A Message from Barley and Rye Piggyfriend

Whilst we were enjoying a morning snack, Algernon Rat showed us the seashells that he had collected at the beach.

He told us that he intended to visit lots of other friends and that he should be thinking about moving on. We hoped that he was not going to post himself to his next destination as one never knows when there might be another postal strike but he replied that he wanted to try different methods of travel. We told him that the airport was closed as all the planes were grounded due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland and we doubted that even PigAir would be allowed to fly at the moment.

Then we suggested that he might like to borrow a car from the Piggyfriends' car pool so we all trooped out to the garage to see what was available.

He chose a red one and took it for a spin around the garden. We thought that it might be a good idea if he wore his hard hat from the Rescue as we suspected that he would be a fast driver.

We were right! Rats seem to do everything faster than us piggies, except, perhaps, when it comes to eating.

Next he took a map book out to study his route. We asked where he was going and he said that, although this was to be a secret for now, we would soon find out where he had gone. We were intrigued by this.

Slave made up a parcel of rat food for his journey and he selected a seashell to take along as a memento of his visit.

We were all very sad to see him preparing to leave but we know that other piggies will be delighted for him to visit so we tried hard not to let him see how upset we were. We all gave him a hug and wished him a safe journey.

Slave sat on the bench in the front garden and we all gathered around her to watch him leave. With a jaunty wave he hopped into the car and drove out onto the road, heading north.

We watched him leave and waved until he was a little red dot on the horizon and then he disappeared over the hill and was gone.

"What is that poem of your granny's that you say when people are leaving?" asked Pandora. Lavender jumped up. "I know it!" she replied and recited it.

"May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of the sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near."

"That's part of it," said Slave, "the best part. We all need the hand of a friend sometimes."

We hope that Algernon finds many friends out there to help him on his long journey.

"It is getting chilly out here" said Slave "Let's go in for tea". We all followed her in through the front door, except for little Moonlight who stood on the mat looking wistfully up the road.

"Good bye Algernon" she whispered. "Safe journey. I hope that we all meet again one day."