing of something different or not normal. OPEN SURGERY Surgery out in the open air or outside - no anaesthetic is required. OPENNESS AND CANDOUR. Honesty. OPPORTUNE. An ideal moment ORGANIZATION. A group of people who belong to or are members of a Club. ORIENTATED. Adjusted. OUT OF A RUT. Get out of a bad situation in life. OUT OF FAVOUR. Not preferred. OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND. When something is like this it means they are not thought about because they are not there to remind you of them. This goes for any object that is not within immediate sight. OUT OF YOUR WAY. Go somewhere that is not on the intended route or path that was being trodden OUTBREAKS. A sudden occurrence of something, usually something not very nice. OUTBURST. A flood of emotions, words etc. OUTLOOK ON LIFE. A way of looking at life. In this case it is to do with Penny's eyesight OUTLOOK. Vision, sight. OUTLOOK. Style, a way of wearing something. Also, Vision or sight. OUT-RATTED. Out numbered. OVER PROUD. Too proud. OVERBOARD. Over did it. OVERCOME. Get over or get the better of something, usually a problem. OVERRUN. This means the area has become filled with something unwanted to the point where it is overflowing. OVERWHELMED. Affected by having too much of something. Inundated, having too much of something to be able to cope with it. When the emotions have been completely affected, in this case not a good way. OVERWHELMED. Also means, totally affect someone's emotions in a nice way. OWE THE PLEASURE. What has been done to deserve the treat or event. OWLOPATHIC. A form of medicine. The normal form of medicine in the West is Allopathic so it is this form of medicine but carried out by and Owl. The alternative type of healing or medicine is called, either Complementary, Alternative or even Fringe. In India, it would be Ayer Veda and in China, well Chinese Medicine. PAN OUT. Work out. PARENTAGE. From where someone originates. Parents. PARTIAL. Likes something or is fond of something. PAPILLON. The French word for Butterfly. PASSAGE OF TIME. Passing of time. PASSED PLEASANTRIES. Had a short and pleasant/polite conversation. PAST EXPERIENCE. Something that had happened before on occasion. PASTIME. Hobby, something that is done for pleasure. PASTURES NEW. Somewhere different to live or even work. PASTY. An unhealthy pale colour, usually referring to someone who does not get much sun or is ill so their skin is pale. PATCHWORKS. See Medicinal Patchworks. PATIO PLATES. These are the paving stones or slabs that make up a patio floor area. PATRONIZINGLY. A way of looking down on someone and the manner in which you treat them because you feel more superior or better than they are. PATSY PURR PURR'S PATISSERIE. Patsy is the cat running the cake shop and café. Patisseries are sweet pastries and cakes grouped together. It is from the French language. PATTER OF TINY FEED. This is said when children or babies start running around the home. Patter is the quiet noise made by small feet. PAWS AND CLAWS CROSSED ON THAT FINDING." Fingers crossed on that outcome or conclusion of the trial. Hopping that everything will be all right. PAWS TO STAND ON. This is yet another English expression. It is actually Leg to stand on. However, as they are animals it is Paws instead of Legs. Even though you own paws, you cannot even use them to stand with because they are useless to you. The law has been written and nothing can change it, even though there is proof that you are right. Everything has been taken from you even the legs you stand on are no good to you. This needs confirming. PEARLS OF WISDOM. Advice, helpful comments. PECKING DIET (SWEET AND STICKY). A diet of someone who has a sweet tooth and who pecks or picks at their food rather than really eating for the enjoyment of it. PECKISH. Slightly hungry. PEEPED. Looked out in a manner that would be unseen by anyone. Looked secretly. PEERING. Looking in an enquiring manner or looking into somewhere where there is not much light. PENSIVE. Thoughtful or deep in thought. PENULTIMATE. The one before the final one. PERIMETER. The outer limits of a piece of land. PERSPECTIVES. Views, sides. PERTURBED. Worried, Put out. PETAPHORICALLY. A play on the word Metaphorical. This means something is said which describes the event or item but it is said in a way that is not literally the meaning. So, if you say someone is a cheeky monkey. You are not saying that they are a monkey you are just stating that they act like a cheeky monkey. If some one is Away with the Fairies. They are not actually with the Fairies but they are not here. Like Miles Away. This does not mean that someone is physically miles away from here. It just means that their mind is not paying attention to what is happening around them. PHILANDERING. Flirting, having an affair, usually not legal or not wanted. PICKINGS. Spoils, that which has been collected in the way of food or treasure. PIECEMEAL. A bit at a time as they went along. PIGGISH. Greedy. PIPE DREAMING. This is usually a dream that does not go anywhere, a moment of pleasurable thoughts about the future. It could have derived from the days when Opium was smoked in pipes and the effects would have been to take the smoker away from the real world into a drug induced fantasy. PITY. Feel sorry for someone. PLACID. Calm. PLEASANTRIES. SEE Passed pleasantries. PLUCKED UP THE COURAGE. Found the courage to do something that was dangerous or hard for them to do because they did not wish to do it. Summon up the courage. PLUGS OUT OF YOUR LUGS. Earphones out of your ears. PLUMAGE. Feathers. PLUMEOLOGIST. Someone who specialises in diseases of the Fur, feathers and skin. PLUMPNESS. A body figure that is slightly more rounded and larger than normal or than it should be. PODIUM. The stand or standing point POIGNANCY. A feeling of sadness or regret in this case because something is ending. POKED Put something away in an untidy fashion and usually done without a great deal of thought or care just to get it out of the way. POND LIFE. In this instance it is the seedy residents of the pond. POND OF LIFE. Where everything exists. POND OF PONDS. The sea. PONDER. Think about something. PONDERED. Thought about something. POP IN LATER. Go in later when I pass by there again. PORT OF CALL. The next scheduled place to stop. A nautical term relating to the next place a ship is due to dock or call in at. PORTLAND. This is just the name of an area. PORTLAND BILL. Portland does not have a proper name as such but the area he polices (looks after) is called Portland. Portland is, however, a Stork in charge of law and order in and around the Portland pond. In England The Bill is a derogatory/informal name for The Police. Storks have beaks which in turn are called bills so it was a form of word play. Also there is an island and sea area off the South coast of England called Portland Bill. It produces pure white limestone which is used in building. Many buildings in London were built with this white limestone when it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The word Bill has many other meanings too. In respect of the Island though it means a narrow strip of land. Coincidentally, Portland is a pure white stork rather than a black headed one. A white coloured stork is usually portrayed carrying babies wrapped up in a knotted hanky en route to delivering the babies to their parents. Therefore the stork is seen as a nurturing creature which Portland is too. PORTLAND BILL'S BEAT. The area he looks after. A beat is a patch of land that someone walks around whilst looking after it. POSSESSED. Mad, POTENT AND UNPATENTED NATURAL PEST-RIDDING POTION. Very strong Potion used for getting rid of pests, i.e. lice. The ingredients are made from natural substances rather than chemicals and it is not possible to Patent something that is made in Nature or from the Earth. POULTRY FEE. Small amount of money. Also, Poultry is a name for certain groups of birds. PRACTICAL. Useful. PREENING. Grooming or cleaning feathers with the beak, or fur by using the tongue. Also it means taking a very long time to look after the appearance when dressing and making many unnecessary changes to the hair and face. PREOCCUPIED. Thinking about something else. PRESENCE. Body. Again similar to countenance or composure. It is the physical body and in this case the face. PRESENTABLE. Smarter, cleaner and feeling better to face the world. PRICKLE BONNET. A name given to the hedgehogs. They are covered in spiky spines, like a porcupine but smaller. So they have a prickly head. Bonnet is a hat, also the head. PRICKLE. A sharp spike usually small. PRICKLY HEAT RASH. This is a rash, which happens when it is damp and the body is damp with the heat. Pip has hackles and these are known as prickles(thorns, spikes) so he gets a rash on his prickles. Prickly describes something that has spikes. PRICKLY PRIDE. Irritated pride. It means a type of pride that gets in the way of the person having a normal attitude to life and themselves. Penny is a little quick tempered and Prickly also means sharp tempered or having a temper. Also, Penny is covered in Prickles. PRISTINELY. Clean and new, clear and neat. PROCEEDINGS. Events, happenings. PROFOUND. True. PROFOUNDLY. Sincerely, something PROFUSELY. Very much. PROFUSELY (to say something). Say something many times in many different ways to show how much it is meant PROSPECTIVE. Something that is hoped will happen or likely to happen. PROVINCE. A state or place. PROVISIONS. Food. PROVOCATION. Something that causes a reaction in this case, anger. PROVOKED. Made to do something. Something that makes someone do something. PROWESS. The ability to do a job well. PROXIMITY. Closeness in space. A very short distance from something. Also can refer to time being close. PURE BRED. Completely pure PURE ECSTASY. Utter delight and pleasure. PUSH THE BOAT OUT Similar to the expression, Really go to Town. It means to do something in a big or grand way. PUT IT OUT OF MIND. Not think about it. PUT ON HOLD. Deferred. Stopped until a later time. Breathing PUT OUT. Out of joint, pushed out of place. PUT UP WITH IT. Make do and suffer its bad effects. PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES. A Metaphor meaning putting yourself in someone else’s place or situation. QUACK (AWAY FROM) To crack away from or break away from something. QUACKALOT. A surname of a duck that talks too much. QUACKING AND QUAFFING, or QUACK AND QUAFF. This means Talking and Drinking or Talk and Drink. QUACK-O-MANIA. The love or need to quack or talk constantly. QUAGMIRE. A difficult situation. A marshy area that is very soft so it is not easy to walk on without sinking into it. Therefore it is difficult. QUAKING. Shacking with fear. QUIRKS. Odd or strange happenings or events that happen in life. It also means strange habits, strange ways of behaving. QUIZZICALLY. In a questioning way which shows how you feel about something, in this case in an amused way as well as a questioning one. RAFFIA REUNION-TYPE GREETING. A secret greeting known only to members of the Raffia in order to identify these members to each other RAFFIA. This is a wordplay of Mafia. The rodent or rat Mafia. See also Masons. RAISED AN EYEBROW. A sign of surprise indicated by the lift of an eyebrow. RAISING THE HATCH. Bringing up the youngsters. RAPIDLY SET. Went hard quickly. RAPIDLY. Quickly RASH-RIDDEN. Covered in a rash, Covered with irritated patches on their skin. RAT-RAGE. Anger felt by a rat. RATTLED AND SHAKEN Upset. READ LIKE A BOOK. Be able to see what someone is thinking and feeling because they are prone to showing their emotions as well as being predictable. RECALL. Bring to mind, remember. RECALLED. Remembered. RECIPROCATED. Give back whatever was given in the same manner or gesture that it was given to you. If you wave back at someone you have reciprocated their wave to you. RECONCILING. Getting used to. Accepting. RECOUNT. Tell a story again. RECRIMINATIONS. When people blame each other for something this process is called recrimination. RED TAPE. Rigmarole, Legal and official business. REEDY. An area filled with reeds which are pond plants. It is also a play on the word Seedy which means not nice or not respectable. REFRESHMENTS. Food and drink, usually a small meal or snack. REFURBISHED. Rebuild, repaired. REFURBISHMENT. A form of construction work, which repairs and renews a building. REHABILITATION. Help to return back to good health or a normal life, giving them the training or help needed to do this. RE-INTERGRATE. Mix back with, join in again, in this case it is getting back in with friends. REJECTED. Not chosen RE-KINDLE. Re-light, Renew. RE-KNITTED. Remade. RELISH. Delight over something, savour it. RELUCTANTLY. Not wanting to do something. REMAINING FAMILIES The families who had stayed there and not moved away. REMINISCENCE. Thinking about the past events. REPAST. Food or meal. REPRIMAND. Tell off. RESIDENCY Where a resident resides. A Home is where the Creature/Person, Lives. RESIDENTS People or animals who live in a place, like a nest, house, flat, tree. RESIGNED. Accepting the situation. RESIGNED. Become used to his life because he knows he cannot do anything to change it. RESPECTED. Well thought of. Highly thought of RESPECTIVE. Own. Their respective means Their Own. REST AND REFLEXION. Relax and think about things that have happened today or in life. Reflexion here means to look back. REST IN PEACE. After bread is made it has to stand in order to rise before being baked. This is called letting the bread rest. RETORTED. Replied in a very quickly or sharply (in a snappy fashion). REUNION. A meeting of old friends after a long absence from each other’s company. REVERIE. A moment of thought. REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY. A trick to make someone think the opposite of what you want them to do. RICKET. The noise given off by a lazy Cricket. RIPE MOONS Full Moons. ROAD BACK TO CIVILIZATION. A return back to normal. ROCK AND GRIT EXCHANGE. The Stock Market. RODENT. This is the name given to rats and mice and several other small creatures like Guinea pig, Gerbils etc, hamsters, ferrets. These have similar teeth used for gnawing. A small gnawing creature. RODENTENE, RATTERTOUI. These are just names. Rats are Rodents. Rattertoui is meant as an Italian Rat. ROOT CAUSE. That which started the problem. The reason. ROSE TINTED SPECTACLES. Another English expression. This means looking at something through eyes that see things being wonderful when they are not wonderful at all. Putting a beautiful meaning to things that are seen or things that are happening. ROTA Turn, it is their turn to do the chore. It is from the word rotation. ROUND IN CIRCLES Usually means that someone just goes round and around not going anywhere because they have lost there sense of direction. ROUNDED ON HIM. Came around on him. Turned on him in a bad way also because he was going round in circles. ROUTINE. Normal or usual pattern of activity. Something that is done on a daily of regular basis. RUBBING HER UP THE WRONG WAY. Annoying her. It refers to fur being stroked the wrong way which is irritating to the creature having this done to them. RUDELY AWOKEN Brought out of a sleep in a very sudden manner. RUDIMENTARY. Basic, the basics for everyday living. RUFFLED. To have the feathers raised either in defence or when grooming. It also means annoyed or irritated. Untidy feathers. RUMMAGING Looking for something. Going through a load of things in a disorderly fashion and usually in a noisy way. RUMMAGING. Looking for something in a careless and messy manner. RUSTY REYNARD. A fox called Rusty. Reynard is a name usually given to the Fox like Brock is the name given to Badgers. SACKCLOTH. This is just a name given to a mouse. The mice made their homes with material that was taken from a sack or bag. The sacks used to be made of fabric rather than paper. So it is material bag or material sack. SACKING. A bag made of cloth or material. SAGA. Story, tale SANCTUARY. A place of safety. A shelter from anything harmful or dangerous. SANDWICHED. Fitted or wedged tightly between two layers or objects SCAMPERED. Hurried or scuttled. It is a quick movement done by an animal in order to move quickly. SCORE. ON THAT SCORE. For that reason. SCRUB DOWN. This is the wash that surgeons have before doing surgery or operations. SCRUTINIZING. Looking closely at something to examine it. SCURRIED. A cross between hurry and scuttled. This is more a term referring to a speeding animal. Usually a mouse or rat. SCUTTLE. Walk quickly. SECLUDED. Quiet, far from civilisation, somewhere private. SECRET MOVEMENT. A secret or hidden organization. SECRET ORGANIZATION Also called a secret movement or underground movement. This means they are hidden or secret organizations. See MASONS SEEMINGLY. Looked like it could or might be. Seemed to be. SELF-RESPECTING This means someone who cares about himself for his survival or health. Someone who believes in their own worth and dignity. SENSE OF DIRECTION. The feeling that describes that you know where you are going. ‘SENT’. Gone into a heavenly state of mind, like being Karmatozed. SENT THEM HOPPING. Made them go away. Fleas hop when they move. SERENDIPITY Happy accident. An event that happens which is an unscheduled event, also a good one, is classed as a happy accident. This is in turn called Serendipity. SERENITY. Calmness, peaceful. SERPENTINE. A stretch of water once famous for drunken revelry on New Year’s Eve/Day SET. Went hard or turned solid from a liquid state. SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK. A time span given as to how much bad luck would occur after breaking a mirror. Seven years is a complete cycle in the life of a creature as it is said to be the length of time