Pancake Mayhem.

The mice were all rushing around.

Eggs and flour were hitting the ground.

On pancake day in Bongo land

They had a pancake contest planned.

Sachmo got his eggs and flour

And whisked it up with such great power

The mix flew out around the place,

Narrowly missing Tina's face.

She scurried off while Sachmo cooked

And came back. What a sight she looked.

In the kitchen in hat and galoshes.

'To protect me from Sachmo's pancake sloshes.

A little less mix I think Sachmo,'

As a dollop landed on her toe.

Fiddlina was working very hard.

She didn't want her pancakes charred.

She mixed her pancakes carefully,

And fried one up so she could see.

'Sachmo!' She yelled, ducking fast

As pancake mix went flying past.

Quiffy Sax was there as well,

Quiff kept up with lots of gel

And tucked outside his tall chef's hat.

'To protect my hair from Sachmo's splat.'

He had three frying pans on the go.

'Oh Quiffy! What an amazing show.'

He held them tight in paws and tail

As Fiddlina watched every small detail.

He tossed them high into the air.

Oh no! One landed on his hair!

'Hello everyone,' and Monty appeared,

Pulling behind him something weird.

The Monty Magic Mixamaker!

The automatic pancake baker.

He turned it on. The mice looked on.

Oh dear. I think it's going wrong...

The pans were tossing up and down

While Monty watched on with a frown.

'Look out Monty!' Keys quickly said

As a pan knocked him sharply on the head.

Sachmo looked and oh too late!

A pancake hit his face right straight.

His hand shot up, his pancake flew.

'What's that noise?'  They heard 'Choo Choo'

As the pancake landed on the floor

Right outside the open front door.

The mice rushed out and oh my word!

That's the noise that they all heard.

A steam roller coming up the drive.

Oh what a time for it to arrive.

Over the pancake it rattled and rolled.

That pancake was awfully big and cold.

'Oh dear. I'm sorry,' the driver said.

'I knew I should have phoned ahead.

I should tell you why I've come.'

He leant in and pulled out a drum.

'I met a mouse with a xylophone.

He wondered if you could give him a home'

And out of the drum popped Walter's head.

'I'm sorry about the pancake.' He said.

'That's ok I have an idea!

Bring that pancake over here.'

And Keys  tied rope around a tree.

'It's big enough for a trampoline. See.'

The twins got on and bounced up high.

'Look,' they yelled. 'We can fly.'

Monty came out looking slightly dazed

And looked around - a little amazed.

'Right said Fiddlina. Time for tea.

Come on Tina. Follow me.'

She made pancakes for everyone

Which they ate while having mousey fun.

The twins fed Walter in his drum

While Twangy started to sing and strum.

Soon the mice were dancing around,

bouncing on pancakes, and pancakes were downed.

Fiddlina won the pancake prize

Which all the mice thought very wise.

Happy Valentine's Day

Fiddlina was busy cleaning the house

and could not see a single mouse.

'Now where could everyone be,' she thought,

As she got the bedding and started to sort

The laundry out to get it all clean,

Before polishing furniture to a nice sheen.

 'What's that?' she said, as she looked on a chair.

'A big red heart? What's that doing there?'

She picked up the heart and on it she read

To find the next clue look under the bed.

Fiddlina giggled and ran up the stairs,

And picked up the socks she'd put in to pairs.

Underneath another heart lay.

'Next go out to where we play.'

She ran downstairs and out the door,

And lying on the garden floor

Another heart in shiny red.

'Now go back in the lounge ,' it said.

She walked back in but didn't know

In which room she was supposed to go.

She went in the kitchen. Nothing was there.

Opened the oven. Stood on a chair.

'Oh my.' She said as on top of the shelf

She found a sock, toast and a cuddly elf?

'This really needs a clean,' she thought,

But her treasure hunt was what she sought.

She ran upstairs. Looked under the beds.

More socks, a book and paper in shreds.

She thought she heard a mousey laugh

and ran to look inside the bath.

Nothing there or in the sink.

Fiddlina sat and had a think.

Off downstairs, under the chair.

More socks were hiding under there.

'What's that?' she thought and heard a noise.

'I wonder if it was the boys.

