Stories 1-20

Here's Story Number 1

"Mr Phileas Fogg lived at No. 7, Savile Row, Burlington Gardens. Two first-class tickets for Paris having been speedily purchased, Mr. Fogg was crossing the station to the train, when he perceived his five friends of the Reform. "Well, gentlemen," said he, "I'm off, you see; and, if you will examine my passport when I get back, you will be able to judge whether I have accomplished the journey agreed upon." "Oh, that would be quite unnecessary, Mr. Fogg," said Ralph politely. "We will trust your word, as a gentleman of honour." Jules Verne, French Writer

From today The Fairlop Fair will be on in 80 days. Will Phileas be back in time to tell his stories? Whilst we wait, here is a story about another underdog winning a race.

The Hare and the Tortoise

This version is originally from the United Kingdom, but there are also other versions such as; The Fox and the Frog (Switzerland), The Hare and the Hedgehog (Germany).

Once upon a time there was a hare who, boasting how he could run faster than anyone else, was forever teasing tortoise for its slowness. Then one day, the irate tortoise answered back: “Who do you think you are? There’s no denying you’re swift, but even you can be beaten!” The hare squealed with laughter.

“Beaten in a race? By whom? Not you, surely! I bet there’s nobody in the world that can win against me, I’m so speedy. Now, why don’t you try?”

Annoyed by such bragging, the tortoise accepted the challenge. A course was planned, and the next day at dawn they stood at the starting line. The hare yawned sleepily as the meek tortoise trudged slowly off. When the hare saw how painfully slow his rival was, he decided, half asleep on his feet, to have a quick nap. “Take your time!” he said. “I’ll have forty winks and catch up with you in a minute.”

The hare woke with a start from a fitful sleep and gazed round, looking for the tortoise. But the creature was only a short distance away, having barely covered a third of the course. Breathing a sigh of relief, the hare decided he might as well have breakfast too, and off he went to munch some cabbages he had noticed in a nearby field. But the heavy meal and the hot sun made his eyelids droop. With a careless glance at the tortoise, now halfway along the course, he decided to have another snooze before flashing past the winning post. And smiling at the thought of the look on the tortoise’s face when it saw the hare speed by, he fell fast asleep and was soon snoring happily. The sun started to sink, below the horizon, and the tortoise, who had been plodding towards the winning post since morning, was scarcely a yard from the finish. At that very point, the hare woke with a jolt. He could see the tortoise a speck in the distance and away he dashed. He leapt and bounded at a great rate, his tongue lolling, and gasping for breath. Just a little more and he’d be first at the finish. But the hare’s last leap was just too late, for the tortoise had beaten him to the winning post. Poor hare! Tired and in disgrace, he slumped down beside the tortoise who was silently smiling at him.

“Slow and steady wins the race” said the Tortoise.

Here's Story Number 2

We are still awaiting news from Phileas on how his travel from London to Paris went, but while we wait for his tales here is a story about a boy who went to seek his fortune and found more fortune in friends than possession. Let’s hope Phileas finds the same!

How Jack went to seek his fortune

Once upon a time there was a young boy called Jack, and one morning he started to go and seek his fortune.

He hadn't gone very far before he met a cat.

"Where are you going, Jack?" said the cat.

"I am going to seek my fortune."

"May I go with you?"

"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier."

So on they went, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt.

They went a little further and they met a dog.

"Where are you going, Jack?" said the dog.

"I am going to seek my fortune."

"May I go with you?"

"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier."

So on they went, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt. They went a little further and they met a goat.

"Where are you going, Jack?" said the goat.

"I am going to seek my fortune."

"May I go with you?"

"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier."

So on they went, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt.

They went a little further and they met a bull.

"Where are you going, Jack?" said the bull.

"I am going to seek my fortune."

"May I go with you?"

"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier."

So on they went, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt.

They went a little further and they met a rooster.

"Where are you going, Jack?" said the rooster.

"I am going to seek my fortune."

"May I go with you?"

"Yes," said Jack, "the more the merrier."

So on they went, jiggelty-jolt, jiggelty-jolt.

Well, they went on till it was about dark, and they began to think of some place where they could spend the night. About this time they came in sight of a house, and Jack told them to keep still while he went up and looked in through the window. And there were some robbers counting over their money. Then Jack went back and told them to wait till he gave the word, and then to make all the noise they could. So when they were all ready Jack gave the word, and the cat meowed, and the dog barked, and the goat bleated, and the bull bellowed, and the rooster crowed, and all together they made such a dreadful noise that it frightened the robbers all away.

And then they went in and took possession of the house. Jack was afraid the robbers would come back in the night, and so when it came time to go to bed he put the cat in the rocking-chair, and he put the dog under the table, and he put the goat upstairs, and he put the bull down cellar, and the rooster flew up on to the roof, and Jack went to bed.

By-and-by the robbers saw it was all dark and they sent one man back to the house to look after their money. Before long he came back in a great fright and told them his story.

"I went back to the house," said he, "and went in and tried to sit down in the rocking-chair, and there was an old woman knitting, and she stuck her knitting-needles into me." That was the cat, you know.

"I went to the table to look after the money and there was a shoemaker under the table, and he stuck his awl into me." That was the dog, you know.

"I started to go upstairs, and there was a man up there threshing, and he knocked me down with his flail." That was the goat, you know.

"I started to go down cellar, and there was a man down there chopping wood, and he knocked me up with his axe." That was the bull, you know.

"But I shouldn't have minded all that if it hadn't been for that little fellow on top of the house, who kept a-hollering, 'Chuck him up to me-e! Chuck him up to me-e!'" Of course that was the cock-a-doodle- do.

Here's Story Number 3!

Whilst travelling from London to Paris, Phileas wished for a quick transport link between the two capitals. Back in 1873, there were limited options for transportation, how could Phileas travel across the Channel? We know that Phileas traveled in a Hot Air Balloon for much of his journey. Today we can cross the channel by boat, aeroplane or by the Channel Tunnel which goes underneath the sea. 

Here's the story of how the Channel Tunnel was created and maybe you'll have the chance to travel in it one day! 

In 1988, deep down beneath the English Channel, 13 thousand workers were about to start one of the biggest engineering feats of all time. The quest they set out to achieve was to build the longest undersea tunnel in the World and what a task! When designs for the tunnel began in 1802, the task seemed to be too ambitious, however a permanent transport link between Britain and Europe needed to be created! The tunnel was to be 56 kilometers long with 38 kilometers being under the sea. No other project had been this ambitious in the past...and would the engineers succeed?

On a dark morning almost two hundred years later, engineers piled to the sites in Britain at Folkestone and in France at Calais. Simultaneously the two teams started to dig, using massive machinery that dug up tonnes of rock from under the Channel. Can you imagine the size of the machinery that would have to be used in order to make 3 large tunnels under such a large amount of water? Each machine weighed 1,100 tonnes, which weighs more than the Eiffel Tower. The machines were created especially for the project and it was here that they began their journey. BUT it would be a journey in which engineers in Britain and France would attempt to dig the tunnel as quickly as possible in order to reach the other side.

