Friday, 16 September 2022
Drawing Activity - Platinum Jubilee/String Quartet In F Major, Op.3 & Other Drawing Activities
- Luke, Resus, Cleo and you wandering the Australian outback or partaking in Australian activities.
- Luke, Resus, Cleo and their parents looking after you as a toddler during the Stone Age.
- Luke, Resus, Cleo, Six and you building a fallout shelter in case of Scream Street's seasonal rot.
- Grace discovering the door leading to the magical world she's about to explore.
- Luke, Resus, Cleo and you drinking hot cocoa by the fire.
- Samantha standing before the Queen as she gives her her teddy bear back.
Furaha & Bumpy Dog's Listening Adventure
Shoo Plum Pie
Idea Of The Day: Chip N Dale Diaries
Today's The Day I Met The Queen
To Your Majesty,
Thank you for giving me the honourable mention and MBE at your Platinum Jubilee. I keep it in a jar so that my big sister Sarah can’t see it or tear it to pieces. Now that you’ve passed away, I couldn’t forget the day I met you when I went to London with my mum and sister a few months ago. I remember it like it was yesterday…
Mum, Sarah and I were out walking in London. We’ve just had fish and chips at the local cafe, and scoured through endless markets and gift shops. When we passed your home, Buckingham Palace, I thought we’d stop and look at it for a while. “It’s so beautiful!” I said as I gazed at this great, magnificent building. “Isn’t it,” said my mum, “It's the home of a very special person indeed - the Queen.” “The Queen?” My eyes lit up. “How long has she been ruler of England for?” “Years, maybe weeks, maybe centuries, I presume,” said Mum. “I don’t get it,” said Sarah, who was only 15 wheras I was six. It’ll be my seventh birthday soon, so don’t get me wrong if I don’t celebrate without you. Hiring you to a birthday party would be too expensive.
“Sarah, show some respect. This is a British empire, and you are to be on your best behaviour when meeting the Queen,” said Mum. I was holding Teddy in my hand this entire time. I had taken him to London on the train, so it would be a first for him. I’ve had him since I was a baby, and he proved to be my favourite toy of all time. I reached through the big black gates, and as if I didn’t know it, I accidentally dropped Teddy through them. “Teddy!” I cried. “Told ya,” said Sarah. “Sarah!” said Mum as I began crying. “Don’t be so disrespectful to your sister. By the way, look at the time! We have to go home now.” “But what about Teddy?!” I wailed. “Don’t worry, Sam, I’m sure the Queen will give the bear to her children to play with.”
I was crying all the way home, and my eyes were still red when it’s time for dinner. In fact, I refused to eat because of Teddy’s absence, and Sarah teased me for being a baby all the way until bedtime. I sat on my bed and sulked. I had never felt so lonely in my entire life. Teddy had been there for me since I was born, but now it feels like we’re miles apart. I’m not talking about me and you, your majesty, I’m talking about me and Teddy. At bedtime, Mum offered me a pink toy rabbit, but I screamed and threw it against the wall. “No! I don’t want Pink Rabbit! I want Teddy!” “There’s nothing we can do,” said Mum, “He’s in his new home now.” I cried again, this time I cried myself to sleep as Mum switched the lights off. There was a huge hole in my heart where Teddy once was. I cried until I could squeeze no more tears, then finally, I went to sleep.
The next day, we were having breakfast, but I was too sad to eat my cornflakes. Suddenly, a trumpet fanfare blasted the air, and Sarah shrieked and fell off her seat. I ran to see where the noise had come from and looked out the window. To my surprise, a golden carriage pulled by two majestic white horses wheeled its way down the road and into the parking area near my house. The door swung open, and out walked you. Your majesty. Seeing you in person made me a little nervous, but I was so glad to finally meet you. You were dressed in your best clothes and your finest hat, and you had a pearl necklace around your neck. Two guards followed you to the front door.
