[Growster...]

...as Silas fidgetted with his wooden spoon (his only tincture-twirler), and started to investigate the...

[New shoot]

...trays of food being carried about, he felt nervous.  This was a far cry from gruel and he wasn’t completely sure what most of it was.

‘What I need Santa is to be more of a man about town, so I fit in here’ he whispered to Father Christmas.

The response was a grin and a wink.  ‘Never fear my lad. You shall go to the ball’ said Santa and ....

[snowdrops]

With that and the inevitable puff of smoke ( Santa still does smoke a pipe you see) Silas felt himself twirl round on the spot & for a very brief moment he had a sensation of being in one of those old fashioned red telephone boxes ( and yes there was a faint smell of something familiar, cos we all know what people used to do in there don’t we! ) as he finished twirling , he looked down and to his astonishment.....

[Growster...]

...his wooden twirling spoon had changed into a beautiful young nymph, with somewhat exaggerated proportions! He pressed button 'B', and lo and behold...

[snowdrops]

The nymph metamorphosed into a small jack russell. Silas used some of that Anglo Saxon language that he had been saving for just this sort of occasion stamped his leg ( the straight one!) &.......

[Growster...]

...he never even thought that the Jack Russell would wake him up at 2.15 am and then want to go out again at 5.00am, so decided to write these times down to explain why he was going to be up so early - er - in about 100 years time, so...

[New shoot]

...he started listing all the times down on the edge of a tablecloth, when he realised the room was silent.  The people around him cleared and a man in a deer stalker and a long coat strode over.

‘You see Watson, we have our spy and as I calculated, he gave himself away’ the man roared before...

[Growster...]

...upsetting the bowl of gruel all over his trousers. Watson managed to make a quick getaway along the hall, and young Silas wondered why a man should ever want to wear a hat which looked a little like a...

[Yorkie]

... teapot, yet strangely ...

[snowdrops]

On further inspection he considered it to be a mighty fine addition to his head. The handle could be very useful for something as could the spout he felt sure. Any way on with the tale.
Tea pot man continued with his surmises by saying....

[Growster...]

...I'm a little Growster short and fat, here's my handle here's my hat, when I hear the teacups hear me shout, lift me up and pour me...

[snowdrops]

Another tincture. (Think this is where I came in before she says in a stage whisper). With that Silas took his wooden twirler & off he went to go & .........

[mrs bouquet]

have a talk with the Mad Hatter and ask his advice about the best way to wear this headwear.    Whilst they were having a natter, as in hatter,  along came Alice, she was being hotly persued by "The Queen of Hearts". who was hollering .....

[Growster...]

...you're a Knave, Silas, you've been around my newly-baked cakes again, and I told you never to darken my kitchen again! I haven't got over the last time you crept in here and...

[New shoot]

...decided you were Heston Blumenthal.  Do you remember that chocolate and sprout soup you made!  And as for that main course of...