On the British side the digging began near Shakespeare Cliff close to Dover and in France it began near the village of Sangatte. The race was on! The machines cut through the chalk and collected the debris. This waste was then cleared in different ways by both Britain and France. The dug out space was lined with Concrete, in order for it to with stand pressure and be waterproof. But how would the two sides meet in the middle and how could they get the tunnels to match? 

Luckily, the high tech equipment did not let them down and on December 1st 1990, a Frenchman and an Englishman shook hands through a gap in the tunnel. On May 22nd 1991, the two sides met in the Northern Tunnel after 3 years of construction. One month later, the two sides met in the Southern tunnel. The project had been a success! Hooray! 

It took two more years for the railway to be complete and for tests to be run in order for it to be safe to use.  The Channel Tunnel officially opened on May 6th 1994 after 6 six of construction.  So if you ever find yourself travelling to France on the Euro Tunnel, now you know how it was made! Fascinating!!! 

To find out more visit http://www.eurotunnel.com/build/. 

Here's Story Number 4

Blondine

There was once a king called Benin. He was good and all the world loved him; he was just and the wicked feared him. His wife, the Queen Doucette, was also good, and much beloved.

This happy pair had a daughter called the Princess Blondine, because of her superb fair hair, and she was as amiable and charming as her father the king and her mother the queen.

Unfortunately, the poor queen died a short time after the birth of Blondine and for a long time the king wept bitterly at his great loss. Blondine was too young to understand her mother's death: she did not weep but continued to laugh, to play and to sleep peacefully. The king loved her tenderly and she loved him more than all the world. He gave his little daughter the most beautiful jewels, the finest bonbons, and the most rare and delicious fruits. Blondine was very happy.

One day it was announced to the king, that all his subjects demanded that he should marry again in order to have a son who should reign after him. He refused at first but finally yielded to the pressing desires of his people and said to his minister Leger:—

"My dear friend, my subjects wish me to marry again but my heart is so sad because of the death of my cherished queen Doucette that I cannot undertake the task of seeking another wife. Go, then, my good Leger and find me a princess who will make my sweet Blondine happy. Go; I ask for nothing more. When you have found a perfect woman, you will demand her hand in marriage and conduct her to my court."

Leger set off immediately, visited many courts and saw innumerable princesses—ugly, humpbacked and wicked.

At last he arrived at the kingdom of the monarch Turbulent, who had a lovely daughter, bright, winning and apparently good. Leger found her so charming, that he asked her hand in marriage for his king Benin, without sufficiently inquiring into her real character.

Turbulent was enchanted at the prospect of getting rid of his daughter who was jealous, proud and wicked. Also, her presence often interfered with his excursions for pleasure, with the chase and with his various entertainments at the palace.

Without a moment's hesitation, he acceded to the Prime Minister's request, and he returned with the princess to the kingdom of the good king Benin.

The princess Fourbette was accompanied by four thousand mules, loaded with the jewels and wardrobe of the charming bride.

King Benin had been apprised of their approach by a courier and went forward to receive the princess Fourbette. He found her beautiful but he noted the absence of the mild and attractive expression of the poor lost Doucette.

When Fourbette's eyes fell upon Blondine her glance was so cruel, so wicked, that the poor child, who was now three years old, was greatly terrified and began to weep bitterly.

"What is the matter?" said the king. "Why does my sweet and sensible Blondine weep like a bad little girl?"

"Papa! dear papa!" cried Blondine, throwing herself into the arms of the king, "do not give me into the hands of this princess. I am afraid of her—her eyes are cruel!"

The king was much surprised. He turned so suddenly towards the princess Fourbette that she had no time to control herself and he perceived the terrible glance with which she regarded the little Blondine.

Benin immediately resolved that Blondine should be wholly separated from the new queen and remain as before under the exclusive protection of the nurse who had taken care of her and who loved her tenderly.

The queen thus saw Blondine rarely, and when she met her by chance she could not wholly dissimulate the hatred she felt for her.

About a year from that time a daughter was born to the queen Fourbette. She was named Brunette, because of her dark hair which was black as the raven's wing.

Brunette was pretty but not so lovely as Blondine; moreover she was as wicked as her mother. She detested Blondine and played all sorts of cruel tricks upon her, bit her, pinched her, pulled her hair, broke her toys and tore her beautiful dresses.

The good little Blondine was never in a passion with her sister but always tried to make excuses for her conduct.

"Oh, papa!" she said to the king, "do not scold Brunette; she is so little! she does not know that she grieves me when she breaks my toys! It is only in play that she bites me, pulls my hair and pinches me."

The good king embraced his little daughter, and was silent but he knew that Brunette was cruel and wicked; that Blondine was too gentle and good to accuse her. He loved Blondine, therefore, more and more from day to day and his heart grew cold to Brunette.

The ambitious queen Fourbette saw all this clearly and hated intensely the innocent and gentle Blondine. If she had not feared the rage of the king she would have made Blondine the most wretched child in the world.

Benin had commanded that Blondine should never be left alone with the queen. He was known to be just and good but he punished disobedience severely and the queen herself dared not defy his commands.

Here's Story Number 5

Phileas has been in Paris for 2 days now, he is having so much fun meeting loads of new friends, eating the tastiest baguette’s made fresh every morning, and visiting all the wonderful places in Paris. One place that excited Phileas so much was the Eiffel Tower, he was so excited he sent home this letter for us all to read; it is the story of the creation of the Eiffel Tower.

Dear Friends,

I am having so much fun already and there is still many days to go, today I visited the Eiffel Tower and was told the story of the creation of it. It is such a fascinating story I have to share...

In 1886, Gustave Eiffel a very famous French builder, was chosen to build a tower in Paris for the 1889 International Exposition. However, when people first saw his drawings, they were not pleased. In fact, many people truly hated the new tower.

“What is this?” asked a famous Paris artist.

“It is a picture of the new tower they are building for the International Exposition,” replied his friend. “Do you like it?”

“No,” declared the artist, “I hate it. It is the strangest looking tower I have ever seen. It has no beauty and it will destroy Paris.”

Around Paris, other people were saying the same thing. “The tower that Gustave Eiffel is building looks like a big steel lamp,” wrote one newspaper reporter. “Eiffel is building a factory pipe,” wrote another reporter.

Many of the Paris artists and other important people wrote letters demanding that the Eiffel Tower not be built. They believed that Paris was too great a city for such a horrible tower. But thankfully, the people in charge did not listen to these complaints.

Gustave Eiffel was one of the first builders to use metal in his constructions. He was famous for building large and strong bridges and tall buildings made of metal. Before building the Eiffel Tower, he also designed and built the Statue of Liberty in New York City.

On July 1, 1887, Eiffel and his company began working on the tower.  It was a very unusual king of building project because they first made all the pieces of the tower in a factory. Then, they brought the pieces to Paris and put them together like a puzzle.

Each piece of the puzzle was put together with special nails called rivets. The rivets were so large that it took four men to put on in. Since there were over two million rivets, this was a very big job. But slowly the pieces were put together and the tower went up and up and up.

