Monti the Mole goes digging

Monti the Mole decided he would take a trip to treasure field festival in England to look for treasure.

He took with him a spade to dig, a hard hat to protect his head and a bag to put the treasure in.

Monti Mole went to the ticket box where the ticket man stood and asked the ticket man if he could have a ticket for treasure field.

“That will be ten pounds please” said the ticket man.

Monti paid the man with a £10 note and went to find a seat on the train.

Monti was very excited because this was the first time he had been old enough to go to treasure field festival.

Monti the Mole watched as the train passed trees.

He watched as the train passed farms, houses and parks.

He watched as the train passed roads, churches and schools.

He watched as the train finally arrived at Treasure Field station.

Monti the Mole took his spade, his hard hat and his bag and walked toward Treasure Field Festival.

Treasure Field Festival was very busy, with lots of mole’s friends and family waiting for him each with their own spades, hats and bags.

Monti the Mole found a spot in the field that looked like it would have some lovely treasure and began to dig.

He dug and dug and dug and soon there was a big hole.

Monti the Mole looked inside to see what he could find but the hole was empty.

“Oh dear there is no treasure, maybe I will dig another hole” he said,

And so he dug and dug and dug and soon there was another big hole.

Monti the Mole looked inside to see what he could find but inside the hole there was only a rusty metal hat.

“Oh dear this is not treasure, maybe I will dig another hole”.he said,

And so he dug and dug and dug and soon there was another big hole.

Monti the Mole looked inside to see what he could find but inside was a thick leather belt.

“Oh dear this is not treasure, maybe I will dig another hole”.he said,

Monti the Mole dug and dug and dug

He found a cup, a plate and a spoon

Monti the Mole dug and dug and dug some more

He found some cloth, a shoe and a metal pin.

Monti the Mole sat by a pile of things he’d found and looked unhappy because he had found no treasure.

Monti the Mole put the stuff in his bag and took them to his Aunties house at Tree Lane tube train station.

When he opened the bag his Aunty clapped and jumped up-and-down with joy and gave Monti the Mole a huge hug.

“You have found lots of wonderful things” she said

“You have a metal hat, a leather belt, a cup, a plate, a spoon, a cloth, a shoe and a metal pin, these are all Roman and they are very old and very special treasure” she said.

Monti the Mole smiled the biggest smile and put on the metal hat.

“I have found treasure, what a lovely adventure” he said.

Why I write a blog



"The beach with no name"

 For those of you following parts of my Writing Space blog, you will know I have been adding some art-work I have been painting these past few weeks, they are scenes of the sea that I have been lucky enough to have burned on my brain.

Painting them has made me wonder what it is all about: Life, experiences and our history. It makes me wonder why do we have it? What is it all for?

Having all the answers

Growing up I used to think, as most young people do, that I had all the answers – this thought was made even stronger when I was travelling and being thrown into the most bizarre and as one friend put it “fantasy” like situations but was able to cope as if nothing was out of the ordinary.


Me sat by "Nature's Window"
Kalbarri National Park, Australia

This ability to cope is not something I’ve taken for granted having seen friends in similar bizarre situations crumble. It’s something I know I’ve adapted to and learnt along the way – the part I find interesting and complex is “how” have I learnt these skills?

Take my painting as an example: I am not trained; I have not read any painting books or educated myself in the different brushes or strokes that can impact the canvas in the best way. I know nothing of the history to art and how themes can be developed but I still manage to paint something that half resembles something. Is this chance?

Living carefree

Ironically, for someone who has a blog, I am actually quite a private person. As a teenager I would surround my bedroom wall with poems and sayings of uplifting and sickly sweet meaning.


'The Sunset', inspired by a
picture of a sunset from Greece

 My ex-boyfriend had endured this so much even bought me a book of quotes from his trip abroad when most other boyfriends would have bought back a stick of rock.

Surrounding myself with positive influences coupled with a strong need to always ask “why” and trying not to lose the innocence that come with asking it, has meant that I live my life thinking of things I can do rather than being held captive to reasons why I can’t.

