I.B.F.F Diaries - 18th January 2017 - Let's Try A Broomstick!

When 'Tabby', the third episode of CBBC's The Worst Witch, premiered on the 18th January, viewers didn't know that Mildred and Luella were up to their usual tricks, as demonstrated in I.B.F.F Diaries '17. This time, they were going for a ride on Mildred's broomstick!

As promised for Mildred, Luella visits CBBC every Wednesday to see how her friend is getting along. That Wednesday, the episode of The Worst Witch, 'Tabby', aired.

When Luella visits Mildred, she is glad to check out her broomstick, which she flies on. The two decide to take it out for a test run, but Mildred has dark, suppressed memories of when she and Maud were flying all the way to Cackles' and Maud had lost her glasses. Luella assures her not to worry, as Maud was given new glasses because of Mrs Hardbroom's magic anyway, so the two take the broom outside for a flight.

Take off! It goes pretty well, and soon the two witches are sent flying over town. They even take someone's phone when he or she isn't looking and take a selfie! Suddenly, it all goes out of control and the two are flying higher and higher up into the sky. "HOLD ON, MILDRED!" calls Luella, and the broomstick speeds too fast, sending the girls flying up into space and hanging from the moon, reminding readers of when Kipper did that in 'The Umbrella'. "Now look what you've done," growls Mildred, "It was your fault you wanted to make the broomstick go higher in the first place!" "It's not my fault," murmurs Luella, "It was the broomstick who wanted to do this, in fact it does have a mind of its own." "Oh yeah," says Mildred, "You're right."

They soon lose their grip and realize they're about to fall off the moon! "I don't like Now You See It!" cries Mildred quickly before the two witches fall. Luckily, Luella lands on a large cloud, while beneath Mildred is hanging from a cloud rope ladder. "Are you sure about this?" worries Mildred, "I don't think I can hold on much longer!" "You can," says a chilled out Luella, "Just think about Scream Street and everything will be okay." While Luella is relaxed, Mildred is quite panicked by what's down below....until the broomstick arrives. Mildred slowly tries to reach out for it....BUT FALLS! Luella leaps onto the broomstick and shoots down after Mildred, letting her land on the broomstick. Mildred thanks Luella for saving her, and Luella must admit she feels very proud of herself for doing such a thing.

Suddenly, they crash through the roof of CBBC and land in the Worst Witch room, before that they drop the phone on a park bench and the stranger comes to pick it up, not knowing two witches have used it to take a selfie.

During 'Tabby''s first screening on CBBC, Luella is curious to know why there is a picture of a flamingo in the academy library, and why Mrs Cackle and Mrs Hardbroom always have afternoon tea at random intervals. Thankfully, Mildred has the answers. They even laugh at the scene where the witches fall practicing their broomstick flying. During another part of the episode, Luella is curious to know why they didn't show the teachers' knickers when they showed them being blown back by Maud's broomstick flying techniques. Mildred replies that it's for 'parental reasons' as showing a lady's knickers on TV isn't suitable for children, or witches. "I bet you must be really proud of yourself for being a trainee witch, like me," smiles Luella. "I bet I don't look embarrassed with my hair down every night," laughs Mildred. Well, what gets Luella laughing loudly is the bodyswap scene between Mildred and Maud, which almost totally embarrasses Mildred and leaves her begging to go to the loo for...reasons.

This is what happens when you put two worthless witches on a broomstick and make them fly all the way to the moon, as it was secretly demonstrated in 2017....

Weird Mascots!

This morning, Newsround has talked about a new mascot for Wigan Athletic Football Club, named Crusty the Pie. Here he is:

There are more weird mascots including an eel, a magic dragon, a boiler, a terrifying sun creature, a cod and a terrifying orange monster with google eyes. You can check them all out by clicking the link below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49208525

Bus Cuddles - A Dream Of Softness

The dream I had last night was about some tender moments on board a London bus.

My friends and I were riding a London bus, when I felt something soft right beside me. It was Cleo, and her bandages felt very silky and soft, as if she had come out of a washing machine and I had used fabric softener. I kept snuggling, hugging and cuddling Cleo all through our bus journey, and for some reason, she seemed to like it.

Sometimes the best moments are shared with your best friends.

A Very Nice Dream About A Swim In The Sea

Last night, the dream I had sounded quite familiar, as once I had a dream where Luke, Resus, Cleo and I were raised in the jungle and found a beach, where we found so much pleasure from swimming in the sea and rolling down sand dunes.

