G.W agreed that homes needed to be found for all and they would contact that lady in Morecombe about the possibility of Amelia moving there,  G.W, said that Grandma could come and live with them and over a period of time he would find room for many more, but let get grandma over here first said G.W. Grumpy at that moment got very excited announced I am off now to relate the news to Grandma and help her to pack.  Wait said G.W. we aren't quite ready for her as she needs a bed.  Oh that ok said Mr.Silly she can have mine and I will sleep on the sofa.  When Grumpy arrived in Gnomesville there was mayhem as the diggers had been going all day and everyone was holding their heads and several groups were in a huddle.  "Now what is going on here? " Robin the Red was siting with his brothers getting more and more agitated.  Robin Rainbow and his gang were completely engrossed in a conversation planning to rob the diggers of part of the machinery so it wouldn't function and Earth Ernest and friends were planning on moving to Somerset as they had heard of a lovely family who liked outdoors things and thought maybe they would welcome him and his gang.  Poor Grandma was sitting and shaking all over in between sobbing that her head hurt.  Amelia had taken to her bed.  Well that settles it we must all get a move on and find more homes, but first all of you help me and we can pack enough for Grandma to move tonight.  At that Grandma's eyes grew bigger and she smiled.  It was the first time Grumpy had seen her smile for ages. Robin the Red began singing loudly totally out of tune as usual.  Earthy Ernest was very excited and said loudly he had hope the first person to get moved would be Grandma.  Soon all was ready and they began to say their goodbyes.  There were so many tears accompanied by  hugs and as they sped off a big cheer went off in gnomesville.  By the time they arrived at G.W's home it was dark and G.W's "Now what have we here" he said. 

Yes homes will be found.

G.W was at a total loss at what to think there was soot all over the floor.  He gently picked up Mr. Silly and carefully began to wipe off the soot.  Got out the milk and cookies and said "Well what have you two been up to and how did you get like that Silly.  Mr. Silly's eyes looked down and G.W. thought he caught sight of a tear.  Grumpy in a loud voice said  "As usual he was not looking where he was going" and added "he fell head first down and chimney feet in the air and crow........" he then started to laugh uncontrollably and rolled around the floor holding his tummy.  "Now tell me what happened" said G.W. Mr.Silly began to relate the story of the plan at the meeting to find homes for all the gnomes and that they had both been so eager to home back to ask if he would help.  I was just keen to get back so we could send a gnome wire.  "It was then I had my accident" he said.  G.W chuckled quietly to himself and sat looking very pensive just for a moment.  Then announced "That's a lot of gnomes" and add after a few moments "why not, lets try to find them all nice homes".  "Well its Grandma we are worried about" said both Silly and Grumpy in chorus adding "as the noise of all that machinery in giving her headaches.  Grumps looked sad and he said "She is an old lady and remembers the meadow long before we were here".  "She can some and live here as I need someone to keep you gnomes in order".  "What about Amelia she was so depressed.  Moreover she was convinced nobody would want her"  Grumps got quite sour faced at this point and said "Well her trouble is she thinks she is ugly"  and Silly added "and she isn't she is lovely, but she does do such daft things".  At that point both Grumpy and G.W, started laughing.  Mr. Silly said "What is so funny" and began to relate the story of when Amelia lost herself in the bluebell wood.  "What about that nice lady in Morecombe who has gnomes living there already?  Yes we will ask her.  The very next day Mr.Silly and Mr.Grumpy sped off on their gnome sticks to tell Grandma Gnome the news and help her pack.  When they announced she would be leaving Gnomeville then tears began to flow and Grandma Gnome herself began to sob.  She suddenly pulled herself up and  stop announcing it would be the best thing, but she would be there for all meeting.  They also told Amelia she might be travelling to Morecambe and she shook her head saying "Where is that and will she like me?"  Silly said "You will like it as its by the sea and she will love you"