I raced to the front door, and there you were, carrying something in your hand. That something was something I might’ve forgotten forever - Teddy! “Teddy!” I cried, and you gave it to me, resulting in me giving it a literal bear hug. “I’m glad you’re reunited with your bear at last.” you said proudly, “In fact, while I was out playing fetch with one of my corgis he found your bear outside Buckingham Palace and brought it to me. The label had scribbly writing which said ‘Samantha’ and had your address on the other side, and I knew exactly who it belonged to, so I thought I’d just drop by and give you your bear back.” “Nice to meet you, your majesty,” said my mum, “Thank you for bringing Sam’s bear back, she was so worried.” “A pleasure,” you said. “And, as you had made your bear officially British, I’m making you a guest of honour at my Platinum Jubilee!” I squealed and jumped up and down. It was an opportunity I wasn’t going to miss.
When the time came, all of London was in full swing. I was dressed in regal clothing with a tiara upon my head. Not a plastic one, a real, actual tiara. My float was coloured orange and pink - my favourite colours - and people dressed as princes and princesses marched alongside me while tumbling acrobats twisted and jumped and did leaps around me. Mum and Sarah were watching from the sidelines, cheering along with the crowd. I held my bear tight, so I won’t lose it again. Loud, graceful music and trumpet fanfares came blasting out from both directions, and behind me trailed the little Corgi puppets, all gracefully alike with fake fur and little plastic tongues. People were waving Union Jacks proudly, and I waved politely to the crowd-goers.
Later, as the crowd quietened down, I approached you before the hushed crowd and bowed low. Mum and Sarah watched on, tears streaming from Mum’s face. “By the honourable privilege of the British empire, I’d like to award young Samantha Johnson an MBE for making her beloved teddy bear truly British.” you announced. The crowd cheered and waved their Union Jacks as the MBE was handed to me. I felt so proud, and even Sarah cheered and whistled for me. “Now, Samantha, what is it you’d like to say to the crowd before you go?” you asked. I cleared my throat and looked at the crowd. I was a little nervous. I never talked in front of a crowd before. I knew I had to do what’s best for my family, so I cleared my throat and began to speak:
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for making my bear an official British symbol. I haven’t had to meet the Queen without your love and support, and you are all great people to me inside and out. I hope the Queen leaves a lasting legacy on you all as it has on me.”
The crowd’s cheers started up again, and even you were so moved you took out a hankie from your precious bag and dabbed at your streaming eyes. The cheers still fill my head this time as I write. I keep my MBE safe in a jar, and just so you know, I feel so proud I had this massive achievement meeting you and becoming a guest of honour at your Platinum Jubilee celebrations. I even had your picture taken with you after the celebrations were over.
Oh, that’s my mum calling that it’s time for school. I can’t wait to tell all my friends about meeting you in person, and I hope to write to you again soon. Thanks again and enjoy your new castle in the clouds.
Love,
Samantha.
Thursday, 15 September 2022
Hot Cocoa, Warm Kisses
One morning, Luke, Resus, Cleo and I awoke to hear a strange whistling noise coming from outside. It couldn’t be the postman, because his whistling sounds jolly and not so spooky at all. We looked out the window and saw what was making the whistling sound. It was the snowy breath of Winter air, covering everything in our town so that it made everything quiet. But we weren’t quiet when we saw the snow. “SNOW!” we cried, high-fiving each other. “Oh boy, I can’t believe it snowed overnight!” I cried, “We’re going to do all the stuff kids do when it snows outside.” “Like…build snowmen?” asked Luke. “You bet!” I said. “And make snowballs to use in snowball fights?” asked Cleo. “Sure,” I said. “And make snow angels?” “Oh baby, yes!” I cried.
