Sol and Ruby at Christmas 22

A few long hours later Sol and Ruby got the call to say they were now Granny and Granpa ! Everyone went to the hospital. Spotty was wondering where he had put the baby manual, he had been meaning to read it for months. Stripey felt like she needed to sleep for a week. Ruby smiled, two polytunnels for the allotment and a lovely little granddaughter. It was the best Christmas ever !

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 21

Oh no, Stripey was about to have her baby! Spotty went into a complete flap, he managed to call Ruby to say they might be a bit late, bundled Stripey's ready bag into the car and nearly drove off to the hospital without her.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 20

There was a hive of activity in the house. Ruby was recovering nicely and baking in the kitchen with Nerys. There was just a slight worry, where were Spotty and Stripey ? They were due to come this afternoon, but she hadn't heard anything from them.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 19

The following morning, Sol had just brought Obie a nice steaming cup of hot oil when the Limpopo postman arrived carrying a big long parcel. It was remarkably similar in size and shape to the one Ruby had had delivered the other day...

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 18

The house was getting quite full now. Minimeep, Little Bun and the Squirrel got there that evening. The staring contest continued, even though the hedgehogs had given up long ago, Minimeep was telling Nerys all about school. The squirrel had installed his climbing gear and found the nuts, so all was just about all right with the world.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 17

Meep and Munch were still staring at each other when Obie arrived carrying Spit, Bertie, the fieldmice and a load of old books. Bertie was feeling a bit sick as the mice had made him chew his way through the middle of the books, and now they were enacting a very cunning plan to replace the lost Christmas branch. Obie had retreated to Sol's shed with a nice packet of frozen oven chips.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 16

The hedgehogs were trying to get Meep and Munch to kiss and make up under the mistletoe. At least that's what they said they were doing...it turned into a staring contest. Harriet took loads of photos.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 15

Munch was surprised and not very pleased to see Meep and the four hedgehogs when he opened the door. He cheered up a bit when he saw the size of Meep's Santa sack...

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 14

Munch and Nerys were put on cleaning duty. They were not exactly naturals at it, but they did their best as they were sorry to see Ruby so upset.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 13

Sol was at his wits end, so he called Stripey, perhaps she could help to console her mother. In the end it was decided that she would send Meep and the Hedgehogs over early, to help get things organised. The hedgehogs were awake anyway as they were far too excited about Christmas to keep hibernating.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 12

Oh dear, when Sol did get up he found Ruby terribly upset about the broken tree. He made her a nice cup of tea, and promised to clean everything up so they could start again. The cats hid under the chair, they were in trouble now...

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 11

Ruby came downstairs early to see what her tree looked like in daylight...this is what she found. There was a shriek and the rapid pounding of cat paws running out into the garden. Sol heard all this, but he was nice and cosy in bed and just about to go back to sleep...

Soland Ruby at Christmas 10

The power went out ! Sol had all the tree lights charged on solar panels so the tree still shone out, and with the street lights not working they could see sparkling stars in the sky. It was very magical. They went to bed quite happy that night. 

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 9

Sol had found a lovely dead branch to use as a tree. The old Christmas decorations came down from the loft, and all was well with the world, until....

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 8

Sol had a sudden brainwave! A Polytunnel ! Ruby would love that on the allotment. She could grow all sorts of nice things in there. Yup! Thats what he'd get her ! He was already thinking of all the nice dinners they could have from it, yum !

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 7

Sol went back to his shed with a restorative cup of tea and some biscuits after his little yoga adventure. Oh no ! The Limpopo courier was coming up the garden with a huge parcel. Sol ducked when he realised he was wearing a pair of Ruby's pyjamas. 

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 6

Sitting in his shed fretting about Christmas presents wasn't doing Sol any good, so he tried doing a headstand to inspire himself. It certainly gave him something to think about, he got a raging headache and felt very queasy for a while. Munch meanwhile was very happy, he was a natural at yoga.

Sol and Ruby's Christmas 5

Sol was gazing wistfully at the last few leaves being blown off the trees. He contemplated the fiddle that was awaiting his tender ministrations, and felt slightly queasy. What on earth was he going to do about Christmas presents this year ?

Sol and Ruby's Christmas 4

Ruby had been knitting solidly day and night now for three days and had nearly finished when she ran out of wool. It was a good job Sol noticed and brought in their neighbour Lawrence Lamb. Lawrence was slightly reluctant, as you might imagine.  She'd left him with almost no wool last year, and he had had to wear one of her jumpers all winter, but there was only half a scarf to finish so it wasn't too bad. 

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 3

Sol was relieved to see that Ruby was knitting. That would keep her busy for a few days. Everyone would be getting socks, a jumper, a scarf and a hat. (She was a fast, if not always accurate champion speed knitter ) Sol went out to his shed to ponder the meaning of Life and other important questions, like how many rows of beans to plant next year.

Sol and Ruby at Christmas 2

When Sol saw Ruby come in from the garden all in a flap, he knew he was in trouble. He tried to hide behind his newspaper but when he heard the word Christmas he started to worry. It would all be over in a few weeks he thought to himself, and sighed. 

