Dippy’s Spring Clean

I woke up bright and early this morning, it was still dark outside at 7am so I waddled through the Park to the kitchen. I made myself a very large bowl of creamy porridge and drizzled runny golden syrup all over it for a very tasty breakfast. It warmed my belly on this very chilly January morning and would hopefully give me lots of energy for my mornings work. Today I was off to Freshwater to help my two fox friends Flora and Fern do some Spring cleaning at the Coastguard Cottages up on High Down overlooking the Needles.

I popped my yellow marigold gloves, apron and feather duster into my rucksack and put on my waterproof mackintosh and wellingtons. By now the sun was beginning to rise and I carefully made my way across the slippery rain wet floor over to the penguin pool lighthouse. The small wooden door wouldn't open at first due to being so wet and swollen from all the winter rain, so I gave it a big strong pull and then stepped inside and closed it behind me. The lighthouse began to whirl around, twinkling sparkles appeared in the air above my head, the magic was happening, transporting me to the Needles lighthouse at Alum Bay.

Once I had arrived I made my way up the cliff using a climbing rope the foxes had left for me, which was secured tightly around a large tree at the top. At the Coastguard Cottages the foxes had already began and the Spring clean was in full swing. Fern was polishing the furniture using bees wax from a tin and a soft leather cloth, the dark wood gleamed and the smell was wonderful. Flora was busy brushing the floorboards with a strong tall bristled brush. My job was to wash the floors. I filled the large round red bucket with hot soapy water, bubbles bounced into the air when I dipped the mop in, swished it round and began to wipe the cottage floors super clean.

Next we scrubbed the bath, cleaned the net curtains and made the beds up with clean ironed white linen sheets. At midday we sat down completely exhausted from a very busy mornings work. Fern poured out some homemade fish soup from her thermos flask into three bowls which we ate with some crusty bread. Absolutely delicious!

My fox friends thanked me for helping with the big clean and said they would come and visit me soon at the Park. I packed up my rucksack and set off towards home looking forward to an afternoon dip in the pool with my penguin friends.

Check out more of Dippy’s adventures online at

http://dippytheisleofwightpenguin.com/

Extracts from Dippy’s Adventures on the Isle Of Wight

This afternoon I met up with my rabbit friends who live in burrows amongst the ferns on Headon Warren which overlooks Totland Bay. Their names are Rabbit Rocket and Rabbit Raspberry.
We sat together on the worn wooden planks of the boat ramp and gazed at the gently rocking waves as they splashed up onto the shore. The sun was beginning to set and  light up the sky turning the clouds to colours of yellow, orange, and pinks. It was starting to feel a little bit chilly, I looked up towards the sky and felt the suns last rays of warmth upon my face before the evening cold began to set in.
Rocket Rabbit suggested a quick game of hide and seek to warm our little bodies up before going on our journeys home to be back in time for dinner. What a super idea!
I said I would count to 100 and promised not to peek as I covered my eyes with my flippers.
It took me quite a while to find the rabbits, there were so many hiding places under all the upside down wooden boats resting against the iron railings on the pebbled Bay. Eventually I found them under the pier hiding really high up on one of the large wooden structural beams. They waved down at me and both had very cheeky smiles on their faces!
Before saying our goodbyes the rabbits helped me fill up 5 jam jars I had brought with me in my rucksack. It was a special treat for the otters at the Park, Frank, Sammy and Dean they absolutely love to bathe in fresh sea water and they asked me to pick some up for them on my trip out today.
I carefully tightened each metal lid of the jars and packed them into my bag. I said goodbye to my friends, wished them a safe journey home and set off towards Seaview.