We brushed our teeth and raced downstairs to have our breakfast. It was cornflakes. The grownups had toast. “What’s all the rush?” asked Alston Negative. “It snowed!” I shouted with glee. “I can’t believe it!” cried Luke. “Woohoo!” cried Cleo. “I know you’re all excited,” laughed Mrs Watson, “Now eat up your breakfast. You don’t want to be late for school.” “Where’s Mum?” I asked. “Mum’s on the phone two times this morning.” said Niles, “I heard she’s been on the phone with Calypso. Now she’s on the phone with Dr Skulley.” As we started on our cornflakes, Mum was really speaking to Dr Skulley on the phone. “Yes, it’s alright with me. What? You mean the snow’s blocked the school entrance? Okay, I’ll let everyone know. Yeah, it’s alright. See you later. Bye!” Mum put down the phone and walked up to the breakfast table.
“Well, guys, sounds like you’re having a snow day.” said Mum. “Really?” I asked. “School’s closed because of the snow, so how would you like to spend the day playing in it?” “Yeah!” we cried, and we high-fived each other yet again. “Kids these days. Full of energy, they are.” laughed Bella Negative. “What will you be doing whilst we’re playing in the snow?” I asked. “We’re going to be shovelling the snow away from the front door.” said Mr Watson. “It seems like hard work for a simple-minded man like myself.” Luke tried not to laugh. “I know that smirk hiding under that grin, Luke.” said Mr Watson with a determined look on his face. “Sorry, dad, I guess I thought you were doing what Bandit, Stripe and Lucky’s Dad do every Summer when the stumps come out to roast.” “That’s Stumpfest,” I said. “Stumpfest doesn’t occur in Winter. It occurs in Summer.” “But they cut down trees to make Christmas trees in Winter,” said Cleo. “That’s when you hear them shout…” I made a drum roll on the table using two spoons. “TIMBER!!” “Okay, not so loudly,” Mum laughed, “Finish your breakfast like good kids before you go out and play.”
After breakfast, the big moment came. We put on our hats and scarves and coats and Winter boots, and ran outside with our sledge towards the park. All the playground equipment was covered with snow, and there were children playing everywhere. We saw Coco and Indy sledging downhill. We saw Honey and Mackenzie making a snowman. We saw Winston trying to dig for treasure in the snow, which made us laugh. First, we sledged down the hill. The Winter wind whipped our hair and bandages as we screamed and yelled with delight riding down the hill. I was sitting behind Resus, and I held onto him as the cold wind blew in my face. At last, the sledge hit a rock, and we were sent tumbling head over heels in the snow. We got up, laughing in joy. Next, we lay back down on the snow and made snow angels. Making a snow angel is very simple, really - you just have to lie down and wave your arms and legs up and down to make a white cotton gown and beautiful golden wings - except the gold and cotton are never to be found anywhere. The only cottony softness exists in the snow, and it was very soft and cold against our skin.
Not long afterward, we decided to have a snowball fight. We made snowballs and threw them at each other, ducking and dodging and trying to avoid every single throw. We hid behind snow-covered walls to avoid the snowballs coming straight at us like they did in the army. Resus was trying his best to avoid Luke’s snowballs, but he fell over and almost slid towards the icy pond, but someone caught him just in time. It was Bluey! “You know, mate, a snowball fight could be very dangerous.” she said. “Why’s that, Bluey?” asked Cleo. “Because of the frozen pond! Don’t you see? The pond is frozen solid, and if anyone pretends to slide on it the ice might crack, and then you’ll be trapped under the ice forever!” I shuddered just thinking about being entombed in an ice cube for all eternity. “Gee, I don’t think we’d go on the pond then.” I said. “Why don’t we build a snowman instead?” “No worries, mate,” said Bluey.
Bluey helped us make a snowdog. Luke, Resus, Cleo and Bluey rolled lumps of snow towards the hill, the lumps getting bigger and bigger until they became snowballs, while I tried to find sticks and lumps of coal to make the snowdog’s arms, eyes and mouth.
Wednesday, 14 September 2022
Onesies - Chapter 1: Love From Aunt Marleen
The moment after my birthday party was when I found that flamingo onesie. I was saying goodbye to the party guests and handing out party bags. Each contained pencils, mini notebooks, little smiley-faced chocolate buttons and colouring pens - my favourite scented ones. I had to choose them because I thought the guests might share them too. As each party guest left in their best dresses and frocks, I waved goodbye, ran into the house and out into the garden. The pink bouncy castle set up for me was my favourite part of my party, and I just couldn’t wait to try it out before it deflated.