it takes for every part of the body to completely renew itself. Whether this scientifically correct is hard to confirm. ‘SHADY’ SIDE. (of the pond). The bad or ‘rough’ part of the bog where the undesirable or shifty ducks go. It also means out of the sun or in the shade. SHAKING A TAIL FEATHER. Dusting or gentle cleaning tasks. SHAMEFULLY. Badly. Shamefully treated means not treated in a good or proper way. SHAPE OR FORM. Anything at all. SHEEP’S CLOTHING. Dressed and disguised, pretending to be something nicer than was the case. SHEEPISHLY, In an embarrassed manner. SHENANIGANS. Goings on. Happenings, usually troublesome ones. Bad behaviour. SHEPHERDED. Guided along, ushered, moved along in a direction the person doing the shepherding wishes them to go. SHOP HOP. Move shop. SHOP HOPPER. Someone going from shop to shop SHORT COMINGS. The degree by which you are unable to do something. SHORT CUT (home). A way or road taken which is shorter than the normal way or road, in this case, back home. SHORT SIGHTED. In this, it means not looking far into the future to see what will happen later. Looking only very near, time wise, to what is happening now only. SHORTFALL. The amount by which something is short of what is required. SHORT-SIGHTED. Not able to see very well. SHOW OF CHARACTER. Something that shows what the person is actually like. SIDETRACKED. Put off. If you are sidetracked you are sent somewhere different to where you wanted to go. SIDNEY SPINNER. Inventor of the Infonet world wide web network SIGHT AND SOUND CLINIC. A clinic where the eyes and ears were tested and treated. SIMILAR MANNER. In a similar way or fashion. In a way that is nearly the same or similar. SINK IN. Another English expression meaning to make something stay in the mind or memory. SITTING TENANTS. This refers to the fleas that hedgehogs get in their spikes. A sitting tenant is not easy to get rid of in a normal way. SLIGO. A name. However, sly means crafty and go means to leave. He left his partner and was a sly creature too! SLOB. Someone who has no care about their appearance or manners and how they behave. SLUMBER. Sleep. A period of sleep. SMITTEN. Fallen in love. Bitten by the love bug. SNAPPED. Said something in a very angry manner also very quickly. SNIPPET. A small piece of something, in this case it is information or news. SNOB. Some one who thinks they are better than they really are and looks down on other people. SNOUT. Nose – the very end of the nose, usually an animal's nose. SNUFFLED. Sniffed. Also to look for something – sniffed something out (tried to find something). SNUFFLING. Searching in a noisy way by using the nose. SO CALLED. Alleged. Meant to be. If you say you are his 'friend' when you are not his friend at all then you have 'said' it (so called). SOCIABLE. Friendly SOFT SPOT Fond of. SOFTIE. A very kind and gentle person who is easily hurt. SOIL MASON’S SALUTATION. A secret greeting known only to members of the Soil Masons in order to identify these members to each other. SOIL MASONS. Rodents are good at digging soil so are called Soil Masons. SOIL TOIL Hard work SOJOURN. A short stay at a place. A break or a visit. Also a short journey away somewhere. SOOTHED. Calmed. SOPHISTICATED. Adult, self-confident also complex and not ordinary SORE-PAW-OSIS. It is an inflammation of the joints similar to Arthritis but in animals. SOUL DESTROYING. Depressing, not good for the soul or mind. SOUND ASLEEP. I take this to mean that you are asleep to the point that a noise would not wake you up. Sleeping very deeply. SOUND WORKING ORDER. Good working order. SOURCE. Supply, where it came from. SPACIOUS. Large, roomy. A spacious garden is one with a lot of space or area. SPARE GRAIN. Nothing spare to use for paying anyone SPAS. Places where water is taken for health reasons. Usually resorts with good and therapeutic water. SPECTACLES. In this case, it means Glasses for seeing. SPECTACULAR. Amazing to see or watch. Also Penny just broke her glasses and they are also called spectacles. Therefore spectacular means relating to spectacles. SPELLBOUND. Being totally drawn and enthralled by something. SPENT OUT. Very much in debt because the money or savings have all been used or taken. SPIDER'S SILK. The yarn that is woven by Spiders to make their webs. SPIN A GOOD YARN. Tell a good story SPLUTTERED. Spoke in a hesitating manner of coughed the words out. SPOKEN IN JEST. Said in a joking manner. SPOTTED. In this instance, it means Seen, noticed. The item was spotted. The item was noticed or seen. SPOTTED. Another meaning is that the item is covered in spots or dots. SPREAD HIS WINGS. Fly for long periods. SPRING GREEN TIME. Spring time. SPRING GREEN. Spring. SPRINGS (FRESH). A place where water comes from naturally. SPRUCE. Clean up, neaten something. SPUN AND STRETCHED BEYOND BELIEF. Totally exaggerated and changed from the version that was true. SQUARE ONE. Back at the beginning where they started. In this case, it would mean the rodents would get their rashes back and become ill. SQUEAK INTACT. Voice in good order. She had lost everything but still had her voice even though everything else was gone she could still talk. Also, she had kept happy. Mice squeak when they speak. SQUEAKED UP SAYING. Spoke up and said. SQUEAKY CLEAN. Very clean. Also, they are rats so they squeak! SQUIFFY. Slightly drunk and not able to think or behave properly. SQUINT. Look through eyes that are almost closed. SQUINTED. Looked at something with eyes slightly screwed or closed in order to make something more visible. STAGNANT. Still, motionless. Stale. STAND TALL.. Be upright and stand above all that is around. STAR STRUCK. Dazed due to falling in love. STATE OF THE ART PRACTICE. Modern and up to date STEM. In this instance, it means Stop, halt. STICKING POINT. The subject that causes two parties to disagree an be able to ever agree. STORK OF THE TOWN. A word play on Talk of the Town. Portland is well known, well liked and is always spoken of fondly. STRAIGHT'N'WADDLE. Another way of saying Straight and Narrow. This means to walk straight down a narrow road without going off anywhere. By going off the road it means to do something bad or wrong. To walk a long, straight and narrow road whilst being good all the way from beginning to end. STRAW SPLINTS Straw is what remains when wheat or rice has been harvested. It is the stalks of the plant and the empty heads. Splint is usually a piece of wood or something rigid that is used to make something stronger, give it support and stops the bone moving so it mends properly.. When a leg is broken, a splint is taped to the leg and this gives it support making it strong enough to use for walking. STREWN. Scattered or thrown over a wide area . STRUCTURAL FAULTS. Faults in the way the nest was built. STUCK FAST. Glued firmly. SUBSTANCE. Not strong, having no body or strength. SUCCULENT LEAVES. Soft and tender leaves. SUNBURST. A short time in the sunshine. SUNDRY. Means various things but usually refers to one type or group of things. (All and sundry.) Everyone without exception. SUNK IN. The information has been retained and the meaning understood. SUPPING. Drinking in a relaxed way. Similar to sipping but taking pleasure with the actual drinking. SURFING. Using the internet. SWABBED. Wiped or dabbed with a pad of material. A swab is a surgical wipe. To swab means to wipe a would with a surgical wipe. SWANLEY. A family name for the swans. SWEPT HER OF HER WADERS. Made her fall heavily in love. SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET. Something that has been hidden from view so it is not thought of. TAKE ROOT. Get stuck to the spot and be there forever. TAKEN ABACK. Surprised. TAKEN SIDES. In an argument, if you take sides it means you agree with one of the people and their opinion in the argument rather than the other. Therefore, you give your support to that person. In a game two Sides play each other and taking Sides is support one team rather than the other. TALE EMBROIDERY. Embellishing stories with something that was not in the original version so they are no longer true or just altering them to make them sound better. TALE SPINNING. Story telling. TALES OF WOE. Stories of sadness and sad happenings. TALL WALKERS Humans TEA AND SYMPATHY. Sit with someone and listen to their problems and then feel then give too much support to them because you sense, understand and share their feelings. TELL ME ABOUT IT. Don’t I just know. TENDING. Looking after. TENTATIVELY. Something that is done uncertainly and in a careful way. THIN ON THE GROUND. (A Metaphor.) This means there will not be much left of it. When seeds are planted if they are planted a great distance apart then there are not many seeds in one area. So they are thin on the ground. When you do plant many seeds in one area and need to get rid of some, it is called Thinning out the Seeds. THINKING LATERALLY Thinking properly or correctly. THROES. In the motions of. TIDAL FLOW. Rush of something happening usually something bad. TIMELESS. Never changing or ageing. That which is always there. TITBIT. Tiny bits or pieces. TO DIE FOR Something which is so good that you would die for it just to have it. TOAST. A drink to celebrate something. TONGUE-IN-CHEEK. Another English expression. When you say something that you do not mean in a joking way, knowing that you are saying it, you put your tongue to the inside of your cheek and then speak the words. This causes the lips to be in a form of smile, so you are saying it in a joking fashion and it shows that you do not mean it. TOOK HER MIND OFF. Stopped thinking about something. TOOL OF FREEDOM. The instrument that was used to free whatever or whoever was caught or trapped. TOOLS OF YOUR TRADE. That which is used to do the job with depending on what the occupation is. A plumber uses different tools to an electrician. Plumbing and electronics are a Trade or occupation. Bakers use their hands so these are the tools of his trade. TOP CLASS. First class. Excellent. TOPPED. The final thing added to the top. TORRID. Passionate and heated. TORTUOUS. Long and difficult also a play on the word Torture. TOTALLY LOST. Unable to understand or follow what the tale was about. From the expression Lost the Plot. TOUGH-BEACKED Hard faced. Having no feelings towards anything. TOUTED. Put forward as an opinion. TRAFALGAR. A Square in London famed for the vast quantities of pigeons that wander around there. It is also the home of Nelson’s Column another favourite roosting place for pigeons. TRAIL BLAZER. Someone who leads the way along the road or pathway. TRANSFORMATION. A change from something into another form. TRANSPIRE. Turn out, happen, occur. TREPIDATION. A feeling of fear TUFFY-TAIL. Another name. This is for the squirrel. Their tails are fluffy with lots of furry tufts and is long so it is a cross between tuft and fluffy. 'TUG-A-BALL' A game. TURNED IN HER GRAVE. Upset them because they would not like what had been done. TUTTED. A sign of disapproval or annoyance given audibly so the disapproval is known to others. TUTTING. Making disapproving noises. TWEAKS. Minor or small adjustments/alterations to something. TWIG. A small branch. Tea is made from different parts of plants not just the leaf. UH OH. Oh no, Oh dear. UH UH. Oh no, now what. UNBREATHEABLE Not safe to breathe. UNCEREMONIOUSLY. Without any ceremony, simply and unannounced. UNDER THE CARPET. Where it will not be seen. UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT. A secret or hidden organization. UNDERGROUND NETWORK. A communications system. UNDERMINED. Here it means, Worn away from underneath or below. UNDEROAK Major surgery requiring special care and maybe anaesthetic. UNDESIRABLE INFLUXES. Unwanted/unpleasant arrival of a large group of strangers. UNDESIRABLES. Things that are not wanted because they are not nice. UNDRESSED Fully in view and not covered by clouds. UNIFORM. The same. Everything looks, feels or happens in the same way. UNINFORMED. Not UNNERVED. Unsettled, upset, frightened. UNSAVOURY. Not very pleasant. UNSCATHED Unhurt or unscratched. Not hurt or marked by an accident. UNSPOILT, Not ruined. UP TO SCRATCH. Good. As good as it can be. UPKEEP. General housework. UPLIFTED. Happy. Taken to a great height of ecstasy. UPRIGHT WALKERS Human beings. UPROAR. Outcry. Upheaval. A spoken sign of disapproval when someone is not pleased about what has happened. An outcry, UPS AND DOWNS. The good and the bad UPS FAR OUTWEIGHED THE DOWNS. Even though there were bad events in the story the good, events were so much better than the bad that it did not matter about the problems. VACANT LOOK.. A blank look showing no emotions on the face. VELVET-TONGUED. One who says flattering things. A smooth talker. They are usually not very sincere in what they say (do not mean what they say). VENTURING. Wandering. VERSED. Capable or knowledgeable. VERSION. Something that is different to the original one. A story told in a different way is a different version. VEXED. Annoyed. VIABLE. How well something will or will not work VIABLE. How well something will or will not work VIBRATIONS. Movements in the air. Warnings. Feelings. A bad vibration is a feeling that something bad is about to happen. VISIBILITY. Here it means vision or sight and not something that is viewable or to what degree something can be seen. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. A sign that someone trusts you. VULNERABILITY. Easily hurt. Not able to protect themselves from bad influences. Open to physical or emotional harm WADDLE IN HIS FATHER’S WADERS. Walk in his Father’s footsteps means to copy what his Father had done and how he had lived his life. WADDLED. The walk of a duck usually the body sways from side to side with each step taken. WADERS. The feet of wading birds. Wading birds stand or walk in the water usually to feed. WAFTING Blowing gently in the air. WANDERLUST VACATION. A discovery holiday where a someone tries to discover who he or she really is because of a great desire to travel and see the world. WARES. Goods, products that are on view in a shop or for sale. WARRANTED. Was a reason for something to happen. WATCHFUL EYE. Still being under control or still learning something so they are being watched to make sure they do not make mistakes. Still having someone looking after them. WATER LONG SINCE FLOWED UNDER THE BRIDGE. The past events have gone and will not come back so they have flowed away and are not meant to be seen or thought of again. WATERLOGGED. Soaked in water. WATERTIGHT GUARANTEE. Something that will definitely never let in water or let water out. It is a definite, sure or certain thing that will happen or not happen as promised. Guarantee is a promise about the ability of something to last a long time. This is a Lifetime Guarantee. WAY OUT. Different, off beat, not the normal or the usual way of doing something. WEASEL WANDERLUST TOUR GUIDE. The creature in charge of those on a Wanderlust tour or holiday. WEASELS. A small animal related to the Stoat. They have long bodies, necks and tails. They differ from rats because they have very long necks. WELL, WELL, WELL. It is normally said to mean Well I never. I cannot believe that or What a surprise. WELL-EARTHED. Back to a normal state of mind and completely on the planet again. WELL VERSED. Very capable or knowledgeable. WEND. Make or wind WHENCE. Where. WHEREWITHAL. Necessary equipment, material or money required to do something. WHINING AND WHITTLING. Making a noise. WHIRL. Spin or go round and around. WHISKER TWITCHES. Psychic feelings that happen in the whiskers. WHISPERING IN THE REEDS. Kept in the background and not noticed or heard. WHITE ‘N’ FLUFFY. Winter. WHIZZED. Hurried, rushed. WHOLE PICTURE. Complete story. WHOLESOME. Health and tasty. WHOOSHED. Moved very fast and caused the air to move around noticeably. WIDE EYED. Looking at something in a shocked and surprised manner. WILD-HOOD' FRIENDS. Their childhood friends. As animals are not children, they have wild-hood friends and not childhood ones. Childhood is a period in a life long ago. WILEY. Usually means crafty, clever. Cunning. WINNIE WIDGEON BOTTOM. A name of the Widgeon. A widgeon is a tiny water fowl or duck. WIPE, SURGICAL WIPE. A sterile piece of cloth used to clean a wound. WIPED OUT Completely killed off so they do not exist there anymore and are extinct. The dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteor, so they think. WISHED THEM WELL. Wished that they had good health, good luck and happiness. WITHIN HIS LIMITS Only did what he was capable of doing. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO. Without more Fuss. Without anything else happening WOBBLY. Shaky, unsteady on the feet or waders. WOEFUL. Sad and pitiful. WOODWORK. The art of doing carpentry. WORDLESSLY. To say something but in the form of an action rather than using words. Waving is a wordless way of saying, “Hello,” or “Good bye.” WORK CUT OUT. Would have to work very hard in order to get what was expected done. WORKAHOLIC. Someone who is addicted to work. WORLD TO RIGHTS. To put everything as they wanted it to be in their world to make it a better place for them and everyone else. (It is another Metaphor.) WORM BELLYGRAPH. Telegraph. A type of communication system in the animal world. WRAPT. Enthralled. WRATH. Anger. WRECKLESS BEHAVIOUR. Here it means because she wrecked the nest it was a wreckless way of doing it. Wreckless is also meant as reckless (a play on the word reckless as they are pronounced or sound the same). Reckless means the action was given no thought as to the consequence or what would happen. WRIGGLE OUT. Get out of doing something. YOKE Burden. A great weight. A Yoke is a contraption worn on the shoulders to enable large weights to be carried easily on the shoulders.

