Enlisting the Help of the Hoolet

Widening the Search for Beag

As instructed by the Sneach, Bhreac McGonk had climbed back up the Barr Hill to the very top, so he could have another look around over the miles and miles of wide open countryside.

From this viewpoint he could see all the way to England, but he couldn't see the standing stones or stone circle of Torhouse, nor could he see Beag! He wasn't even aware that Hooter had failed to return home, so no thought was given to his plight with the Trolls from the Twin Caves!

A little higher and Bhreac reached the big angular stone known at 'Trig'. It was massive, with smooth
stone walls and an interesting metal plaque set into the side, bearing a number. After scaling to the top, the views opened out even more, but still no sign of Beag and no sign of the Hoolet, who had been sitting there previously, eating dinner.

But then Bhreac spotted something new and different and decidedly disgusting looking! In fact, he wasn't entirely sure what it was and didn't really want to guess!

This was silly, it wouldn't hurt to take a closer look and the 'thing' wasn't exactly alive.

In fact, it was most definitely dead!

Bhreac peered down at it in disgust, wondering what, on earth, it could possibly be, sitting in such a strange place, atop the 'Trig' rock. But as he looked closer, it suddenly dawned on him what it was...

Hoolet had been here for dinner and, as we all know, olws eat all sorts of weird and wonderful things at all sorts of wonderful times of day. They really are quite greedy creatures, just gulping down their food without a care, no hesitations, no wondering what's in it, just yum, yum, yum... down the throat it goes. And then afterwards, up pops a pellet, bleugh, spat out by the owl and containing all the bits and pieces that weren't supposed to have been part of the meal.

Bhreac had found an owl pellet!

On much closer inspection of the pellet, he'd become fascinated by one particularly shiny, white object and he wouldn't be satified until he'd discovered exactly what it was. Carefully, he wrapped the pellet and set off in search of the Hoolet, to find out more. And, of course, to enlist his help in searching for Beag.

It was a long, hard walk for Bhreac while carrying the huge owl pellet, but he finally spotted Hoolet snoozing on a high ledge, far above the gardens of Thrift Cottage.

Clambering up the vertical wall, he deposited the pellet at Hoolet's feet and looked expectanty for an explanation, in particular, with regards to the shiny, white object...

Hoolet began his curious tale of mystery, how he'd spotted what looked like a tasty morsel bobbing along the edge of the long straight burn by the side of the lane, and how he'd seen the glowing eyes of the creature and heard the gurgling, eery sounds in the night. His tale went on, the watching, his stealthy, silent flight overhead and, finally, his swoop to snatch whatever t was from the water's edge just after midnight!

What an exciting tale the Hoolet had to tell, but he hadn't seen Beag since their trip to 'the Doon'. Once again, he promised to spread the word far and wide so every creature within the Kingdom of Frugal would be on the look out for the missing Beag.

As for the white, shiny object? Well, that was... the tooth of a troll!

McGonk Meets the Easter Bunny

In Search of the Missing 'Beag' McGonk



Beag McGonk



As you all know, my favourite little 'Beag' McGonk went missing in action a few weeks ago, completely vanishing without trace. A search party was deployed on several occasions without success and now, with the onslaught of this Siberian Spring, heavy snowfall has brought the searching to a temporary halt.

 

McGonks love nothing more than to explore, so we're hoping that Beag simply wandered off and forgot he was supposed to return home to Thrift Cottage. They can be very, very forgetful little creatures but they can also be very naughty, especially the diminutive micro-McGonks! Beag disappeared after a trip to Torhouse Stone Cirlce, when he was last seen heading towards Wigtown, Scotland's national book town.

Hooter McGonk

Earlier today, a little visitor arrived in the shape of Hooter McGonk,  a nosy wee character who was adamant that he go in search of his wayward cousin as soon as possible, despite the weather conditions. Much debating went on until we could debate no more and off he scampered, out into the snowy lands of Frugaldom to begin his own investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Beag. What he hopes to achieve in this weather is anyone's guess, as he's barely visible himself when wading through the chilly white carpet provided by Mother Nature. He doesn't care how high or how low he has to search, but search he will until he discovers the whereabouts of his cousin, 'Beag'.