I began bouncing on the castle, having such a lot of fun that I didn’t want to leave. I bounced so high, I almost reached for the sky as its afternoon hugh of blue stretched far and wide. The bouncy castle was still filled with balloons coloured pink, green, yellow and orange, so I was very careful not to bounce on one - POP! Oops! I almost did! I fell back in shock, but suddenly I almost sat on something cardboardy. A bit too cardboardy for my liking. It was small, rectangular and coloured pink with lots of palm trees on it. I was curious about the parcel. I looked hard at it. There was something pink and foamy inside.
At that moment, my dad and mum came running outside. “What’s going on?” asked Dad. “We heard screaming!” said Mum, but then they both noticed the little box I was sitting beside. “Ah, is this the new present Aunt Marleen got you?” Aunt Marleen was always my favourite member of the family. She’s always travelling places, like Hawaii and Australia. This time, she was visiting New Zealand, and that was at the appropriate time of my birthday too, because the label on the box said: “Made in New Zealand”. “All the way from New Zealand? Cool!” I cried. “Aunt Marleen was meant to give you this present, but she was away on her travels, so she sent it via air mail instead. We thought we could wait until after your birthday party to give you this.” said Mum. “Then what is it?” I asked. “Well, open it and see.” said Dad.
I opened it alright. It was indeed a foamy pink thing with orange and black bits. “What is it?” I asked for the second time that afternoon. “It’s a flamingo onesie,” said Dad, “Aunt Marleen saw it in the shops and hoped you’d like it for a change from scruffy old pyjamas.” “There’s also a letter with the onesie. Read it, Grace.” I read the letter. It said:
“Dear Grace,
Happy birthday! Just to let you know I found this flamingo onesie in the shops on my travels in New Zealand, and I thought it would be a good idea to give it to you as a birthday present. With this onesie, there’s a hint of magic and mystery in the air whenever someone puts it on. Within seconds, you will find the onesie’s purpose in life. I hope you enjoy your new present!
Love,
Aunt Marleen.”
“I’m going to put on the onesie right now!” I cried, and raced inside and upstairs to my bedroom to get dressed. I looked very swanky in my new flamingo onesie. My mum and dad clapped as I turned around for them to admire my new fashion statement. “Bravo!” cried Dad. “Well, Grace, I think your flamingo onesie looks brilliant!” said Mum, then she added, “But you have to take it off and put on your pyjamas, because you can’t eat with your hands invisible under those wings.” I looked. My hands were not visible under those wings. They were foam and barely made of feathers at all.
I took off my flamingo onesie and put on my purple pyjamas, then went downstairs to have dinner with my mum and dad. As I ate, I thought about all the possibilities my onesie would do. What would its purpose be? Maybe it’s to bring me some magic like the letter explained? Maybe it could fly me to a place I’ve always dreamed of going…like Africa? “I want the onesie to take me to Africa!” I blurted out. “Africa? Why do you think that?” asked Dad. “Because Africa is a cool place, filled with giraffes and ostriches and lions and stuff!” “It’s impossible for a onesie to take you places you dream of going,” said Mum, “And besides, it’s not like you to imagine a onesie being able to fly you all the way to Africa so you can get malaria.” “Malaria?!” I cried. “Yes, it’s a serious disease you find in Africa, tiny mosquitoes cause it. Glad we don’t have any in this country.” “I’m being serious, there is no disease in Africa!” I said. “We’ll talk about this later. Now, eat up your dinner like a good girl.”