Well, it was a hot day, and Luke, Resus and Cleo and I were relaxing at the beach. The thing we were fond of the most was the sea, as we loved feeling the water around our feet. So, we threw off our clothes (except for Cleo, she wears bandages) and immersed ourselves in the cool water - and guess what? It felt so good. We were splashing each other and swimming underwater - it was total bliss.

The weather was so perfect in that dream, and it was so comforting to be together with my friends - like Moon & Me, me and my I.B.F.Fs love doing things together.

My Chocolate Biscuit Overdose Caused Me To Fly In The Wind!

Ever imagined the strange effects caused by eating too many biccies?

Well, last night, I had a dream about having a chocolate biscuit overdose, just like Grandma in 'Monty Gets The Blame' when she ate all the chocolate biscuits and Monty the dog got the blame for eating all of them. The catch was, I didn't get fat.

I ate a whole pile of Cadbury's Animals and I still didn't put on weight!

I went outside, and eating all those biscuits made me fly away in the wind! I flew all over the place - houses, towns, cities, countrysides and oceans - until I finally made it back home. Can you believe such a journey around the UK can be caused by eating too many biccies? A dream like this can only prove it - and no chimpanzees came to strangle me and give me a neck cramp through the night!

NEW SHOWS ON CBBC!

Strange Hill High may be gone (for now, at least), but this morning I just discovered that there are some new additions to the CBBC family. Oooooooh, what will be different? Here is a list of things we're going to see this Summer:

• Step Up To The Plate
• Our School: Summer Camp
• Our School
• Craft Party

I may have missed CBBC from late 2014 to 2018, but don't worry, there's a world elsewhere.

Goodbye, Strange Hill High (For Now...)

Last Saturday, through 'The Snide Piper', it is with a heavy heart that we said goodbye to our most favourite, most groundbreaking show that changed the future of CBBC forever: Strange Hill High. Well, we did it for now, at least.

Someday, we will all miss my friends Mitchell, Becky and Templeton deeply, but we will remember how they shaped CBBC with heart and humor. And I already miss them like I miss my school, but I still have a DVD of Strange Hill High so I can remember the good times me and my friends shared when I began at Dornoch Academy.

I miss you, you guys.

And I miss Dornoch Academy.

Missing Strange Hill High and school brings a hole to my heart. They're the ones that got me to Scotland, and if I saw Scream Street if it premiered, it would be a lot better for me to live my life. For now, I've got to stick with what I lived through. It would be nice if I lived an alternate life where I watched CBBC and CBeebies through my Dornoch Academy years.

Once again, you guys, I'm going to miss you.

I'll never forget any of you.

Danger Mouse & Doughnuts

Here's this nifty little video I found on the CBeebies website, showing you how to make a simple Dish Up style recipe to audio clips of Danger Mouse and Penfold and some cool music.

The Journal I'll Use To Write I.B.F.F Diaries

I got my Diary Of A Wimpy Kid write in journal. Today I've already written about I.B.F.F Diaries '97, in excerpts, which is mainly about one of my I.B.F.Fs, Kipper. I'll continue to write more about him and my other I.B.F.Fs, Mitchell, Becky, Templeton, Luke, Resus, Cleo, Tiny and Small Clanger in autism-friendly adventures that even non-autistic people can read.

Clangers Overview - Small's Big Surprise

LAST TIME ON CLANGERS: One of the Skymoos gave birth!

And now, a thrilling adventure based on a Clangers book I borrowed from the library....

I borrowed a book about the Clangers from the library, and it was all about Small Clanger's birthday. This episode, tonight, is all about just that. In the last Bedtime programme, Moon & Me, Pepi Nana and Little Nana had a party all of their own - as princesses enjoying tea and cake in the castle. Well, this party is different, as it is all the way up in outer space.

The Froglets and Tiny's flower friends go to wake up Tiny, and go quietly towards her scooter. It's Small's birthday, and they want everyone, including Major, to be extra quiet and secretive. Tiny wants to use her scooter for the surprise, but it has a squeak, and doesn't want Small to hear about the surprise. Small has a boogie when he hears he's getting a scooter for his birthday, as most little boys dream of having a rocketship or a pet dragon for their birthday, or maybe even a football. Small decides to go fishing, and soon everyone gets into action on preparing presents for Small's birthday.

Granny, Baby Soup Dragon and the Glow-Buzzers prepare for the party, whilst Small collects an old metal seat whilst out fishing. He goes to visit the Iron Chicken, and gives her the metal seat, but the Iron Chicken forgets Small's birthday. The whole 'forgetting someone's birthday' premise never gets old, as really people plan surprise parties for their friend's birthday. The Iron Chicken tries to find something for Small's birthday.