ICE WAS BROKEN. The ice was broken and starting to thaw or melt to make way for the warmth. The coldness (hostility) had gone and the warmth (of friendship) was returning. ICING ON TOP OF THE CAKE. This is even better than having cake and eating it because there is something better on top of what you already have been given which you can eat and still keep. IDEALS. Standards. IDENTITY CRISIS. Giving something a name saves mistaking someone for someone else, i.e. mistaken identity. ILL-GOTTEN GAINS. Items that are gained unfairly or illegally ILLS & PROBLEMS. Bad health and problems. IMMUNE Become resistant to something and able to survive the effects that something has upon them. IMPART. Give. IMPARTIALITY. Not taking anyone's side in an argument. Neutral. IMPENDING. Forthcoming marriage or marriage that is soon to happen. IMPRESSION OF RECOGNITION AND RESPECT. A sign that the person is well thought of and known to the other creature/person. IN AS MUCH AS Because. IN HOOT means indoors but anaesthetic is required a room but nothing large or deep. IN ONE PIECE. Safe and sound. Safely. IN THE FOLD. Back home with friends or family. INCESSANTLY. Without ceasing or stopping. Continuously. INCIDENT. Happening, event. INCONSIDERATE. If someone is inconsiderate they are thoughtless and do not think about anyone being affected in a bad way by their actions. A person who plays loud music at 4am when the baby next door is sleeping is called inconsiderate or thoughtless because he wakes the baby who can then not sleep due to the noise. INCREASING THE BOUNDARIES making an area bigger all the way around in every direction. INCURRED. To get or receive something. INDIGNITY. A situation whereby the person experiencing this emotion has been shamed or humiliated. INFESTATION. A large amount of things usually insects or bugs in or on something where they are not supposed to be. If hair is full of lice is said to be, 'infested with lice' or covered with lice. INFONET. Internet. INITIAL CONSULTATION. First examination where the problem was discussed and discovered so that it could be treated. In a consultation, details are taken about the problem and then treatment is given when the problem has been discovered. INNOCENT. Something that is done by mistake and not done on purpose. INNOVATION. New idea. INQUISITIVE. Nosey but in search for information in an intelligent manner rather than just wishing to know something for personal reasons. INSPIRED. Made some one think of something. INSTRUMENTAL. The reason for or caused something to happen INTACT Not touched, new, whole or complete INTERIOR DECORATING. Decorating the inside of a building. INTERVENED. Stepped in. Stepped in between two parties. INTRIGUED. Awed. JADED. Here it means Bored. It can also mean tired, exhausted or worn out with life. JANGLE AND CLAP. Bells have what is called clappers inside which make the ringing sound when the bells are rung. They Clap (hit) the insides of the bell When bells move rapidly it is called jangling. The bells moved (jangle) and made a noise (clap). These are bells hanging over a door in order to let anyone know the door has been opened or closed. JUMPED FOR JOY. Jumped up and down to show their pleasure. KARMA Fate, that which occurs because of what has been done. What you give out in life returns back to you either good or bad. KARMALAND. The name of a place where the Karmatosed go. KARMATOSED. Totally mesmerised or in a state of mind where nothing is real. KARMIC MAGNET. That which draws someone to somewhere or something. KASSANDRA. A female name KASSIE. A shortened form of Kassandra used by those familiar to her. KICKED HIMSELF. Punished himself because of what he had just said or done.. KNOT OF APPREHENSION. A feeling of great fear deep in the pit of the stomach. LA CONIC. Laconic actually means rude or terse. The way I meant it was laid back and lazy, calm and serene. LADEN. Loaded. LAKE TRANQUILITY. A peaceful place. LAME DUCK. An English expression meaning someone who cannot do anything so they are useless. A lost cause not worth considering. LANGUIDITY (made up word). This word exists in the form of Languid. Without energy or movement. Staleness, still, motionless due to lack of energy. Languidity is the state of being languid. LAPPED. Took it in with much pleasure. Also means a way of drinking liquid. LARDER. Store cupboard, usually for food. LARGE SHOPS Big shopping trips. LAST STRAW. The final thing that caused everything to snap or collapse. In this case it made Donas angry. LAWN. A stretch of grass that is kept cut and well maintained rather than just being a strip of untidy grass, which is usually called scrubland or the roughs. LEAF-LITTER TIME. Autumn. LEAPT INTO THE AIR. Jumped up due to being startled or frightened. LEAPT OUT OF HIS SKIN. Jumped up sharply or quickly with great force in fright LEARNED. Found out or discovered LEARNING CURVE. A journey of learning. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Holiday, break. LEISURELY. An action that is done in a slow and lazy manner. Unhurried. LIGHTEN HIS LOAD. Ease his burden LIMBO. A state of inertia. Stuck between two places being unable to go either or any way. LIT UP. Filled with pleasure at a nice surprise. LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY. Anything in moderation is fine and good for the soul. LIZZIE LA CONIC. A name for a very rude Lizard. As mentioned earlier La Conic is misinterpreted by me to mean laid back and lazy. LODGE A lodge is a home for certain animals usually built with wood but in this sense it is just a home LOGGERHEADS. Not in agreement. Opposed to. LONG-STANDING. Something that has gone on for a long time. LOOSEN THE LEGS. Ease the aches in the leg muscles and make them more flexible for better movement. LOPEZ LOPPY-EAR. Lopez is a hare. He has very large and floppy ears. LORE OF THE LAND. Another play on words. It means the Law of the Land or something that is accepted because it is normal or usual and legal in that place. Lore is also a story or happening. So a happening in the land or country that is accepted. LOSS FOR WORDS. Speechless. Unable to say anything in reply to what they have just been told. LOST ITS APPEAL. Became boring. Because of this it no longer interested her. LOTIONS AND POTIONS. Fluid substances for putting on the body, some are just liquids and others, potions, contain healing substances. LULL. A short time when no conversation has happened. A time when no talking has happened. LURID TALE. A sensational or shocking story filled with full details of the horrors that occurred whether it was the violence or the bad events. MADDENING. Annoying, infuriating MADE IN HEAVEN. A wonderful thing. MADE THEIR BED. Where they now lived and slept. MAFIA. Originally, it was an Italian crime Organisation. It now refers to any International crime organisation. MAGNITUDE. Huge extent, greatness of size. MAIN SENSE. Sight, hearing, taste, smell are Main senses. MAIN STREAM. The normal flow or way of life. MAINTAINED. In this instance it mean kept, looked after. The garden was well looked after so it was neat and tidy. MAKE DO AND MEND. Put up with something that you have, use it then when it breaks, mend it rather than getting a new one. Using what you have to make what you need. MAKING ENDS MEET. Just surviving on the money that is coming in, just about living and paying the bills but there is nothing left to spend on anything else. MASONS. An organisation whose members are skilled people like carpenters, builders, etc. plasterers and trades' people. The rats belong to an Organization called the Masons. It is a secret organization just as the Mafia is a secret crime organisation. MATERIAL NEST. Because the nest was made of cloth, it was material. Also, material means physical or solid. MATERIALISE. Appear, occur, happen. MATRIARCHS. Mothers, usually the head of the household. MEDIATOR. A person who sees both sides of an argument and helps to decide which is right or wrong. Also someone who brings peace due to his action of mediating between two groups who disagree with each other. MEDICINAL PATCHWORKS. The petals are used for healing purposes, so they are used in medicine. Medicinal means it is good for healing purposes or is Therapeutic. In this instance the rose petals are used on the skin so are called patches. Many patches are called patchwork. A patchwork quilt is made many squares of material sewn together to make up the whole piece of material which is then made into the cover for the quilt. MEDITERRANEAN HUG. A greeting of open friendship between two people or, in this case, animals. MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY AND ASSET WISE TOO. Mind body and money. Everything is kept in good working order for him. MENTIONED IN PASSING. Something that was said by someone as they went by or in conversation with another person when they met and passed by each other. MIGRATORY. Moving from one area to another. In this case from Germany. MILES AWAY. (This is called A metaphor in English.) In this respect, it means far away in a daydream. Not fully conscious of what is happening. MIMICRY. To copy someone else’s actions or words. MINDING THEIR OWN FLOCK. Minding their own business. MINNOWS. Tiny fish. MINUTE. This means tiny or very small. It is also 1/60th of an hour. The two meanings have a different pronunciation of the word minute.. MISCONSTRUED. Misinterpreted. MISDEMEANOUR. Minor misdeed. MISHAPS Accidents. MISINFORMED. Ignorant. Not well taught. MITE. A tiny bug that causes skin irritations. MIXTURE. A blend. Offending Mixture is a blend that was somewhere where it was not wanted or should not have been. MMMMMMM. A audible sign given to show delight or pleasure. MOONS AGO. Months ago. MUFFLED. Wrapped up and unable to hear or speak. MUSED. Thought about something in a dreamy way. MUSQUACK. Music listened to or played by ducks. MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY. That is just what I think.

This glossary/explanation has been done to explain my interpretation of the words that have been used here. If there are any incorrect definitions then it is due to poetic licence or a poor grasp of the English Language! There are words with meanings as well as explanations of English phrases and expressions that have no direct translative meaning from English to another language. 1 AND SIGN AT 4. Two boxes on a paper to prove delivery/receipt of something. The boxes are numbered 1 to say 10 but in this case only 1 & 4 are filled in. The name is printed (in capitals)in one and the signature goes in the other. ABACK. Shocked or surprised. ABLUTIONS. Washes. Washing the body and hands. ACQUAINTED. Getting to know someone better. ADD INSULT TO INJURY. Make an already bad situation even worse. ADDED THEIR WEIGHT. Put their support to and agreed with the view or argument. ADMINISTERED. The past tense of administer which means to put on. ADO. A fuss ADVERSITY. Difficulty, hard times. AFFLUENT. Wealthy. AFFRONTED. Offended or hurt. AFLOAT. From the expression ‘Keeping Afloat’ or, Keeping Your Head Above Water. This means to survive when things are bad because if not then you drown. AFOOT. What is/was in the process of happening. AFRAID TO SAY. Unfortunately, I do not want to say this but it has happened. AGITATION. Great worry or distress. AHEAD OF THE FIELD. In front. On top of any problem that may happen. AILING. Ill, Sick. AIRED. Spoken in public. Aired his views means to say what he thinks. AIRED/AIRING. Put something where it can get the air to it to freshen or dry it. In this case it is to freshen it. Bring out into the open. AIRY Clean and fresh, filled with clean air. AL BEANO. Albino or white or colourless. ALACRITY. With great speed, eagerness and enthusiasm. ALBEIT. Even though. ALL AND SUNDRY Everyone, without exception. ALL OVER THE PLACE. Everywhere. ALL THAT WAS NEEDED (to see what was wrong). This expression means The only thing that was required to see what was wrong ALL WAS NOT LOST though means that not everything was wasted even though one thing was ruined.. This just means that even though the petals had been ruined something else happened that took place of the lost item. So, not everything was wasted. ALLEGED. Something that is said but has not been proved. ALTERNATIVE METHODS. Different ways to the normal way of doing things. AMBER Yellow. AMBER-EMBERS. Yellow glowing ashes. AMBLED. Walked slowly without much purpose or reason to it. ANTICS. Behaviour. APPARENTLY. It seems like. Clearly. APPEASED. Soothed, made him accept what had happened. Made him feel better. APPENDAGE. An attachment. In this sense, the dogs are attached to the humans by leads or leashes. APPREHENSIVE. Worried. APPROACH. A way of doing something. Different approach means another way of doing something. AROUND THE BEND. That which is unseen of unknown. AROUND THE CORNER. In the near future. An event that has not happened is around the corner. AS IS THE WAY. This is what happens as a normal course of events. AS STIFF AS A BOARD. Very stiff. ASKANCE. Looking in a manner which shows you are questioning what has just been said. Derived from the word Ask (in an asking fashion) ASTUTE. Clever, wise. ATTAIN Reach, get. ATTAINMENT. Desires. That which is wished for or wanted. ATTIRED. SEE Nightly attired. AUDITORY AIDS. Hearing aids. BACK OF HIS TEETH. When you have something in your mouth, you keep your teeth together when you speak, if you have to. When you tell a lie, it is said that you speak through the back of his teeth. It is just an English expression. In other words, you are making sounds and words but you are not really meaning what you say. In this instance then Granddad B was speaking with a mouthful and telling a fib. BACKWATER. The part of a stretch of water that is rarely seen or visited, because it is so quiet and out of the way. BAD PROVIDER. Someone unable to supply food when that is their duty. BADE. Past tense of bid. In this case it is a way to say, "Good bye." Also wish someone something. Bid has many different meaning depending on how it used but it means 'wished' or even ‘said’ in this instance. BADGERING. A form of nagging of telling off. BADGER-NON-GRATA. A play on the expression persona non grata. Someone who is not welcome anymore. BAFFLING. Puzzling. BAGGED. Obtained, Claimed. BAR PONDWEED. Excluding pondweed. Everything else but pondweed. BARE OUTLINES. Basic or sketchy, not complete BARKED UP THE WRONG TREE. This means they got the wrong end of the stick. Alternatively, they did not understand the situation and misjudged it. An English expression, which sees a dog chasing something and then catching it but because it is the wrong thing, it ends up barking up the wrong tree. Therefore, what he has chased was not what he thought and he was WRONG. BARLEY BEARDS. As straw is left from the harvesting of grain crops so is the husk or empty seed heads. Barley is a type of grain, which has tufts growing with the grain on the seed head. These tufts are called beards. BASKING IN HER GLORY. Showing off to the best advantage. BASKING. Sitting or lying in a lazy manner usually under some form of light. BATS INC. (Incorporated.) Bats can fly in the dark because they have highly sensitive hearing. Inc., is short for Incorporated, which is a form of Company or Business or Group. BATTERED. Bashed, bruised. BAY WATCH. Looking to see what was happening around the pond area. BEAK BRUSHING. Part of a courtship ritual, similar to kissing. BEAK OVER TAILFEATHER. Head over heals in love. BEAR IT IN MIND. Think about it for the future. BEAR. In this case, it means Carry. If you cannot bear babies then you are unable to have children. In pregnancy, if you are pregnant then you bear a child or carry a child. BEAT (OF THE DAY.) The area that is being patrolled. Te final beat of the day is the last time around the area checking it over. BEAUTIFULLY KEPT. Well maintained, well looked after. BEDFELLOW. Partner. Someone who shares a bed with another. BEDRAGGLED. Wet, dirty and untidy. BEING PUT ON THE SPOT Being put in an awkward or difficult situation BELLOWED. Called out loudly. BELOVED. Loved one. BENEVOLENT. Kind and caring, also affectionate. BENEVOLENTLY. Kindly. BEST WILL IN THE WORLD. The greatest effort and thought. BILL. See >Portland Bill BIMOLAR DEPRESSION. A form of depression that is like a pain in the Third Eye Tooth. A play on the word Bipolar Depression. (A made up word.) BITE ON HER BEAK Bite on her tongue to stop her from saying anything that she might regret. BITTEN HIS TONGUE. A tongue is required in order to be able to speak. If you bite your tongue off you cannot speak. So Pip wished that he had bitten his tongue and then he would not have said what he just said. (My interpretation.) BLANCH. Go white, loose all colour from the face usually because of fear. BLANKLY. With no expression on the face because what has been said has not been understood. BLASÉ. Not careful of what they are doing, giving no thought to anything that may happen due to their actions of not worrying. BLATANT. IN A BLATANT MANNER. To do something intentional, in an open way so it is in full view. BLENDED. Interbred. BLIND EYE. Took no notice of what was being done, usually something that was wrong or something that should not be happening. BLOW THE DIET. Never mind the diet, ignore the diet. 'BLUE GRAIN' TREATS. Corn or grain, which has been treated with poison for killing rodents. It is coloured blue so that the birds do not eat it because in nature birds do not eat anything blue. BLUEBELL HILLTOP. This is the top of a hill covered in the flower called bluebells. They are a Spring Flower usually underneath trees so it is a hilltop with trees and bluebells. BLURRED. Indistinct, unclear, not properly visible, hazy. BLUSHED. A colouring that appears on the face when someone is embarrassed of feels uncomfortable with a situation. BOB ALONG. Get by, live from day to day, and exist in a very basic manner. Surviving. BOBBED. The hopping movement of an animal jumping along. BODY AND SOUL. The mind and the body. BOGS. Irish marsh areas BONDED. Mated. Became partners. BONDINGS. Joining. Becoming a couple. Marriages, unions. BOOMED. Shouted out in a very loud voice. BORROWED BOARD AND LODGINGS. A place to live in a temporary way that will be given back to the owner when another home is found. BOTTOM OF THE EMBROIDERY. The true meaning of the story or event. BOUNDED. Hopped, moved off in a bouncing manner. BRAMBLE LODGE A lodge is a home for certain animals, usually built with wood but in this sense it is just a home. Bramble is a name given to the Blackberry. It grows in thickets or thick patches and these patches are called Brambles. Therefore, it is a home built in or underneath the brambles. BRANCH OF THE FAMILY. Line of the family. BREAD AND MILK BANQUET It is known that hedgehogs were given saucers of bread and milk to eat as a special treat or feast.. BREAKOUT. In this sense, it means something that has emerged in small areas or amounts and is unwanted. This is what happens when there is an Outbreak. BREATHER. Rest. BRIDGE BUILDING. This is to mend the bridge that has been burned in order to re-connect to that which has been lost. BRIGHT AND FALSE SUN. Bright light BROADPOND INFONET. Broadband Internet. BROCKDEN. A den is a home. Brock is the name given to a Badger. Therefore, it is the home of the badgers. BROKE MY NECK Implying that a great or fatal accident could have happened. BROKE OUT OF HIS SHELL. Hatched out of his egg BRUNT. The main force or effect of something. BRUSHED IT ALL ASIDE. Tried to make it seem less than it was. Make it seem unimportant. BULL AT A GATE. Rushing in at things without thinking. BULRUSH. A long stemmed plant which grown around the edges of ponds. BURNT HER BRIDGES. She cannot go back now or return to her old ways because she has burnt the bridges that were crossed to get her to her present situation or place. BURROWER. Anything that digs a hole or tunnel. BUSTLED. Hurried, busy. BUSTLING. Move in a quick or hurried manner, usually noisily too. BY THE WAY. Incidentally. BY YOUR LEAVE. With your permission, can I go? CACHE. Store, something that has been saved and put away for use later on. CACOPHANY Noise, din. CAKE AND EAT IT. To have cake and eat it means you are able to keep something even after you have used it up. So you have the cake, it is there in front of you but you are able to eat it and after you eat it, it is still there for you to see and hold on to. CAME TO PASS. Occurred, Happened with the passing of time. CANNARD. A French word meaning Duck. CAPTIVE AUDIENCE. A group who are totally entranced or attentive to whatever is being said or done. CAPTURED. Trapped. CARING. Someone who is thoughtful or worries about others safety or wellbeing is caring. CARROT TOPS. Ginger topped, headed or haired. CARRY OUT’S. Food that is taken or transported somewhere else. CASTAWAY. Here it means Thrown away. Although it also means lost somewhere. CATASTROPHE. Disaster, a big accident. CATCHING HER BREATH. Stopping to rest. CENSORIOUS. Expressing strong disapproval and criticising others about it. CENTRE OF ATTENTION. The sole subject of attention or the only thing being noticed by everyone. CHAGRIN. Annoyance and disappointment about something that has happened.. CHAIN OF EVENTS. Events that happen one after the other. Happenings. CHAMOMILE COMPRESS. A compress is a dampened piece of cloth. Chamomile is a flower. A chamomile compress is a dampened cloth that has been soaked in chamomile water. CHANGE OF SCENERY. A different place to be in usually to assist in the frame of mind, health etc. CHANGES OF HEART. Changed their view on something so they change their mind and decision. CHANGING CLIMATE. Change in the weather. CHANGING THE SUBJECT. Moving the conversation onto something other than what was being discussed. Usually it is done on purpose to take the focus off a subject or topic of conversation. CHAOS, Confusion, trouble. CHARACTER. Qualities of a person, animal or thing. CHARADES. A game where an action is given as the clue to a word or phrase. CHARCOAL, Burned wood used to fuel a barbeque. CHASTISE. Scold. Tell off. CHASTISING, Telling someone off. CHATEAU. A large house or stately home in France. CHATTERING. Constant noisy talking at a great speed. CHIC. Smart, fashionable. CHOMPING. Eating noisily usually with the mouth fully open. CHORTLED/CHUCKLED. Laughed. CLATTER. CLAP. Clatter is a noise. Clap means to hit. The bell clappers hit the inside of the bell as they moved back and forth. CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. Very clean. CLEMENT. Less extreme or better. CLOSE QUARTERS Near or close up. Not yet seen them a short distance away, only seen them from a distance or long way off. CLOVER. A plant. CLUELESS. Having no idea about something. Ignorant. CLUMSY. Careless. (In this case clumsy or careless actions. It can also mean careless with words which means saying something in a clumsy way that will hurt or offend the person being spoken to.) In a way that can cause hurt, damage to either, property, the body or someone else's feelings. CLUTTER. Rubbish, that which us unwanted or unnecessary. COAX. Get some one to do something they do not want to do. This is done in a gentle way without it being too obvious that they are being told to do something that the other person does not wish to do. COCONUT CUPS. These are empty coconut shells broken in half and then filled with food. COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING. Normal and rational thinking or working. COINCIDENCE. Something that happens by chance in a remarkable and unplanned manner. COMFORT EATER. Someone who eats to make themselves happy and contented. COMMON KNOWLEDGE. Information that is known by everyone. COMMUNITY The mice(or any group of animals, people etc.) who live in that area make up a community. COMPANIONABLE. Friendly. COMPANY’S SAKE. Just for a friendly chat. COMPLEMENTARY. Something that is done in a way that helps the other treatment being given. COMPLIMENTED. Praised, was shown respect. COMPOS MENTIS. Conscious or aware. This is a Latin expression. Compos meaning control. Mentis meaning mind. So, in control or aware. Donas was rarely Compos mentis so he was rarely in control of his mind and actions. The actual Latin expression for this