It means I live a little carefree, never really feeling settled or satisfied when I know there’s something more I can learn, have a go at or understand better.

My mother once gave me a card that read:

Climb High,

Climb Far,

Your Goal the Sky,

Your Aim the Star

I would like to hope every part of this blog reflects that. It’s a little space for me and my stories on this huge world wide web.

My children's stories in particular are a passion of mine I enjoy creating and sharing, I hope you enjoy them to.

More stories to come

I realise I have been a bit quiet of late so thought I'd catch-up and let you know what I've been up to.  I am in the middle of writing another young children’s story for this collection that I will share with you when I have got the final words in the ending. It was an idea based on a nature TV show I recently watched which is quite exciting and to not give too much away it’s about a Brown Trout…

I would love to hear from you if you’ve any ideas you think I should write about, I think my next story after my fishy tale will be about a Space Man so ideas welcome.

I have also been experimenting with Twitter and Tweet-books following Channel 4's Book Club serialisation #TheLantern.  My recent offering was my short-story Declaration of Love under #decoflove in Twitter.  I had so much fun doing this I think my next tweet-book will be one of my poems which you can find on twitter under #lifepoem which I wrote as a teenager.  You can follow me on Twitter @RachSmith

I find so much joy in writing that I hope it’s entertaining someone out in the big world wide web as much as it does me.

If you’ve got some stories yourself that you’re putting together or if you've got young children who love to write than you may wish to enter them into this National Writing Competition for Children.

There's exciting times ahead and I'm looking forward to sharing another story with you soon.

BBC Year of the book

The BBC have launched the 'Year of the book' and part of this is a Children's writing competition has been annouced by Chris Evans on his BBC 2 radio show.

Unfortunantly for me this is for children but I thought it was worth flagging up to any children who stumble across my blog and feel they to can write.

I think it's a brilliant idea and would personally love the opportunity to enter a story... come on BBC, open up an adult competition for us budding children writers.

Little Monsters Birthday Party on Video

I have attempted to build on my first video by taking it back to the first ever children's story I have in this collection.

I have little to no skill in animation but I do feel these stories are best read-out-loud (even with my bad acting skills.)

Moo's Midnight Lunch

Once upon a time there was a cow called Moo
who would spend his days in the field
eating long green grass
Crunch, crunch, crunch.

When night came and the Farmer put all the animals to bed and closed the barn door,

Moo would wrap himself up in a dark, dark cloak and begin to creep across the floor.

Moo would creep past sheep who was wrapped up in a ball,
Moo would creep past horse who stood so grand and tall,
Moo would creep past Field mouse’s tiny house in the wall,
Moo would creep to a hole he had dug into the ground
Then he would creep through the hole to see what adventures could be found.

One dark, dark night Moo felt very hungry and was bored of eating long green grass,

crunch crunch crunch. So Moo had a plan to make himself a big yummy midnight lunch.

Moo crept across the floor and out of the barn and over the field and into the wood.

Moo walked towards the orchard to an apple tree where underneath it he stood.

Moo chomped on apple after apple until he had eaten them all up.
Moo walked towards the strawberry fields and ate them too,
Moo found some blackberry bushes in the moonlight and ate them too.
Moo ate and ate and ate; it was all he could do.

Moo knew he would have to get back to the barn soon and creep back to his bed but he began to feel tired so he lay down in the field to rest his head.

Moo was woken by blackbird, who whispered in his ear,
“Moo” he said, “What are you doing here?”

Moo jumped up in shock and started running from the field and back to the barn door, he quickly pushed his head through the hole he’d dug in the floor.

But when Moo tried to get through to hole and back to his bed he realised he was stuck there. “Oh dear, I’ve ate too much” he said.

Moo pushed and pushed but he still did not get through.
“Oh dear” he said, “What am I going to do?”

Moo shouted “help me” to sheep who was wrapped up in a ball
Moo shouted “help me” to horse who stood so grand and tall.
Moo was making so much noise it woke up the Field mouse
who was tucked up in her tiny house in the wall.