They're awfully quiet, it's quite a worry,'

And in to the dining room with a scurry.

'Oh!' she said for on the table,

With a bow and heart shaped label,

A huge box of chocolates and a card.

Fiddlina looked at them very hard.

'For me!' she said and looked around,

and then she heard a cheery sound.

'Hurray Fiddlina. Our valentine,'

And out the boys popped in a line.

'Oh how lovely,' Fiddlina blushed.

'Open the card,' the boys said, flushed.

'To Fiddlina a wonderful mouse,

Who looks after us with a tidy house.'

Fiddlina smiled and opened the box

And handed round the lovely chocs.

'Thank you all so very much.

The heart cards were a lovely touch.'

They all sat and ate the Valentine chocs,

Fiddlina  didn't mention the various socks.

She made a mental note to herself

To clean all the carpets and every shelf.

'Oh,' she said. 'What about TIna?

I'm not the only mouse house cleaner.'

'It was her idea,' Bongo said,

As Tina went a shade of red.

'You're always so nice when I get things wrong.

Like stop the dusting to sing a song

or leave the vacuum on the stairs

and don't put clean socks in to pairs.

Fiddlina blushed. 'How very nice

To have friends like all you lovely mice.'

All of the band would like to say

Have a Happy Valentine's day.

The mice solve a problem.

The mice were riding out one day

and stopped for a picnic along the way.

They crossed a field and under a tree

What do you think the mice could see?

A forlorn little mouse with a xylophone.

'Oh dear. Oh My. It's lost it's tone.'

'Hello,' said Bongo. 'Who are you?'

'I'm Tuffy Plonker. Oh What a to do.'

'Oh my,' said Bongo. 'What on earth's wrong?'

'My xylophone has lost it's clong.'

'Lost it's clong?'the mice all said

And at that moment out popped a head.

'Oh Dear!' they said. Oh what a surprise.

Out popped a wood worm in front  of their eyes.

'You see,' said Tiffy, 'with him inside

When I hit the plates the tone has died.'

Poor Tuffy didn't know quite what to do.

He really made a hullaballoo.

‘I can’t play with him in there.

He won’t come out. It’s just not fair.’

The mice looked as the worm popped out.

‘It is a problem. There’s no doubt.’

‘Let me try,’ said Keys moving in,

And he popped the woodworm in to a tin.

'That won’t work,' said Tuffy and looked

As the little worm neatly hooked

His tail out, hopped on to the grass

And up the side, over the brass

Clangers on Tuffy’s xylophone.

'He really does feel well at home.'

Quiffy said 'How about that tree?

The ideal place for his home to be.'

The mice all fished the wood worm out

and then with a triumphant shout

popped him on to a little twig.

The woodworm looked. Started to dig.

Then climbed back down, across the grass,

The mice all parted to let him pass.

He climbed up the xylophone, up the pole

Across the plates and into a hole.

'This is a conundrum indeed.'

Said Monty. 'We must act with heed.'

The mice and Tuffy all thought hard.

'How about a house made of card?'

Said Tich, as the woodworm's head popped up.
'I tried that, and put him in a cup.'

The worm popped back down below.

‘I’ve got an idea,’ Up stepped Bongo.

'Just wait here,' and off he scurried

back to the bus, to the boot he hurried.

'What does he want?' asked Fiddlina.

'I hope it works,' said little Tina.

Bongo came back with an old bongo drum.

'I use these for practice but maybe time's come

To see if they can be of more use.'

And he worked the tops off slightly loose.

Tuffy got the worm, placed him inside.

The woodworm looked around with pride.

He popped his head out and gave a smile

'Oh thank you,' said Tuffy. 'He's been there a while.

I can finally play my phones again.'

He picked up his sticks and played there and then.

The worm got out and danced on top

of Bongo's drum and didn't stop.

Keys sat down and got out a pen

And wrote a sign for the worm's new den.

The sign was coloured. 'Walter's house'.

The worm smiled, as did Tuffy the mouse.

Tuffy played  triumphantly,

His little face lit up with glee.

The mice all smiled and danced and played.

Oh what a jolly group they made.

Walter popped up and danced along

as Tuffy's xylophone regained it's clong.

