Ethel has a lifelong dream to fly, but in reality she hates aeroplanes. If only I could grow wings, Ethel thought, then I could fly like a bird. Ethel was also a bit of a scatterbrain. She was always getting lost and losing her way. She often took long walks and often got lost. One morning Ethel walked and walked and walked until eventually she stumbled across an old barn. The barn was very old. It looked tired. It's bricks were a dirty dull red and it's big wooden door hung off it's hinges. Ethel stood and starred for a while and to her suprise out shot a small aeroplane. An aeroplane with a beak. It's tiny, Ethel thought, how can it carry any passengers. The small plane stopped and glided down towards the telephone wire near where Ethel was standing. There balanced several little beaked aeroplanes in a row all chatting. Ahhh Ethel chuckled, they're not aeroplanes at all, it's my friends the swallow family back from their travels. It was true the gliders were indeed Mr and Mrs Swallow and it was true, they had been away for a very long time. Ethel sat down and welcomed them back to Wollaton Park. They were delighted to see her and told her of their long, tiring journey across South Africa, across Southern Spain, up through France and finally back to Nottingham where their mud nests awaited their return. Ethel could not believe it possible. '...and we didn't use a map' exclaimed Mr Swallow.Over the Thames Swallow Migration box by John Dilnothttp://www.johndilnot.com/
In the dead of night Ethel heard a noise. The gale force winds she thought, the rain hitting the window sill, Mr Frankie Cat rummaging through the cupboards again for a midnight snack. Ethel was wide awake she couldn't sleep. It wasn't Mr Frankie he was fast asleep at her feet, it wasn't the rain, it wasn't raining and it wasn't the wind, the gales had died down and gone to sleep. Ethel sat up bolt right, who or what could it be? She quicky reached for the lamp and switched it on, the warm glow from the light cascading down the staircase. Ethel tip toed down the steps and to her suprise a flash of ginger ran before her. A rogue squirrel she thought, a dustbin fox? Ethel followed the flash of ginger into the living room and there sat on the sofa was a bandit, a masked intruder. 'My goodness me' said Ethel, 'Who are you and why are you in my house?' The ginger creature stared at Ethel through his mask and smiled. 'Ahhh, hello there Mrs Ethel, so pleased to meet you. My name is Rill Raccoon. I mean you no harm. Ethel could see the Raccoon was a kind sort and relaxed immediately. 'Hello Rill' she said 'How can I help you.'Attached to Rill was a name tag with some very important information inscribed. It read, 'Hi, I'm Rill...I like caterpillars and worms.' Aaaah thought Ethel I understand why you're here. 'Follow me!'. It just so happened that Ethel owned the biggest compost bin in England. It was full to the brim with cabbages, carrot scraps, potato peelings and most of all WORMS. Big juicy pink worms. Ethel led Rill to the compost bin. He was delighted. Ethel was just glad she could help.
Knitted Rill Raccoon by Donna Wilson http://donnawilson.com/
Donna Wilson Endangered Species is showing at YSP until 26th February 2012