When Field mouse saw Moo in the hole and not in his bed
“What are you doing stuck in a hole?” she said.

"Please help me,” Moo said to his friend,
“I was bored and went for a midnight lunch you see,
I ate too much and I got myself stuck because the food was so lovely,
but the Farmer will be here soon and will be very angry with me.”

Field mouse came up to Moo and gave him a smile.
“I have plan,” she said, “Just wait here a while”.

Then Field mouse climbed on his head and began to nibble the barn door,
which was above the hole in the floor.

She nibbled and nibbled and nibbled the door
All the wood chips fell on the floor
She nibbled and nibbled and nibbled and nibbled then….

POP

Moo’s head was free again.

Field mouse ran up the door and began to open the lock
(They had to be quick before the Farmer came at 6 O’Clock)

Moo hurried back in and back to his bed.

“Thank you Field mouse I’ve been very silly,
no more midnight lunches for me” he said.

Monti the Mole

Monti the Mole decided he would take a trip to visit his Auntie at Tree Lane tube train station.

Monti Mole went to the ticket box where the ticket man stood and asked the ticket man if he could have a ticket for a tube train to Tree Lane.

“That will be 2 pounds please,” said the ticket man.

Monti Mole looked for the money in the pocket of his jacket and handed two shiny coins to the ticket man.

Once on the platform Monti Mole began to get excited, “I can’t wait to get the tube train to Tree Lane to see Aunty” he said.

As he waited he felt the blowing of wind in his hair and could hear the sound of the train coming closer and closer on the tracks

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga

Then out of the dark dark tunnel the train suddenly appeared. “Hurray!” said Monty “This MUST be the tube train to Tree Lane.”

When the train stopped moving Monti Mole heard the door on the train open

“Is this the tube train to Tree Lane?” he asked Door. “No,” said Door, “This is the tube train to Green Park”

“Oh dear” sighed Monti Mole, “Maybe I can see my Auntie’s house from there.” He thought and boarded the train. Monti Mole found a seat and then he heard the train announcer say “Stand clear of the doors,” and the train went out of the station.

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga it moved along the line to Green Park

“This is Green Park” the announcer said and Monti Mole was excited. “This MUST be where I can get to see my Auntie,” he said.

Monti Mole went outside to Green Park to see if he could see his Auntie’s house. The park was very very VERY green, Green path, green climbing frame, green flowers. He could see children playing in the park on green swings he could see dogs running around after green balls but he could not see his Auntie’s house.

So he went back to the station to get another train.

As he waited he felt the blowing of wind in his hair and could hear the sound of the train coming closer and closer on the tracks

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga


Then out of the dark dark tunnel the train suddenly appeared. “Hurray!” said Monty “This MUST be the tube train to Tree Lane.”

When the train stopped moving Monti Mole heard the door on the train open

“Is this the tube train to Tree Lane” Monti asked Door, “No” said Door, “This is the tube train to Circus Street”

“Oh dear” signed Monti Mole, “Maybe I can see my Auntie’s house from there.” he thought and boarded the train. Monti Mole found a seat and then he heard the train announcer say “Stand clear of the doors,” and the train went out of the station.

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga it moved along the line to Circus Street

“This is Circus Street” the announcer said and Monti Mole was excited “this MUST be where I can get to see my Auntie,” he said.

Monti Mole walked up the stairs to Circus Street to see if he could see his Auntie’s House. Outside in the bright sunshine he could hear lovely music. He saw Clowns and Elephants, Dancers and Magicians. He saw Monkeys playing tricks, Children in party hats eating lots of candyfloss and carrying ballons. But he couldn’t see his Auntie’s house!

So he went back in to the station to get another train.

As he waited he felt the blowing of wind in his hair and could hear the sound of the train coming closer and closer on the tracks

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga


Then out of the dark dark tunnel the train suddenly appeared. “Hurray!” said Monty “This MUST be the tube train to Tree Lane.”