Sol and Ruby at Christmas

It was a lovely breezy day in Lesser Foxton upon the Sea. Ruby was out hanging the washing and happily humming a little tune to herself when she stopped in her tracks. Her heart skipped a beat, she dropped all her pegs and she started feeling quite panicky. It was December, again. That meant Christmas....aaarrrggghhh!

Not at all secret story

Here's the happy couple...Spotty and Stripey are married !

Not so secret story 4

Here's lady Xinthia Audrey Carmichael Mc.Spot, Spotty's mum. She's wearing a natty little twin set from the supermarket, her best wellies from the pound shop and a hat she made out of a paper plate and some artificial flowers. She's not one for spending her money on anything other than her dogs and horses...

Not so secret story 3

The Honourable Hamish MacSpot, Laird of Loch Lavan, Spotty's dad, has made a real effort to smarten up for the occasion. He's wearing his best fly fishing hat and fatigue trousers, he's brushed most of his breakfast off his jacket and he's wearing a pink shirt with matching tie.

Not so secret story 2

Stripey's mum, Ruby, is desperately worried that her delightful hat might blow off.

Not so secret story 1

Stripey's dad, Sol, is very pleased to still be able to fit into his festival clothes from the 1970s. Perfect for this kind of occasion...

Secret Story 11

Come to think of it, putting Clipboard's cousin Reginald in charge of the cake wasn't such a good idea. He's already quality controlled several of the icing flowers, fortunately round the back...

Secret story 10

The Mice had found Meep's secret stash of old fairground bunting to make their outfits, and as you can see they are very proud of them. Stripey's great Aunt knitted the jumpers for the boys, on sewing pins, very tricky...

Secret story 9

Spit is wearing her best tutu and trying very hard not to crumb bomb on the guests. Meanwhile Obie has been made a suit by Meep and is looking chic, even if he is wearing his buttonhole flower on his head. 

Secret story 8

Horace and Harrisson decided against clothes and opted for bagpipes instead. They didn't know how to play them but blew enthusiastically into them and squeezed the bags...fortunately hedgehog pipes are very small, really the only ones who could properly appreciate them were the mice, and they all had noise cancelling earphones.

Secret Story 7

You wouldn't believe how hard it is to dress a hedgehog. Meep and little Bun spent hours trying to attach half dresses to their fronts. Plus they tend to wriggle and giggle and curl up in the middle of it all...

Secret Story 6

All in all, apart from the fact she couldn't find shoes in her size, Maureen O'Hare is quite pleased with her outfit. Henry however, is not. He's desperately hoping none of his school friends can see him in his girly green velvet suit.

Secret story 5

Always a little anxious on the ground and in civvies, squirrel is clutching his lucky acorn and worrying about how much weight he's put on. His best waistcoat is a little tight.

Secret Story 4

Meep scrubs up quite nicely don't you think? She made that fascinator herself, chasing Mrs Cluck around for hours until she gave her a feather. Don't worry! Mrs Cluck was fine, it was moulting season...

Secret Story 3

Minimeep suddenly got very shy....

Secret Story 2

Little Bun has made herself look like confectionary. She's half way between a French Fancy and a Bon Bon....

Secret story 1

Something exciting is happening in Spottyland soon...

Little Bun's makeovers

Little Bun's Salon

This is where it all happens...

Little Bun's makeovers 12

It turns out that this little Shrew has a fine tenor singing voice so it was obvious, he had to join a Barber Shop quartet. 

Little Bun's makeovers 11

I'm not even going to speculate on the gender of this little Shrew from Africa. It would seem that Little Bun decides. 

Little Bun's makeovers 10

Oh! She is fit for a tea party with the Queen. Little Bun has outdone herself in the posh frock department. I think her subject is pleased, but perhaps not so much with the spine curling...

Little Bun's makeovers 9

This little one comes from Madagascar, she is an almost hedgehog with spines along her back which stick out when she curls up. If anyone was a candidate for a punk treatment she is, but we will have to wait and see what Little Bun makes of her. 

Little Bun's Makeovers 8

Oh dear, Little Bun really has lost it now. She's turned Eddie into Edwina, and told her she's not allowed to have a gap year. So now Edwina is studying computer sciences at Uni, as if it isn't bad enough to have to wear the Great Aunts' knitting. It's all Geek to me. 

Little Bun's makeovers 7

This is Eddie. He's come from Southern Africa, he's on a gap year, hitching round Spottyland. Unfortunately he met little Bun who couldn't wait to get her makeover paws on him.

Little Bun's makeovers 6

Little Bun didn't know quite what to do with the Numbat until she found Spotty's old bass guitar and the numbat started playing it. She was fantastic. After that it was easy...and here she is !

Little Bun's makeovers 5

The numbat, another Australian émmigré, was extremely good natured, if a little nervous. She had seen what Little Bun had done to her friends...

Little Bun's makeovers 4

Hmm, I think Little Bun must have raided her stash of charity shop curtains for this outfit. Marvin seems quite happy with it anyway, perhaps he'll join the circus.

Little Bun's makeovers 3

The little Mulgara couldn't believe how much water there was in Spottyland. He thought he'd come to paradise from the central Australian desert. I wonder what Little Bun will make of him ?