Happy New Year!

The band had travelled most of the day.

Off to Hamish and Hogmanay.

All of them in their party best.

Neatly groomed and smartly dressed.

‘We’re here!’ they cried and off they got,

And into the castle like a shot.

The ballroom was decorated wall to wall,

With balloons and streamers in the hall.

‘Yon mice!’ Said Hamish. ‘Here at last.

My, my the time. It does go fast.

We’re almost set. We start at eight.

I can relax now I know you won’t be late.’

‘Who’s that,’ asked Bongo. ‘Over there,’

And pointed to the corner where

Three mice were trying a little dance.

‘Come meet the singers. They’re from France.

Meet Chu, Chim, Choww, the Cheesette girls,’

With glasses, earrings, and with pearls,

They said  ‘I’m Chim.’  ‘I’m Choww.’ ‘I’m Chu.’

‘We’re the Cheesettes. Who are you?’

‘Meet my friends.  The Bongo Mouse band.

They’ve travelled up to lend a hand.

They’re your backing group tonight.

I know them well. They’ll get it right.’

The band and girls then planned the songs

So nothing that night would go wrong.

At eight o clock sharp, guests appeared.

Scriffy took their tickets and steered

Them in the ballroom to their table,

Where every mouse guest then was able

To sit and drink, enjoy a meal,

While they listened to the jolly reel

Played by the band and the Cheesettes.

They’d arranged the music in to sets

And in between the guests played games,

Like mouse piñata, and guessing names.

As midnight started to draw near,

The dance floor slowly started to clear

And Hamish appeared with big long swords,

And laid them out on the big floorboards

Neatly in a criss cross shape.

The band just stood and looked. Agape.

‘Oh Hamish please be careful.’ said Choww.

‘No need to fret. I’ll show you now.’

In walked a mouse in kilt and sporran.

‘Please meet my dancing cousin. Wilt.

Best sword dancer in all the land.’

And Hamish took his pipes in hand

And started to play a Highland fling

While Wilt danced round him in a ring.

Then he danced between each blade

His feet and balance perfectly weighed

As he did a Scottish Sword dance

Which left the mice quite in a trance.

When he finished they cheered and clapped

Until Scriffy got a hammer and tapped

On the table ‘Please one and all,

Join hands in the middle of the hall.

It’s only a few more minutes to go

That’s it. All join hands in a row.’

Everyone counted down out loud,

And midnight came and all the crowd

Shouted out  ‘A Happy new year!’

And gave a great big New Year cheer.

Hamish piped up Auld Lang Syne

As the mice joined hands all in a line,

All singing loud to greet the year

As Sachmo thought ‘What’s that I hear?’

From the lake he heard a roar,

And through the window then he saw

Daisy dancing down in the lake.

He hoped the band might get a break

To see if her mouth had healed ok.

But the band had come up here to play.

Hamish called for silence then

And went to the door on the count of ten.

Monty came through with a lump of coal

He cleared his throat. ‘To every soul

Here tonight, I wish you luck and good cheer

For tonight and for the coming year.’

The guests all cheered, and started dancing

Lots of jigs, and reels and prancing.

The band played on and the party went late.

Oh what a way to celebrate.

The Cheesettes all kept on singing,

The band played on, with Hamish bringing

Punch, and haggis for them to eat,

And ginger cake for something sweet.

The guests eventually left the do.

‘Oh what a wonderful night,’ said Chu

‘I’ve made so many new friends here,’

Said Chim. ‘A good start to the year.

And seeing everyone have such fun.’

As they all looked out at the rising sun.

‘I hope we’ll meet again,’ said Choww

‘Can we get to France somehow?’

Asked Twangy. ‘Well the best way there

Is to go underwater if we dare.’

Said Monty as the mice looked round.

‘There’s a tunnel running underground

That will take us all the way.’

‘We can get there. Oh hooray!’

The band and Cheesettes said farewell

And on the bus they quickly fell.

As the bus drove off the mice could see,

Peeking over a great big tree,

Daisy watching with a grin,

And neatly tied up under her chin,

Sachmo’s hat was fastened tight.

She really was a funny sight.

