Cow Island

'What lovely blossom,' said Norma. 'It's what we trees are all about at this time of year,' replied Annie. 'And you've got a nest!' 'Geraldine made it for me out of some old hoof mittens.' 'And you've added a bird box.' 'Fish box,' Annie corrected. 'Hmm,' mused Norma, 'I'm not sure a fish would be able to get up there?' 'That's why I added the ladder,' mooed Annie. 'You seem to have thought of everything.' 'Ta!' said Annie and she did a little dance.* 'So,' Norma continued, 'I do so hope you're coming on holiday?' Annie thought for a while.......................................a long while actually......until Norma was forced to prod her with a knitting needle. 'Are trees allowed to take holidays?' 'I know of no law which stops them,' Norma replied, '...and Cyril will be going.' 'Ooooooooooooooooooooo...

'So you see,' Captain Bill explained, 'it's got an anticlockwise triple twist with a thread insert.' 'Lovely! So what would you use it for?' Norma asked. 'Well, you would have used it for tying parcels, erecting very small tents and kite flying.' 'And other things?' 'No,' Captain Bill replied, 'just those things. String laws used to be incredibly strict.' 'Whoever knew!' 'Fascinating isn't it?' 'Mmmmm,' said Norma, 'and I'd love to stay for another 2 hours but...' 'I could lend you a few books if you'd like?' 'It's just time,' Norma replied, 'and talking of time, it had occurred to me...' 'There's a great introduction here somewhere...' 'That's it's been a while......' 'This is it, 'Tie A Knot In It'.' 'Since we've been on holiday.' Captain Bill stopped and looked at No...

Flossie stood, stood quietly, the early morning sun caressing and warming his soft white fleece. He sighed, closed his one good eye and drew a long, deep breath. A tiny black and yellow body buzzed about him, landed on his ear and preened and worked the pollen that hung from its velvet legs. Time drifted. He opened his eye again and gazed around him. The grass, strewn with diamond droplets, twinkled and shone. All was peace. Life was good. 'At last!' he bleated. '................Pastures new! 'Where?' asked Lefty. 'Here,' said Flossie. 'I thought they looked rather old,' replied Lefty. 'No, no I was speaking metaphorically,' said Flossie. 'Oh right!' replied Lefty. And once more Flossie closed his eye and breathed deeply. But the moment had passed and he simply got pollen up his nose which made him sneeze and the bee stung his ear. 'Right,' said Flossie, 'suppose we'd better get on with something?...