By March 15^th, 1888, the workmen completed the first level. Then, six month later, they had put the second level together. By March of 1889, the tower was completed and ready for the Exposition. When it was finished, it was 324 meters tall and weighed more than 10,000 tons.

When the Eiffel Tower was finished, the people of Paris were very pleased with it. Those who thought that the tower would look ugly now thought it was one of the most wonderful structures ever made.

I hope you enjoyed that story, can’t wait to tell you more from my journey.

Your Friend

Phileas

Here's Story number 6...which is a song!

So Phileaus has been very busy enjoying his time in Paris. Phileaus has had a marvelous time and you can look at all of the places he visited in the map on this blog. Have you ever been to France? The language spoken in France is of course French. One very famous song that was heard by Phileaus in France was the Nursery Rhyme Frère Jacques. Here are the lyrics, ask a friend to sing along with you and you can learn the tune at the Fairlop Fair on the 6th of July.  Happy singing!

Frère Jacques, frère Jacques

Dormez-vous ? Dormez-vous ?

Sonnez les matines ! Sonnez les matines !

Din, dan, don; din, dan, don

TRANSLATED AS...

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,

Brother John? Brother John?

Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing!

Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.

Phileaus's Trip around Paris! Can you name any of the famous landmarks?

Here's Story Number 7

The Old Tramp and The Half Blanket

Whilst walking through the beautiful streets of Paris, Phileas came across an old tramp slumped underneath a pile of rags. "Are you okay there sir?" Asked Phileas. No reply. "Are you okay there sir? Would you like me to find you some dryer blankets to keep you warm?" No reply. Phileas tried to remove the rags from the old man. Suddenly The man appeared from underneath the rags and growled like a wild dog. "Get off my blanket! Go on, away with you!" snarled the old tramp. Phileas was stunned, since he was only trying to help the man. "Sir, I mean no harm, I'm offering to buy you a warmer, dryer and cleaner blanket for the rough nights ahead. This blanket you are so dearly protecting isn't even bigger enough to cover you, It's merely half a blanket." "Well I don't want your charity. This half blanket, is all I have left, it reminds me of the wrongs I committed." Phileas knew he couldn't persuade the man and thought it would be best to leave before the man became more aggressive. So he apologized and set off on his way. The old tramp, realizing how aggressive he acted called after Phileas. "I'm sorry for shouting at you, please don't go, I'm so lonely. I appreciate your kindness and generosity, but Please come back and let me tell you the story of how I got this blanket." Phileas smiled and returned back to the man. "Okay, well if I can't buy you a new blanket, then atleast I'll keep you company, please do share this story of yours."  "Thank You" said the old man. "Just promise you wont judge me after the story finishes. A very long time ago, there lived a King. The King was a wonderful ruler, and his people lived well. He always wanted the best for his people. When he grew old, he gave all his lands and estates to his only son. It was his desire that his son would use his youth to serve the people even better than he had done himself.

In return for giving his son his crown and his throne, the Old King requested two things. The first was to take good care of his people and the second was that he promised to take the best possible care of him in his old age. The Old King wished that his won would return the same love he had given to his son that he will be well cared for.

When these two things were promised, the King held an official ceremony and crowned his son King. The son followed his father's advice at first and saw his treasuries grow and saw his people continue to be well looked after. He also followed through on his promise to care for his father. Both of these things remained true until the son found a wife.

The wife did not like the father she thought that he was just an old fool, she also hated the fact that her husband listened more to his father's advice than to hers. She would try and turn her husband against his father by saying “The old man is always coughing at the table it makes me sick. He treats you like a child, always giving you advice about how to run the country. You are the King now. He had his turn and gave the country to you when he could no longer run it."

The king loved his wife, and promised that he would do anything for her, in order to please her he threw his father out onto the streets of Paris. The guards were given orders by the wife that the old man was not to be allowed back into the castle. Living on the streets for Old Man was rough and life threatening. For many years he lay in alleyways and slept under piles of hay or rubbish like an animal. The old man's pride was hurt, and felt betrayed by his son.

Eventually the queen gave birth to a son, who grew into a proud and strong young man. Despite what his wife said, the king told his son that his grandfather lived outside the castle, and he would let him visit him. The young man spent as much time as he could with his Grandfather talking to him and learning from him. He developed a caring heart. He brought whatever food and drink he could find to his grandfather. As much as his grandfather enjoyed the food and drink, he loved most of all the kindness and love that the child showed to him as he grew up.

One day the grandfather asked for an old horse blanket to protect him from the cold, the young man ran off to fulfil his wish. In the stable he found a thick warm horse blanket. He took it from the horse and ripped it in two. Just as he finished tearing the blanket in two, the king caught him in the stable. “What are you doing my son?” asked the king “Grandfather is freezing cold, so he asked me to grab him a horse blanket.” Said the young "Why are you taking him only half the blanked?" asked the King. His son answered, "I am saving the other half for you to help you sleep on the streets when I become King.”

Here's Story Number 8

If I had A Hot Air Balloon

Phileas has now left Paris and is setting off to Turin, Italy in his A Hot Air Balloon.

I have always wished for A Hot Air Balloon. If I had a hot air balloon, I would fly around the world and see many wonderful places and things.

I would fly to China to see the Great Wall and the cuddly panda bears.

I would fly to Australia to see the cute koala bears and the jumping kangaroos.

I would fly to Holland to see the spinning windmills and the colourful tulips.

I would fly to Egypt to see the pyramids and the Nile River.

I would fly to England to see the Tower of London and to hear the bagpipes.

I would fly to America to see the Statue of Liberty and the Grand Canyon.

I would fly to Switzerland to see the Alps and to ski down the mountains.

If you had A Hot Air Balloon where would you fly?

Here's Story Number 9

The man who ate too much pizza.

There was once a generous young man named Mario, who loved nothing better than to gather the town for a feast every Sunday. He'd cook with sugar and spice and all things nice, creating dishes that even Kings would be proud of. His favourite dish was lasagna and he could eat tonnes of the stuff but he'd always eat it along with a nice slice of Garlic Bread.
One especially dry summer, when the townspeople were rushing down the small cobbled streets to his house, Mario encountered a problem; he had run out of lasagna sheets! This had never happened before and it was his duty to feed the town.
'What am I do to?' Mario proclaimed looking at his watch to check the time. 'The shops are closed and I cannot roll my own pasta sheets! I'll have to make double the amount of pizza! But I don't have enough Tomato pasata sauce.'
As he was fretting over his watch, a miracle occurred. From inside the hands of the clock, a little fairy flew out as if to answer to his worries. Now you must know that you can't say that fairies don't exist because every time this is said, then one dies! BUT very few of us get to encounter fairies in our lives and Mario certainly had never seen a fairy before and so was alarmed by her presence.
'You, you, you look like a fairy. But fairies don't...'stuttered Mario.
'Don't say it, I'm here aren't I? I've come to help you bake some pizza, I was ever so sad to hear that you had run out of lasagna sheets. But not to worry, with this special pasata sauce, you're pizzas will be the best yet...but you must promise me, you must, must promise me that you will share them, because this sauce tastes so good, that you might become greedy and eat it all yourself.' The fairy squeaked.
'Of course I won't!' Said Mario, 'I've been generous for years, I've held a feast at my house every Sunday for as long as I can remember...just watch me.'
'Okay then' sang the fairy, producing before Mario's eyes a large sizzling pot of tomato pasata sauce.
'BUT you must promise me that you will share it, or else something terrible will happen to you, something you cannot reverse...'
'I PROMISE' shouted Mario. And with that the fairy disappeared, leaving Mario with a large pot of sauce.
Baffled by what had just happened, Mario started to spread the pasata onto the pizza bases. The smell of the tomato was the freshest yet and he couldn't help but dip the end of his finger in to take a bite.
'MMMMMMMMMMM' shouted Mario, 'It's delicious!' and he continued to spread the tomato on 30 pizza bases.