When the train stopped moving Monti Mole heard the door on the train open

“Is this the tube train to Tree Lane” Monti asked Door, “Yes” said Door, “This IS the tube train to Tree Lane”

With a big smile Monti Mole shouted “YIPPEE,” and boarded the train. Monti Mole found a seat and then he heard the train announcer say “Stand clear of the doors,” and the train went out of the station.

Ratta tatta tat tat - Chugga Chugga Chugga it moved along the line from Circus Street, past Green Park and into Tree Lane.

Monti Mole skipped down the lane until he reached his Auntie’s. “Hello Monti,” said his Aunty “I’ve been waiting for you and you’re just in time to have some yummy cream-chocolate and berry cake. I hope you have had a lovely time on the tube train.”

“Yes I have,” said Monti smiling and he sat down to eat some yummy cream-chocolate and berry cake, “It was an adventure.” He said.

Little Diamond

In a castle, on a hill lived a Little Diamond, he belonged to a Princess called Victoria.

One day Princess Victoria was getting ready for dinner:

“I want my necklaces,” she shouted to her maid, “I want my big diamonds, I don’t like little diamonds” she added

The maid returned with a box FULL of necklaces. It had Rubies and Emeralds, Big Diamonds and of course Little Diamond.

When Princess Victoria opened the box the first necklace she saw was the one with Little Diamond in a shiny gold case. Little Diamond was very excited because he really wanted Princess Victoria to like him.

But Princess Victoria was a mean Princess.

“I want my big diamonds, not these horrid little diamonds!” she shouted and threw the necklace with the little diamond out of the window, closed the box and stormed out the room in a bad mood.

The necklace fell the big castle wall and SMASHED onto the ground. The Little Diamond rolled down the path, out the castle gates and into the road.

“Ouch” said Little Diamond, “That hurt!”

Little Diamond rolled himself into a litter cup that an untidy person had left lying by the side of the road. And there Little Diamond went to sleep.

The next morning Little Diamond woke up, stretched and stood up.

He had to get back to the castle and he knew it was a long way away.

But…. As he went to climb out of the little cup he realised it was moving.

“Oh!” he said when he saw that a big dog had picked up the paper cup on his way to the park.

“Oh! Arrgh! Ouch!” said Little Diamond as he bumped and bounced at the bottom of the cup and the Dog walked to the park.

He knew the castle was now a long LONG way away!

When the Dog entered the park he barked with excitement and the paper cup fell down and SMASHED into the ground. Little Diamond rolled down the path onto the grass by the tree.

“Ouch” said Little Diamond, “That hurt!”

Little Diamond rolled into the shell of a nut that had fallen from a tree and closed his eyes.

He knew he had to rest before he started to walk back to the castle because it was a long LONG way away.

But…. As he went to climb out of the nut shell he realised it was moving.

“Oh!” he said when he saw that a little grey squirrel was carrying the nut shell as she climbed up and up the big tree to her home.

“Oh! Arrgh! Ouch!” said Little Diamond as he bumped and bounced in the nut shell and the squirrel climbed higher up the tree.

He knew the castle was now a long long LONG way away.

When the Squirrel got to the top of the tree she put her nut on the side and it fell down and SMASHED onto a branch. Little Diamond rolled down the branch and onto a leaf.

“Ouch” said Little Diamond, “That hurt!”

Little Diamond rolled into a flower and closed his eyes. He knew he had to rest before he started to walk back to the castle because it was a long long LONG way away.

But…. As he went to climb out of the flower he realised it was moving.

“Oh!” he said when he saw that a little bird was carrying the branch to make a new home.

“Oh! Arrgh! Ouch!” said Little Diamond as he bumped and bounced in the flower and the bird flew through the sky. He knew the castle was now a long long long LONG way away.

Or so he thought…

The bird flew out of the park, up the road and to the castle letter box where the bird was making her nest.

She dropped the twig into the letterbox and Little Diamond fell to the ground.

“Ouch!” said Little Diamond, “That hurt!”