My mum and dad continued eating. I continued eating too, but it wasn’t long until something caught my eye. Lying on the sofa was the flamingo onesie. How did it get there? I wondered. I stared at the onesie with awe and disbelief, but it wasn’t long until it started to glow a deep pink. The sound of a doorbell ringing came from the suit. I dropped my knife and fork and ran towards the onesie. It was glowing bright as the sun, right into my eyes. It then made another noise, much like…tinkly music. “Mum! Dad!” I called, “The onesie glowed! And it’s playing music!” But Mum and Dad were finishing their dinner. Crossly, I stormed back to the table and finished eating my dinner in a grumpy mood.
Once I’ve finished eating, Mum said, “You good girl. You ate all your dinner! Perhaps you wouldn’t mind if we gave you a nice slice of chocolate fudge cake, hmm?” “Yes.” I said, with my arms folded. “What’s the magic word?” asked Mum. “Please.” I continued. Mum cut a slice of creamy chocolate fudge cake from the kitchen and placed it in front of me. But with the slice was a fortune cookie. We didn’t have fortune cookies in our house, we only had regular chocolate chip cookies. How did it get there? I wondered for the second time that day. Gratefully, I ate my cake in big bites, then examined the fortune cookie. It looked like a regular old fortune cookie, except it had a purple jewel embedded in it. No fortune cookie was ever made like this - except when jewellery was thrown into the fortune cookie batter. I broke open the cookie and found a message inside, like every fortune cookie would. I read the message carefully.
“Tonight, you will go on a magical adventure.”
My eyes lit up! I’ve never been on a magical adventure before. But I’ve yet to keep it hidden from Mum and Dad, so I whispered to myself, “A magical adventure! A magical adventure! I’m having an adventure!” “Why are you whispering like that, sweetie?” asked Mum. I just said, “Nothing, Mum, I’m just telling myself what a great cake I had.” “I’m sure you were whispering something,” said Dad. “I was whispering something. Something about the cake.” “Make sure you save us slices next time, and don’t shove a whole slice into your mouth. It’s bad manners. Make sure you show some real manners this time.” “Real manners? Like what?” I asked. “Well, saying please and thank you and eating in small bites.” said Mum.
After dinner, I tried on my flamingo onesie again. It was ultra comfortable, and fitted me perfectly. I played and danced about in my flamingo onesie all afternoon, until Mum called “Time for bed!” “Can I wear my flamingo onesie?” I asked. “Of course you can,” said Mum. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, then climbed into bed as Mum read me a story. The story was Alice In Wonderland. As she read, my pink flamingo onesie glowed, and I have to admit, it tickled quite a bit. I roared with laughter! “What’s so funny?” asked Mum. “Oh, er…I just thought the bit with the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party was funny.” I said. “Okay then, well settle down now. We all need to get some sleep.” Mum switched off the light and exited the room, so I snuggle down to get some sleep at last.
A few minutes into midnight, as the stars twinkled in the sky, my onesie started to glow again. I couldn’t help giggling quietly, but then I heard a strange tapping noise on my door. I ignored it and went back to sleep. The tapping got louder. I shot right out of bed, and looked out the window. It was a sparkling ball of light, all purplish-blue, floating in the sky. I opened the window, and it shot in, knocking books off the shelf and toys off my cabinet. “Get out of here, you’re making a mess!” I cried, but the sparkle didn’t listen. It began to twinkle and fly around me, playing a tune similar to ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’. The tune at once enchanted me. I was tired, but I was wide awake enough to listen to the most beautiful music my ears have ever heard. It flittered around the room, putting books back onto the shelf and toys back onto the cabinet. “Thanks,” I said, “For a mischievous sphere of light, you could do a lot of chores.”