Twenty minutes later, when the pizzas had been cooked, Mario couldn't help but cut himself a slice.
'The guests aren't here yet and anyway, there's 30 pizzas here for them, one slice won't hurt.'
But as Mario ate the slice, he couldn't help but eat another. The cheese was so gooey and hot and the tomato so juicy. Slice after slice after slice went down Mario, without a sole even uttering a word. Soon Mario found himself eating the pizza and dancing around his kitchen.
'You can't stop me Fairy!' he shouted. 'This is so delicious, I'm going to eat the lot, I can always bake some more!'
But what Mario had forgotten in his greed was that the tomato pasata had all been used and the fairy had warned him of the consequences.
Then there was one slice left. Starring at the clock and seeing that the guests would arrive in less than 5 minutes, Mario picked it up and started to eat it. He had eaten almost 30 pizzas and still he could eat more. One gulp, two gulps, three gulps and the pizza went down.
Then Mario remembered what the fairy had said. He starred at himself in the mirror. Nothing happened. He felt his stomach. He wasn't even full. Then he went to spread pasata on some more pizza bases for his guests and as he looked in the pot he could see that there was no tomato left!
'Well, nothing is happening to me, the fairy lied! And anyway, I don't believe in...'
And on that the fairy appeared again.
'I told you, I told you and you promised, promised that you wouldn't eat all of the sauce! You have lied and now I cannot stop what will happen!' the fairy proclaimed and with a swish of her wand, turned Mario into a plastic statue.
And as the townspeople arrived, they were greeted by a statue, a statue of a plastic Italian chef with a rather full belly, holding a plate of plastic pizza. And forever more, Mario will greet his guests outside restaurants, bakers and butchers. And if you go to Italy and see a plastic statue outside a restaurant, it might just be Mario.


Of course, if you eat too much pizza, you probably won't be turned into a plastic statue but you can never be too sure...and certainly Phileaus isn't taking any risks now.

Here's  Story Number 10

Phileaus was walking through the main square to try and find Passepartout, he bumped into a large crowd of people cheering and laughing and he wondered what all the fuss was about. "What's going on here?" Said Phileaus. The crowd had gathered around a street performance, "by George, It's a Commedia Dell' Arte play, now I've read about this in books, but I didn't think I would actually see it." Commedia Dell' Arte is a comedic art form that started in Venice in the 1600s. Players would travel all around Italy performing their improvised plays on the streets.

Phileaus found the play very funny because one of the characters, the Zanni which is a servant and a fool, reminded him of Passeportout. "Passeportout! I had forgotten that I was meant to be looking for my assistant Passeportout. This whole time I have been enjoying the play Passeportout could be anywhere, I must find him immediately." As Phileaus was about to leave he suddenly heard a scream, then a cry and a roar of laughter from the crowd. Phileaus turned around, and what did he see? Passeportout was on the stage with a cloth over his head on top of the actor playing Pantalone. Now the character of Pantalone is actually meant to be a mean and bitter old man, so the crowd waited in anticipation to see what would happen. The actor managed to get Passeportout off of him, he stood up and turned around with what appeared to be a face full of rage when... he burst into laughter. The audience laughed, Passeportout laughed, the musicians laughed and finally Phileaus let out a cheeky little grin. That evening the Commedia troupe invited Phileaus and Passeprotout back to there house for some wine and food. "Maybe you should get lost more often Passeportout" Said Phileaus.

Here’s Story Number 11

Another Letter from Phileas

I am so excited for today’s story; Phileas has sent us another letter while on his travels, and he wanted me to share it with all his friends.

Dear friends,

I am in Italy enjoying every minute of it, epically all the wonderful foods like pastas and pizzas, which reminded me of a story when I was a little boy, and I wanted nothing more but to share it will you all.

“Time for breakfast, Phileas,” said Mother, “I made scrambled eggs and toast.”

“Nope! Peanut butter,” I replied. “Phileas, please eat your eggs and toast,” she said.

“Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. “Phileas, peanut butter for breakfast?” replied mother. “I don’t think so. Come eat your eggs.” I scrunched my face, shrugged my shoulders, and put my hands on my waist. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I insisted. “Okay, peanut butter for Phileas. At least drink some orange juice,” pleaded Mother. After breakfast, I ran off to have an adventure with my favorite toys.

I was a quiet, smart boy of few words. Some might say I was hard to please, persistent, and picky…possibly even persnickety. The truth is I knew exactly what I liked and what I didn’t like. I liked dogs…but not cats. I liked basketball…but not baseball. I liked school…but not homework. Iliked green…but not pink. I liked the number 8… but not the number 7. I liked circles…but not triangles. I liked shorts (even in winter)…but not trousers. I liked sneakers…but not shoes. I liked candy…but not gum. I liked pizza parties… but not slumber parties. Most of all, I liked peanut butter, which he found positively perfect!

“Phileas, lunchtime. Please put down your toys and come eat,” said Mother, “I made you a ham and swiss sandwich on rye with a garden salad.” “Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. “Phileas, please eat your ham and swiss sandwich,” she said. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. She reasoned, “Phileas, you had peanut butter for breakfast. Don’t you want something different to eat for lunch?” I scrunched my face, shrugged my shoulders, and put my hands on my waist. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I insisted. “Okay, peanut butter for Phileas. At least drink some milk,” pleaded my partially-perturbed mother.

After lunch, I went outside. I had lots of fun chasing my dog, Sammy, around the back yard. Before long I heard Mother calling, “Phileas, come in for dinner. Please be sure to wash your hands before you eat.” I left Sammy digging for a bone and I scrubbed my hands clean. “Here’s your spaghetti and meatballs,” she said. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. “Uh-oh, here we go again!” cried Mother, “You like spaghetti and meatballs!” “Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. She asked, “Aren’t you tired of eating the same food?” I scrunched my face, shrugged my shoulders, and put my hands on his waist. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I insisted. “Okay, peanut butter for Phileas. At least drink some water,” pleaded Mother.

Day after day and week after week Mother would make healthy, nutritious food for me. She offered me lasagne, grapes, corn, macaroni and cheese, and bread. Day after day and week after week I predictably refused a dietary change. My favourite words became ‘Nope! Peanut butter.’ I had made my decision. He was sticking to it. I was perfectly happy eating peanut butter for breakfast, peanut butter for lunch, and peanut butter for dinner.