 

 

Following the invisible Sneach

Through the snowy fields he clambered, climbing drifts and exploring icy tunnels and igloos made by the Sneach - a clan of seemingly invisible, white Mcgonks of the north who over-winter in Galloway. They're normally quite easy to spot, as we don't usually have this amount of snow, but to our human eyes these snow McGonks are undetectable during times such as these. It was amazing to watch Hooter communicating with them, chattering away, following in their footsteps. We could see their tracks, but it is impossible to spot a Sneach even on such a glorious day as today.

Climbing the tree

The Sneach McGonks led us all a merry dance, poor Hooter was exhausted by the time he got back to Thrift Cottage. First they suggested he climb as high as he could to survey the snowly landscape. Up he climbed, higher and higher, his little nose getting redder and redder. Several times he had to scuttle for cover under gnarled branches, as passing blackbirds kept mistaking his nose for a juicy red berry they'd overlooked on the Hawthorn! What a to do that would have been, losing Hooter to a scavenging blackbird!

 

Poor wee Hooter - he climbed as high up the tree as he could possibly go and then the mischievous Sneach McGonks closed their eyes and disappeared from sight, camouflaged to perfection against the glistening snow! Even Hooter was having trouble spotting them, but he could still hear them chattering away, calling out instructions to him and making tracks in the snow for him to follow.

 

From his viewpoint, far up the tree, Hooter could see so many tracks in the snow that he didn't know which to follow. The Sneach were everywhere and nowhere to be seen, but there seemed to be a great deal of trampling and stamping coming from the direction of the burn, very close to the home of the Trolls!

 

Carefully, Hooter picked his way back down the tree and headed towards the deep, dark, watery cave, convinced that the Sneach wouldn't lead him into danger. They may be cheeky and impish, but they certainly weren't evil or cruel.

The Trolls' Cave

The mouth of the cave looked spooky, the banks were slippery and cloaked in deep snow and there was a whispering, gurgling echo coming from deep within the tunnel.

 

Hooter crawled over the bridge and gingerly stuck his head inside to call out to the Trolls, asking for their help in finding his lost cousin. The echoing whisper that rushed from the cave mouth was unmistakable, audible to all around, incuding the multitude of Sneach that had surrounded the area - if the footprints were anything to go by, that is!

 

"Speak to the Easter Bunny!" the voices murmured, repeating the same command over and over again...



Avalanche alert!

Great commotion broke on the embankment, with a flurry of snow as the Sneach scurried to help Hooter back from the water's edge, leading him along the lane at top speed, back along the path they had previously come. It was tough going for Hooter, he was slipping and sliding all ways, trying to balance precariously between snow drifts, ruts and ridges.

 

Suddenly, he felt the ground move beneath him! In a panic, he became rooted to the spot, feeling the tremors rippling underfoot. He expected to feel himself plunge through chasms of icy darkness at any minute, disappearing throught the deep snow, never to be seen again.

 

What a predicament to be in, out on his first major search and rescue mission only to find himself in need of rescuing! That's when he suddenly realised that the Sneach Clan members were rolling about the ground like tiny snowballs, giggling and laughing uncontrollaby.

 

How curious!

 

"Look down," they yelled in glee, "look down, now!"

 

Peering carefully downwards, Hooter soon saw the reason for such myrth - he wasn't clinging for dear life to an icy peak waiting to be swept into  the snowy abyss by some ground-shaking avalanche...

 

Hooter had woken the Easter bunny, who had been sitting by the wall, like hare waiting for tortoise, enjoying a little nap before his very, very busy weekend arrived!

 

Shrieking with delight, Hooter slid to safety and apologised profusely to Easter Bunny. He quickly explained his predicament and told the bunny how the Sneach had led him to the Trolls and how the Trolls had sent him in search of the Easter Bunny.

 

To all of this, the bunny responded with one word ...

 

"PATIENCE!"

 

Whatever could he mean?