Tiny and Baby Soup Dragon and the others surprise Small when he arrives back on the planet. Major and Mother give him a tool box, and the Iron Chicken arrives, confused. Granny gives Small a knitted rainbow hat, whilst the Iron Chicken sneaks off, and the dragons give Small a box of interesting things. The Glow Buzzers give Small honey, and Tiny and her four friends put on a birthday show just for Small. Birthday hug! Small stays behind and looks at his new presents, until a pile of junk lands along with the Iron Chicken - this gives Small an idea to make something.

The others prepare a birthday feast of birthday cake - a beautiful blue cake with a rose on top, some plums and blue string pudding. Baby Soup Dragon goes out to fetch Small, but he's nowhere to be seen. Everyone starts looking for Small, until he emerges with an old fashioned looking scooter that happens to....to.....to....fly! It's a super scooter! With help of the Iron Chicken, of course. We'll leave them to have their birthday tea now. What a night it has been.

Goodnight, Tiny. Goodnight and happy birthday, Small.

Clangers Overview - Baby Skymoo

LAST TIME ON CLANGERS: The Clangers, especially Small Clanger, learnt about death when they happened to encounter a star whose light faded away. The series is getting sadder and sadder, I don't know what has gotten into it.

And now, a new youngster is going to be next in line in the set of young characters tonight....

Earlier today we spent a whole few minutes looking at real and animated fish with Dee in Yakka Dee, but to calm down we're following a Skymoo to the Clangers' planet. Tiny is asleep in her bed when she hears the Iron Chicken on her radio hat. She calls Small and invites him to hear the message, which sounds pretty urgent. They take off in the Music Boat and see a Skymoo rolling a ball of junk past her nest. The Skymoo is taking junk, and so are its bretheren! Tiny and Small land back on the planet and witness the junk crash onto the planet surface.

This alerts all the Clangers, and they investigate the junk, only to find it's the Skymoo's keep. The Skymoos feel pretty hungry, and as Mother goes to fetch some food for them, they happen to build a nest. Mother returns with tasty garden clippings, but the Skymoos refuse them, so Small and Tiny go to fetch Granny's knitting. Tiny arranges some flowers and the two take their gifts up to the planet surface. Granny speed knits, and Tiny decorates the nest with flowers with her family's help. They place a blanket of circles into the nest, and it makes a lovely home for the Skymoos.

More Skymoos gather, and one lands in the nest. The Clangers, who usually welcome visitors, retreat back into their cave and have a meeting in the living cave. After the meeting, they decide to have soup, but Tiny witnesses the Skymoos' gathering to witness sparks of light. All the other Clangers watch, then quietly come out and see a baby Skymoo! Since I saw it on Nick Jr Classics, I haven't seen any baby Skymoo like this, but his moos sound a little sad. Tiny and Small teach Baby Skymoo how to walk, and feed him, and teach him remarkably to fly, to which he does in sweet success. The Skymoos and their new baby leave us and the Clangers, and we are left to head off to the Night Garden until the dawning of a new Clangers adventure tomorrow night.

Goodnight, Tiny. Goodnight, Small.

Clangers Overview - Catch A Falling Star

LAST TIME ON CLANGERS: Small Clanger found a thing which used sounds to complete a tune, and it made an enchanting tune that brought everyone together.

And now, our thrilling next episode in the life of the Clangers!

"Once upon a time, in the night garden....

Pepi Nana wrote a letter to the moon.

The letter flew to the moon.

Moon Baby caught the letter.

He flew down to earth.

Hello, Moon Baby."

Thank you, thank you, I appreciate that fully. Now, on with the story about the Clangers, if you please.

Mother is busy in her garden, as there are so many plants, Tiny's written a new song to compose on the Music Trees which sounds out of tune, and Granny has knitted a cross-coloured blanket. Oh, and Major's rocket needs repairing. Small's nightlight has run out of glow honey, but Major can't hear Small. What bad luck the Clangers are having....

Until a light shines among the cranky Clangers. Small goes to catch it in the Music Boat, and it's incredible closer, so Small tries to catch it, but the wind won't let him. In Mother's garden, the light makes the plants thrive, including the one which feels extremely sad. The light also causes Tiny to make up a beautiful tune, Granny to make a psychedelic blanket and Major's rocket to work, but Small's still having trouble with his night light.