is non compos mentis (No control Of Mind.) COMPOSURE. The normal state of the body whether it be physical or a balanced state of mind. COMPREHENSION. Understanding. CONDENSATION. Moisture. Water droplets that form on the inside of windows and internal walls due to the warn damp air inside and the cold air outside. CONFER. Discuss something at a meeting. CONFIDED. Talked about whatever was in her mind CONNOISSEUR. Someone who is an expert in fine or domestic arts usually in respect of tastes. A good judge of things. CONSIDERED. Thought of or thought about. CONSOLATION. Comfort to someone who is sad or disappointed. CONSORTING. Spending time and keeping company with an undesirable person/creature. CONSPIRACY. A plot. CONSTERNATION, Worry or concern. CONSTITUTIONAL. A walk, usually a short walk done on a regular basis for health reasons. It also means to do with somebody’s general make-up or build. CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER. Helpful way. Also because it is describing building the nest which is a construction. So it is to do with building therefore it is a constructive way. CONTENTED. Pleased, happy with life and things in general. CONTRADICTING. Not agreeing with what has been said by arguing against what was said. Saying something completely different about that which has. Diction is speech. Contra means against. You are against what has been said and say this. Egg. The Grass is green. “No it is not green, it is blue.” This is a contradiction CORNERED. Caught. CORROBORATING. Doing something together. COUNSEL. Give someone advice. COUNT MY BLESSINGS. Counting the good things in your life and then not worrying about the bad ones that may exist. COUNTENANCE. Similar to composure but your countenance or bearing (the way the body actually is) is what actually shows your composure, mood or manner. COURIER. Tour guide. Leader. COURT OF APPLE (GREAT). The great court of Appeal. The High court. COURT OF APPLE. A play on the words Court of Appeal. This is where people go to put their view across in respect of an argument in the hope that, this time, a judgement will be made in their favour. COURTEOUS. Polite. CRACKED UP TO BE (NOT) Something that is not as good as it looked, sounded etc. It might be shiny but it is not necessarily Gold. CREDENTIALS. The proof that showed he was qualified or experienced in his work. CREEPING UPON HER. Happening because she is getting old. It is something that happens without being noticed CRESTFALLEN. Disappointed or humiliated usually after being very confident about something. Discouraged, deflated. CRINGED. A physical reaction to something or someone who has caused embarrassment or discomfort to whom has cringed. Duck or move away from the cause of this reaction. Squirmed. CRISIS. A problem or disaster. If you are having an identity crisis, you are having problems with whom you are or what you are. CRITTERS. Animals. A critter is usually refers to a small animal. CROSSED. This is when anyone gets annoyed by someone else. CROW CARRIERS INC. The delivery and despatch Company run by the crows CRUNCH UP. Accident. CUB. A baby, a young animal of certain types. CULPRITS. The guilty person who is the cause of the trouble. CUM. Together with. Along with. CUPBOARD LOVER. Someone who loves cupboards. Darius is not a cupboard lover. Its real meaning is showing or giving false affection, usually in order to get something done for a selfish reason. CUT DOWN A LITTLE. Go on as small diet. CUT THROAT. With everyone trying to get rid of their competitors, in a ruthless manner. CYGNETS. Baby swans. DAGGERED LOOK.. A look that would kill. A black look. A disapproving look. DANDELION CLOCK. The Dandelion is a plant with a yellow flower head. The head goes to seed when it had finished flowering and turns into a huge white head of tiny seeds that blow away in the wind and then form the next dandelion plants when they fall to the ground. In England a seed head like this was blown to tell what the time was, not accurately though! The seeds are soft and fluffy. When a Dandelion stem is broken it has a white substance inside which is sticky and looks just like milk. The seeds also look like tiny wings. DANDILOCK. A sticky substance made from a mixture of the milk of the Dandelion stem and the fairy wings from the seed head. DAPPER. Neat and elegant, usually in dress and manner. DAPPLING. Making spotted marks on something in different colours but in this case with light and shaded spots. DAUNTING. Difficult, hard to do. DEAD LEGS. Numb legs through lack of blood circulation. DEAF EAR (turned a deaf ear). Took no notice of what was said. Turning off to any outside noise or influences. DECAYING. Rotting. DECLINE Not surviving well so it is decreasing in number DECREPIT. Old and worn out. DEEPER INTO A HOLE. Getting more in to debt DEIGNED. Do something in a way that it is a big favour to the other party involved. Only doing it for someone else’s benefit. DELIGHT. Joy. DELIGHTS AND DELICACIES Enjoyable treats and exotic food. DEN OF INIQUITY. In this case it means a place of wickedness or injustice. Also it means a place of evil or ill repute. DEPARTED. Something that has left or gone. DESCENDED. Came down upon. It also means to go down or climb down. DESERTING PARTY. The person or people who have gone away. DETERMINE. Find out. DEVICES (Left him to his). Left him to whatever it was he had been doing so that he could get on with it without distraction DEW. Is moisture from the damp air, which forms when the atmosphere is damp and cold. It settles on the ground usually late in the evening. 'DEW-DROPPED' The petals were now covered in drops of dew. DE-WEBBING, To get rid of the Cobwebs. Cobwebs are the homes made by spiders, using thread. DIGITS. Hands or fingers. In this case paws. DIGWEEDS This is just a name for the people who owned the garden. DIMMED. Turned the light down or off DINER. A place to eat. DISBELIEF. In a fashion that showed that he could not believe it. DISCARDED SLIPPER. A slipper that has been thrown away because it is old, or tatty and worn out, or too small. DISGRUNTLED. Annoyed, put out. DISGRUNTLEMENT. Annoyance. To make someone feel irritated or annoyed DISGUST. Annoyance. Irritation. DISHARMONY. Trouble DISINTEGRATED. Rotted, broke down in to tiny pieces, falls apart. Something that is biodegradable will disintegrate into tiny pieces and then completely break down. DISLODGED. Got rid of something that was fixed onto a surface or in a fixed position. DISMAY. Horrified sadness. DISPARAGING. To show disapproving or critical DISPLAY. Show DISSUADE. Stop someone from doing something. The opposite of Persuade which means to get someone or make someone do something. DISTRAUGHT. Very upset and distressed. DIZZY-O-THERAPIST. A person who is trained to stop anyone going around in circles in order that they can walk in a straight line again. DOGGED. Chased, hounded. DON’T BE A STRANGER. This is asking someone to say or keep in touch. DONAS. The German way of spelling Donald. DONE AND DUSTED. Completed. DOOM AND GLOOM. (NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM.) This means that it is not all bad. DOWNFALL. The thing that causes someone to fail at doing something or to ruin them DOWNLOAD. Put information onto the computer from the Internet. DOZING. Sleeping lightly. DRAINED AWAY. Soaked away and dried up. When a plug is pulled out of a full basin the water drains away DRAKES AND DUCKS. Male ducks are Drakes. Female ducks are called Ducks. Therefore Male and Female Ducks. DRAY. The name of the nest that squirrels build to live in. They are up in trees and look like a large, untidy mass of twigs and small tree branches, usually in the shape of a saucer. DREDGE THE MUD UP. Drag up old history to cause trouble, stir up that which should be left alone. When the mud is dredged the water turns dirty and cloudy. DRESSING DOWN. A good telling off. DROOL. Dribble, usually when something is tasty looking it makes you wish to eat it and your mouth fills with saliva so you drool. Also, to look in a manner of wanting very much the thing you are looking at. DROP IN FEATHERS. Emotional outburst. DUCK SIDE OF THE POND. Similar to Dark side of life. It is a seedy and not very pleasant place where undesirable people go. DUCK‘. This means to avoid things that are thrown at you in life. ((In a word, Survive. (My interpretation of what I think it means).) DUCK-DOWN LIFE. A life filled with feathers that had no substance or meaning. It lacked body so was not a fulfilling life. DUCKLING. A Baby duck. DUCKY-CODDLING. From the expression Molly coddle. To treat someone in a very protective manner. Looking after someone. DURABLE. Lasting a long time. DUST BATH. The way birds clean themselves by covering themselves with dust. DUVET Continental quilt. DWELLED. Lived. DWELLING. A home, a place to live in. A house is a dwelling. EARN A CRUST. Make a living. EARPOD. A Machine that plays musquack or music. EAST MEETS WEST. Two opposing theories uniting to become one. EATING HIS CATCH. CATCH in this sense is what he has just caught. Usually it refers to something that a hunter might get. Like a fisherman comes home with his Catch. The catch would be the fish he has caught. Rollie thought he was chasing a worm, caught his tail and bit it. Therefore, his catch was his tail! ECHOED. Filled with sounds of agreement. ECOLOGY The balance between life and the environment – the effects they have upon each other. EGG BROKERS. Stock brokers specialising in eggs. EGG ON THE FACE. Be left in an embarrassing, awkward or humiliating situation due to making a mistake. (I am not sure where this comes from but maybe if you are too rough with an egg the insides burst out in your face.) EIDERDOWN An item of bedding. It is filled with feathers, usually from the Eider duck. The French version is a Duvet or continental quilt. ELDERS. A group of older people who are in charge of people due to their age as well as their knowledge and experience. ELEMENT. A habitat or area specially suited for someone or something. An area suitable for someone to thrive in because it is just right for them. EMANATING. Coming from or emitted by a person or object like an emotion from someone which is visible or noticeable. Also a ray of light given off by the sun etc. EMBELLISHMENT. This is like Embroidery. Adding bits on that were not there in the original version to make it sound or look more interesting. EMBER-GLOWS (from glowing embers) This is the charcoal left over from a barbeque. EMBERS Remains from a fire, hot ashes. EMBROILED. To get involved in trouble or a disagreement. EMERGED. Came out, came through, come into site from being out of site. EMITTED. Given off. A flower emits perfume so it gives off perfume. ENCHANTING MOMENTS. This is a play on words or another way to say – Chanting moments. This means to chant something at a time. ENSUING OFFSPRING. The babies that were the result of the interbreeding. ENSUING. That which happens because of what has just been done. The outcome of an action is the ensuing action or following action. An event that occurs following an action. ENSUING. Time Passing. Time that has gone by. ENTHRALLED. Amazed, enthralled, engrossed, captivated. ENTWINED. Wrapped or curled around. ERR. Here it means Make a mistake or error – the act of making a mistake or error. ESPIED. Seen, spotted. ETERNAL FLUX. Eternal is Never ending. Flux is change or a flow or movement. It means that everything changes all the time so is always moving or flowing or changing in eternal flux ETHER. In the sky, the upper reaches of the atmosphere. That which is not seen. The place where messages are sent on the airways. ETIQUETTE AND GOOD MANNERS. The correct and proper way to behave. EVADED. Something that is hard to get or find EXALTING. Raised, heightened, Intensified. EXASPERATED. Made angry usually caused by something annoying that has been repeated over again. EXASPERATION. Annoyance. Having no patience with what has happened. EXCEPTIONS. This is something that is not normal or usual. EXHAUSTED. Very tired through too much work or exercise. EXODUS. A departure or movement away from somewhere, usually of a great number of people or things. EXTINCT. No longer exists or no longer lives anymore. Dinosaurs are extinct EXTRA SENSORY AIDS. Same as main senses but it is a slight play on words too because it includes thinking as well. EXTREMELY COSTLY. Very expensive EYE FOR DETAIL. Good at seeing small things at their best and in detail. EYE Q. The state or condition of the eye. EYED UP. Looked up and down whatever is being looked at or viewed. EYES OF THE LAW. Legally. All right because it is legal and accepted in Law. EYES OPEN and her PAWS ON THE PULSE. Look, to make sure all is well and check physically that everything is all right too making sure everything is running smoothly and in working order. FACE VALUE. The actual value or meaning of something judged by what it looks or seems like. FADDY FOOD. Fussy and fashionable food. FAIR SHARE. The share that is yours to have because it is owed to you. FAIRY WINGS. Very fine seeds from the dandelion seed head. FALSE AND REAL FEELERS. Replacement and original whiskers. FAMILY FALL OUT. The loss of friendship between the two families. A Fall out is a disagreement or argument. FAMILY'S DOOR. Put the blame on the other family. FAN THE FLAMES. Do something that will increase the problem and make it worse. If you fan a fire it makes the flames bigger. FANCIFUL. Think of things that are not really happening and making more out of what is happening. FAR AND WIDE. Spread over a wide area or a large area. FAR CRY. Long way away from something. FAR FROM CONVINCED. Not at all certain or sure FARAWAY FOREST. A large wooded area that is a long way away. It is a name for this forest. FARE. Food. FARED. Got on, managed. FARTHER REMOVED. Farther away from the original or first version, the news has become changed every time it was passed on to someone else. FAST LANE. The busiest and fastest kind of life. FAT BALL A ball shaped lump of fat and seeds for feeding birds. It hangs in a green netting bag and is placed in a tree of bush for the birds to peck at. FATE WORSE THAN DEATH. A dreadful situation. FATEFUL. Something that has important or bad consequences for the future. FEAST Treat, good feeding FEATHER COCOON. Being totally protected. FEATHER MY NEST. Do well for myself, financially. FEATHERS AND BEAK GO. Have a good and indepth gossip. FEELERS (Full). Whiskers that are in full working order. Also, it is from the word Fulfil, which means to be accomplished or complete. FEELERS. Whiskers (animal). Fend (for themselves). Feed themselves, look after themselves FETTLE in. A Scottish or north England expression meaning to work in. Fine Fettle also means good health. FEUD. Disagreement, dispute, fight. FIB. A Fib is a very small fabrication of the truth or a little lie that is harmless. FIDGET UNCOMFORTABLY. In this case Moved around due to being embarrassed by something. FILBERT FOIS GRAS. Filbert is a type of nut related to Hazelnuts. However, here, Filbert is the name of a French Duck and his surname, Fois Gras is a form of pate. Pate is usually made from the livers of ducks. This is just an amusingly put together name ideal for a French Duck FINALLY DAWNED. Finally realised what it was. It finally dawned on him. He finally realised what it was. FINE AND DANDY. Well and good. All very good. FINER THINGS IN LIFE. The better things in life. Something better than the normal thing. FIRST AID APRON. A piece of material tied around the front of the body that can carry small items, in this case First Aid products. Aprons have pockets for this purpose. FLIPPED. Went mad or insane. Acted irrationally. FLORENCE WATERS. The type of water Florence is famed for. Florence is a city in Italy. FLOTSAM. Bits and pieces of rubbish that float on water. FLOURISHING. The opposite of Decling. Surviving and living to increase numbers. FLURRY. A sudden burst of activity or movement, usually in a hurried manner. FLUTTERING. Blowing gently in the wind or breeze. FOBBED OFF. Not be put off by any thing that was told to her. FOCUS. Something that keeps someone occupied or thinking rather than being lazy and daydreaming. FOCUSSED. Looking at something clearly and having a clear mind to concentrate on something. FOG. Smoke. FOIL. In this instance it means a good Contrast. FOOLHARDY. Stupid. FORAGE. To search or hunt, usually for food. FORESIGHT. Looking into the future to see what would occur. FORK ON THE ROAD. Another pathway leading off the main route. The road in front divides and becomes two roads. This is called a fork because it goes off in a different direction. FORLORNLY. Sadly FORTUITOUS. Fortunate, usually refers to an event. FOUND HIM OUT. Discovered that he was not good and what he was really like FOUND SLACKING. Discovered to not be doing what was meant to be done because it was their duty to do the job. FOUNDED. Something that has been stated and discovered to be true. FOUR-LEGGED APPENDAGES. This means dogs. FOXY. Craft, clever, cunning, deceitful. FRAME OF MIND. The state of a person psychologically in respect of mood or how they are thinking at that time. FRANTIC. Wild, irritated, worried. FRAUGHT. Full of tension and anxiety. Worried. FRENCH STICKS. Long and thin loaves of bread, usually white bread. FREQUENTING. Go to a place very often. FRESHER FIELDS. Like pastures new but here, it means cleaner or untouched or unspoilt fields. FRESHLY RISEN AND RIPE The moon is Full - it has only just risen. FRET. Worry about something. FROM A DISTANCE From a long way off FROST Frozen dew. FROZEN TO THE SPOT. Unable to move. FRUIT-A-TARIAN. A creature that only eats fruit and nuts. FRUITLESS. Producing nothing. Pointless, empty. Not worth doing. FRUSTRATION. A feeling of exasperation or disappointment because of not being able to do something. FULL SWING. Back to normal action again FULL WELL. Completely, very well, exactly, precisely. FULLY UNDRESSED. Not covered by clouds. FUMBLE. To grope or feel or try to find something in a clumsy manner FUMIGATION ADVICE. Advise on cleaning – the air, to get rid of an infestation or a bad smell etc. FUR 'N' HAIR COURSES. These are lessons in how to look after the fur or hair in a natural way rather than using chemicals. FURTHER ADO. More fuss. FURTIVE Secret FUZZY. Hazy. Not clear. GANDER. A male goose. A goose is a large type of bird. GARY. A male name. GAS PROBLEM. Wind, indigestion. GASPED. Breathed in quickly because of the big surprise. Usually this is loud to show the surprise or shock. GINGERLY. Slowly and carefully. With caution. GLADE. A clearing or space in the forest where there are no trees. In this case the shade would have been given by the surrounding shadows. GLAZER. Someone who cuts and handles with glass. GLEE. Much happiness GLOWED WITH HAPPINESS. Give off an air of happiness that is visible. GLOWED WITH PRIDE. To feel much pride because of a compliment that has been given. GLOWING. Giving of an air of something like happiness or pride etc. Showing an emotion. GLOWING CONFIRMATION. Good or excellent confirmation. Also, because it was the embers that glowed, he was confirming that they were glowing in the dark. GLUTTONY. Greed, in this case greedy over food. GOES TO SHOW. Proves. GOOD AUTHORITY. From a reliable and trusted source. They had it on good authority means they had been told by a reliable person or creature. GOOEY EYED. A look that gives the impression of total love or adoration. GOOSE PIMPLES. Raised and bumpy flesh caused of the cold. GOSLINGTONS. This is just the family name of the geese. (It is because baby geese are called goslings.) GOSSAMER. Very light, flimsy and delicate material, in this case paper. GRACIOUSLY. In a pleasant and polite way. Flustered. GRASS EATER A grass cutter or lawn mower, which is a machine used to keep grass short and neat. GRUDGING. To do something that you do not really wish or want to. GRUDGINGLY. Done in a way that shows the person does not really wish to do it. GRUMBLE. Complain. GUINEA PIG Test subjects Animals or People. HACKLES. Spikes, spines. When an animal is angry its hair, fur or spikes (in Penny's case) go up to show their anger. HAD IT IN HIM. Had the courage to do it or the ability to do it. HALTED IN HER TRACKS. Stopped suddenly. HANDS DIRTY. They did not like doing hard work or dirty work so they did not like to use their hands for work. HANKERING. Thinking about and wanting something, usually something that is not possible to have or get. HARBOURING. Keeping. HARD FOR THEM TO EVEN HEAR THEMSELVES SQUEAK. Hard to hear themselves speak because of the increase in noise. HARE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW. Not one to stay in one place for long. Always changing. HARKING BACK AT THE PAST. Looking or talking about events passed and gone. Going over, usually talking about the past. HARMONIOUS. Trouble free. In harmony, peaceful. HARSH. Hard. HASTE. Hurry. HATCH. The young that had hatched out from the eggs. young family of the ducks. HAVEN. A place of peace and tranquillity, safe from anything undesirable. HAY FEVER. An irritation caused by pollen which causes coughing and sneezing. HEAD ON. Straight on. HEADING OUT. Going. HEARTILY. Very much so. HEAVEN ON EARTH Paradise. A blissful situation. HEAVILY WITH BABIES. Very pregnant and towards the end of pregnancy. HEDGEHOG. A small member of the rodent family. They live under hedges and in the undergrowth. They are covered in spiky spines, like a porcupine but much smaller. They sleep over winter and this sleep is called Hibernation. The hedgehog curls up into a ball shape and in this position, it is fully protected by the spikes. The under part of their bodies is soft and slightly furry and their faces are furry too, which is why they curl up to protect these soft parts. They have very long snouts for finding and gathering insects from the ground. HEDGEROW. Here it means ground at the bottom of a hedge, underneath a hedge. It actually means a long row of bushes or small trees that form the hedge These usually grow at the side of the roads or paths to make a barrier. HEED THE ADVICE. Take notice of the advice (instructions or helpful information given by another person.) HENRY HUNNYBUN. The name of the Baker. He is a rabbit. HENRY’S HELTHY BITES. Henry’s new food shop. HERALDED. Sounded, announced. HESSIAN BAGS. Hessian is the name of the cloth/material the bags are made of. It is a strong material so can hold heavy items like rice, wheat and potatoes. It is not used much now for making bags. HIBERNATION. The name of the place where creatures go when they are in hyperspace. HIBERSPACE. The place animals go when they go into hibernation or into the long winter sleep. HIGH FLIERS. Those who are great successes. HIGH LIFE. The good life. HIGH-JINX Playful behaviour or playful games, HILARITY. Amusement. From the word hilarious. HIPPOCRATES HOOT. The name of the Doctor running the National Hoot Service. HITHER AND THITHER. Here and there. All over the place in a random way. HOLEY. Filled with holes. HOME AND DRY. Back home safely HOOKED. Addicted. HOOT OF AN IDEA. Slightest idea. HOP POLE. Another play on words. This is from the expression Deed poll. This is a way of changing your name legally so a Hop Pole is a legal way of changing your name if you are an animal. HOPTICIAN. Optician. HORSE'S MOUTH. An English expression. This means it is the original version directly from the source of the story or the genuine source, although I do not exactly know where the expression came from or why it actually means the very first version of the story. I have been told that it is an expression from Horse Racing and the Horse says, "I am going to win!" HOT FOG Smoke HOT UNDER THE COLLAR. Uncomfortable. HOTCH POTCH, Mixture, usually not very organized mixture HOTLY. Strongly HOUSE CALLS. Visits made by someone to a house usually for business or professional reasons. HUFF. Tantrum. Go away in an unpleasant mood because of being upset or offended by something. HUFFY. Touchy, sulky. HUMBLE-PIE. To apologise or admit to being wrong in a way that humiliates you. HUMBLY. Showing respect. HUMDRUM. Boring, tedious. HUMPH. A sound given to show disbelief. Wordlessly say, “Oh yes, sure. I don’t believe or agree with that.

