The Tizzie Whizie

It was spring time and the 2nd Farnfoss Brownies were travelling North for an adventurous pack holiday to the Lake District. The unit were heading to a small town on Lake Windermere called ‘Bowness’.

Chloe, Zoe, Riley and Fern were especially excited as this was their first ever pack holiday!

“What are you most looking forwards to?” asked Brown Owl

“I’ve heard all about the campfire, I’m most excited to hear Tawny Owl’s campfire stories!” shouted Zoe from the back of the bus. 

“Well, I have just the tale for you at tonight’s campfire about a small creature who lives by the lake” Tawny Owl Replied. 

After a long journey the Brownie bus finally arrived at the lodge.

As the girls unpacked their cases in the lodge, Brown Owl, accompanied by Tawny Owl, began to set up the campfire outside. 

“I hope the campfire story isn’t too scary” Riley said to the others, “I’m a little bit scared of the dark” 

“Don’t Worry” Fern replied, “Tawny Owl said it was about a small creature, perhaps it’s about a Pixie!”

As the girls made their way outside, the sun was setting, and the campfire was roaring and smores were starting to be toasted. 

“Has anybody heard of the tale of the Tizzie Whizie?” Tawny Owl asked. 

The girls all shook their heads - what on earth is a Tizzie Whizie they all thought? 

As the girls made themselves comfortable around the fire, Tawny Owl began to tell the tale of the famous Lake District Tizzie Whizie….

Once upon a time on the shore of Lake Windermere, a Bowness Boatman was finishing his work for the day. Upon mooring his boat, the boatman began to wander down to the local pub, the New Hall Inn. 

With a drink in one hand, he flung his hat over his seat and began to warm himself by the fire….

Not a few moments later, a small group from London entered the New Hall Inn. They tapped the Boatman on his shoulder and began to ask about the area, especially about the area’s myths and legends.

The boatman thought for a moment, and began to tell them the tail of the Tizzie Whizie. 

“I’ve seen them many a’ time, right here on the banks of the Lake. They’re small water lovin’ creatures” The Boatman claimed – “Body of a hedgehog, tail of a squirrel and the wings and antennae of a bumble bee”.

The group from London were fascinated by the story, they asked the boatman to take them to see the extraordinary Tizzie Whizie, to which the Boatman kindly agreed. 

The next morning, as the sun was rising, the group set off on a Tizzie Whizie hunt. The Boatman’s boat was equipped with nets and cages ready to capture the creature. 

As the evening 7 o’clock chimes rang, the group returned home with a captured Tizzie Whizie in tow. They had caught the famous creature!

Upon bringing the Tizzie Whizie back to the pier of Bowness, the Boatman discovered the small creature was sad. To help cheer the creature up, he gave the Tizzie Whizie some warm milk and a crumbling ginger biscuit, before releasing it back into the wild to go home. 

Tawny Owl began to bring the campfire story to a close…. 

“Nobody has seen the Tizzie Whizie  since that day. But legend says, if you want to find the famous Tizzy Whizie, be sure to bring some ginger biscuits, one might just follow you home”

As the Campfire burned out, the Brownies got ready for bed. Chloe asked Brown Owl if the group could go on their very own Tizzy Whizie hunt after breakfast, to which Brown Owl agreed.

“I can’t believe we’re going to find a real-life Tizzy Whizie tomorrow!” Fern squealed in excitement before turning the light off. That night the girls dreamt of nothing but a great adventure filled with nature, wildlife and ginger biscuits!

As the sun began to shine, the Brownies were already up and about with the excitement! After breakfast, the girls set out on their adventure to find a real-life Tizzy Whizie, teeth were brushed, binoculars packed in rucksacks and shoe laces were tied - They were ready for their adventure!

Upon leaving the lodge, the Brownies searched high and low and all around, leaving a trail of ginger biscuits behind them….

They strolled through the fields…. through Bowness' high street…. and all the way down to Lake Windermere….

The brownies walked all around Bowness' waterfront, following Lake Windermere, searching in all the lakes nooks and crannies for clues. They searched in the long grass, around the pebbled beaches and all the way around the The Glebe. 

With no sign of the Tizzie Whizie yet in site, the Brownies boarded a boat which took them around the lake..

With their binoculars, the girls began to look all around the water’s surface for any signs of the Tizzie Whizie creature. They saw ducks and geese, fish and birds and all other Lake District wildlife.

They sailed past Belle Island, and all the way past Storrs Hall but there was no sign of the Tizzie Whizie.

As the sun began to set, the Brownies were glum, their hunt for the creature had been unsuccessful. The girls set off back to the lodge.

They followed their ginger biscuit trail all the way back through the high street…… and back through the fields…. until they got all the way back to their lodge….

As they arrived at the gate, Brown Owl welcomed them back, “I’ve got a surprise for you” she smiled, warmly.

Sitting by the camp fire, munching away at a small piece of biscuit, sat a small creature…

With the body of a hedgehog… tail of a squirrel…. And wings and antennae of a bumble bee….

“The Tizzie Whizie must have followed the ginger biscuit trail all the way here!” exclaimed the Brownies!

“What an adventurous day” claimed Tawny Owl, “now let’s go and bake some more ginger biscuits for our guest”.