It made me powerful and popular! Word spread fast about the boy who consumed the same food every single day. The neighbours nicknamed me ‘The Peanut Butter Boy’. Wherever I wandered around the neighbourhood a parade of children and squirrels followed!

Despite my popularity, my eating habits were becoming a problem. I was driving my mother nuts! I smelled like a giant peanut! (She feared I was growing into one.) At school, squirrels out-numbered the students! One by one, everyone, began eating my preference! Ms. Riley, my teacher, feared the worst. This addiction could spread to the entire school, the entire town. What would happen to the variety of well-balanced food served in the cafeteria or at restaurants? Meals would be boring and no fun. “How can I get the children to choose exciting, new foods?”, she wondered.

Mother received a notice from school. My class was having a pizza party. “Perfect!” thought Mother. “Phileas likes to cook. Phileas likes pizza parties.” Mother was thrilled. She hoped I would finally be sick of eating you-know-what and partake in some pizza. “Phileas, please come help me make a pizza for your class’s pizza party tomorrow,” said mother. I popped into the room, wash my hands, and rolled out the dough. She asked, “Can you please put the tomato sauce on?” “Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. “Let’s put peppers on,” said mother. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I said. “How about pepperoni?” she asked. I scrunched my face, shrugged my shoulders, and put my hands on his waist. “Nope! Peanut butter,” I insisted. “Okay, peanut butter pizza for Phileas,” said Mother.

I brought my pizza to the party. “Who wants a piece of Phileas’ pizza?” asked the teacher. I raised my hand…and so did everyone else in the class. Ms. Riley let out a sigh of relief. I loved eating my pizza! Everyone loved eating my pizza! Even the teacher tried a slice. She said, “Mmm…Phileas, your pizza is tasty and delicious!” Did you use a special sauce in your recipe?” “Nope! peanut butter,” I said.
The End.

Here's Story Number 13

Some Facts about Turin

Phileaus would like to appologise for the delay in this post as he spent yesterday travelling from Turin in Italy to Brindisi in Italy. What a travel, he crossed almost the length of Italy, travelling away from the mountain ranges of Turin to the South Western tip. 

See for yourself on the map below, taken from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/puglia/brindisi/things-to-do:

Phileaus had a marvelous time in Turin, he enjoyed the delicious Italian food and the spectacular mountain ranges. Do you know what Turin is like? It's a beautiful place up in the mountain region of Italy.

Here are some facts for you:

It's the fourth largest city in Italy.

It's the capital of Italy's car industry and the home of the Fiat.

The city has a long tradition of producing fine chocolate! Yum!

It was host of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

One of the things that fascinated Phileaus the most about Turin, was the Turin Shroud, a 14 foot long linen cloth baring an imprint of a man that resembled Jesus Christ's body. Many Christian Catholics believe that this cloth was used to bury Jesus Christ's body when he died. This is one of the most precious Holy Relics and some believe it to be genuine when others do not. How interesting...!

In Turin, there are many lovely types of plant and flower but one of the most famous of these is Edelweiss. Edelweiss bares the title of a song in 'The Sound of Music' by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Why not watch the film of the musical and sing along? Here are the lyrics for you:

Edelweiss

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white,
clean and bright
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow
may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever.

Stay tuned for another story later on today, when Phileaus has explored Brindisi! 

Story Number 14

Phileaus decided that he would explore the Harbour of Brindisi, he already knew about the importance of the Harbour and the role it played throughout history but he wanted to learn more. The Harbour served as a strategic and decisive role in relationship between the East and West, representing the main 'Gate of the Orient.' From 1871 to 1914 the Indian Mail Route had a stop in Brindisi. From London to Brindisi passengers and cargoes travelled by train, then ships sailed from Brindisi every Sunday to Port Said, Bombay and Calcutta. Travellers such as Phileaus used to stay in the 'Hotel of the East Indies' (Hotel Internazionale, as it is known today). The Harbour also played an important role as being the main departure point to the East during the crusades. Which leads to the next story that Phileaus was told, about the famous 'The Children's Crusade', that arrived to Brindisi on 1212.

The Children's Crusade

During the ten years that followed the taking of Constantinople, Pope Innocent tried to stir up another Crusade, which he hoped should actually fulfil its high ideals.

But the old enthusiasm for the Holy War had died down. The chief kingdoms of Europe were too busy quarrelling with one another to have leisure to think of the distant lands of the East. John of England was getting into trouble both with his own people and with the Pope himself; Philip Augustus of France was building up his kingdom into a great and united nation; Otho of Germany and Frederick IL, grandson of Barbarossa, the Crusader, were in fierce conflict with regard to Germany.

While Europe was thus absorbed in more or less selfish aims and ideals, a bitter cry for help was heard from the East. A terrible famine, followed by pestilence, both caused by the failure of the Nile to overflow its banks and fertilize the soil, had reduced the people of Palestine and Egypt to a state of absolute misery. Mothers were [195] said actually to have killed and eaten their own babes in their extremity of hunger, and hundreds of people simply lay down and died by the roadside.

The extreme limit of misery and human desolation was reached when to famine and pestilence was added an earthquake which destroyed whole cities. Heavy, indeed, seemed the hand of God upon His land, and there were not wanting many who said that He was punishing it for past sins and present negligence, since Jerusalem was still in the hands of the infidel.

Suddenly, while Pope Innocent was vainly trying to rouse Europe to undertake a Sixth Crusade, an astonishing movement began to be seen amongst the children of the different lands. Throughout France and Germany boy leaders drilled their little regiments, fastened on the Cross, and prepared seriously to go forth to the Holy War. At first they met with opposition, and ridicule; but such was the earnest zeal of these little people that even the most hardened onlooker ceased to jeer or hinder. Mothers, with aching hearts, saw their little ones march forth, and put out no hand to prevent them, and as the procession passed along the high roads, the children swarmed out froze cottage and castle to join the ranks.

From Germany a band of seven thousand children set out for the port of Genoa, from whence they hoped to embark for the Holy Land. They were led by a boy named Nicholas, who swayed them by the most extraordinary power, and was almost worshipped by his little host.

But to get to Genoa, they had to cross the Alps, and there cold and hunger left thousands of the poor mites dead upon the mountain side. The remnant, a sad and sorry spectacle, ragged, starving and dirty, made its [196] way at length into Genoa. There they hoped to find friends and help to cross the sea; but the citizens of the port looked with scant favour upon the little Crusaders, and the Senate ordered that they should forthwith depart from the city. Some wealthy inlitbitants, kinder of heart than the rest, adopted a few of the fairer and more attractive children; a few more struggled on to Rome to lay their cause at the feet of the Pope. The rest, heart-sick and weary, tried to struggle back to their homes. Enthusiasm was long since dead, they were laughed at, as failures, and saddest of all, when they were asked why they had left their homes, they now made weary answer that "they could not tell."

Few indeed, ever saw their native land again.

Another band of German boys and girls succeeded in reaching the port of Brindisi, where they were actually put on board ships bound for the East. What was their fate remains a mystery; they were never heard of more.

The largest band of all staried from Vend6me in France, under the leadership of a nameless shepherdboy, who wore a little sheepskin coat and carried a banner upon which was worked a lamb.