This was first written some time in 2005 or before however it disappeared and then I diddled about sometime last year and re-wrote it. Then I thought I would send it to a friend in America who had seen my book. However after about six attempts she had still not been able to view it. So He who knows all looked at it and scratched his head and then asked me to forward it to him which I did. His was just as blank as my friend's email. It was on Brassy but was not anywhere else. Even the Dongle gave up the ghost writing. Finally the man with the knowledge decided it was hidden and sent instructions to unhide it. Unfortunately they were as clear as the page I sent him. Totally blank. So Help was looked at and voilla here it is. I wonder if it was worth the effort but it is nice to know that not everything hidden is a secret. Rather annoyed by events Sylvia Silver-Slime surveyed the route stretching endlessly ahead as far as her feelers could see. It was irritating having to travel two sides of a triangle when a straight cut across the corners would save so much time, slime and effort. After all it was no joke dragging your home around all the days God sent. However she did attempt a streak one day and regretted her folly when she received a nasty peck from Macawber Magpie who had been watching the naked snail crawling along baring all to the World. He thought it would teach her to go out without a shell when she was meant to be doing full Silver Service. Her job was to consume all rubbish and tit bits in her wake to prevent over-soiling on the byways. Sylvia thought that there must be a way around the triangulation problem and gazed across the distance. She calculated that if Pi R squared was equal to the sum of the angle on the hyperbole then if she went across the middle it would take two thirds off her journey time. Maths and science were not her strong points but Sylvia was unaware of her lack in dividing and divining skills Sylvia slithered off on the calculated route and that was when she hit a gritty problem. What she had not calculated was the unknown quantity of gravel tipped right in the middle of her trail. Even though she was a slow-goer Sylvia had gone too fast and far without thinking and was stuck fast on a very uncomfortable footing. The stranded snail called out in a screeching fashion and try as she might poor Sylvia could not move for pain. Being quite innovative she tried to do a belly roll but the embedded gravel weighed heavy and the shell weight was too much to bear. Even more cries were emitted and then to her surprise she felt her whole world turn upside down and all she could see was a pair of legs and black and white belly bearing down on her. Sylvia knew exactly what that meant and because her eyes were out on stalks she tentatively/tentically lifted her eyes to see Macawber Magpie looking down at her in a most concerned manner. He gently picked the gravel off her sore belly and when it was gone he asked if she was all right. Sylvia was rather surprised by this and wondered what to say. She thought and replied, "I have known better days but apart from a sore podia and drying trail maker, I think I will survive." Macawber raised an eyebrow and then stood looking at her again pondering on the problem. He decided that he could not do it alone and off he hopped in search of help. At this point, Sylvia thought that she had been abandoned and was, in one sense, relieved because at least Macawber had not pecked her, as was the case on their previous meeting. Even so, she wished Macawber had turned her back upright so the blood was not pounding around in her feelers - it was a little like having Bats Inc. in the belfry. Sylvia wriggled her airborne podia and discovered she was on shaky ground. Fortunately this disconcerting movement brought her back to the reality that Macawber had left her stranded upside down in order to save her being sprinkled in grit again. After more time had passed Sylvia pondered on her current position and thought, This is ridiculous, as more blood rushed to her feelers. In order to take her mind off her head Sylvia began to wonder where Macawber had gone. A few minutes later Nurse Tuffy-Tail arrived and surveyed the scene. With great precision she dabbed nettle numbing gel on Sylvia's belly and foot and then moistened it with a chamomile compress. Macawber hopped back with a Dock leaf in his beak and was told, by the Nurse, where to place it. He obliged and then following further instruction from Nurse Tuffy-Tail he rolled Sylvia over onto the leaf. Macawber rolled her one more time and Sylvia found herself sitting upright on a Dock – it had all been a bit of a trial and the day was not yet over. Nurse Tuffy-Tail told Sylvia to rest for a few minutes and then move to the edge of the Dock. Sylvia obliged after the rest period and halted, as she was told, on the edge of the Dock. Macawber had hopped off in the meantime and returned with another leaf. This one was a Burrdock and consequently much larger so, with much effort and difficulty, the exhausted Macawber placed it next to Sylvia at the edge of the Dock leaf. Nurse Tuffy-Tail explained to Sylvia that she would need to move off the edge of the Dock and onto the Burrdock. The first part was easy and accomplished in no time but once on the huge Burrdock leaf it sent shivers up her podia into the roof of her shell. The leaf was a very strange texture and with this in mind she asked why it was called a Burrdock. Nurse Tuffy-Tail smiled and said, "If you could see yourself shaking and shivering you would understand why it was called a Burrdock." This was fair enough but Sylvia could not stop shivering and Nurse Tuffy-Tail said, "Sylvia, you are suffering with shell shock," and went into her apron for a pot. She unscrewed the lid, dug out a small amount of salve with her clean and dexterous paw and applied it to the shivering Sylvia. "This is bees' balm and is for your shell shock. You see, in the rolling your shell has been slightly damaged and this will fill in the cracks. It will also help the shell to heal and it has pain relieving and sedating properties," she informed Sylvia. The busy nurse applied the balm to Sylvia's shell and this soon worked helping the shaking snail to cease the shivering and regain her equilibrium. Nurse Tuffy-Tail wanted to find out what was under foot and asked Sylvia if she would mind rolling over for a moment. Sylvia tried but was too tender still and Macawber was asked if he would assist in the snail rolling operation. Macawber obliged again and when the nurse examined Sylvia's podia she noticed that it was very inflamed even with the soothing Chamomile on. This was worrying and she searched through her mind trying to think what would be best for Sylvia. She asked, "Does it still hurt, Sylvia or has the Nettle Numbing gel kicked in now?" Sylvia thought for a moment and replied, "No, there is no pain so the Gel must have worked, thank you." It was a relief and one less thing to worry about so the nurse having had time to think about the inflammation again opened her apron and this time she found exactly what would do the trick. She pulled out the willow leaves and some bark and then bruised it all together. When it was weeping the Nurse dabbed the sap onto Sylvia's podia and was relieved to hear Sylvia saying, "Ah, that feels wonderful." The nurse smiled and said, "I am pleased because it is one of the strongest analgesics I am allowed to carry at present, without having to get a prescription from Dr. Hoot." Sylvia remarked that she too was pleased about it because she knew how long it took to get a prescription when you needed one in a hurry. Not that she was being critical but it was just one of those annoying things. The Nurse looked at Macawber and said warmly, "Thank you so much for you assistance here Macawber and no doubt Sylvia will thank you when she is fully recovered." After Nurse Tuffy-Tail was sure Sylvia was well enough she asked Macawber if he would help just one more time and assist Sylvia back into an upright position. She turned her attention back to Sylvia and did not wish to be the one to pour salt on old wounds and in the kindest manner possible she said, "Now Sylvia, I am glad you are all fixed again and you have Macawber to thank for that and of course Mother Nature. However, perhaps you will remember next time that it never pays to cut corners just for a whim or sheer idleness. It has been a trying day for you and no doubt you will remember to keep to the straight and narrow or end up on the edge of another Dock." Macawber waited for their exchange to finish and obliged by helping the stricken snail into an upright position again. Sylvia thanked him for his upright assistance and lifted her antennae in a thoughtful manner. The snail promised that she would indeed never veer off into uncharted territory without first testing the lay of the land in future. The nurse looked askance and Sylvia added, "Oh and I promise not to cut anymore corners either," and looking at Macawber she added, "Thank you, Macawber for both your help and not placing me on your pecking order list. I promise not to go naked trail blazing again." Macawber looked at her fondly and merely said, "You are very welcome and we all have to learn our lessons, so do not worry. I have been stupid in my time, as you probably know." They all laughed when they remembered his past faux pas and they parted company, each with a different thought in mind and a smile on their face.

I am trying to obliterate myself here and it has worked almost but to do anything you need a primary photo. Having just spent an hour messing around getting rid and then having to return them because the above applies for sending friends reply comments it was frustrating and time consuming, time I can ill afford. So I had to put one back on then delete it and now I am back to square one so whatever is left will stay left. The reason for doing this is not to get numbers but to see if I can post anything as a faceless wall flower. Anyway, I am supposed to be packing and then all this will be a distant memory. I discovered that Mywasteofspace is better addapted to what I need so all this is a little accademic. I cannot remember what I was saying because I have had tea since starting this which meant cooking it and as the dishes want doing this seems the lesser of the two evils. Anyway, I have taken everything off so I don't get ratings because it takes me ages to go around thanking everyone and returning the favour so if there is nothing to rate then I will be underrated, underworked, pah, chance would be a fine thing. OK here goes nothing.

Aback. Shocked or surprised. Ablutions. Washes. Washing the body and hands. Add insult to injury. Make an already bad situation even worse. Added their weight. Put their support to and agreed with the view or argument. Administered. The past tense of administer which means to put on. Ado. A fuss Affluent. Wealthy. Affronted. Offended or hurt. Afloat. From the expression ‘Keeping Afloat’ or, Keeping Your Head Above Water. This means to survive when things are bad because if not then you drown. Afoot. What is/was in the process of happening. Afraid to say. Unfortunately, I do not want to say this but it has happened. Agitation Great worry or distress. Ahead of the field. In front. On top of any problem that may happen. Ailing. Ill, Sick. Aired. Spoken in public. Aired his views means to say what he thinks. Airy Clean and fresh, filled with clean air. Al Beano Albino or white or colourless. Alacrity. With great speed, eagerness and enthusiasm. Albeit. Even though. All and sundry Everyone, without exception. All over the place. Everywhere. All that was needed (to see what was wrong). This expression means The only thing that was required to see what was wrong All was not lost though means that not everything was wasted even though one thing was ruined.. This just means that even though the petals had been ruined something else happened that took place of the lost item. So, not everything was wasted. Alleged. Something that is said but has not been proved. Alternative methods. Different ways to the normal way of doing things. Amber Yellow. Amber-Embers. Yellow glowing ashes. Ambled. Walked slowly without much purpose or reason to it. Apparently. It seems like. Clearly. Appeased. Soothed, made him accept what had happened. Made him feel better. Appendage. An attachment. In this sense, the dogs are attached to the humans by leads or leashes. Apprehensive. Worried. Approach. A way of doing something. Different approach means another way of doing something. Around the corner. In the future. An event that has not happened is around the corner. As is the way. This is what happens as a normal course of events. As stiff as a board. Very stiff. Astute. Attain Reach, get. Auditory aids. Hearing aids. Back of his teeth. When you have something in your mouth, you keep your teeth together when you speak, if you have to. When you tell a lie, it is said that you speak through the back of his teeth. It is just an English expression. In other words, you are making sounds and words but you are not really meaning what you say. In this instance then Granddad B was speaking with a mouthful and telling a fib. Bade. Past tense of bid. In this case it means To say something, "Good bye." Also wish someone something. Bid has many different meaning depending on how it used but it means 'wished' in this instance. Badgering. A form of nagging of telling off. Badger-non-Grata. A play on the expression persona non grata. Someone who is not welcome anymore. Bagged. Obtained, Claimed. Barked up the wrong tree. This means they got the wrong end of the stick. Alternatively, they did not understand the situation and misjudged it. An English expression, which sees a dog chasing something and then catching it but because it is the wrong thing, it ends up barking up the wrong tree. Therefore, what he has chased was not what he thought and he was WRONG. Barley beards. As straw is left from the harvesting of grain crops so is the husk or empty seed heads. Barley is a type of grain, which has tufts growing with the grain on the seed head. These tufts are called beards. Basking in her glory. Showing off to the best advantage. Basking. Sitting or lying in a lazy manner usually under some form of light. Bats Inc. Bats can fly in the dark because they have highly sensitive hearing. Inc., is short for Incorporated, which is a form of Company or Business or Group. Battered. Bashed, bruised. Bay watch. Looking to see what was happening around the pond area. Beak brushing. Part of a courtship ritual, similar to kissing. Bear it in mind. Think about it for the future. Bear. In this case, it means Carry. If you cannot bear babies then you are unable to have children. In pregnancy, if you are pregnant then you bear a child or carry a child. Beat (of the day.) The area that is being patrolled. Te final beat of the day is the last time around the area checking it over. Beautifully kept. Well maintained, well looked after. Bedfellow. Partner. Someone who shares a bed with another. Bedraggled. Wet, dirty and untidy. Being put on the spot Being put in an awkward or difficult situation Being put on the spot Being put in an awkward or difficult situation. Bellowed. Called out loudly. Beloved. Loved one. Benevolent. Kind, caring also affectionate in this sense. Bill. See >Portland Bill Bimolar Depression. A form of depression that is like a pain in the Third Eye Tooth. A play on the word Bipolar Depression. (A made up word.) Bitten his tongue. A tongue is required in order to be able to speak. If you bite your tongue off you cannot speak. So Pip wished that he had bitten his tongue and then he would not have said what he just said. (My interpretation.) Blankly. With no expression on the face because what has been said has not been understood. Blasé. Not careful of what they are doing, giving no thought to anything that may happen due to their actions of not worrying. Blatant. In a Blatant manner. To do something intentional, in an open way so it is in full view. Blended. Interbred. Blind eye. Took no notice of what was being done, usually something that was wrong or something that should not be happening. Blow the diet. Never mind the diet, ignore the diet. 'Blue Grain' treats. Corn or grain, which has been treated with poison for killing rodents. It is coloured blue so that the birds do not eat it because in nature birds do not eat anything blue. Bluebell Hilltop. This is the top of a hill covered in the flower called bluebells. They are a Spring Flower usually underneath trees so it is a hilltop with trees and bluebells. Blurred. Indistinct, unclear, not properly visible, hazy. Blushed. A colouring that appears on the face when someone is embarrassed of feels uncomfortable with a situation. Bob along. Get by, live from day to day, and exist in a very basic manner. Surviving. Bobbed. The hopping movement of an animal jumping along. Body and soul. The mind and the body. Bogs. Irish marsh areas Bonded. Mated. Became partners. Bondings. Joining. Becoming a couple. Marriages, unions. Boomed. Shouted out in a very loud voice. Borrowed board and lodgings. A place to live in a temporary way that will be given back to the owner when another home is found. Bounded. Hopped, moved off in a bouncing manner. Bramble lodge A lodge is a home for certain animals, usually built with wood but in this sense it is just a home. Bramble is a name given to the Blackberry. It grows in thickets or thick patches and these patches are called Brambles. Therefore, it is a home built in or underneath the brambles. Branch of the family. Line of the family. Bread and milk banquet It is known that hedgehogs were given saucers of bread and milk to eat as a special treat or feast.. Breakout. In this sense, it means something that has emerged in small areas or amounts and is unwanted. This is what happens when there is an Outbreak. Breather. Rest. Bright and false sun. Bright light Brockden. A den is a home. Brock is the name given to a Badger. Therefore, it is the home of the badgers. Broke out of his shell. Hatched out of his egg Brunt. The main force or effect of something. Brushed it all aside. Tried to make it seem less than it was. Make it seem unimportant. Bull at a gate. Rushing in at things without thinking. Bulrush. A long stemmed plant which grown around the edges of ponds. Burnt her bridges. She cannot go back now or return to her old ways because she has burnt the bridges that were crossed to get her to her present situation or place. Burrower. Anything that digs a hole or tunnel. Bustled. Hurried, busy. Bustling. Move in a quick or hurried manner, usually noisily too. By the way. Incidentally. By your leave. With your permission, can I go? Cache. Store, something that has been saved and put away for use later on. Cake and eat it. To have cake and eat it means you are able to keep something even after you have used it up. So you have the cake, it is there in front of you but you are able to eat it and after you eat it, it is still there for you to see and hold on to. Came to pass. Occurred, Happened with the passing of time. Cannard. A French word meaning Duck. Captured. Trapped. Caring. Someone who is thoughtful or worries about others safety or wellbeing is caring. Carrot tops. Ginger topped, headed or haired. Carry out’s. Food that is taken or transported somewhere else. Cast away. Thrown away. Castaway. Here it means Thrown away. Although it also means lost somewhere. Catastrophe. Disaster, a big accident. Catching her breath. Stopping to rest. Centre of attention. The sole subject of attention or the only thing being noticed by everyone. Chagrin. Annoyance and disappointment about something that has happened. Chain of events. Events that happen one after the other. Happenings. Chamomile compress. A compress is a dampened piece of cloth. Chamomile is a flower. A chamomile compress is a dampened cloth that has been soaked in chamomile water. Changes of heart. Changed their view on something so they change their mind and decision. Changing climate. Change in the weather. Changing the subject. Moving the conversation onto something other than what was being discussed. Usually it is done on purpose to take the focus off a subject or topic of conversation. Chaos, Confusion, trouble. Character. Qualities of a person, animal or thing. Charades. A game where an action is given as the clue to a word or phrase. Charcoal, Burned wood used to fuel a barbeque. Chastise. Scold. Tell off. Chic. Smart, fashionable. Chortled. Laughed. Clatter. Clap. Clatter is a noise. Clap means to hit. The bell clappers hit the inside of the bell as they moved back and forth. Clean as a whistle. Very clean. Close quarters Near or close up. Not yet seen them a short distance away, only seen them from a distance or long way off. Clover. A plant. Clumsy. Careless. (In this case clumsy or careless actions. It can also mean careless with words which means saying something in a clumsy way that will hurt or offend the person being spoken to.) In a way that can cause hurt, damage to either, property, the body or someone else's feelings. Coax. Get some one to do something they do not want to do. This is done in a gentle way without it being too obvious that they are being told to do something that the other person does not wish to do. Coconut