Poor Postman Pat!
In "Postman Pat and the Surprise Breakfast," this hard-working letter carrier has a rough start to the day. It's "half-term" and Pat has to make his own breakfast, since his wife and son are enjoying the school holiday and sleeping in.
Pat knocks the glass milk bottle off the counter. Of course it shatters on the floor. While he is busy cleaning up the mess, Pat smells something burning. It's the last two pieces of bread in the house, that he's just put on to toast. And he can't even have a cup of tea because he forgot to fill the electric kettle with water before he turned it on. It got red hot and then the fuse blew in the small appliance. Jess, the cat, is sympathetic to Pat's plight and kindly offers him a dead mouse for his breakfast. While appreciative, Pat declines the offer!
Pat is so hungry that he stops to eat some blackberries he spies growing "along the hedges." He proclaims them to be delicious, before heading to the Post Office to pick up the letters for delivery.
Things start looking up when Mrs. Goggins offers him a cup of tea and a biscuit. Pat gladly accepts the sustenance.
From there, Pat's first stop is at Greendale Farm. Mrs. Pottage offers Pat "some fresh cream with a scone." "I'd love it," said Pat, and "Jess had some too."
Time is not of the essence for Postman Pat as when he arrives at Thompson Ground, Dorothy is "just getting a batch of biscuits out of the oven." She tells Pat to help himself and pours him a cup of coffee.
Miss Hubbard's house is the next stop. She serves the Postman a champagne glass of blackcurrant cordial. " 'Superb!' said Pat. 'I am feeling better and better.' "
But the gastronomic extravaganza is not over yet! Ted Glen is making ice-cream. He serves Pat and Jess with big bowls of ice-cream and fresh strawberries.
When the day's work is over, Pat arrives home.
" 'Whatever happened at breakfast-time?' asked Sara. 'I never saw such a mess.' "
" 'It was one accident after another,' said Pat, 'and we had to rush out without any breakfast.' "
This evokes much sympathy from his devoted spouse. " 'Poor Pat and Jess,' said Sara, 'you must be starving. Never mind. We went shopping, so we can have a really nice dinner.' "
" 'We're not exactly starving,' said Pat, 'but we'll enjoy a good dinner, won't we Jess?' "
Jess doesn't "let the cat out of the bag" and Sara is oblivious to the fact that her husband may be verging on committing the sin of gluttony!.
Both Alisdair and Isobel were amused by this tale and all the interesting food stuffs that Pat was served. The book even inspired Alisdair and I to try making our own scones with a recipe we found in a British cookery book from the library. But that's another post . . .
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