Little Diamond looked around, it was dark and he could see lots of letters. He rolled into an envelope and closed his eyes. He knew he had to rest before he started to walk back to the castle because he thought it was a long long long long LONG way away.

What Little Diamond didn’t know is that he had crawled into a letter marked “Princess Victoria,” it was a letter from a Prince called Edward. Prince Edward was in love with the mean Princess, even though she was very mean. He was so in love with her that he had written her a letter saying “Please marry me”.

Little Diamond fell asleep at the bottom of the envelope.

Meanwhile: Back at the Castle Princess Victoria was still being mean.

“I want to be married,” she shouted, “I want to wear the prettiest crown and be married and I will only love someone who has written a letter to me and I want my post.” she shouted to her maid.

The maid hurried to the letterbox, picked up all the letters and took them back to the Princess.

In her room Princess Victoria began opening letters. One by one she got angrier and angrier.

“I don’t want to marry any of these Princes,” she said, “I don’t like any of their letters!”

When all the letters were open and read, she huffed and puffed and threw paper everywhere.

She was in a bad mood.

She was about to walk out of the room and saw a letter hiding under all the paper. She’d forgotten to open one.

This letter was from Prince Edward.

Princess Victoria opened the letter, “Please marry me.” it said she noticed something shinning at the bottom of the envelope.

It was Little Diamond fast asleep!

Princess Victoria smiled “What a kind Prince,” she said, “I love this diamond and I love this letter and I will marry Prince Edward!” She shouted happily.

And so Princess Victoria married Prince Edward. She wore a big white dress with lots of big shiny diamonds.

She had a huge crown made specially and she saved her favourite diamond for this crown.

Do you know which diamond that was?

It was Little Diamond!

He sparkled and shone in the middle of her crown and was never thrown away ever again!

Old Man Snivell

In Boggie Land, down Boggie Street, Old Man Snivell was trying to sleep.

Old Man Snivell and his wife Mrs Snivell, ruled Boggie Land and all it’s people.


In Boggie Land, if you do not have a cold you will look very strange because in Boggie Land everyone has a cold.


Old Man Snivell was in his bed, feeling very sorry for himself when he said,


“I am feeling very un-well. My nose is clear. My head is not fuzzy. I have no cold at all and I can’t go to work without a cold.”


Mrs Snivell looked at Old Man Snivell “You will just have to get your cold back.” She said.


Old Man Snivell sighed and thought “How can I get my cold back?”


“I know,” he said and leaped out of bed, “I will go for a swim in the ice lake, that will give me a cold.” He said.


So Old Man Snivell got dressed into his swimming trunks and walked out of the house down to the ice lake.


At Ice Lake there were children ice skating with their parents with special ice boots on. There were people making snowmen on the side of the lake.


Old Man Snivell found a part of the lake with enough room to swim in and he jumped in. SPLASH the freezing water leaped up. Old Man Snivell swam and swam until his arms couldn’t move anymore. Then he shivered all the way home for his dinner.


“Are you feeling like you have your cold back yet?” Mrs Snivell asked


“I think I will tonight.” Said Old Man Snivell smiling.


Mrs Snivell gave Old Man Snivell a wet snotty kiss and he went to bed to wait for his cold.


The next morning, Old Man Snivell was in his bed, feeling very sorry for himself when he said,

“I am still feeling very un-well. My nose is clear. My head is not fuzzy. I have no cold at all and I can’t go to work without a cold.”


Old Man Snivell sighed and thought “How can I get my cold back?”


“I know,” he said and leaped out of bed, “I will sniff tissues all day long, that will give me a cold.” He said.

So he went to the snot chemist and asked for all the used tissues that they had. He took them back to his home and one by one he began sniffing them.


Sniff, Sniff, Sniff

Tissue after tissue

Sniff, Sniff, Sniff


After the long day sniffing tissues he decided to go and get his dinner.

“Are you feeling like you have your cold back yet?” Mrs Snivell asked

“I think I will tonight.” Said Old Man Snivell smiling.

Mrs Snivell gave Old Man Snivell a wet snotty kiss and he went to bed to wait for his cold.