"
Mr.Grumpy and Mr.Silly got on their gnomesticks and zoomed away wondering what G.W's reaction would be.  Mr. Blue was shouting loudly at them "Please find us all homes as these drills have given me an awful headache" and "Me too" added Mr.Redman. "There are an awful lot of gnomes needing homes" said Grumpy and at that Mr. Silly sighed and almost hit a tree with his gnomestick.  "For goodness sake Silly be more careful and watch out". At this Silly shot off and zoomed ahead proclaiming "Critics, critics why does everyone criticize me".  The next thing he knew was he had landed head down feet dangling out of the chimney.  He screamed loudly "Grumpy help! Pleasssssseeeee help!" Grumpy started to giggle, then his laugh became louder and louder.  Mr.Silly's feet were going all over the place.  Just at the moment a crow landed next door to Grumpy and said "what have we going on here".  "It's my friend Mr. Silly he wasn't watching where he was going and hit the chimney and went down head first." "Oh my goodness" said Crow said adding "You gnomes ought to watch where you are going"  By this time Mr. Silly was spluttering "Friend mmmmmh!! I don't think so or you would help me".  "Now how are we going to get you out of this one" said Grumpy scratching his forehead and looking as though the whole of his world had collapsed.  Mr. Grumpy and Crow sat on the roof looking at one another.  "I have an idea" said Crow.  "I saw a piece of  string the other day and maybe its still there and we could" "said Crow continuing  "Tie it on his feet and then some of my mates and I could haul him up"  Grumpy looked at him adding "That's a great idea".  Crow flew off and for what seemed like an age, although it was only five minutes returned with a flock of his friends and Grumpy tied the string to Mr.Silly's feet and then suddenly without any warning the crows all at once took the string in their beaks and started to fly upwards with Mr.Silly head down dangling from the string and hovering over the roof.  He was squealing and all this was too much for Grumpy he started giggling loudly.  As he rode his gnomestick to the ground waiting to help Mr.Silly disentangle himself.  Eventually and very gently the crows lowered him to the ground and without another word flew off before anyone could say thank you.  Mr.Silly was covered in soot and at this point Mr.Grumpy said "And we are going back to ask G.W. a huge favour and look at you. .....black from head to toe" He gently tried to brush away the soot from Mr.Silly whose eyes had filled with tears "Oh no!!!" adding " No blubbering I can't take that" said Grumpy.  Grumpy searched around and finally found Mr.Silly's gnome stick.  They both rode off heading for G.W's house and then knocked on the door looking  quite sorry for themselves.  At that moment G.W opened the door and his mouth dropped open.  When he recovered he looked at them and said "Ok what happened"

Another meeting was called in Gnomesville the following weekend and they all sat around looking quite despondent especially Grandma Gnomey who let a rather large tear fall every so often followed by a deep sigh.  She had heard from Grumpy that G.W. would be delighted to have her moved to his abode, but her main concern at this very moment was to help find homes for the rest of Gnomesville and there were so many of them.  Mr.Pinkears grinned from ear to ear he was yearning to move and had had wanderlust for some while as the drilling had made his head shake so violently his ears had gone even pinker.  "I would love to live by the sea" he sigh "Oh don't start on that one again" said Mr.Silly.  It's all right for you lot you are living with that nice G.W. man who feeds you honey cookies and milk.  Moreover my friend Mr.Peppermint has gone to live with that nice lady who thinks he is cute.  They all starting tittering when Grumpy added and anyway with the colours you where you would stand out so much a seagull would probably think you were some kind of tasty morsel.  By this time poor Pinkears was look very despondent as they were all giggling.  I am sure someone will be only too pleased to adopt you said "Mr.Silly adding "You always brighten our day with your rainbow colours. " Now lets be sensible " said Grandma Gnomey.  "What we need is a plan" said Mr. Posh.  At that moment Mr.Pepperment arrived on his gnomestick his face cover in chocolate.  Mr. Pinkears squealed with delight on seeing his friend and then proclaimed loudy "Yes we need a plan"  "The best thing " said Mr.Grumpy "is that I speak to G.W as he knows lots of people and I am sure that there are many other humans like him who would like to give one of us a home" "That sounds very sensible to me" said Grandma Gnomey who had been polishing her gnomestick like mad.  "Ok" said Grumpy I will talk to G.W. tonight.

 

What shall we do?

