Rubens is questing! Episode 1/25

Rubens was shopping for Christmas decorations. Carols and festive tunes were being played, and the shop was busy with pets choosing gifts and exchanging greetings with their friends. A smell of cinnamon was all around, and samples of gingerbread biscuits were being offered from trays. Rubens sighed happily. It was his favourite time of the year!

Rubens is questing! Episode 2/25

Outside, seasonal snowfalls added to the festive atmosphere. Then Rubens heard himself being hailed and looked round to see a gaudily dressed Gnome approaching, looking worried.
"Hello, Mr Nimblegripe! How are things in the workshop? Is it going mad now we're in December?"
Nimblegripe stopped and surveyed the landscape. "Something rather odd has happened, Rubens," he responded. "Can you meet me at the workshop in half an hour?"
"Yes, of course," said Rubens. "I'll just pop home with my shopping and I'll be right there." Picking up his carrier bags, he hurried on.
"Bring a couple of friends with you!" called Nimblegripe after him.

Rubens is questing! Episode 3/25

At the appointed time, Rubens was waiting outside the workshop, accompanied by his friends, Chomp, the crocodile and Angelina Mouse. Some other pets had gathered, a couple of them daring to nibble at the iced baked structure of the workshop. They retreated when Nimblegripe appeared, but with other things on his mind, he scarcely noticed their tooth-shaped depredations on the walls of the workshop.
"These are my friends, Angelina and Chomp," said Rubens.
"Thank you all for coming," said Nimblegripe.
"Not at all. How can we help, Mr Grimblethripe—er, Trimblegrip?" asked Chomp.
The Gnome appeared too anxious to notice the mangling of his name. "My assistant gnomes have disappeared," he announced. "It's most odd. And I've received a rum postcard."

Rubens is questing! Episode 4/25

Meanwhile in PnF Land, the Barbershop Baubles were getting ready to give a Christmas performance and were warming up their voices running through a few scales while pets gathered in keen anticipation of the musical treat. Afterwards, there was going to be skating on the frozen pond with hot chocolate and gingerbread to follow!

Rubens is questing! Episode 5/25

"Your gnome helpers have gone missing? That's terrible, Mr Nimblegripe!" said Angelina. "How will all the Christmas gifts get made and delivered on Christmas Day? I suggest we reconvene later, pool all the available information we have on the missing gnomes and work out a plan. It would be a pity to miss the Baubles' concert. They sing al fresco, a cappella."
"Are they from Italy, then?" queried Chomp, all at sea.

Rubens is questing! Episode 6/25

The pets later assembled at Nimblegripe's home. "My fear is that my colleagues have been taken in pursuit of a pastime known as Roaming Gnomes, where third parties kidnap a gnome, then take him to various foreign places and photograph him. Here's the postcard from Norway," said the Gnome. "Let's see what Pebblegetter says—blah, blah, blah—'Bring me gingerbread'. It's clearly something he wishes to communicate in code, and a very complex one. I wonder what he means by 'gingerbread'?"

Rubens is questing! Episode 7/25

"That's one possible theory, I suppose," remarked Rubens. "There's no reason why your fellow gnomes would just leave you in the lurch, is there, Mr Nimblegripe?"
"Absolutely not," stated the Gnome firmly. "Our work ethic is of the highest. There is no way my colleagues would just up and leave with no explanation."
"But who would kidnap them?" queried Chomp. "Will they send a ransom demand or something?"
"No, I don't think that will happen," replied Nimblegripe. "I believe these things are done as a practical joke. However, it's a highly inconvenient one, given how close we are to Christmas!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 8/25

In the gnomes' absence, Rubens, Angelina and Chomp went to help in the Christmas workshop. Chomp gazed around him and announced, "In the Workhouse: Christmas Day." He struck an attitude and declaimed:
"It is Christmas Day in the Workhouse,
And the cold bare walls are bright
With garlands of green and holly,
And the place is a pleasant sight—"
Angelina interrupted. "Workshop, Chomp. It's workshop."
"Of course it is," replied the crocodile innocently. "Why, what did I say?"
"C'mon, there's all these gifts to wrap," said Rubens. "Chop-chop."
"You mean chomp-chomp," said the crocodile quietly, but seized a gift and started wrapping.

Rubens is questing! Episode 9/25

Nimblegripe had received another postcard! He emerged from his house in search of his team of investigators and bumped into the Barbershop Baubles, just setting off for their next gig.
"We'll spread the word about the missing gnomes and see if we can uncover anything," said Fuchsia Diva, about to climb into her sports car.

Rubens is questing! Episode 10/25

Nimblegripe met the other pets at the gingerbread house and displayed the card he had received. "This is from Silvergrasper," he announced. "And look what he's written!"
Angelina studied the communication. " 'Bring me gingerbread.' Hmm. Paris. Not a quick journey, by any means. How did he get there from here so fast?"

Rubens is questing! Episode 11/25

Chomp stood decisively up on his back paws. "Have no fear, Mr Thimbleknife—um, Trimblegrief—er—tell you what, I'm going to search the house for vital clues."
He hastily covered his confusion by marching into the gingerbread house and looking around. "Hmm. I like the floor. You're never short of a snack!" He gathered up a few samples and put them on a handy plate. "Now, where do these doors lead to?" he mused. He chose a door at random, opened it and passed over the threshold, still clutching his plate of biscuits.

