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Cariad
On top of a mountain in North Wales lies a small village with a name that sounds like like Tanagrishai, but it's really spelt Tanygrisau. It has steam trains passing every day which give a long "Toot" as they wind their way downwards to pass by the Lake at the bottom of the mountain. Squirm has always loved the sound of trains as well as wanting to see one close to, so when Auntie suggested that they have a day trip to the country as well as a ride on the train, Squirm was thrilled.

They waited at the station so that when the train arrived they could all climb aboard quickly before the rush began, just in case there wasn't enough room. What a wonderful journey it was chugging slowly up the hill until with a big, "Toot, Toot", the little train arrived at the top. Rather than go back down right away Auntie had brought a picnic which they took out into the fields where they could sit and look at the view far below. Wriggle was just about to bite into a scrumptious slice of peach when a small voice said, " Excuse me , but can you tell me where the train starts from, only I seem to have become lost somehow". Wriggle, Squirm and Auntie all turned round to see who was speaking. One look at the pink nosed vision of lovliness in front of them was enough. Squirm was smitten. He jumped up. " Please sit with us", he asked the dainty creature before him. "You can have some of our picnic and come with us in time to catch the next train if you'd like to". " That would be lovely ", replied the young lady mouse. " My name is Carin " she told them , " and I should be with my father, but he seems to have wandered off when I was looking at the wild flowers . He'll be worried about me.

At this point Auntie reassurred her that Wriggle would see if he could find her father while she relaxed and enjoyed the picnic. Squirm could not take his eyes off Carin. He began to chat with her about their train ride, then they talked about the things they both liked doing, until both were agreeing that they just loved exploring old houses. By now Auntie was snoozing, so the two young mice set off to explore Tanygrisau.

As they came down the hill along the narrow road they saw an old house set in the side of the hill. " Oh, Isn't it a lovely place to have a home", Carin remarked. To which Squirm replied, " It is, but let's have a closer look because it may not be as nice as you think from so far away. Squirm became a little bit braver now, and took hold of Carin's hand. They walked towards the house with their little pink noses twitching happily as they held hands in a very agreeable fashion. Squirm was rapidly becoming sure that Carin must be his very first real girlfriend, while Carin peepd at him whenever she thought he wasn't looking. She wondered if he would take her to Field Fair one day, or maybe even have a special treat at the luxurious Mouse Manor Hotel where the best food in North Wales, was cooked by that famous chef " Pater Paws".

They both dreamed away as they walked, and talked, until in no time at all they arrived at the front door. It was open slightly , so they crept in , being careful not to make any noise in case someone was inside, but it was silent and empty. One on each side of the Lounge door, they peeked into the dining room. There in front of them was a huge grandfather clock. Squirm just could not resist a little showing off in front of Carin. " Bet you I can climb right to the top of that clock, " he called as he let her hand go and ran towards the clock. The nearer he got to the clock the louder the ticking which was coming from it became. As Carin stood by telling him to be careful, Squirm grabbed the pendulum and began his ascent. He slid back down twice, which he said was because he was going to slowly , so, on his third try he took a run to start himself off. Up, Up he went , clinging to the pole, until he reached the top. He stood just above the clock face and was about to call down to Carin , when there was a very loud 'boing, boing boing', which so startled him that he lost his grip of the clock hand, and toppled downwards. Not knowing what had made such a horrid noise he raced down the clock, grabbed Carin's hand and together they ran outside to fall laughing onto the grass.

You may have heard of the poem , " Hickory, Dickory , Dock, The mouse ran up the clock", well it was Squirm they were talking about, but of course, noone wanted to upset Squirm by telling everyone that he ran down again because he was so frightened, so that bit was left out of the poem.

Anyway, Squirm and Carin began their return walk to the picnic spot, and on the way they promised to be friends forever. When they arrived at the picnic blanket, they found Aunty still dozing, snoring slightly, and Carin's father sitting playing a mouth organ in a most beautiful fashion. He looked up when he saw his daughter a smile of relief on his face, but when he saw that she was still holding Squirm's hand he frowned. " That will be enough of that, young man", he said , " You can let my daughter's hand go now. Aunty woke up with a yawn just as the train whistle blew to let them know it was time to make their journey home again.

They boarded the train sitting comfortably and all watched out the window as the train tooted its way down the mountain, until they were once again in the village below. Each promised to keep in touch, but Squirm made an even bigger promise to Carin.

He told her that he would walk to her home to visit her every Saturday, and he did. He even took her presents like a bunch of violets on one Saturday, or some Caws Llyn Cheese on another Saturday, but her favourite was the Saturday on which he rode over on his micycle carrying a young mole for Carin to keep as a pet. From that day on they were often seen up there in Tanygrisau walking along the mountain tracks holding hands, with Carin clutching a daisy given to her by Squirm for a parasol to keep the sun off her little pink nose. Everyone in the village said they were sure to marry one day, and what a fine young couple they made.....

If you enjoyed this tale and would like to see Tanygrisau, then pop to North Wales, and take the steam train from Porthmadog way up the hill to Blaenau Ffestiniog. There you will find the village of Tanygrisau amid the mountains and hills with a gorgeous lake far below. If you cannot get there then visit www.askannie.co.uk where you will see some pictures of the area.

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