A Tale from Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle of the Tarn
–with apologies to B. Potter!
It was when she was about to iron Harry’s shirt–a day or two ago now, even three–that Mrs Tiggy-Winkle had a thought.
“Where is Harry for that matter–haven’t set eyes on him for–well, a day or two now.
He’s always off somewhere–it’s a worry, but he usually comes back by dinner time!”
Harry’s hunger for adventure has its limitations.
What did he say?
“Ma–you know you always say–‘Harry, no need to worry about your future, you have a way with you; doors will always open for you–you’re a lucky one–I feel it in my water, you’ll fall in the butter dish, my boy, mark my words–you will!’
Well, today’s the day, Ma–I’ve spotted a door and it’s open…
And we know that Harry’s was telling the truth about the open door, because a day or two ago–even three, we started finding “EVIDENCE” of an additional presence in the house.
We’d grown accustomed to finding “evidence” these past few weeks to be sure, but always OUTSIDE the house; now this “evidence” was appearing INSIDE!
I found some on the floor of the larder–Meredith found some around the cats’ feeding bowls.
It took a moment for the penny to drop (or tuppence in this case!).
Then we looked at each other…
“There’s a HEDGEHOG in the house!”
But where?
Finding a hedgehog in hiding is only marginally easier than finding a needle in a haystack.
Concealment is their business–they’re professionals and even to a youngster like Harry, it’s second nature.
“I’ll look in the pile of firewood,” says Meredith unconvincingly and heads for the dining room.
No luck–but more “evidence”.
There’s hope though.
A late spring cleaning is seriously underway and tables and chairs are piled high with STUFF, reducing the places of safety for hedgehogs–in search of a quiet nook.
“Rob, Rob come here–QUICK!!”
Meredith’s voice is coming from outside the front door.
There, in a shopping basket that had been parked on the front hall floor, is Harry–just visible under a light cotton shopping bag, his cover blown, his singular adventure at an end–surrounded by “evidence”. (How LONG has he been in residence??)
Meredith thinks to lift him out with a pair of oven gloves.
“No! no!” I cry, “in the basket–carry him in the basket round the corner, next to the woodpile near where they come from to eat in the evenings.”
A short flight but an historic one, through the gate and round the corner–one can’t be sure but maybe it’s the first recorded flight by a hedgehog in the history of the world!
Meredith gently lands the basket with Ben overseeing the operation.
…and eating the cat food meant to entice Harry out of his basket home!
After a deal of sniffing round the rim and peeking over the top Harry finds a way out and scuttles off back to Mum!
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle wasn’t far wrong–things fall out well for Harry–he even got to fly!
Robin Ellis 
What a story! And so cleverly told!
Glad you solved the mystery.
I love your blog, Robin. You are so interesting and clever! Keep writing it!
absolutely precious! Thank you for brightening our day over here in sultry Virginia!
There’s never a dull moment ! Ben is lovely,he looks like my cat Dennis.
What fun at your house? Have always heard about hedge hogs in negative light, but your pictures portray them as delightful creatures. My yard has rabbits and a/c tech found remains of snake in unit behind house. Not nearly as glamorous as hedge hogs. (southwest Missouri)
Merci Robin! I might have mentioned awhile back that my son had a stuffed hedgehog name Harry!! Harry was his best friend and sleeping partner for many years. Harry was lost in the mountains outside of Santa Fe, NM where Clayton was living in his tent for the summer. I bought Harry at a special toy shop in Albuquerque when Clayton was 4. You and your wife seem to have such a lovely life in rural France. France is very dear to me she is special, so many memories. Kind regards to you and yours, Karen Stines
Lovely story Robin, really enjoyed your telling of it….also enjoyed your interview this afternoon…thanks to Meredith for letting us know when it was on…I think a lot of people in Cornwall had a lot of trouble being able to here it due to the slowness of broadband in Cornwall…luckily here in Hertfordshire I could pick it up on line very well….the only advantage I can think of in living in Herts rather than Cornwall!!! 🙂
Glad you could hear it, Anna.
Totally, utterly charming! Thank you!
Best. Post. Ever. I love your blog!
Awww! Harry the Hedgehog is a cutie. And I’m partial to black cats. Thanks for sharing the excitement!
SO cute! I saw a small red area on “Henry’s” back. Blood maybe? But seemed O.K. Thank you for adding the video to the wonderful photos. 🙂
A little spot of pink nail polish to identify him.
Phew! I saw that, too, and thought the cats might have “played” with him in the house! (If you ever think one’s been bitten by the cats, they MUST get antibiotics from a vet or wildlife tech or they’ll die from the bacteria in the cat’s saliva within 24 hours.)
We have so many deer mice in the garage & in the crawl-space of the house, I’ve stopped trying to catch & relocate them. We’ve stuffed every nook & cranny with that expandable foam, but we’re obviously missing someplace, somewhere! But they seem to avoid our cats…and they have such beautiful eyes!! There’s one place in the cellar where I can hear them “singing” or chirping once & awhile–really cute!
Cheers & hugs!
PS: Possible children’s book, Robin??
Forget the cook books….your future lies in kiddie lit! You don’t need to be an artist when you can illustrate with photos like that. I seriously plan to share this with my children when school begins again. (I’m an elementary library media specialist…..fancy moniker for “librarian.”)
Fun adventure in your house. A memorable adventure in my house was when my youngest son’s (age 6 at that time) 2 foot long snake escaped his cage. Tears from my youngest son, panic from his older brother…dread from me. Never found the snake.
It sounds like Harry thought he had found a very comfortable home- just a short wander from his basket to the larder. I wonder if he will attempt to get back in.
I missed the interview- is it available online?
I’ll enquire.
A spiky visitor in the house? How delightful! There seems not to be a single dull day in your lives living in Tarn. Robin, please gather all your wonderful stories in one or two volumes for posterity to enjoy them as well… Thank you.
Oh Robin, what a delightful story and the video clip was great. Loved it!
How sweet! Thanks, Robin.
Oh I dearly love hedgehogs – what a delightful story. Please keep us updated on Harry’s adventures!
Adesara1- oh my goodness! I would not have slept for months in case the snake returned.
One of my friends fell asleep whilst reading her children a bedtime story and woke up in the dark several hours later. As she stepped into the hall, she stepped on what she thought was a toy that hadn’t been cleared away. But when she flicked on the light, it was a red bellied black snake that had obviously taken the opportunity to slip in while the front door was open.
WOW!
What a lovely story. Good to know your hedgehogs are thriving. Apparently hedgehog numbers have seen a sharp fall and they need all the help we can give them. Wish I had them in my garden. A few years ago I uncovered one while cutting back a honeysuckle. I stopped immediately and moved away but I think it must have been frightened off.
Precious! Thanks for sharing (creating) this unique story.
Brilliant. Could be a new children’s book series
How lovely nice one, let’s me think back long ago we had one in the garden for about 3 years was no happy ending (working people next door from us in Brasschaat..) sad when I was little.I hope you have it a long time, they keep the little insects away and yes they love catfood.
It is so lovely! And amusing too! Thank you for having made me smile, Robin.
Hi Robin what a delightful story; very gently told and superbly illustrated. You and Meredith could open an animal sanctuary!