Rubens is questing! Episode 12/25

As Chomp went through the door he suddenly found himself in a cold and snowy place. Pets bundled up in coats and scarves were trotting hither and thither, speaking some strange, outlandish language. One of them approached him and said, "Cor blimey, guv, lemme just take a butcher's at your fine set of Hampsteads!"
"I beg your pardon?" ventured Chomp.
"Hampsteads. Hampstead Heath. Teeth! Never mind, me old china, must dash, just off for some Becks and Posh."
Shivering, Chomp selected a biscuit. Perhaps a little something to eat would warm him up! But no sooner had he swallowed the first bite when he found himself instantly transported back to the gingerbread workshop!
"Hey, everyone! It’s the gingerbread house! It’s magic!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 13/25

In the short time that Chomp had been away, there had been a further development. Nimblegripe was brandishing another postcard, this time from Turkey! "Send me gingerbread!" ended the card, as usual.

Rubens is questing! Episode 14/25

"This is from Fossilmender," remarked Nimblegripe.
"How can you tell what town he's in just from a shop interior?" asked Chomp interestedly, examining the picture and the text and forgetting for a moment his exciting news. The Gnome's glares brought him to his senses. "Oh—you—you mean that's his name. Yes, of course. Sorry, Mr Crimblepipe—um—I mean—"
Despite themselves, Angelina and Rubens collapsed on the floor, howling with laughter. Even Nimblegripe was struggling keeping hilarity in check. "That's the closest you've got yet, young Chomp," he remarked heavily. "Now, what was it you wanted to tell us?"

Rubens is questing! Episode 15/25

Chomp pulled himself together. "I say, you chaps, I rather think I've solved the mystery!" He related all that had happened to him in the land of the strange argot and how eating a gingerbread biscuit had brought him straight home again.
"You mean when my colleagues write 'Bring me gingerbread', they mean it literally?" queried Nimblegripe. "Okay. So in theory we just need to go into each of these rooms to find the other gnomes and get them to eat the gingerbread. Keep together! Have plenty of gingerbread biscuits on you to bring you all safely back!"

Rubens is questing! Episode 16/25

Clutching each other's paws, the pets cautiously entered the room to the right. The next moment they were in a completely different landscape!
Looming 1000 feet above them was a wrought iron lattice tower and there, standing disconsolately nearby, was Silvergrasper. The pets hastily introduced themselves and Angelina held out a gingerbread biscuit to the little gnome. "Here you are, just eat this."
They waited until Silvergrasper started eating, then they ate a biscuit each too.

Rubens is questing! Episode 17/25

Having gone through the middle door, the pets found themselves 3600 ft above sea level on Norway's Trolltunga, or Troll's Tongue. They inched their way carefully forwards until they were able to hand over a gingerbread biscuit to Pebblegetter.

Rubens is questing! Episode 18/25

Nimblegripe was hugely relieved when Pebblegetter, Fossilmender and Silvergrasper, Rubens, Angelina and Chomp landed safely back!
"What's that you have there, Chomp?" he enquired.
"Well," explained the crocodile. "As we were in Paris, I took the opportunity to do a little shopping in a nearby Carrefour on the way back."

Rubens is questing! Episode 19/25

Chomp unpacked his shopping. There were baguettes, lots of different cheeses, grapes and delicious drinks. They made it into a celebration picnic. Nimblegripe toasted the success of the rescue missions and thanked Chomp for the feast.
"You're most welcome, Mr Nuncletripe—um, that is—"
"Chomp," said the Gnome cheerfully. "I think we should all be on first name terms, don't you? Call me Schaicnar."
"Oh, I say, thank you, Sh—Sku—S—sir!" responded Chomp.

Rubens is questing! Episode 20/25

"That's not all," announced Chomp, producing a second bulging carrier bag. "When I finally worked out that that weird place I was in was London, I stocked up on a few items suitable for young pets' Christmas stockings." He produced some miniature TARDISes and teddy bears in national dress. "And here's some Norwegian treats, as well—and a few items from Turkey."

Rubens is questing! Episode 21/25

They all applauded Chomp once more, and then, having eaten their fill of the delicious bread, cheese and grapes, they headed off back to the workshop where they all laboured long into the night to finish the backlog and to ensure the young pets of PnF had a very merry Christmas.

Rubens is questing! Episode 22/25

The Barbershop Baubles, having learnt of the successful rescue mission, came back to give a special carol concert. Afterwards, Angelina took a special commemorative photo of the Baubles, Nimblegripe, Chomp and Rubens.

Rubens is questing! Episode 23/25

The gingerbread house makes a magnificent prize! And have no fear—it has been shorn of its magical traits . . . or has it? There's only one way to find out . . .

Rubens is questing! Episode 24/25

It had been the most memorable Christmas ever! As an extra treat, Santa gave everypet a large bauble!

Rubens is questing! Episode 25/25

To add to the festivities, there was a special Christmas treat!
Rubens has got more decorations than he can carry! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also take part!