Cups. These are empty coconut shells broken in half and then filled with food. Coincidence. Something that happens by chance in a remarkable and unplanned manner. Comfort eater. Someone who eats to make themselves happy and contented. Common knowledge. Information that is known by everyone. Community The mice(or any group of animals, people etc.) who live in that area make up a community. Complementary. Something that is done in a way that helps the other treatment being given. Complimented. Praised, was shown respect. Compos mentis. Conscious or aware. This is a Latin expression. Compos meaning control. Mentis meaning mind. So, in control or aware. Donas was rarely Compos mentis so he was rarely in control of his mind and actions. The actual Latin expression for this is non compos mentis (No control Of Mind.) Comprehension. Understanding. Condensation. Moisture. Water droplets that form on the inside of windows and internal walls due to the warn damp air inside and the cold air outside. Indoor Dew. Confer. Discuss something at a meeting. Confided. Talked about whatever was in her mind Considered. Thought of. Consolation. Comfort to someone who is sad or disappointed. Conspiracy. A plot. Consternation, worry or concern. Constitutional. A walk, usually a short walk done on a regular basis for health reasons. It also means to do with somebody’s general make-up or build. Constructive manner. Helpful way. Also because it is describing building the nest which is a construction. So it is to do with building therefore it is a constructive way. Contented. Pleased, happy with life. Contradicting. Not agreeing with what has been said by arguing against what was said. Saying something completely different about that which has. Diction is speech. Contra means against. You are against what has been said and say this. Egg. The Grass is green. “No it is not green, it is blue.” This is a contradiction Cornered. Caught. Counsel. Give someone advice. Count my blessings. Counting the good things in your life and then not worrying about the bad ones that may exist. Courier. Tour guide. Leader. Court of Apple (Great). The great court of appeal. The High court. Court of Apple. A play on the words Court of Appeal. This is where people go to put their view across in respect of an argument in the hope that, this time, a judgement will be made in their favour. Courteous. Polite. Credentials. The proof that showed he was qualified or experienced in his work. Creeping upon her. Happening because she is getting old. It is something that happens without being noticed Crisis is a problem or disaster. If you are having an identity crisis, you are having problems with whom you are or what you are. Critters. Animals. A critter is usually refers to a small animal. Crossed. This is when anyone gets annoyed by someone else. Crow Carriers Inc. The delivery and despatch Company run by the crows Cub. A baby, a young animal of certain types. Culprits. The guilty person who is the cause of the trouble. Cum. Together with. Along with. Dandelion Clock. The Dandelion is a plant with a yellow flower head. The head goes to seed when it had finished flowering and turns into a huge white head of tiny seeds that blow away in the wind and then form the next dandelion plants when they fall to the ground. In England a seed head like this was blown to tell what the time was, not accurately though! The seeds are soft and fluffy. When a Dandelion stem is broken it has a white substance inside which is sticky and looks just like milk. The seeds also look like tiny wings. Dandilock. A sticky substance made from a mixture of the milk of the Dandelion stem and the fairy wings from the seed head. Dapper. Neat and elegant, usually in dress and manner. Dappling. Making spotted marks on something in different colours but in this case with light and shaded spots. Daunting. Difficult, hard to do. Dead legs. Numb legs through lack of blood circulation. Deaf ear (turned a deaf ear). Took no notice of what was said. Decaying. Rotting. Decrepit. Old and worn out Deeper into a hole. Getting more in to debt Delight. Joy. Delights and delicacies Enjoyable treats and exotic food. Departed. Something that has left or gone. Descended. Came down upon. It also means to go down or climb down. Deserting party. The person or people who have gone away. Determine. Find out. Dew is moisture from the damp air, which forms when the atmosphere is damp and cold. It settles on the ground usually late in the evening. Dew is there also in the early morning and evaporates as the sun gets on it during the day. 'dew-dropped' The petals were now covered in drops of dew. De-webbing and dusting the many chambers of the Lodge. De-webbing, is to get rid of the Cobwebs. Cobwebs are the homes made by spiders, using thread. Digits. Hands or fingers. In this case paws. Digweeds This is just a name for the people who owned the garden. Dimmed. Turned the light down or off Diner. A place to eat. Disbelief. In a fashion that showed that he could not believe it. Discarded slipper. A slipper that has been thrown away because it is old, or tatty and worn out, or too small. Disgruntled. Annoyed, put out. Disgruntlement. Annoyance. To make someone feel irritated or annoyed Disgust. Annoyance. Irritation. Disharmony. Trouble Disintegrated. Rotted, broke down in to tiny pieces, falls apart. Something that is biodegradable will disintegrate into tiny pieces and then completely break down. Dislodged. Got rid of something that was fixed onto a surface or in a fixed position. Dismay. Horrified sadness. Disparagingly. Looking in a disapproving way to show what you are feeling or thinking about something or someone, usually in a bad way. Display. Show Dissuade. Stop someone from doing something. The opposite of Persuade which means to get someone or make someone do something. Distraught. Upset or distressed. Dizzy-O-Therapist. A person who is trained to stop anyone going around in circles and walk in a straight line again. Dogged. Chased, hounded. Donas. The German way of spelling Donald. Done and dusted. Completed. Doom and gloom. (Not all doom and gloom.) This means that it is not all bad. Downfall. The thing that causes someone to fail at doing something or to ruin them Dozing. Sleeping lightly. Drained away. Soaked away and dried up. When a plug is pulled out of a full basin the water drains away Drakes and Ducks. Male ducks are Drakes. Female ducks are called Ducks. Therefore Male and Female Ducks. Dray. The name of the nest that squirrels build to live in. They are up in trees and look like a large, untidy mass of twigs and small tree branches, usually in the shape of a saucer. Dressing down. A good telling off. Drool. Dribble, usually when something is tasty looking it makes you wish to eat it and your mouth fills with saliva so you drool. Also, to look in a manner of wanting very much the thing you are looking at. Duck side of the pond. Similar to Dark side of life. It is a seedy place where undesirable people go. Duck‘n’Dive. This means to avoid things that are thrown at you in life. (In a word, Survive. (My interpretation of what I think it means).)+++++++ Duck-down life. A life filled with feathers that had no substance or meaning. It lacked body so was not a fulfilling life. Duckling. A Baby duck. Durable. Lasting a long time. Dust bath. The way birds clean themselves by covering themselves with dust. Dwelled. Lived. Dwelling. A home, a place to live in. A house is a dwelling. East Meets West. When two opposites get together and agree to become one and everyone is better for it. Eating his catch. Catch in this sense is what he has just caught. Usually it refers to something that a hunter might get. Like a fisherman comes home with his Catch. The catch would be the fish he has caught. Rollie thought he was chasing a worm, caught his tail and bit it. Therefore, his catch was his tail! Egg on the face. Be left in an embarrassing, awkward or humiliating situation due to making a mistake. (I am not sure where this comes from but maybe if you are too rough with an egg the insides burst out in your face.) Elders. A group of older people who are in charge of people due to their age as well as their knowledge and experience. Element. A habitat or area specially suited for someone or something. An area suitable for someone to thrive in because it is just right for them. Embellishment. This is like Embroidery. Adding bits on that were not there in the original version to make it sound or look more interesting. Ember-Glows (from glowing embers) This is the charcoal left over from a barbeque. Embers Remains from a fire, hot ashes. Embroiled. To get involved in trouble or a disagreement. Emerged. Came out, came through, come into site from being out of site. Emitted. Given off. A flower emits perfume so it gives off perfume. Enchanting moments. This is a play on words or another way to say – Chanting moments. This means to chant something at a time. Ensuing Offspring. The babies that were the result of the interbreeding. Ensuing. That which happens because of what has just been done. The outcome of an action is the ensuing action or following action. An event that occurs following an action. Ensuing. Time Passing. Time that has gone by. Enthralled. Amazed, enthralled, engrossed, captivated. Err. Here it means Make a mistake or error – the act of making a mistake or error. Espied. Seen, spotted. Eternal Flux, Eternal is Never ending. Flux is change or a flow or movement. It means that everything changes all the time so is always moving or flowing or changing in eternal flux Etiquette and good manners. The correct and proper way to behave. Evaded. Something that is hard to get or find Exalting. Raised, heightened, Intensified. Exasperated. Made angry usually caused by something annoying that has been repeated over again. Exceptions. This is something that is not normal or usual. Exhausted. Very tired through too much work or exercise. Exodus. A departure or movement away from somewhere, usually of a great number of people or things. Extinct. No longer exists or no longer lives anymore. Dinosaurs are extinct Extra sensory Aids. Same as main senses but it is a slight play on words too because it includes thinking as well. Extremely costly. Very expensive Eye for detail. Good at seeing small things at their best and in detail. Eye Q. The state or condition of the eye. Eyed up. Looked up and down whatever is being looked at or viewed. Eyes of the Law. Legally. All right because it is legal and accepted in Law. Eyes open and her paws on the pulse. Look, to make sure all is well and check physically that everything is all right too making sure everything is running smoothly and in working order. Face value. The actual value or meaning of something judged by what it looks or seems like. Faddy food. Fussy and fashionable food. Fair share. The share that is yours to have because it is owed to you. Fairy wings. Very fine seeds from the dandelion seed head. False and real feelers. Replacement and original whiskers. Family Fall Out. The loss of friendship between the two families. A Fall out is a disagreement or argument. Family's door. Put the blame on them.A281 Fan the flames. Do something that will increase the problem and make it worse. If you fan a fire it makes the flames bigger. Fanciful. Think of things that are not really happening and making more out of what is happening. Far and wide. Spread over a wide area or a large area. Far cry. Long way away from something. Far from Convinced. Not at all certain or sure Faraway Forest. A large wooded area that is a long way away. It is a name for this forest. Fare. Food. Fared. Got on, managed. Farther removed. Farther away from the original or first version, the news has become changed every time it was passed on to someone else. Fat ball A ball shaped lump of fat and seeds for feeding birds. It hangs in a green netting bag and is placed in a tree of bush for the birds to peck at. Fateful. Something that has important or bad consequences for the future. Feast Treat, good feeding Feelers (Full). Whiskers that are in full working order. Also, it is from the word Fulfil, which means to be accomplished or complete. Feelers. Whiskers (animal). Fend (for themselves). Feed themselves, look after themselves Feud. Disagreement, dispute, fight. Fib. A Fib is a very small fabrication of the truth or a little lie that is harmless. Finally dawned. Finally realised what it was. It finally dawned on him. He finally realised what it was. Fine and dandy. Well and good. All very good. Finer things in life. The better things in life. Something better than the normal thing. First aid apron. A piece of material tied around the front of the body that can carry small items, in this case First Aid products. Aprons have pockets for this purpose. Fluttering. Blowing gently in the wind or breeze. Fobbed off. Not be put off by any thing that was told to her. Focussed. Looking at something clearly and having a clear mind to concentrate on something. Foil. In this instance it means a good Contrast. Foolhardy. Stupid. Forage. To hunt for food Forage. To search or hunt, usually for food. Foresight. Looking into the future to see what would occur. Fork on the road. Another pathway leading off the main route. The road in front divides and becomes two roads. This is called a fork because it goes off in a different direction. Forlornly. Sadly Fortuitous. Fortunate. Found him out. Discovered that he was not good and what he was really like Found slacking. Discovered to not be doing what was meant to be done because it was their duty to do the job. Founded. Something that has been stated and discovered to be true. Four-legged appendages. This means dogs. Foxy. Craft, clever, cunning, deceitful. Frantic. Wild, irritated, worried. Fraught. Full of tension and anxiety. Worried. Frequenting. Go to a place very often. Fresher fields. Like pastures new but here, it means cleaner or untouched or unspoilt fields. Freshly risen and ripe The moon is Full - it has only just risen. from a distance long way off Frost is a frozen dew. Frozen to the spot. Unable to move. Fruit-a-tarian. A creature that only eats fruit and nuts. Fruitless. Producing nothing. Pointless, empty. Frustration. A feeling of exasperation or disappointment because of not being able to do something. Full swing. Back to normal action again Full well. Completely, very well, exactly, precisely. Fumigation advice. Advise on cleaning – the air, to get rid of an infestation or a bad smell etc. Fur 'n' Hair Courses. These are lessons in how to look after the fur or hair in a natural way rather than using chemicals. Further ado. More fuss. furtive Secret Fuzzy. Hazy. Not clear. Gander. A male goose. A goose is a large type of bird. Gary. A male name. Gasped. Breathed in quickly because of the big surprise. Usually this is loud to show the surprise or shock. Gingerly. Slowly and carefully. With caution. Glazer. Someone who cuts and handles with glass. Glee. Much happiness Glowing confirmation. Good or excellent confirmation. Also, because it was the embers that glowed, he was confirming that they were glowing in the dark. Goes to show. Proves. Good authority. From a reliable and trusted source. They had it on Good authority means they had been told by a reliable person or creature. Gossamer. Very light, flimsy and delicate material, in this case paper. Graciously. In a pleasant and polite way. Flustered. Grass eater A grass cutter or lawn mower, which is a machine used to keep grass short and neat. Grudging. To do something that you do not really wish or want to. Grudgingly. Done in a way that shows the person does not really wish to do it. Grumble. Complain. Guinea pig Test subjects Animals or People. Hackles. Spikes, spines. When an animal is angry its hair, fur or spikes (in Penny's case) go up to show their anger. Had it in him. Had the courage to do it or the ability to do it. Halted in her tracks. Stopped suddenly. Hands dirty. They did not like doing hard work or dirty work so they did not like to use their hands for work. Harbouring. Keeping. Hard for them to even hear themselves squeak. Hard to hear themselves speak because of the increase in noise. Hare today, gone tomorrow. Not one to stay in one place for long. Always changing Harmonious. Trouble free. In harmony, peaceful. Harsh. Hard. Haste. Hurry. Hatch. The young that had hatched out from the eggs. Young family of the ducks. Hay fever. An irritation caused by pollen which causes coughing and sneezing. Heading out. Going. Heartily. Very much so. Heavily with babies. Very pregnant and towards the end of pregnancy. Hedgehog. A small member of the rodent family. They live under hedges and in the undergrowth. They are covered in spiky spines, like a porcupine but much smaller. They sleep over winter and this sleep is called Hibernation. The hedgehog curls up into a ball shape and in this position, it is fully protected by the spikes. The under part of their bodies is soft and slightly furry and their faces are furry too, which is why they curl up to protect these soft parts. They have very long snouts for finding and gathering insects from the ground. Hedgerow. Here it means ground at the bottom of a hedge, underneath a hedge. It actually means a long row of bushes or small trees that form the hedge These usually grow at the side of the roads or paths to make a barrier. Heed the advice. Take notice of the advice (instructions or helpful information given by another person.) Henry Hunnybun. The name of the Baker. He is a rabbit. Heralded. Sounded, announced. Hessian bags. Hessian is the name of the cloth/material the bags are made of. It is a strong material so can hold heavy items like rice, wheat and potatoes. It is not used much now for making bags. HiberNation. The name of the place where creatures go when they are in hyperspace. Hiberspace. The place animals go when they go into hibernation or into the long winter sleep. High-jinx Playful behaviour or playful games, Hilarity. Amusement. From the word hilarious. Hippocrates Hoot. The name of the Doctor running the National Hoot Service. Hither and thither. Here and there. All over the place in a random way. Holey. Filled with holes. Home and dry. Back home safely Hop Pole. Another play on words. This is from the expression Deed poll. This is a way of changing your name legally so a Hop Pole is a legal way of changing your name if you are an animal. Hoptician. Optician. Horse's Mouth. An English expression. This means it is the original version directly from the source of the story or the genuine source, although I do not exactly know where the expression came from or why it actually means the very first version of the story. I have been told that it is an expression from Horse Racing and the Horse says, "I am going to win!" Hot fog Smoke Hot under the collar. Uncomfortable. Hotch Potch, Mixture, usually not very organized mixture Hotly. Strongly House calls. Visits made by someone to a house usually for business or professional reasons. Humbly. Showing respect. Humdrum. Boring, tedious. Ice was broken. The ice was broken and starting to thaw or melt to make way for the warmth. The coldness (hostility) had gone and the warmth (of friendship) was returning. Icing on top of the cake. This is even better than having cake and eating it because there is something better on top of what you already have been given which you can eat and still keep. Ideals. Standards. Identity crisis. Giving something a name saves mistaking someone for someone else, i.e. mistaken identity. Ill-gotten gains. Items that are gained unfairly or illegally Ills & problems. Bad health and problems. Immune become resistant to something and able to survive the effects that something has upon them. Impart. Give. Impartiality. Not taking anyone's side in an argument. Neutral. Impending. Forthcoming marriage or marriage that is soon to happen. impression of recognition and respect - a sign that the person is well thought of and known to the other creature/person In as much as because. In Hoot means indoors but anaesthetic is required a room but nothing large or deep. In one piece. Safe and sound. Safely In one piece. Safe and sound. Safely. Incident. Happening, event. Inconsiderate. If someone is inconsiderate they are thoughtless and do not think about anyone being affected in a bad way by their actions. A person who plays loud music at 4am when the baby next door is sleeping is called inconsiderate or thoughtless because he wakes the baby who can then not sleep due to the noise. Increasing the boundaries making an area bigger all the way around in every direction. Incurred. To get or receive something. Indignity. A situation whereby the person experiencing this emotion has been shamed or humiliated. Infestation. A large amount of things usually insects or bugs in or on something where they are not supposed to be. If hair is full of lice is said to be, 'infested with lice' or covered with lice. Infonet. Internet. Initial consultation. First examination where the problem was discussed and discovered so that it could be treated. In a consultation, details are taken about the problem and then treatment is given when the problem has been discovered. Innocent. Something that is done by mistake and not done on purpose. Innovation. New idea. Inspired. Made some one think of something. intact Not touched, new, whole or complete Interior