After some soup, Small is dissatisfied to see the brilliant light is fading away, and Granny thinks it's time to say goodbye. Small is upset, and everyone says goodbye to the fading star. A sad Small is comforted by the rest of his family, and as everyone goes to sleep, the stardust from the star spreads everywhere.

Tiny plays Small her sparkly tune on her panpipes, and Mother gives Small her happy plant. Granny gives Small her blanket - they're all special things to remind the Clangers of the star, but Major's gift is even special - the star's light has become Small's new nightlight.

This series seems to get sadder and sadder by the minute.

Goodnight, Tiny. Goodnight, Small.

I.B.F.F Diaries - 11th January 2017 - Luella Meets Mildred

I'm here to tell you all about a bit at the beginning of I.B.F.F Diaries '17, when we discover Scream Street resident Luella's new favourite CBBC show of all time thanks to a slight encounter with "witch" appeared on CBBC at the time. Geddit?! GEDDIT?!

You see, Luella visited CBBC on the date of the premiere of a show about witches, named 'The Worst Witch'. When she looked on CBBC's giant schedule clipboard, she is shocked to see that there is a new show about witches, and what's more, someone new is coming to CBBC - another witch! Not only did she discover a new room with lots of spells and potions and spellbooks in it, but she also discovered a new purple card with the logo for 'The Worst Witch' on it. She then saw someone walk past, and she carried a broomstick, just like Luella's aunt Eefa!

At 5:30, Luella goes into the screening room and sees the figure watching the full length premiere of 'The Worst Witch'. Her name is Mildred Hubble, and she too is trying to become a witch at Cackles' Academy - at least she is trying hard, like Luella does! At once, the two become friends due to their ability to relate, and share a laugh over the scene where Mildred and Maud fly on a broomstick all the way to Cackles' Academy. They then find another scene, where Mildred tries a levitation spell, absolutely hilarious.

""Maud is tall!" I sniggered, "And you're floating!" "I know," said Mildred, "It was one of the first spells I learnt here at Cackles'." "What would happen if I studied magic there?" I asked, curiously. Mildred leaned forward and whispered into my ear: "You will one day. You don't look like a witch to me, you look like some random emo with purple hair, but don't worry, you'll make it...if Mrs. Hardbroom allows it.""

They then question what's on Mrs Cackles' desk. Mildred tells Luella: "Witch perfume, a bottle of strawberry growth glitter, some random rose which she grew when she was maybe 13 and a scroll which tells us some random magic stuff." "How is this possible she gets to keep all this cool stuff?" asks Luella, "In Eefa's emporium we only have things like whiskers from cats, jelly snails and pigeon wings. You have quite a lot! I wish Eefa would've kept all these things." "Cackles' keeps all sorts of cool stuff," replies Mildred, "We're going to inform viewers to watch the series and keep looking out for more cool stuff."

Luella even wishes Mrs Cackle was her grandmother! But her mind soon changes when they begin to doubt the appearance of a shapeshifter in the castle kitchen, to which Luella calls "This shapeshifter's going to play a trick on the students!" and races to the control room as urgently as possible. Mildred tries to stop her, but too late - Luella is calling into the microphone through the CBBC cameras secretly hidden in every house that has CBBC playing and warning viewers about the shapeshifter's clever plan to suck the innocence out of her new friend and all the other students at Cackles'. Viewers who heard Luella's voice begin to worry through the next few minutes of the feature length premiere, and back in CBBC Mildred and Luella begin arguing when one catches the other panicking through alerting CBBC viewers about what is happening on screen. Luella finds Mildred jumping high in the air and spiralling like crazy around Cackles' hilarious, but Mildred angrily yells; "IT'S NOT FUNNY!" The argument starts up again, but suddenly it stops.

The two friends turn away from each other in disagreement, disheartened by what they just said to each other, until Luella has an idea. She turns back to Mildred and claims; "You may be the worst witch, and I may be the worst witch, too, but somehow inside we're 'the best witches'. I'm sorry I argued with you, but trust me, I'll come round every Wednesday to see how you're getting on. I promise! And by the way, CBBC isn't CBBC without you." The two shake hands in agreement, and Luella talks into the microphone again, alerting CBBC viewers not to panic, as it is all over for now.

Luella then helps Mildred settle in and sort out her room. Later, the two share a heartfelt goodbye as the sun sets, and as Luella returns to Scream Street, Mildred calls and waves goodbye happily, before returning to her new room in CBBC for a well earned rest.