The diggers were at it again and Grandma Gnomey Gnome was getting more upset by the moment and every so often tears were falling from her old wrinkled face.   She started to remember the morning dew washing her face and the bluebells in the woods near by.  "Come on - cheer up" said Mr, Posh who these days spent most of his time with the lady and her nice man both of whom were also very kind to him.  Mr.Posh unlike the rest of the gnomes was very well behaved and tried to keep his companions in order making sure they didn't reap too much havoc or mayhem.  His twinkling blue eyes endeared him to the lady who kept describing him as cute.  He recalls the day they took him to a charity event and even he misbehaved himself.  It was all the cakes and he just had to creep up and have a look.  He didn't touch as he had weakness for cheese scones, which had been taken behind the counter or he would have nicked one for sure.  "It is time for a meeting Grandma Gnomey Gnome" said Posh  "The noise here is too much and I can't even stand being here now.  Even when I nod off at night I can still hear the noise its deafening" he added.  Grandma Gnomey Gnome nodded in agreement and then said "Grumpy, Cheeky,Silly and Smartypants got it right".

The bells rang out in Gnomesville and there hadn't been such a grand gathering since Mr. Tops had got stuck in the rookery in the woods and they had had to get their pal Owly to go and rescue him.  Luckily he has since been adopted by a lady who is a bit theatrical and is living with her and loving it,  He feels safe now as he was rather worried about getting stuck up there again,. Everyone came to the meeting all the naughty Santa Gnomes, Mr. Penny Lane, Mr.Scruffy, Mr. Fall, Mr.Snowcap, Mr.Summer and the rest.  It went very quiet until Mr.Sparkle said "We all need new homes" and Mr.Penny Lane added "Smartypants, Silly, Grumpy and Cheeky are very happy living with G.W.  Moreover he feeds them "Honey cookies and milk".  They all cheered.  Luckily it was the weekend or they wouldn't have been heard over the sounds above.  "I once had a mince pie" added Mr.Penny Lane.  "It was yummy delicious!!"  "Right" said Mr.Posh "We must now think of a course of action"

The arrival

Now gnomes communicate via thought vibrations and he soon got into contact with his friend Cheeky  who said he would be there post haste . He arrived with much gusto through an open window almost hitting a lampshade and giggling with excitement. " Well said Cheeky what’s it like here?”   “Well said Mr.Grumpy  “G.W. is one of the nice humans and better still he feeds you honey cookies and milk….my favourite".   “Mine too” said Mr.Cheeky.   ”G.W. is a medium” said Mr.Grumpy.  “What’s that said” Mr. Cheeky

Voices went into a low whisper as if Mr.Grumpy was telling him some secret not to be divulged.  Mr. Cheeky by this time had a very serious look on his face. Looking rather amazed said in almost a murmur “telephone – well I never”. then added “It makes sense.....I THINK” Just at that moment G.W. came in from the kitchen and said " Who have we here"

This is my friend Mr. Cheeky and he has only just arrived - so maybe there is some honey cookies and milk going said Grumpy. “Well” said G.W. “If he promises to behave himself at Bognor Regis tomorrow then I think we can manage that”  Off they trotted deciding to sleep one each end of the shoe box with G.W. thinking I really must find something a bit more comfortable and vowed to make them little beds. The next day they were up bright and early.  Excitement was in the air and both in the same breathe said "Bognor Regis I wonder what its like there?" If we could work that computer thingy we could look it up I heard G.W. telling his friend that you could do that. "Any ideas Cheeky" said Mr. Grumpy.  Mr. Cheeky shook his head.  At that moment G.W. appeared and said "Oh dear what are you two doing up so early?
"We are going to Bognor Regis" they both chorused "Not yet we're not"said G.W. Gloom descended on the room......and then added "later in the day.  It's too early now"  In time which seemed an age to the little gnomes G.W. had put them in his rucksack and even then Grumpy managed to fall out.  G.W. gently put him back in.  Soon they were strapped into their seat belts and off they went.  "Can't see a thing" said Mr.Cheeky.   Me neither” said Grumpy.  It took them about an hour and they both fell asleep.  G.W, woke them up saying “Well you two we are here now”  They jumped out of the car and were astounded by the height and they didn’t realise this and  fell flat on their backs.  G.W. picked them up and said "now you two behave"..... they started to wander off and said they were off to find the sea. "Oh no you aren't" said G.W.  With that out came the gnome sticks and off they went up on to the board outside the church.  They then proceeded to enter the church and zoomed towards the rostrum where they perched themselves on the steps.  "Now that's enough you two"  said G.W. and added  "And anymore of that and you will not be getting milk and cookies tonight".  They both went quiet. 