He seemed to possess a magic power over his playmates, for at the sound of his clear, high young voice, hundreds and thousands of children flocked to his banner and received the cross from his hands. Not even grown persons, not even the most obstinate parent could stand against his persuasions and entreaties. Full of devotion, full of zeal, the children marched upon the long road to Marseilles, singing psalms and hymns, and crying constantly aloud—

"O Lord Christ! Restore to us thy Cross!"

"You know not what is before you," said the wise [199] greybeards of the villages through which they passed. "What do you mean to do?"

"To get to the Holy Land," was the invariable and undaunted answer.

Weary and hungry, with their ranks much thinned by fatigue and the hardships of the way, the Child Crusade entered Marseilles with gallant hearts. For they fully expected that they would find the sea cleft asunder by a miracle, and a pathway prepared for them to the other side. When they found they were mistaken, some turned their faces homeward; but most stayed to see if by any means they could get boats to take them to the Holy Land. To them came presently two merchants, Hugh Ferrens, and William Beco, or Porcus, who had already discovered how to make a fortune by selling European children as slaves to the Saracens. Approaching the eager little ones with kindly words, they offered to lend them seven ships wherein they might be taken across the sea to their destination.

Joyfully the children agreed and set forth with songs and merry cries, cheered by a vast multitude who watched them from the shore. Of that bright-faced band not one ever reached the Holy Land or returned to Europe to tell the tale. At the end of two days, two of the ships were wrecked in a terrible storm and all on board perished.

The rest escaped this peril, and sailed on to Alexandria and other ports, where the poor little passengers were landed and sold as slaves to the Saracens. Twelve of these are said to have won the martyr's crown, because they preferred to die rather than renounce their faith, a few reached the Christian city of Ptolemais after a time, and told their sad story to the enraged inhabitants, the [200] rest were condemned to a life of slavery among the sons of Islam.

There is a sad story, yet we may find in it the awakening of that spirit of devotion which seemed to have died out in Europe.

Pope Innocent, when he heard of this Crusade, might well say, "These children are a reproach to us for slumbering while they fly to the succour of the Holy Land."

From that time preparations for the Sixth Crusade began in good earnest.

Here's Story Number 15

While exploring Brindisi, Italy Phileas met a wise old man and was told this wonderful story about a King, and he wanted to share it with you all.

Rags and Tatters

A KING, who was lying on his deathbed, called his only son to come to him. 

"Dear son," he said, "you shall be king after me. Your three sisters have no one but you to protect them. Be kind to them. When it is time for them to marry, do not go about asking all the great princes of the earth to be their husbands. You know that rose tree that grows in the palace garden and flowers all year around? Pluck a rose from it and throw it into the street. Whoever shall pick it up shall have your eldest sister for his wife. So for the second. So for the third."

It was the last wish of the dying king, and his son could hardly disobey. Therefore when the eldest sister had grown into a beautiful princess, and the court advisers said it was time for her to marry, her brother told her of their father's command. "Oh, I'd rather not marry at all!" she said. But the court advisers said she must. So one day, the young king plucked the rose, threw it into the street, and told the sentry at the palace door to watch who should pick it up, and send him into the royal presence. Soon there came walking along a fine young count, splendidly dressed, with a jeweled sword by his side, and a manner brave and jolly. He saw the rose, picked it up and stuck it in his velvet cap.

"The king demands to speak with you," said the sentry, stepping forward. The count, anxious, entered the palace, and bowed himself before the king, who said to him, "You have been chosen as the husband of my eldest sister." The count bowed even lower, delighted. But the princess grumbled, "I should have married a king, or at least a prince!" Her brother, however, had given his word; and in time she thought to herself, "Well, at least he is young and handsome and brave and gay. I might have fared much worse." And so she married the count.

A little later it was time for the second princess to marry. She was just as unwilling as her elder sister to take the first one to come along and pick up the rose, but her brother reminded her of their father's command. So the brother plucked a rose, threw it out in the street, and asked the sentry to watch who should pick it up. By and by, a rich merchant came along, a grave, serious, solid and dignified man. He saw the rose, looked at it as if it were a pity such a pretty thing should be wasted, picked it up, and stopped to place it neatly in the button-hole of his fine cloth doublet.

"The king desires to speak with you," said the sentry, stepping forward.

"A great honor, indeed," replied the citizen. "I will attend his majesty without delay." And he entered the palace and heard what the king had to say to him. "But I am not even a nobleman," the citizen objected. "The princess might surely marry a much greater man than I."

"It was her father's wish," said the king; and the matter was settled.

The princess grumbled at first. A mere merchant, indeed! "But at least," she thought, "he is rich and honest and not at all bad-looking. I might have fared worse." So the second princess married the merchant and went to his new home.

At last came the turn of Julietta, the youngest princess. For her the king did as for the others. He plucked the rose, threw it into the street, and told the sentry to watch who should pick it up, and send him in. Now, who should come by but a poor lame water-carrier! Such an ugly, dirty little man! He saw the rose, picked it up, and put it to his lips.

The sentry stepped forward. He said to the water-carrier, "The king desires to speak with you."

The water-carrier sadly looked at his tattered clothes and ragged sandals. To be seen before the the king in such rags! But when the king commands . . . He slunk up the marble steps and entered the palace.

"You picked up the rose?" said the king, eyeing him with dismay.

"Yes, sire! But if you please, sire! I meant no harm by it."

"Then you must marry my youngest sister, Julietta."

"What? Your majesty is making a mockery of me."

"Not at all! Not at all!" And the beggar was told of the dead king's command.

"But I am miserably poor, as you see -- and my leg is lame -- and I am ugly! Such a match is impossible!"

"I wish it were!" sighed the king. "But this is the way it must be."

"A poor wretch who can scarcely feed her!" cried the poor man. Then he sighed. "Well, if it must be, then please do not send any dowry with her. It would only make it worse for her to have fine things."

The grief of the poor young princess was heartrending. Her brother wept too, and it was a miserable wedding. But it couldn't be helped. So Julietta went away with her water-carrier to his shabby hut on the hill. On the way all the people who saw them cried, "Look! there goes the princess with that Rags-and-Tatters!" Home she went to the miserable place, to live there with her new husband, Rags-and-Tatters, and his old crone of a mother.

"This is no place for such fine clothes," said the old woman. She gave Julietta a rough dress to wear, and wooden shoes, and made her scour and wash and bake and darn, and tend her husband's lame leg. There was only the coarsest food to eat -- and little enough of that.

Poor Julietta wept and wept, and could not be comforted. Rags-and-Tatters, though he did not want so fine a wife, was full of pity for her. But what could he do? The only time she had any joy was when she was asleep. Then she dreamed beautiful dreams. One night she dreamt she was in a grand palace, warm and light and spacious. She wore lovely clothes and jewels in her hair; and the tables were spread with delicious things to eat. She sat down at the table with friends dressed as beautifully as herself, and everyone was having a fine time. When she woke up she told her husband all about it. But Rags-and-Tatters shook his head and said, "A dream is but a dream, my wife. Think no more of it." 

"Wake up, sleepyhead," said the old woman to Julietta. "It's time to get up and kindle the fire."

