Dragon Wash.
It
is time to wash the Dragon its scales are getting rusty and it has at least two
years to go before it peels off the old skin and a new one appears. This is just
the job that the Fairies love to do. They have great fun and the Dragon always
feels fresher after a scrub by the Fairies. For two whole weeks the Fairies have
been preparing an ointment that slides under the dragons scales. Everyone knows
that Dragon have scales that keep them fairly safe from attack from above it is
their tummies that are most liable to be hurt that is why it is so important for
its scales to be clean.
The ointment that the Fairies use is made of daisy petals. These petals the
Fairies have been collecting for weeks and the wise old Fairies have been busy
mixing the petals with oils and other herbs. The ointment is boiled for hours on
end to make the skin or scales of the Dragon slippery. First the Dragon is
scrubbed with soap and water. The Fairies each have a long scrubbing brush on
the end of a pole, buckets of warm water are thrown over the Dragon and then the
soap is applied. The soap has brimstone in it to help get the deep dirt from out
of the Dragons scales. Once the Dragon has been thoroughly washed with brimstone
soap it has buckets of warm water thrown over it to wash off the soap.
The Fairies wear protective clothing, which sometimes hampers them in their work
of washing the Dragon but all have great fun and I spent one whole day watching
them clean the Dragon. When the dragon was clean enough out came the large pots
of daisy petal ointment. The fairies threw the ointment onto the Dragons back
and with cloths made from spiders webs they rubbed the ointment deep into the
scales making sure that ointment got under each scale to help keep it supple.
The Dragon now enjoyed the ointment treatment and kept blowing off sparks from
its nose to show how much he appreciated the Fairies taking care of him.
When all was finished the Fairies called the Fairy Queen Feeanna to inspect
their work. The Queen was delighted at how smart the Dragon now looked and
called out that in the evening a dance was to take place and of course all of
the Fairies were invited and yes the Dragon too was invited as a guest of
honour. The Fairies put away all of their brushes and pots and all the ointment
that was left was taken to the wise old Fairies store place for future use. The
buckets and scrubbers were put back in a secret cave that only the Fairies knew
about and then all went home to get ready for the evenings dance. I too have
been invited and hurried home to have a shower and a shave before putting on my
olive green suit that I wanted to wear at the dance.
At a quarter to ten in the evening I made my way into the woods. All of the
little folk were there. Pixies, Imps, Trolls, Leprechauns and a few more all
were dressed in their best clothes and it promised to be another wonderful
evening full of dancing and singing. The orchestra were sitting on a large
raised wooden platform and were tuning their instruments. The Dragon escorted by
some Fairies looked resplendent in his now shining scaly body. Then in her usual
fashion Queen Feeana arrived in a puff of smoke and a bright blue flash. The
leader of the orchestra bowed to Her Majesty and the musicians all stood to
welcome the Queen of all the fairies.
Her Majesty gave a signal and the orchestra played a waltz soon most of the
little people were dancing. Some of the Fairies were offering the sweet little
cakes that are so famous. Soon I too was eating and drinking of the Parsnip
wine. The orchestra then played a polka. Things had got off to a fine start and
all of the little people were dancing or eating and all were drinking and having
a very good time. Then it happened a cloud blew across the sky and the moonlight
was hidden from the dancers and the orchestra.
From the cloud came a black powder that settled on the Dragon, it looked
terrible, worse than when the Fairies first started to scrub him. Her Majesty
quickly drew her magic wand from her dress and pointed it at the cloud a flash
of light and the cloud parted and the moonlight streamed down on the dance
floor. Looking up I saw a magician it was he that had poured the black powder
over the poor Dragon. Her Majesty waved her wand once more and the magician
turned into a shooting star and went sailing across the night sky. In the
distance we heard a thump as if something heavy had hit the ground. “That is
the last we will ever see or hear of him.” Said Her Majesty.
Her Majesty turned to the Dragon and was going to wave her magic wand once
again.” Your Majesty.” I heard myself say, “ I and the Fairies will clean
him up on the morning.” Her Majesty smiled and said, “So be it.” Yes the
next morning I with most of the little folk were there in the woods to clean our
Dragon. Even the Leprechauns helped and we all had a great lot of fun. It is a
pity that you do not live near me, I am sure the Fairies would love to welcome
you to play with them.