It then approached my wall. Was it going to smash through it? No, it wasn’t. It morphed into a little door shape, and then it became a little door. It was coloured light blue and its doorknob was purple, like blackberries in an Autumn bramble bush. I got down on my hands and knees and crawled towards the door. I knocked three times, and it opened, revealing pure darkness. Curious, I crawled inside. I was intrigued outside, but inside, I was excited. It was going to be a new adventure for me…
Tuesday, 13 September 2022
Scream Street: Protect & Survive - Chapter 1: A Visitor
Have you ever read Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree? Jo, Beth and Franny are three children living in a little cottage deep in the country. Well, I live in the country like the children in this book, and I have roommates too. These roommates are no ordinary roommates. They’re Luke, a werewolf, Cleo, an Egyptian mummy, and Resus, a vampire. We spend all day together every day, because I am homeschooled. Mum doesn’t use CBBC to caretake my homeschooling, because she says CBBC is a complete waste of time and it hates Scream Street. We have two pets too - Dig, a half-dog, and Lulu, a leech. Life with my roommates was full of happiness. We’d play out in the garden and hide from each other whenever a game of hide and seek was played. We’d sit together on the bench and watch the sun go down whenever it was a quiet and peaceful night and whenever we had the chance, we’d go for long walks in the forest. Life in the country was paradise.
This story is about the time we experienced a mini crisis unlike any other.
It was the beginning of the October school holidays, and Luke, Resus, Cleo and I were excited because our cousin Six was coming to visit. We loved playing with our cousin. She was really strong, and yet she was so gentle. She had been gentle to me ever since I was a baby, and we have been on multiple visits to see my Aunt F and cousin Six on days in and out of the school holidays. Our mum had recently got a job for the local newspaper, about the lifestyle and wellbeing of monsters across the UK, and today we had a copy. The latest section was about watching too much TV and how the loss of money had made the channel CBBC go downhill, and soon it will start airing American cartoons, so kids should watch streaming instead.
“WHAT?!” cried Resus. “How can they do this to Scream Street? By the way, has anybody read your column, Mum?” “Oh yes,” said Mum, “In fact Wembley Werewolf reads the gazette every day to keep up with his thousands of children.” “Wow,” I said, “For one werewolf, he happens to have loads of children.” “Loads, yes,” said Luke, “If I were to marry you, I think we’d have two children.” “What will we name them?” I asked. “Lola and Sapphire.” I blushed and giggled as Luke kissed my cheek. “Now, kids, remember: your cousin Six is coming tomorrow. I want you to be extra nice to her, because she’s going through a very hard time right now.” “Cousin Six! Cousin Six!” we chanted. “I knew you were going to say that,” said Mum. “Yeah, we ALWAYS say that when we hear Six is coming for a visit.” “Cousin Six!” Resus continued chanting. Cleo playfully punched him in the side. “Hey!” he cried. “I was only setting the mood!” “Never mind, I think we’d better not chant it for all of today, in case we’re clockwork monster machines.”
We got everything ready for our cousin. We cleaned our room, I made the bed and Luke refused to clean his room, so he just sat downstairs playing Zombie Kickboxer while Cleo and Resus cleared away my toys. As we finished cleaning, Mum called “Dinner!” and we all raced downstairs. Luke dropped his console and raced to the table. It was battered cod and chips again - our favourite. Mum turned on the radio. A jolly tune began to play. Mum always tells us to not dance while eating, as it’ll give us hiccups. I remember when I danced while eating dinner, and I got a terrible amount of hiccups. Luke had to turn werewolf and hang me upside down so that my hiccups would go away. As we were eating our dinner like good children, Resus being funny by sticking chips into his fake fangs, the tune was suddenly interrupted by this voice on the radio:
“We interrupt this programme for an official government announcement. All through next week, CBBC will air the new episodes of Scream Street. There will be some changes to the episodes, so follow our instructions carefully. If you’re a monster, it is vital that you hear our advice before thinking twice. We will be delivering government announcements throughout Monday to Friday next week. That’s all.”
“This is it!” I cried. “It’s nothing to get excited about,” said Luke, “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, but with all those changes I think you won’t like this series.” “But I love season 1!” I said. “Not this time. Us Scream Street residents were very, very, VERY upset to learn that the second series will ruin our reputation of life on the street. For starters, they’ll be taking away some characters we know and love. Secondly, it’ll have a more unsettling tone. And three, it’ll be unwatchable!” I was so shocked food fell out of my mouth.
Monday, 12 September 2022
Discontinued Breakfast Cereals