decorating. Decorating the inside of a building. Intervened. Stepped in. Stepped in between two parties. Intrigued. Awed. Jaded. Here it means Bored. It can also mean tired, exhausted or worn out with life. Jangle and clap. Bells have what is called clappers inside which make the ringing sound when the bells are rung. They Clap (hit) the insides of the bell When bells move rapidly it is called jangling. The bells moved (jangle) and made a noise (clap). These are bells hanging over a door in order to let anyone know the door has been opened or closed. Jumped for joy. Jumped up and down to show their pleasure. Karma. Fate, destiny, Kismet. What you have given out is what you receive back. It is your destiny to get this back because you deserve it. Kassandra. A female name Kicked himself. Punished himself. Knot of apprehension. A feeling of great fear deep in the pit of the stomach. Lame duck. An English expression meaning someone who cannot do anything so they are useless. A lost cause. Languidity (made up word). This word exists in the form of Languid. Without energy or movement. Staleness, still, motionless due to lack of energy. Languidity is the state of being languid. Lapped. Took it in with much pleasure. Also means a way of drinking liquid. Larder. Store cupboard, usually for food. Last straw. The final thing that caused everything to snap or collapse. In this case it made Donas angry. Lawn. A stretch of grass that is kept cut and well maintained rather than just being a strip of untidy grass, which is usually called scrubland or the roughs. Leaf-Litter time. Autumn. Leapt into the air. Jumped Leapt out of his skin. Jumped up sharply or quickly with great force in fright Learned is found out or discovered Leisurely. An action that is done in a slow and lazy manner. Unhurried. Leisurely. Relaxed and lazy time. Lighten his load. Ease his burden Lit up. Filled with pleasure at a nice surprise. Lizzie La Conic. A name for a very rude Lizard. As mentioned earlier La Conic is misinterpreted by me to mean laid back and lazy. Lodge A lodge is a home for certain animals usually built with wood but in this sense it is just a home Long-standing. Something that has gone on for a long time. Loosen the legs. Ease the aches in the leg muscles and make them more flexible for better movement. Lopez Loppy-Ear. Lopez is a hare. He has very large and floppy ears. Lore of the Land. Another play on words. It means the Law of the Land or something that is accepted because it is normal or usual and legal in that place. Lore is also a story or happening. So a happening in the land or country that is accepted. Loss for words. Speechless. Unable to say anything in reply to what they have just been told. Lost its appeal. Became boring. Because of this it no longer interested her. Lotions and potions. Fluid substances for putting on the body, some are just liquids and others, potions, contain healing substances. Lull. A short time when no conversation has happened. A time when no talking has happened. Maddening. Annoying, infuriating Made in Heaven. A wonderful thing. Made their bed. Where they now lived and slept. Mafia. An Italian secret crime Organisation. Main Sense. Sight, hearing, taste, smell are Main senses. Main stream. The normal flow or way of life. Maintained. In this instance it mean kept, looked after. The garden was well looked after so it was neat and tidy. Make do and mend. Put up with something that you have, use it then when it breaks, mend it rather than getting a new one. Using what you have to make what you need. Making Ends Meet. Just surviving on the money that is coming in, just about living and paying the bills but there is nothing left to spend on anything else. Masons. In England, we have an Organisation called the Masons and they are skilled people like carpenters, builders, etc. plasterers and trades' people. They belong to an Organization called the Masons. It is a secret organization just as the Mafia is a secret crime organisation. Material Nest. Because the nest was made of cloth, it was material. Also, material means physical or solid. Matriarchs. Mothers, usually the head of the household. Mediator. A person who sees both sides of an argument and helps to decide which is right or wrong. Also someone who brings peace due to his action of mediating between two groups who disagree with each other. Medicinal patchworks. The petals are used for healing purposes, so they are used in medicine. Medicinal means it is good for healing purposes or is Therapeutic. In this instance the rose petals are used on the skin so are called patches. Many patches are called patchwork. A patchwork quilt is made many squares of material sewn together to make up the whole piece of material which is then made into the cover for the quilt. Mediterranean hug. A greeting of open friendship between two people or, in this case, animals. Mentally, physically and asset wise too. Mind body and money. Everything is kept in good working order for him. Mentioned in passing. Something that was said by someone as they went by or in conversation with another person when they met and passed by each other. Migratory. Moving from one area to another. In this case from Germany. Miles away. (This is called A metaphor in English.) In this respect, it means far away in a daydream. Not fully conscious of what is happening. Mimicry. To copy someone else’s actions or words. Minding their own flock. Minding their own business. Minute. This means tiny or very small. It is also 1/60th of an hour. The two meanings have a different pronunciation of the word minute.. Misconstrued. Misinterpreted. Misdemeanour. Minor misdeed. Mishaps Accidents. Misinformed. Ignorant. Not well taught. Mite. A tiny bug that causes skin irritations. Mixture. A blend. Offending Mixture is a blend that was somewhere where it was not wanted or should not have been. Moons ago. Months ago. Mused. Thought about something in a dreamy way.

'N' A shortened way of typing AND. Narked. Irritated, annoyed. Narrowly escaped. Only just managed to get out of National Hoot Service. A play on words. In England, we have the National Health Service, which is the health service for the whole of England that is run by the Government. The National Hoot Service is run by Dr. Hoot therefore it is Owlopathic. National Hoot. National Health. Naturally orientated. Built in the way that nature intended. Needled. Annoyed, angered or angry. Negotiating working to agree on something. Nest egg. Savings that are saved for the future, which will be useful or needed years later when times are not as good. Nest rest. A period of rest and recovery from illness or trauma. Rehabilitation, Convalescence. Nestless. Homeless Nettle numbing gel is a substance made from nettles. Nettles are a plant that when touched cause much pain and stinging. They are called Stinging nettles. The leaves are hairy and when they brush the skin, they cause great irritation and leave a stinging sensation on the skin. This stinging causes the skin to feel numb so there is no feeling at the point the nettles touched. This substance then has been made into a gel for killing pain because it anaesthetises (kills pain) the area. The nurse put the anaesthetic substance to stop the patient’s pain. New pin. Bright, shiny and new. Nibbled and gnawed. Bit gently and then bit with more determination or harder using the front teeth. Nick in Rolie's Tail = Small cut or groove in Rolie's Tail. Nigh on. Nearly, almost. Nightly attired. Nightly clothed, they were dresses in pale clothing at night. Nightmare of life may not be fair but Dreams are never in vain no matter how you view them. This means that even though life can be awful dreams are there for a reason No end. So much, a great deal, huge amount. Help no end - There is no way to say what a great amount this will help. No harm in trying. There is no reason to not try it because nothing bad would happen if they did. Nom de plume. This is a French expression and translated it means Pen name. A name used by someone, usually a writer, to hide their real identity. In history, women were not allowed to write books publicly so to do it they had to use a false name, A Masculine (male) Name, to publish their work. None-the-less. Even so. Nonplussed. Surprised, confused and unsure of what to say. Normal or formal. Usual or routine Nourishment. In this instance it means food. Nurtured. Fed, looked after, also can mean loved. Oak Practice, This the name of Dr. Hoot's Surgery. Where a doctor works is called a Practice, because at this place he practises his medicine or does his job. Owls mainly live in Oak Trees. Obligatory. Required my law or rules or conscience to do something. A38 Obliged. Pleased or thankful. Also indebted or owed. Occupants, Residents, people who live in a place. O'Drake. An Irish surname for a duck. Offbeat. Different to the usual. Unusual. Not normal. Offending. It is something that should not be where it is. It causes irritation or hurt. Offending. Something which is the cause of the trouble or problem. Offered. Given, given out. Offspring. The Children or babies of the ones who had bred. Olive branch Gave a peace offering and apologised Ominously. /Something that looks to be in a horrible and threatening manner. Omitted. Forgot of left something out usually a piece of information but can be an item that was not put in. In this case it was something that was said. One and all. Everyone. Open minded. Prepared to look at everything and believe anything until it was proven to be false or wrong. Not judging straight at the first sight or hearing of something different or not normal. Open surgery = Surgery out in the open air or outside - no anaesthetic is required. Opportune. An ideal moment Organization. A group of people who belong to or are members of a Club. Out of favour. Not Out of sight, out of mind. When something is like this it means they are not thought about because they are not there to remind you of them. This goes for any object that is not within immediate sight. Out of your way. Go somewhere that is not on the intended route or path that was being trodden Outbreaks. A sudden occurrence of something, usually something not very nice. Outburst. A flood of emotions, words etc. Outlook on life. A way of looking at life. In this case it is to do with Penny's eyesight Outlook. Style, a way of wearing something. Also, Vision or sight. Out-ratted. Out numbered. Over proud. Too proud. Overboard. Over did it. Overcome. Get over or Get the better of something, usually a problem. Overrun. This means the area has become filled with something unwanted to the point where it is overflowing. Overwhelmed. Affected by having too much of something. Inundated, having too much of something to be able to cope with it. When the emotions have been completely affected, in this case not a good way. Overwhelmed. Totally affect someone's emotions in a nice way. Owlopathic. A form of medicine. The normal form of medicine in the West is Allopathic so it is this form of medicine but carried out by and Owl. The alternative type of healing or medicine is called, either Complementary, Alternative or even Fringe. In India, it would be Ayer Veda and in China, well Chinese Medicine. Pan out. Work out. Parentage. From where someone originates. Parents. Partial. Likes something or is fond of something. Passage of time. Passing of time. Passed pleasantries. Had a short and pleasant/polite conversation. Pastime. Hobby, something that is done for pleasure. Pastures New. Somewhere different to live or even work. Pasty. An unhealthy pale colour, usually referring to someone who does not get much sun or is ill so their skin is pale. Patchworks. See Medicinal Patchworks. Patio Plates. These are the paving stones or slabs that make up a patio floor area. Patronizingly. A way of looking down on someone and the manner in which you treat them because you feel more superior or better than they are. Patsy Purr Purr's Patisserie. Patsy is the cat running the cake shop and café. Patisseries are sweet pastries and cakes grouped together. It is from the French language. Patter of tiny feed. This is said when children or babies start running around the home. Patter is the quiet noise made by small feet. Paws and claws crossed on that finding." Fingers crossed on that outcome or conclusion of the trial. Hopping that everything will be all right. Paws to stand on. This is yet another English expression. It is actually Leg to stand on. However, as they are animals it is Paws instead of Legs. Even though you own paws, you cannot even use them to stand with because they are useless to you. The law has been written and nothing can change it, even though there is proof that you are right. Everything has been taken from you even the legs you stand on are no good to you. This needs confirming. Pearls of Wisdom. Advice, helpful comments. Pecking diet (sweet and sticky). A diet of someone who has a sweet tooth and who pecks or picks at their food rather than really eating for the enjoyment of it. Peeped. Looked out in a manner that would be unseen by anyone. Looked secretly. Peering. Looking in an enquiring manner or looking into somewhere where there is not much light. Perimeter. The outer limits of a piece of land. Perspectives. Views, sides. Perturbed. Worried, Put out. Petaphorically. A play on the word Metaphorical. This means something is said which describes the event or item but it is said in a way that is not literally the meaning. So, if you say someone is a cheeky monkey. You are not saying that they are a monkey you are just stating that they act like a cheeky monkey. If some one is Away with the Fairies. They are not actually with the Fairies but they are not here. Like Miles Away. This does not mean that someone is physically miles away from here. It just means that their mind is not paying attention to what is happening around them. Philandering. Flirting, having an affair, usually not legal or not wanted. Pickings. Spoils, that which has been collected in the way of food or treasure. Piecemeal. A bit at a time as they went along. Pity. Feel sorry for someone. Placid. Calm. Pluck up the courage. Summon up the courage. Plucked up the courage. Found the courage to do something that was dangerous or hard for them to do because they did not wish to do it. Plumage. Feathers. Plumeologist. Someone who specialises in diseases of the Fur, feathers and skin. Podium. The stand or standing point Pond life. In this instance it is the seedy residents of the pond. Pop in later. Go in later when I pass by there again. Portland Bill. Portland does not have a proper name as such but the area he polices (looks after) is called Portland. Portland is, however, a Stork in charge of law and order in and around the Portland pond. In England The Bill is a derogatory/informal name for The Police. Storks have beaks which in turn are called bills so it was a form of word play. Also there is an island and sea area off the South coast of England called Portland Bill. It produces pure white limestone which is used in building. Many buildings in London were built with this white limestone when it was rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The word Bill has many other meanings too. In respect of the Island though it means a narrow strip of land. Coincidentally, Portland is a pure white stork rather than a black headed one. A white coloured stork is usually portrayed carrying babies wrapped up in a knotted hanky en route to delivering the babies to their parents. Therefore the stork is seen as a nurturing creature which Portland is too. +++++++++++++++++++ Portland Bill's beat. The area he looks after. A beat is a patch of land that someone walks around whilst looking after it. Portland. This is just the name of an area. Potent and unpatented natural Pest-ridding Potion. Very strong Potion used for getting rid of pests, i.e. lice. The ingredients are made from natural substances rather than chemicals and it is not possible to Patent something that is made in Nature or from the Earth. Poultry fee. Small amount of money. Also, Poultry is a name for certain groups of birds. Practical. Useful. Preening. Grooming or cleaning feathers with the beak, or fur by using the tongue. Also it means taking a very long time to look after the appearance when dressing and making many unnecessary changes to the hair and face. Presentable. Smarter, cleaner and feeling better to face the world. Prickle bonnet. A name given to the hedgehogs. They are covered in spiky spines, like a porcupine but smaller. So they have a prickly head. Bonnet is a hat, also the head. Prickle. A sharp spike usually small. Prickly Heat Rash. This is a rash, which happens when it is damp and the body is damp with the heat. Pip has hackles and these are known as prickles(thorns, spikes) so he gets a rash on his prickles. Prickly describes something that has spikes. Prickly Pride. Irritated pride. It means a type of pride that gets in the way of the person having a normal attitude to life and themselves. Penny is a little quick tempered and Prickly also means sharp tempered or having a temper. Also, Penny is covered in Prickles. Pristinely. Clean and new, clear and neat. Proceedings. Events, happenings. Profound. True. Profusely Very much. Prospective. Something that is hoped will happen or likely to happen. Provisions. Food. Provoked. Made to do something. Something that makes someone do something. Prowess. The ability to do a job well. Pure bred. Completely pure Put it out of mind. Not think about it. Put on hold. Deferred. Stopped until a later time. Breathing put on hold. To hold the breath in anticipation of what was about to happen. Put out. Out of joint, pushed out of place. Put up with it. Make do and suffer its bad effects. Put yourself in their shoes. A Metaphor meaning putting yourself in someone else’s place or situation. Quackalot. A surname of a duck that talks too much. Quacking and Quaffing, or Quack and Quaff. This means Talking and Drinking or Talk and Drink. Quagmire. A difficult situation. A marshy area that is very soft so it is not easy to walk on without sinking into it. Therefore it is difficult. Quaking. Shacking with fear. Quirks. Odd or strange happenings or events that happen in life. It also means strange habits, strange ways of behaving. Quizzically. In a questioning way which shows how you feel about something, in this case in an amused way as well as a questioning one. Raffia Reunion-type greeting. A secret greeting known only to members of the Raffia in order to identify these members to each other Raffia. This is a wordplay of Mafia. The rodent or rat Mafia. See also Masons. Raising the hatch. Bringing up the youngsters. Rapidly set. Went hard quickly. Rapidly. Quickly Rash-ridden. Covered in a rash, Covered with irritated patches on their skin. Rat-rage. Anger felt by a rat. Recall. Bring to mind, remember. Reciprocated. Give back whatever was given in the same manner or gesture that it was given to you. If you wave back at someone you have reciprocated their wave to you. Recount. Tell a story again. Recriminations. When people blame each other for something this process is called recrimination. Reedy. An area filled with reeds which are pond plants. It is also a play on the word Seedy which means not nice or not respectable. Refreshments. Food and drink, usually a small meal or snack. Refurbishment. A form of construction work, which repairs and renews a building. Rehabilitation. Help to return back to good health or a normal life, giving them the training or help needed to do this. Rejected. Not chosen Re-kindle. Re-light, Renew. Re-knitted. Remade. Reluctantly. Not wanting to do something. Remaining families The families who had stayed there and not moved away. Reminiscence. Thinking about the past events. Repast. Food or meal. Residency is where a resident resides. A Home is where the Creature/Person, Lives. Residents are people or animals who live in a place, like a nest, house, flat, tree. Resigned. Become used to his life because he knows he cannot do anything to change it. Respected. Well thought of. Highly thought of Respective. Own. Their respective means Their Own. Rest and reflexion. Relax and think about things that have happened today or in life. Reflexion here means to look back. Rest in peace. After bread is made it has to stand in order to rise before being baked. This is called letting the bread rest. Retorted. Replied in a very quickly or sharply (in a snappy fashion). Reunion. A meeting of old friends after a long absence from each other’s company. Ripe moons Full Moons. Rodent. This is the name given to rats and mice and several other small creatures like Guinea pig, Gerbils etc, hamsters, ferrets. These have similar teeth used for gnawing. A small gnawing creature. Rodentene, Rattertoui. These are just names. Rats are Rodents. Rattertoui is meant as an Italian Rat. Root cause. That which started the problem. The reason. Rose tinted spectacles. Another English expression. This means looking at something through eyes that see things being wonderful when they are not wonderful at all. Putting a beautiful meaning to things that are seen or things that are happening. Rota Turn, it is their turn to do the chore. It is from the word rotation. Round in circles Usually means that someone just goes round and around not going anywhere because they have lost