Meanwhile back in Gnomesville the noise and upset in the meadow was getting worse and Mr.Smartypants decided he was going to join his friends with Grandma Gnomey Gnome getting more and more disgruntled and upset.  She sat sighing "I remember being able to go and sit in the meadow to wash in the morning dew.  Now the buttercups, yarrow, clover and all the other lovely meadow flowers have been uprooted and a large tear dropped from her eye.  "Humans!" she said is a very dismissive tone.  "They aren't all bad" said Mr. Posh.  "Look at this G.W. character he has certainly looked after our  friends and then there is the lady who has helped us find homes for some of the villagers when the noise became too much for them and her man too seems ok.  The homes she has placed them in have been perfect too" 

In the beginning

Things were very quiet in Gnomesville and Mr.Grumpy was bored.  He sat there looking very despondent sighing deeply.  “What’s up?”  Said Mr.Mischief.  Nothing ever happens here…well nothing exciting that is.  Mr. Cheeky arrived on the scene and just laughed in his offhand manner.  “You lot do nothing but moan especially you Grump. “Well its true.” said Mr. Silly with his glasses hanging off his nose. “I think I may go and explore the land of the humans.” Said Mr. Grumpy.   Silence fell upon the room and Mr. Silly gasped “Humans! ……have you ever been there before.  “Once I did” said Mr. Grumpy and he added “It would be at  least exciting” silence once more descended on the room.  “When will you go?” said Mr. Cheeky.  “Tomorrow” said Mr. Grumpy.   Just at that moment a huge bang shook the ground And they were thrown across the room.  They heard this noise like a buzzing but so loud it almost deafened them.  They picked themselves up and decided to investigate.  As they crept into the meadow there were these men with some odd machine which was throwing the meadow into the air and as it did it shook the ground.  That settles it said Mr.Grumpy I going to explore the land of the humans.

The very next day they all gathered ready to wish Mr. Grumpy goodbye and he arrived small rucksack in one hand with his gnome stick in the other.  Here I must explain gnomes sticks are very much like broomsticks accept they go much slower.  Mr. Mischief gave Grumpy his lucky penny which he had found one day after some humans had been picnicking in the meadow. And with that off went Grumpy waving so madly he almost fell off his gnome stick.  What a wonderful day for an adventure the sun was shining and the sky was blue.  He wondered if he could reach a cloud with his gnome stick, but even at full speed he just couldn’t do it so decided to head for the nearest town.  This was too busy, too much noise he headed off looking for somewhere to take a nap as by this time he was feel very tired.  He came across a row of houses and decided to explore them landing on some kind of thing that looked like a ledge.  Behind it was a slot and as he pushed it he tumbled through right on top of a pile of letters.  His gnome stick followed him just missing him by inches.  Just at that moment he heard a noise and the door swung open missing him by inches and towering above him was man slightly balding.

He bent over and said “Now what have we here”

Mr. Grumpy replied in a somewhat disgruntled manner “I am Mr.Grumpy from Gnomesville”.

“Pleased to meet you my name is G.W”. and he added “and how did you get here?”

At this Mr.Grumpy almost exploded “ Get here, get here! I was hurled quite involuntarily through that flappy thing above and my gnomestick missing me by inches. Then I landed in a very undignified way on this pile of letters” “You mean the letterbox?” said G.W.

“Yes” said Mr. Grumpy and it is quite out of order for an elderly gnome such as myself”

G.W. smiled at Mr.Grumpy and said “Do you think a glass of milk and a cookie might help” "What kind of a cookie?” said Mr. Grumpy without even as much as a thank you.

“Honey” said G.W.

“Oh my favourite “said Mr.Grumpy and added “My friends call me Grumpy”

“Ok” said “Does that mean we are friends?”

Mr. Grumpy nodded and said munching away on the honey cookies…. Not one, but two and then a third.

Well said G.W. where will you sleep tonight” He wandered around the house suddenly remembering he had a shoe box and some new hankies which he could make into a temporary bed for his visitor.  In no time at all Mr.Grumpy was sound asleep and for a little gnome snoring quite loudly.

In the days following G.W. and Grumpy had long chats exchanging things such as the way of life in Gnomesville and the state of the world where humans are.  Mr. Grumpy told G.W. about magic and he told him about being a medium, which amused Mr.Grumpy a great deal.  He was now starting to miss his friends especially Mr. Cheeky and Mr. Smartypants