Cow Island

'It's not actually addressed to anyone,' pointed out Captain Bill, 'it just says 'to whom it may concern'.' 'But the post haddock clearly gave it to you,' said Bertha. 'I was just closest,' replied Captain Bill. 'So are you going to open it?' asked Norma. 'I see no need to rush at it,' replied Captain Bill. 'You're always like this with letters,' continued Norma. 'If by that you mean that I take my time to consider things...then I'd happily agree,' replied Captain Bill. 'Well someone needs to open it!' mooed Bertha. So everyone stood and looked at the envelope. 'Well then?' asked Norma. 'It's not actually addressed to anyone,' repeated Captain Bill. 'Oh, give it here!' said Bertha and with the flick of her horn the envelope was open. From inside she drew out a single thick neatly typed piece of card. 'What does it say?' asked Norm...

'Oh! Well done!' mooed Norma. 'You've got the top open.' Captain Bill looked at Norma. 'I'm managing perfectly well on my own, thank you very much.' 'So I can see,' replied Norma, 'I mean, just a week to get an envelope open!' 'Sarcasm does not become you,' said Captain Bill. 'Anyway I'm sure you've got something better to do?' 'Not really,' said Norma. 'Walking with Horace?' suggested Captain Bill. 'He wants to wait until the weather is a bit more miserable,' replied Norma, '...it's a poet thing.' 'Annie then?' 'I was going to go to the library with her but Cyril's volunteered to do that.' 'Library,' asked Captain Bill. 'She wants to see if Bertha's got any books that might help with her teacher training,' replied Norma. 'She's still pursuing that then?' 'It would seem so,' replied Norma. 'So are you going to look i...

Captain Bill peered closely at the letter that Norma was holding up. 'Well it looks like Camille's hoof writing,' he said. 'That's because it is,' replied Norma,'Horace has compared it to the letter of invitation that she sent us, it's definitely by her.' 'And she says that they can't be here this year because they have bad tummies but expect to be back next year,' read Captain Bill. 'That's right,' said Norma. 'Then everything is OK!,' said Captain Bill. 'Panic over!' 'I'm afraid not,' replied Norma,'Ms Camille may have written this letter...but she was forced to!' 'Forced to!' mooed Bertha. And Norma nodded her head. 'But she was clever enough to make it clear what was happening and who it was that was forcing her. Take a closer look at how she spelled 'bad'.' And Geraldine pointed at the word with her beak. 'Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!' read out C...

Norma and Captain Bill were taking a walk...there was a certain amount of discussion of recent events... 'I'm surprised I've got any hooves left at all!' said Captain Bill, not for the first time. 'But I'm sure you feel better for it!' replied Norma. And Captain Bill just stopped and looked at Norma. He was about to say something when, rather unexpectedly, a large bird carrying a bag landed on a post next to him. 'Hello, hello! What's this?' said Captain Bill. The bird took a letter from the bag and held it out towards them. 'It's a letter!' said Norma. 'Yesssssssssssssss?' replied Captain Bill,'bit odd! I thought our post normally arrived by fish?' 'Well perhaps he's on holiday?' replied Norma. And Captain Bill just nodded and looked at the bird. 'Aren't you going to take it from him?' asked Norma. 'Hmmmm?' replied Captain Bill,'maybe!' and he leaned a bit closer t...

A rather dejected Captain Bill was sitting on the beach, just below the Cow Island pier. He was surrounded by a very large number of sacks of mail. On his head, a small crab scampered down to the end of his nose and dropped off onto the topmost letter. It had done this several times already, but Captain Bill was comforted by the thought that at least someone was having fun. 'Hello!' said Norma, who had just that moment arrived. 'Oh, hello!' replied Captain Bill and he gave Norma a rather weak smile. 'Looks like an awful lot of post,' she said cheerfully. 'Mmm,' replied Captain Bill, '15 sacks!' 'Wonderful!' said Norma. 'So, many bookings for the museum then?' 'Well, roughly speaking,' replied Captain Bill, 'without recounting them, I'd say about...zero!' 'Oh dear!" said Norma, 'so that would mean that all these would be...' '.....Horace's,' finished Captain Bill. '15 sacks.......