The
New Magic Pen.
The
Wife and I have been invited down into the forest glen.
The
fairies have a present for me it is a new magic pen.
I
have to fill it with a special ink of blue and green.
It
will write the most beautiful poems man has ever seen.
All
of the little folk will be there you know in full force,
Even
her Majesty will come riding on the winged horse.
From
all over the world they will come in one’s and two’s.
Most
will wear their brand new blue and yellow fairy shoes.
The
Leprechauns have been asked not to bring their pots of gold.
For
in fairy land there is nothing to be bought or to be sold.
The
Trolls and the Pixies all I know have promised to behave,
The
Fairy Queen has threatened to send them all to the dark cave.
The
dark cave it lies hidden in the forest’s deepest glade.
There
is no bright light but just the forevermore shade.
My
little family mouse have also been invited to the glen.
They
are all a little excited about my receiving a new pen.
Finally
the great day has arrived to my deepest delight,
I
have not been able to sleep more than half of the night.
I
have showered and shaved my silly old face once more.
My
wife says I look really smart but I was not so sure.
We
must not keep the Fairy Queen waiting so off we all went,
my
Wife quite lively me with my old back all tottery and bent.
We
wandered along the forests green floor to the forest glen.
We
all slowly arrived at about quarter past of the ten.
There
was an atmosphere of gaiety in the sunlit floor,
A
thousand fairies or could it have been a few more.
All
were singing and dancing, to the most modern of tunes,
Wine
was served it had been made from the freshest of prunes.
Then
Her Majesty the Fairy Queen arrived from out of the skies.
Bringing
with her my New Magic Pen and lots of fresh fruit pies.
A
right royal feast soon got under way down in the forest glen.
With
fairy pomp and ceremony the Queen gave me my magic pen.
It
was just after midnight that we arrived back at my old house,
My
wife very happy I’m delighted and my happy little family mouse.
Fairy
Cake Contest.
Excitement is running high here in Fairyland. We are to have a cake baking contest and the winner or winners will travel to a country of their choice for a holiday. All are invited, the Fairies, The Pixies, the Trolls and in fact all the little people even the Leprechauns. Everyone was looking for his or her favourite flower petals and of course honey. I myself decided to make my favourite ginger cakes.
Each had their own favourite recipe and from all over Fairyland one could smell the cakes baking. This contest would be a great success I am sure of this. My own cakes were ready and I had placed them in an airtight tin. I had three tries at making the cakes the first two were not to my liking the third time they were just perfect.
Saturday came at last and it is a wonderful evening with a clear sky. Tables had been arranged and cakes of all sizes were slowly filling the tables each with the name of the maker. All went well and at nine o’clock exactly the wise old Fairies called the contest as being open. The judges were the wise old Fairies. Her Majesty was away it is told on very important business.
Suddenly at the end of the tables there was a noisy debate going on. An elderly woman had arrived and wanted to show her cakes for the contest. The Trolls I think were behind the whole thing soon joined by the Pixies, of course anything for a laugh seems to be their motto. It took the authority of the wise old Fairies to settle things and I was asked what I thought about the matter. The contest is for everybody was my reply and I think that the elderly lady should show her cakes to be judged the same as everybody else.
The judging took place the judges were looking for the lightest cake it should be sweet but not too sweet. Most of the Trolls cakes were judged to be too hard. The cakes of the Pixies were much too sweet. The best cakes were from the Fairies and my ginger cakes took second place. The winner was to my surprise the elderly lady; her cakes were just too delicious. I tasted one of them and was of the same opinion as the judges these cakes were the best I had eaten for a long time.
The Trolls and the Pixies wandered away and did not stop to see the wise old Fairies giving away the first prize. The elderly lady stepped up to the table where the prizes were and one of the wise old Fairies took an envelope and handed it to the elderly lady. As the elderly lady took the prize there was a bright blue flash and Her Majesty stood there. Her Majesty had disguised herself to take part in the contest.