Some weeks later she dreamt the same dream again. Of course, she told her husband about it in the morning.

"It's best you forgot these dreams," he said. "It only makes it harder for you here."

"Get used to the real world, girl," snapped the old woman. "There's the wash tub. Get started."

That very night, Julietta was back in the beautiful palace in her dreams, with servants to wait on her, and jeweled clothes to wear. Again the banquet was rich and splendid, the flowers were rare and fragrant, the music soft and pleasant. But as they were rising from the table someone looked up at the golden ceiling. There in the hole a little man was gazing downward. "Look! look!" cried a man at the table. "There is Rags-and-Tatters!" Just then, in the twinkling of an eye the dream vanished, and the princess was sitting up in her bed by the hearth in the hut on the hill, clad in her old sleeping frock.

She moaned to her husband over all she had lost and left behind. In his heart he really felt very sorry for her. "What's done is done," he said softly. "We must try to make the best of it."

For weeks and weeks she wept every day. Then one night, she dreamt once more of the beautiful palace. As soon as Rags-and-Tatters was recognized and his name was called out, the entire dream disappeared again. The next night, however, she was back in the lovely palace again, richly clad, and with servants to wait on her. The banquet was more splendid than ever. But this time, before they sat down, the Princess Julietta spoke to her assembled guests.

"Make merry, my friends," she said. "Only one thing is forbidden. Let none of you breathe the name," -- and then she whispered -- "of Rags-and-Tatters!" 

They all sat down, ate, drank and made merry, and charming music sounded all about them the while. Then one of the company looked up at the hole in the golden roof. There again, the little man was gazing down on them all. It was just on the tip of his tongue to cry out, "Rags-and-Tatters!" but he caught himself just in time. The princess herself looked up and saw the figure in the hole in the roof. A sudden ray of fondness lit up her heart.

"Poor man!" she said softly to herself. "What a good fellow he is, and how I sadden him with my complaints! I wish Rags & Tatters were down here with us in the midst of it all, and enjoying it too!"

And then -- did the lights, the music, the flowers and the guests, the palace and everything, disappear as before? Not at all! At the end of the banquet hall appeared two thrones of gold. On one of them sat a fair young prince, clad in velvet and jewels. His hair shone like the sun, and his eyes were of hyacinth blue, and his smile gladdened the heart of everyone. While they stood in amazement, he rose and said, "Welcome, my guests! My wife has entertained you while I have been away. You will not be less merry, I hope, now that I have come home!" And he drew the Princess Julietta forward, and placed her on the throne by his side. Then they danced and sang and were joyous, till the stars faded and daylight streamed through the windows of the hall.

For Rags-and-Tatters was not Rags-and-Tatters at all, but Prince Florio, the son of the king of Portugal! A wicked enchantress had cast a spell on the young prince because his father, the king of Portugal, had banished her from his land.The spell the enchantress had cast had reduced the Prince to a hideous appearance, clothed only by old and dirty rags, and the spell was to last until a princess loved him enough to desire his humble company even while she reveled in finery and elegance. Now Julietta had broken the spell when she longed for him in the midst of her splendor, with his rags and tatters and all.

And what of his old mother? Why, she was not his real mother at all, but the wicked enchantress herself. Night after night, the crone had planted dreams in the princess of finery and lost glory. The following day, she delighted in mocking the prince when it was obvious that the princess had thought nothing of the prince during her dreams; for if she had, of course the spell would have been broken by morning.

Prince Florio and Princess Julietta went home in triumph to Portugal, where they were married, lived happily and where their love only deepened as the years went by.

Story Number 16

The Little Countess

There is a religious tale in Italy, that once upon a time there lived a Little Countess, who was loved by all who knew her. She was beautiful, the most beautiful girl in the town but not because of her looks but because of her kind, generous heart.  All the townspeople who greeted her treated her with respect and she reciprocated of course, she was friendly and loved by all.

Her mother and father could not have wished for a better daughter, they had only have one child but they were the happiest parents in the World.  Every Sunday, her mother took her to the Church which was across the water. She enjoyed the services and the faith that she learnt at Church and as she grew older, she began to attend the Church more and more frequently until eventually she attended every day.

Now, as the Church was across the water, the boats-men knew the girl so well.  They began to think of her as a Saint, due to her kind heart and dedication.  Every morning, they would rush to greet her, hoping that she would choose them to ride across the water with. The girl's father started to notice that she was being seen as a Saint.  Although he was happy for her, he wanted her to marry a rich Lord and feared that the people would think of her only as a Saint rather than a loving wife.  He approached his daughter and told her that she must no longer attend the Church.  He then went down to the boats-men and gave them money telling them that under no circumstances must they let his daughter ride on the boat.

The next morning, when the girl walked down to the river, the boats-men all refused to let her aboard their boats. She approached boat after boat but unlike ever before, no one would let her pass.  

Suddenly, the girl threw her cardigan into the river and to the boats-men's alarm, it started to float.  Without a care in the World, the girl stepped onto the cardigan and it began to float her across the river towards the Church.  The people started to cheer and gaze in awe, no one could believe that this little girl had managed to pass, it was as though she had been helped by God.

From that day forward, the people of Venice have referred to this girl as The Little Countess.  This girl was seen as a Saint and is now spoken to by parents in Venice to protect their children from the perils of Water, just as this little girl had been helped on that very day.  

So if you ever go to Venice, you too might be told the story of The Little Countess. 

Story number 17 

The travel from Brindisi to Egypt

Phileaus has enjoyed his time in Europe, but now his adventure really starts as he heads for the East. His journey to the East starts with Suez, Egypt. The Suez Canal is a 101 mile (163 km) long canal that bonds the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez, a northern branch of the Red Sea. It was publicly Opened in November 1869. Whilst Phileaus was travelling to Egypt, he found himself feeling a little bit bored and unfortunately he didn't have Angry Birds to play with, so instead he started to think, think and think some more, until he started thinking about the creation of the world. He already knew how it was created according to the Christian belief, but he was interested in the creation myth told by the Ancient Egyptians. He was perplexed by this idea and unfortunately Passeportout did not have a clue, also he was more interested by a toy he had bought in Brindisi. Luckily, he had picked up an Egyptian merchant at the Harbour of Brindisi who was more than excited to tell Phileaus the story about 'Atum - The Creator'... and this is how it goes.

In the beginning there was only the swirling watery chaos, called Nu. Out of these chaotic waters rose Atum, the sun god of the city of Heliopolis. It is believed that he created himself, using his thoughts and will. In the watery chaos, Atum found no place on which to stand. In the place where he first appeared, he created a hill. This hill was said to be the spot on which the temple of Heliopolis was built. (As early as the Fifth-Dynasty, we find Atum identified with the sun god Ra). His emergence on the hill was the coming of light into the darkness of Nu. 

His next act was to create more gods. Because he was all alone in the world, without a mate, he made a union with his shadow. This unusual way of procreating offspring was not considered strange to the Egyptians. We find Atum regarded as a bisexual god and was sometimes called the 'Great He-She'. The Egyptians were thus able to present Atum as the one and only creative force in the universe.