The band all waved and gave a cheer,

And wish you a Happy Bongo New Year.

A Christmouse Tale

‘Twas Christmouse day and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, except for one mouse.

Fiddlina was up and about with the lark.

She looked out the window to see it still dark.

She wandered downstairs to the kitchen table

Wondering how on earth she’d be able

To get the huge turkey in to roast.

She sat to think and had some toast.

Then she set about stuffing the  bird.

Breadcrumbs and herbs were swiftly stirred,

Then rolled up into neat little rows

Before being stuffed up the parson’s nose.

She looked at the oven, then at the tin.

‘There’s no way that I can get that in!’

She moved the shelves, ‘That won’t do.’

She sat and made herself a brew.

She pondered the problem she had now

And finally hit on exactly how

She could get all the turkey in to cook.

Removing the shelves was all it took,

And tucking the legs in to the bird.

She closed the door and just then heard

A noise as Keys came in to view.

‘Merry Christmouse!’ He said ‘The same to you.’

She made him tea and more fresh toast,

Keys started peeling potatoes to roast.

‘I think I’ll roast them around the bird.

It crisps them well, or so I've heard.’

He diced them up and laid them out

When all of a sudden he heard a shout;

‘Merry Christmouse!’ yelled Twangy, coming through

The door. ‘We've all got so much to do.’

 ‘That turkey smells good,’ and he sniffed the air

As Fiddlina shuffled out of her chair

To check the bird was cooking right.

It was roasting as she’d hoped it might.

She sat back down and looked about

At mice working hard without a doubt.

Keys was still very busy peeling.

His roast potatoes would be appealing.

Twangy then got a huge pan out

And sat about peeling Brussels sprouts.

‘I've never seen so many sprouts.’ He said

As he looked at a pile as high as his head.

‘Merry Christmouse,’ said Bongo at the door

As he appeared to start his Christmouse chore.

He went to a larder and pulled out a sack

Of carrots and dragged it all the way back

To a chair where a pan sat on the floor.

He picked up a peeler in his mouse paw

And started to peel and chop and dice.

Now how many carrots for how many mice?

Tich, Tupper and Tina were all busy too.

Setting  the table: Oh what a to do!

Tupper was laying the cutlery out,

While Tina had place cards scattered about

Trying to work out who would sit where

While Tupper was laying crackers with care.

They all kept getting in the way

Till Tupper went and fetched a tray.

‘Tina, you put your cards on here

To get the seating nice and clear.

Then move the cards on to the table.

Tich, follow me, that way you’re able

To put the crackers on each plate

After me, then we’ll all be straight.’

Sachmo was next to complete his chore.

He dropped the first batch on the floor.

‘Oops,’ he said. ‘I’ll clean the mess.

Maybe next time I’ll make less.’

Making gravy was Sachmo’s job

But it turned in to one big blob.

‘Oh dear,’ he said. ‘A bit too thick,’

And he added water a bit too quick.

‘Sachmo! Keep it in the pan!

The turkeys done so quick as you can.’

All of a sudden a knock at the door

Meant chaos on the kitchen floor.

Fiddlina quickly carved the meat,

While Keys piled potatoes nice and neat.

Twangy took sprouts to the table

While Bongo strained carrots fast as was able.

And as for Sachmo – Oh deary me.

He was wearing most of his thick gravy.

‘Hello,’ said a voice. ‘That does smell good.’

And Monty and Scriffy came and stood

And looked at the magnificent meal.

It really had a Christmouse feel.

The mice pulled crackers as they sat

With silly jokes and party hats.

They ate and talked and laughed and ate

Until all the food was off their plate.

Quiffy stood up. ‘My turn now.’

He came back in. ‘Oh Quiffy. Wow!’

He brought with him a flaming pud.

‘Oh Quiffy that really does look good.’

They each of them had a huge big slice.

When they finished they were very full mice.

Bongo sat back and patted his belly,

Which wobbled like a great big jelly.

‘That really was a most wonderful meal

And it certainly made all of us feel

Full of joy and Christmouse cheer.

In a few days off to see New Year

In with Hamish and Hogmanay.

We’ve had a really wonderful day

To all our readers old and new

A very Merry Christmouse too.’