Her Majesty wanted to give me the prize as my cakes were considered the second best. I thanked her and asked the wise old fairies to give the prize to the baker of the cakes that were in their opinion the prettiest. The prize was then given to Sennafee one of the younger Fairies she had taken much trouble to decorate her cakes and the tops of her cakes were covered in small flowers delicately made and looking wonderfully like the fresh forest flowers that at this time of the year were in abundance.
Two other Fairies were given a prize for making some new style of cakes and the three Fairies decided to go to New Zealand for a holiday. A wave of Her Majesties magic wand and another puff of smoke and a bright blue flash and the Fairies were gone. The rest of the night was spent in dancing and exchanging recipes. No one had any secrets any more in fact all of the Fairy cakes were made the same way with the petals of flowers mixed with honey and some with blackberry juice others with elderberry flowers not real secrets all of the Fairies knew about the flowers it was just the choice of flower petals that made it exciting. I am looking forward to another baking contest sometime next year.
Three
Witches.
Three Witches tried to take over in Fairyland,
All fairy music they said was to be banned.
There was to be no more flying on the winged horse,
Leprechauns had to give up all their gold of course.
The wishing well was placed completely out of bounds,
No humans were to be allowed on the fairyland grounds.
No more dancing the penalties were drastic and dire,
No more roasting of chestnuts around the campfire.
Many things the fairies they were forbidden to eat,
No more rice puddings or any thing that was sweet.
But of course the most terrible thing of all.
There was to be no more a Fairy Annual Ball.
Her Majesty The Fairy Queen had gone away,
She had flown to old Mars for a long holiday.
As Fairy prince of the realm I was in charge,
The powers that she gave me were very large.
I called a meeting of all the old and wise fairies,
even those that were working in the local dairies.
What were we to do we discussed this and that,
why I even put on my bright red thinking hat.
We worked out some weird and wonderful plans,
The fairies wanted to turn them into rusty tin cans.
Then I looked down and saw my green socks,
I would turn all three witches into moss-covered rocks.
There they would stay for a thousand years or more,
The fairies and I we were all feeling right sore.
I mumbled a spell that I had learned in Andromeda,
Now three moss covered rocks are in a land very far,
No more will they bother the fairies and forbid all things nice,
The fairies can roast chestnuts and eat puddings of rice.
I then thankfully returned home to my old house,
I spent a very pleasant evening with my family mouse.
Those Witches will not bother the fairies and me any more,
For with the wise old fairies I have evened the score.
Many
years ago in a far off land there lived a man that even today we would call a
giant. This man was so big and strong that he could pull a tree from out of the
ground with just his bare hands. He was a gentle man and helped all that needed
help. His Mother by doing all kinds of extra work just about managed to feed him
and clothe him. As a child he had a really big appetite.
To help feed him the farmers would let him pull the plough and at hay time the
heavy hay carts. The good-natured Giant did all of the work without once
complaining. Then Bad times came for him his poor Mother died. Some say of a
broken heart. Her gentle boy was just so huge and she never got used to the fact
that he was used by one and all to do menial jobs on farms to get his food.
The times got so hard what with one harvest after another being bad. The Farmers
began to put the blame on this poor Giant of a man. Then they stoned him away
from his village where he lived all of his young life. The poor confused Giant
was sent on from one village to the next he was allowed to stay nowhere because
of the food he could eat.
Soon the Fairy Folk who as we all know are very inquisitive if not downright
nosey knew of his travelling. For the Fairies with their powers of magic it was
no problem to feed the giant. What could they give him to do to keep him
occupied? First they asked him to build bridges. With his great strength he
could pull out a tree by its roots and easily snap off the branches and lay a
simple bridge for the Fairies. Then the fairy Queen had an Idea. He should level
off the top of a mountain so that a huge plateau could be made to hold the Fairy
meetings.
The Gentle Giant started off this very hard work and it took him years to level
off the terrain. The Fairies fed him and there was always a group of them
helping and telling him about all the things that were happening in the world.
The Plateau is in South Africa and is now called Table Mountain. If you get the
chance go there and see how much rock was moved to make the Fairies a meeting
place and to give the gentle Giant work to do to keep him happy.