there sense of direction. Rounded on him. Came around on him. Turned on him in a bad way also because he was going round in circles. Routine. Normal or usual pattern of activity. Something that is done on a daily of regular basis. Rubbing her up the wrong way. Annoying her. It refers to fur being stroked the wrong way which is irritating to the creature having this done to them. Rudimentary. Basic, the basics for everyday living. Ruffled. To have the feathers raised either in defence or when grooming. It also means annoyed or irritated. Untidy feathers. Rummaging. Looking for something in a careless and messy manner. Rusty Reynard. A fox called Rusty. Reynard is a name usually given to the Fox like Brock is the name given to Badgers. Sackcloth. This is just a name given to a mouse. The mice made their homes with material that was taken from a sack or bag. The sacks used to be made of fabric rather than paper. So it is material bag or material sack. Sacking. A bag made of cloth or material. Saga. Story, tale Sanctuary. A place of safety. A shelter from anything harmful or dangerous. Sandwiched. Fitted or wedged tightly between two layers or objects Scampered. Hurried or scuttled. It is a quick movement done by an animal in order to move quickly. Score. On that score. For that reason. Scrub down. This is the wash that surgeons have before doing surgery or operations. Scrutinizing. Looking closely at something to examine it. Scurried. A cross between hurry and scuttled. This is more a term referring to a speeding animal. Usually a mouse or rat. Scuttle. Walk quickly. Secluded. Quiet, far from civilisation, somewhere private. Secret Movement. A secret or hidden organization. Secret organization is also called a secret movement or underground movement. This means they are hidden or secret organizations. See MASONS Seemingly. Looked like it could or might be. Seemed to be. Self-respecting means someone who cares about himself for his survival or health. Someone who believes in their own worth and dignity. Sense of direction. The feeling that describes that you know where you are going. Sent them hopping. Made them go away. Fleas hop when they move. Serendipity Happy accident. An event that happens which is an unscheduled event, also a good one, is classed as a happy accident. This is in turn called Serendipity. Set. Went hard or turned solid from a liquid state. Seven years bad luck. A time span given as to how much bad luck would occur after breaking a mirror. Seven years is a complete cycle in the life of a creature as it is said to be the length of time it takes for every part of the body to completely renew itself. Whether this scientifically correct is hard to confirm. Shady side. (bog). The bad or ‘rough’ part of the bog where the undesirable or wicked ducks go. Shaking a tail feather. Dusting or gentle cleaning tasks. Shamefully. Badly. Shamefully treated means not treated in a good or proper way. Sheep’s clothing. Dressed and disguised, pretending to be something nicer than was the case. Sheepishly, in an embarrassed manner. Shepherded. Guided along, ushered, moved along in a direction the person doing the shepherding wishes them to go. Shop hop. Move shop. Shop Hopper. Going from shop to shop Short comings. The degree by which you are unable to do something. Short cut (home). A way or road taken which is shorter than the normal way or road, in this case, back home. Short sighted. In this, it means not looking far into the future to see what will happen later. Looking only very near, time wise, to what is happening now only. Shortfall. The amount by which something is short of what is required. Any Short-sighted. Not able to see very well. Show of character. Something that shows what the person is actually like. Sidetracked. Put off. If you are sidetracked you are sent somewhere different to where you wanted to go. Sidney Spinners' World Wide Web. Sidney Spinner is a spider who built the Web or Internet here. Sight and sound clinic. A clinic where the eyes and ears were tested and treated. Sight and sound. Eyesight and hearing. Similar manner. In a similar way or fashion. In a way that is nearly the same or similar. Sink in. Another English expression meaning to make something stay in the mind or memory. Sitting Tenants. This refers to the fleas that hedgehogs get in their spikes. A sitting tenant is not easy to get rid of in a normal way. Sligo. A name. However, sly means crafty and go means to leave. He left his partner and was a sly creature too! Slumber. Sleep. A period of sleep. Snapped. Said something in a very angry manner also very quickly. Snippet. A small piece of something, in this case it is information or news. Snout. Nose – the very end of the nose, usually an animal's nose. Snuffled. Sniffed. Also to look for something – sniffed something out (tried to find something). Snuffling. Searching in a noisy way by using the nose. So called. Alleged. Meant to be. If you say you are his 'friend' when you are not his friend at all then you have 'said' it (so called). Sociable. Friendly Soil Mason’s salutation. A secret greeting known only to members of the Soil Masons in order to identify these members to each other. Soil Masons. Rodents are good at digging soil so are called Soil Masons. Soil Toil Hard work Soothed. Calmed. Sophisticated. Adult, self-confident also complex and not ordinary Sore-paw-osis. It is an inflammation of the joints similar to Arthritis but in animals. Sound asleep. I take this to mean that you are asleep to the point that a noise would not wake you up. Sleeping very deeply. Sound working order. Good working order. Source. Supply, where it came from. Spacious. Large, roomy. A spacious garden is one with a lot of space or area. Spare grain. Nothing spare to use for paying anyone Spectacles. In this case, it means Glasses for seeing. Spectacular. Amazing to see or watch. Also Penny just broke her glasses and they are also called spectacles. Therefore spectacular means relating to spectacles. Spellbound. Being totally drawn and enthralled by something. Spent out. Very much in debt because the money or savings have all been used or taken. Spider's Silk. The yarn that is woven by Spiders to make their webs. Spin a good yarn. Tell a good story Spluttered. Spoke in a hesitating manner of coughed the words out. Spoken in jest. Said in a joking manner. Spotted. Another meaning is that the item is covered in spots or dots. Spotted. In this instance, it means Seen, noticed. The item was spotted. The item was noticed or seen. Spread his wings. Fly for long periods. Spring Green time. Spring time. Spring Green. Spring. Spun and stretched beyond belief. Totally exaggerated and changed from the version that was true. Square one. Back at the beginning where they started. In this case, it would mean the rodents would get their rashes back and become ill. Squeak intact. Voice in good order. She had lost everything but still had her voice even though everything else was gone she could still talk. Also, she had kept happy. Mice squeak when they speak. Squeaked up saying. Spoke up and said. Squeaky clean. Very clean. Also, they are rats so they squeak! Squiffy. Slightly drunk and not able to think or behave properly. Squint. Look through eyes that are almost closed. Squinted. Looked at something with eyes slightly screwed or closed in order to make something more visible. State of the art Practice. Modern and up to date Stem. In this instance, it means Stop, halt. Stork of the Town. A word play on Talk of the Town. Portland is well known, well liked and is always spoken of fondly. Straight'n'waddle. Another way of saying Straight and Narrow. This means to walk straight down a narrow road without going off anywhere. By going off the road it means to do something bad or wrong. To walk a long, straight and narrow road whilst being good all the way from beginning to end. Straw splints Straw is what remains when wheat or rice has been harvested. It is the stalks of the plant and the empty heads. Splint is usually a piece of wood or something rigid that is used to make something stronger, give it support and stops the bone moving so it mends properly.. When a leg is broken, a splint is taped to the leg and this gives it support making it strong enough to use for walking. Structural faults. Faults in the way the nest was built. Stuck fast. Glued firmly. Substance. Not strong, having no body or strength. Sunburst. A short time in the sunshine. Sundry. Means various things but usually refers to one type or group of things. (All and sundry.) Everyone without exception. Sunk in. The information has been retained and the meaning understood. Supping. Drinking in a relaxed way. Similar to sipping but taking pleasure with the actual drinking. Swabbed. Wiped or dabbed with a pad of material. A swab is a surgical wipe. To swab means to wipe a would with a surgical wipe. Swanley. A family name for the swans. Swept her of her waders. Made her fall heavily in love. Swept under the carpet. Something that has been hidden from view so it is not thought of. Taken aback. Surprised. Taken sides. In an argument, if you take sides it means you agree with one of the people and their opinion in the argument rather than the other. Therefore, you give your support to that person. In a game two Sides play each other and taking Sides is support one team rather than the other. Tale embroidery. Embellishing stories with something that was not in the original version so they are no longer true or just altering them to make them sound better. Tale spinning. Story telling. Tales of woe. Stories of sadness and sad happenings. Tall Walkers Humans Tea and sympathy. Sit with someone and listen to their problems and then feel then give too much support to them because you sense, understand and share their feelings. Tending. Looking after. Tentatively. Something that is done uncertainly and in a careful way. Thin on the Ground. (A Metaphor.) This means there will not be much left of it. When seeds are planted if they are planted a great distance apart then there are not many seeds in one area. So they are thin on the ground. When you do plant many seeds in one area and need to get rid of some, it is called Thinning out the Seeds. Tidal flow. Rush of something happening usually something bad. Titbit. Tiny bits or pieces. Tongue-in-cheek. Another English expression. When you say something that you do not mean in a joking way, knowing that you are saying it, you put your tongue to the inside of your cheek and then speak the words. This causes the lips to be in a form of smile, so you are saying it in a joking fashion and it shows that you do not mean it. Took her mind off. Stopped thinking about something. Tool of Freedom. The instrument that was used to free whatever or whoever was caught or trapped. Tools of your trade. That which is used to do the job with depending on what the occupation is. A plumber uses different tools to an electrician. Plumbing and electronics are a Trade or occupation. Bakers use their hands so these are the tools of his trade. Torrid. Passionate and heated. Tortuous. Long and difficult also a play on the word Torture. Touted. Put forward as an opinion. Transformation. A change from something into another form. Transpire. Turn out, happen, occur. Trepidation. A feeling of fear Tuffy-tail. Another name. This is for the squirrel. Their tails are fluffy with lots of furry tufts and is long so it is a cross between tuft and fluffy. 'Tug-a-ball' A game. Turned in her grave. Upset them because they would not like what had been done. Tutted. A sign of disapproval or annoyance given audibly so the disapproval is known to others. Tutting. Making disapproving noises. Tweaks. Minor or small adjustments/alterations to something. Twig is a small branch. Tea is made from different parts of plants not just the leaf. Uh Oh. Oh no, Oh dear. Unbreatheable Not safe to breathe. Unceremoniously. Without any niceties. Under the carpet. Where it will not be seen. Underground Movement. A secret or hidden organization. Underground network. A communications system. Undermined. Here it means, Worn away from underneath or below. Underoak Major surgery requiring special care and maybe anaesthetic. Undesirables. Things that are not wanted because they are not nice. Uniform. The same. Everything looks, feels or happens in the same way. Uninformed. Not Unnerved. Unsettled, upset, frightened. Unsavoury. Not very pleasant. Unscathed Unhurt or unscratched. Not hurt or marked by an accident. Unspoilt, not ruined. Upkeep. General housework. Upright walkers Human beings. Uproar. Outcry. Upheaval. A spoken sign of disapproval when someone is not pleased about what has happened. An outcry, Ups and downs. The good and the bad Ups far outweighed the Downs. Even though there were bad events in the story the good, events were so much better than the bad that it did not matter about the problems. Venturing. Wandering. Version. Something that is different to the original one. A story told in a different way is a different version. Vexed. Annoyed. Viable. How well something will or will not work Vibrations. Movements in the air. Warnings. Feelings. A bad vibration is a feeling that something bad is about to happen. Visibility. Here it means vision or sight and not something that is viewable or to what degree something can be seen. Waddle in his Father’s waders. Walk in his Father’s footsteps means to copy what his Father had done and how he had lived his life. Waders. The feet of wading birds. Wading birds stand or walk in the water usually to feed. Wafting Blowing gently in the air. Wanderlust Vacation. A discovery holiday where a someone tries to discover who he or she really is because of a great desire to travel and see the world. Wares. Goods, products that are on view in a shop or for sale. Warranted. Was a reason for something to happen. Watchful eye. Still being under control or still learning something so they are being watched to make sure they do not make mistakes. Still having someone looking after them. Waterlogged. Soaked in water. Watertight guarantee. Something that will definitely never let in water or let water out. It is a definite, sure or certain thing that will happen or not happen as promised. Guarantee is a promise about the ability of something to last a long time. This is a Lifetime Guarantee. Way out. Different, off beat, not the normal or the usual way of doing something. Weasel Wanderlust Tour Guide. The creature in charge of those on a Wanderlust tour or holiday. Weasels. A small animal related to the Stoat. They have long bodies, necks and tails. They differ from rats because they have very long necks. Wherewithal. Necessary equipment, material or money required to do something. Whirl. Spin or go round and around. Whisker twitches. Psychic feelings that happen in the whiskers. White ‘n’ Fluffy. Winter. Whizzed. Hurried, rushed. Whole picture. Complete story. Whooshed. Moved very fast and caused the air to move around noticeably. Wild-hood' friends. Their childhood friends. As animals are not children, they have wild-hood friends and not childhood ones. Childhood is a period in a life long ago. Wiley. Usually means crafty, clever. Cunning. Winnie Widgeon Bottom. A name of the Widgeon. A widgeon is a tiny water fowl or duck. Wipe, surgical wipe. A sterile piece of cloth used to clean a wound. Wiped out is completely killed off so they do not exist there anymore and are extinct. The dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteor, so they think. Wished them well. Wished that they had good health, good luck and happiness. Within his limits Only did what he was capable of doing. Without further ado. Without more Fuss. Without anything else happening Wordlessly. To say something but in the form of an action rather than using words. Waving is a wordless way of saying, “Hello,” or “Good bye.” Work cut out. Would have to work very hard in order to get what was expected done. World to rights. To put everything as they wanted it to be in their world to make it a better place for them and everyone else. (It is another Metaphor.) Worm bellygraph. Telegraph. A type of communication system in the animal world. Wrath. Anger. Wreckless behaviour. Here it means because she wrecked the nest it was a wreckless way of doing it. Wreckless is also meant as reckless (a play on the word reckless as they are pronounced or sound the same). Reckless means the action was given no thought as to the consequence or what would happen. Yonder. Something in the distance, over there.

Whether you can touch your toes or just your nose is irrelevant. They are not the same toes you were once able to touch many moons ago. You see, every seven years the whole system changes from outside to in and the same old toes or nose will never be the same again. If you see people running in great distress it is because they are heading for the skin-shedding shed. They will be back soon but with a new hide to hide behind. It must be sickening if you have just had a face-lift and then have a total transformation due to the seven year shed. It is a shame the shed does not get rid of the spread as in middle-aged spread. The reduction in the cost of dieting would be vast and the whole slimming industry would go out of business. In fact, when you thin about it, changing yourself is rather a waste of time and money. All you have to do is sit and wait for seven years to elapse and you will be a completely new soul. I wonder if the mind changes as well. Perhaps that is why people go funny, as they get older. It could be a hitch in the re-wiring department and the hide-sheding shed. And what of silicon implants, they surely cannot slip out and disappear over night so beauty is perhaps not just skin deep as we thought. What a strange world. To think that all things metamorphosise over time or just last for a day like the ephemeral red admiral butterfly. It must have been a struggle getting out of its first stage of growth but the end product was well worth the effort. And it was all its own work as not a surgeons knife came within one hundred miles of it. A tree’s cycle cannot be seven years long as it drops its leaves everywhere in the autumn and blows pretty blossom all over the lawn in May. Even the smell changes from decay to delightful perfume. It is a shame that humans do not have the same properties. That would save a lot of deodorant spraying and subsequent ozone layer killings. I guess there are the hormones and pheromones rampaging around from puberty-just to cause embarrassment to youngsters to mid-life sweaty armpits just to attract the opposite gender and in late life you get the smell of incontinence and that is when you do need deodorants. So back at the shedding shed one can only hope and pray that the net effect of the change brings something to smile about even if it just gives you crow’s feet. After all, these minor lines will be replaced by pavement-sized cracks around the eyes on the next change. Is that where the expression “The Change of life” comes from? And the seven-year itch does that have its beginnings in the shedding shed. Life gets complicated enough without having to worry about all this change and so it is maybe just as well that all these changes occur over a seven year period and not overnight like the butterfly. That, after all, only has a day to live so it has to be pretty quick to become a snappy dresser, catch a mate, procreate and then go to that great insect heaven where all creatures wait to find out what they will be returned as and also to where. I bet they do not wish to become a human in their next life because I sure do not want to be one unless I know for sure that it will be as a male. What a doddle. Not only do they have no pain or strain but they age much better and that is probably due to the sheltered life they lead behind a good woman be it mother, partner or whatever. Well, in the real world only butterflies have a change with something to show for it. We humans, on the other hand, get old and change over a long period - over a lifetime to be precise and it is hard to see the difference as time goes by. Thank heaven for photographs - well maybe not as they can be cruel just like the mirrors with neon lighting above. We must count our blessings in any circumstance because nobody has it easy - not even those who appear to. Surely, they have their bad hair days (or should that be hide days) just like the rest of us! So nothing is what it seems and it makes life a little spicier not knowing what will be. All I know is that the grass never stops growing and watching paint dry is very boring. Not that the latter has anything to do with the scheme of things but just occasionally there are times when you can sit and do absolutely nothing except stare into space. At least it saves you trying to touch your toes or even think about what is around the corner or for tea come to that. Roll on the next change - there will only a few years left to wait. And what difference will it make - none unless you make a big splash of things and go out in style. I do not think that is my cup of tea and so it is back to the mundane. It costs nothing to dream though so what the heck - let me have another five minutes of doing absolutely nothing but stare at the wall and think of what we can do to get out of making more washing-up. Thank heavens for takeaways and exfoliants. June 2003.