The next morning, Old Man Snivell was in his bed, feeling very sorry for himself when he said,

“I still do not have my cold back. I’ve took a freezing shower, I’ve let my cold hair dry outside, I’ve swam in freezing snot water and sniffed used tissues all day. I am never going to get my cold back.”


Mrs Snivell smiled. She knew he would get his cold back.


Do you how?


This whole time Mrs Snivell has had a cold herself and every time she gave Old Man Snivell a wet snotty kiss goodnight she gave him a bit of her cold to cheer him up.


But Old Man Snivell didn’t know.


Later that night when Old Man Snivell and Mrs Snivell were having dinner, Old Man Snivell felt a tingling in his nose. It was like something was tickling it.


Tickle, Tickle, Tickle…


He felt his body tense up



Tickle, Tickle, Tickle…


and his eyes closed



Tickle, Tickle, Tickle..


and then…



...out came a very big “A TISS-UE”



Old Man Snivell leaped out from his chair.

“A tis-sue” he sneezed as he jumped up and down in delight.

He ran toward Mrs Snivell “It’s back” he said, “My cold is back!”

“A tis-sue, a-tis-sue, a tis-sue” sneezed Old Man Snivell.



Mrs Snivell smiled and gave Old Man Snivel a wet snotty kiss.

“Bless you!” she said.

Little Jimmy

Little Jimmy has a brother

A Father and Mother.


Little Jimmy will always say It’s Not Fair

To everything that he is asked to do.


Little Jimmy was asked to clean the floor

“It’s Not Fair!” he would moan as he got the mop.


Little Jimmy was asked to dry the dishes

“It’s Not Fair!” he would groan as he picked up the towel.


Little Jimmy was asked to wash the car

“It’s Not Fair!” he would shout as he got the bucket.


“It’s Not Fair, Not Fair, NOT FAIR!” he would say.



Little Jimmy lives in a red flat,

With a dog and cat


Little Jimmy will always stamp his feet

To everything he is asked to do.


Little Jimmy was asked to wash his hands for dinner.

STOMP. STOMP. STOMP his feet would sound.


Little Jimmy was asked to tie his shoes before school.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP his feet would hit the floor.


Little Jimmy was asked to brush his teeth for bed.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP his feet would smash the ground.


STOMP. STOMP. STOMP his feet would go.



Little Jimmy’s Father and Mother were upset with all his shouting and stomping and decided to do something about it.



Little Jimmy’s Father and Mother built a fair out of matchsticks. With rides, a race track and big wheel; candy floss stalls and a water-slide. They would let Little Jimmy play with the fair if he promises to never shout “It’s Not Fair” again.


Little Jimmy’s Brother saw fair and the water-slide and was annoyed by Little Jimmy’s shouting and stomping so he decided to fill the water slide with gooey, yucky snot from the Dog.


In the morning, when Little Jimmy woke up and came downstairs he saw the fair in his living room. There was music and lights; there were rides and a big wheel, candy floss and a waterslide (which we know was filled with snot from the Dog).


Little Jimmy was very excited and ran to his Father and Mother.

“Can I play in the matchstick fair?” he asked


“You can if you promise to never say “It’s Not Fair” or Stomp your feet ever again.” His Father and Mother said.


Little Jimmy nodded is head “I will promise.” He said.


Father and Mother looked at each other and smiled.


They let Little Jimmy play.



Little Jimmy took his toy car round the race-track, it passed to candy floss stalls and rides and drove up to the big wheel. After a ride on the big wheel Jimmy put his car on the waterslide. He was about to push the car down the waterslide when his Father stopped him.


“Little Jimmy!” he said, “Dinner’s ready, come and wash your hands”


Little Jimmy looked at the car, Looked at his Father and shook his head.


“It’s Not Fair” he shouted and stood up stomping his feet.


As he did the toy car fell down the slide and splashed him with snot from the Dog.


“Yuck!” said Little Jimmy.


“It’s Not Fair, Not Fair, Not Fair!” he shouted.