Atum stayed in the waters of Nu to create his son and daughter. He gave birth to his son by spitting him out. His daughter he vomited. Shu represented the air and Tefnut was a goddess of moisture. Shu and Tefnut continued the act of creation by establishing a social order. To this order Shu contributed the 'principles of Life' while Tefnut contributed the 'principles of order'.

After some time Shu and Tefnut became separated from their father and lost in the watery chaos of Nu. Atum, who had only one eye, which was removable. This was called the Udjat eye. Atum removed the eye and sent it in search of his children. In time they returned with the eye. At this reunion Atum wept tears of joy, where these tears hit the ground, men grew. Now Atum was ready to create the world. So Shu and Tefnut became the parents of Geb the earth, and Nut the sky. Geb and Nut gave birth to Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.

The merchant told Phileaus, that this is only one interpretation of the creation and it Egypt there are many different versions of  how the earth was created. Phileaus decided that whilst he was in Egypt he will try and hear as many different versions as possible.

Here's Story Number 18

Hello all Phileas here!
As you all know I am currently in the beautiful country of Egypt, and I have been told the most wonderful story about the Nile.

That's the river that flows through Egypt don't you know!

I want to save this story to tell you all in person at the Fairlop Fair, which takes place on July 6th 2013.

Hope to see you all there,
Your friend,
Phileas

Story Number 19

This story takes place in ancient Egypt (2540BC), when a pharaoh called Khufu was planning his place of burial, a pyramid, way before his death.  The placement of a pyramid was to be on the West side of the river Nile, as this is where the Sun set each night. It is common for pyramids to be placed here. Each one of the four sides of a pyramid faces North, South, East and West. The architects of the pyramids were incredibly clever and knew how to build it so that it would last over time and many pyramids have even lasted for centuries and can be seen by us today!

Before Khufu's pyramid was built, the exact measurements were marked in the sand, each one of it's four sides facing North, South, East and West. The pyramid was to be the biggest in recorded history.

Enormous stones were dragged by men across the vast desert sand, can you imagine how difficult this job must have been in the Egyptian desert heat! Building a pyramid works in layers, first one level of rock is placed and then another on top.  The higher levels were reached via ramps. The block at the top of the pyramid was made from a special material, such as gold. The outside of the pyramid was covered in white limestone before it was marked as finished.  After 20 agonizing years, the pyramid was built and what a triumph! The pyramid sits in a complex of smaller pyramids and other tombs. It incorporates 2.3 million stone blocks, weighing an average of 15 tonnes each. 

In the pyramid is three burial chambers. The first is underground, carved into bedrock.  The second, the Queen's Chamber is above ground and the third, the King's chamber can only be accessed by an 8 meter high grand gallery! 

Here is a picture of the pyramid:

Image taken from: http://frondaeric.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/pyramids-of-egypt.html

Here is a picture of the inside of the pyramid:

Image from: http://www.cheops-pyramide.ch/khufu-pyramid/khufu-numbers.html

It's Story Number 20

The Egyptian version of Cinderella. In this version her name is Rhodopis (ra-doh-pes). Considered one of the oldest versions of the Cinderella story. It was first recorded by the Roman historian Strabo in the first century BC. This version is based on fact and fiction. Fact: there was a Greek slave girl named Rhodopis who married a Pharaoh Amasis (Dynasty XXVI, 570-536 BC) and became his queen. A fellow slave, Aesop, told her many stories. In this version the slipper is not golden but rose-colored.

"Long ago in the land of Egypt were the green water of the Nile River flows into the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea lived a young maiden named Rhodopis." Rhodopis was born in Greece but was kidnapped by pirates and carried down into Egypt where she was sold into slavery. Her owner turned out to be a kind old man who spent most of his time under a tree sleeping. Because of this he never saw how the other girls in the house, all servant girls, taunted and teased Rhodopis. They teased her because she looked differently from them. Their hair was straight and black while hers was golden and curly. They had brown eyes and she had green. Their skin had the glow of copper, but Rhodopis had pale skin that burned easily in the sun causing them to call her Rosy Rhodopis. They also made her work hard shouting at her all day, "Go to the river and wash the clothes," "Mend my robe," "Chase the geese from the garden,: "Bake the bread." Now Rhodopis had no friends only the animals. She had trained the birds to eat from her hand, a monkey to sit on her shoulder, and the old hippopotamus would slide up on the bank out of the mud to be closer to her. At the end of the day if she wasn't too tired she would go down to the river to be with her animal friends and if she had any energy left from the hard day's work she would dance and sing for them. One evening as she was dancing, twirling around lighter than air with her feet barely touching the ground, the old man woke from his sleep and watched as she danced. He admired her dancingt and felt that one so talented should not be without shoes. He ordered her a special pair of slippers. The shoes were gilded with rose-red gold and the soles were leather. Now the servant girls really disliked her for they were jealous of her beautiful slippers. Word arrived that the Pharaoh was holding court in Memphis and all in the kingdom were invited. Oh how Rhodopis wanted to go with the servant girls. For she knew there would be dancing, singing, and lots of wonderful food. As the servant girls prepared to leave in their finest clothes they turned to Rhodopis and gave her more chores to do before they returned. They poled their raft away leaving a sad Rhodopis on the bank. As she began to wash the clothes in the river she sang a sad little song--"wash the linen, weed the garden, grind the grain." The hippopotamus grew tired of this little song and splashed back into the river. The splashing of the water wet Rhodopis's slippers. She quickly grabbed them up, wiped it off and placed them in the sun to dry. As she was continuing with her chores the sky darkened and as she looked up she saw a falcon sweep down, snatch one of her slippers, and fly away. Rhodopis was in awe for she knew it was the god Horus who had taken her shoe. Rhodopis now with only one slipper put it away in her tunic. Now the Pharaoh, Amasis, Pharaoh of upper and lower Egypt was sitting on his throne looking out over the people and feeling very bored. He much preferred to be riding across the desert in his chariot. Suddenly the falcon swooped down and dropped the rose-red golden slipper in his lap. Surprised but knowing this was a sign from the god Horus he sent out a decree that all maidens in Egypt must try on the slipper, and the owner of the slipper would be his queen. By the time the servant girls arrived the celebrations had ended and the Pharaoh had left by chariot in search of the owner of the golden slipper. After searching on land and not finding the owner he called for his barge and began to travel the Nile pulling into every landing so maidens could try on the slipper. As the barge rounded the bend in front of the home of Rhodopis all heard the sounds of the gong, the trumpets blaring, and saw the purple silk sails. The servant girls ran to the landing to try on the shoe while Rhodopis hid in the rushes. When the servant girls saw the shoe they recognized it as Rhodopis's slipper but they said nothing and still tried to force their feet into the slipper. The Pharaoh spied Rhodopis hiding in the rushes and asked her to try on the slipper. She slid her tiny foot into the slipper and then pulled the other from her tunic. The Pharaoh pronounced that she would be his queen. The servant girls cried out that she was a slave and not even Egyptian. The Pharaoh responded with "She is the most Egyptian of all...for her eyes are as green as the Nile, her fair as feathery as papyrus, and her skin the pink of a lotus flower."