Monty Don is questing! Episode 1/25

Scoot arrived back at his cosy little home after having been out to get groceries.
"Hello, Monty Don! Nice to see you again. Have you time for a cup of tea? Hey, what's that music I can hear?" he said, putting his grocery sack down, the better to listen to the upbeat strains filtering through the trees.
"It makes you want to start jiving, doesn't it?" remarked Monty Don.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 2/25

On opening the front door, Scoot was thrilled to discover the postpet had delivered an exclusive ticket for four pets to visit the Rock & Roll Experience!
"Goodness, Monty Don, what an event! They're sending a car to pick us up and everything. I bet Jasmine, the Singing Giraffe, would love to go to this; she's very musical. Who else shall we invite along, Monty Don?"
Monty Don thought for a moment and then said his friend Bluey the Cockatoo would definitely enjoy the trip.
"That's settled, then! Get those jiving boots on and we're all set!"

Monty Don is questing! Episode 3/25

"I could have been on the stage if I'd kept up my accordion lessons," mused Scoot aloud. "If only I'd practised more! I could be famous throughout PnF by now."
"It's not too late, Scoot," said Monty Don. "Never give up on those dreams!"
Just then a huge American car pulled up outside Scoot's little home and Scoot and Monty Don squeaked in excitement!

Monty Don is questing! Episode 4/25

Scoot went to pick up his friend, Jasmine the Giraffe, from the wide open spaces favoured by the latter. The car approached as closely as possible to Jasmine's habitat, and while the driver backed and reversed to face the right way for the onward journey, Scoot and Monty Don raced through grass and over stones in search of Jasmine.
The Giraffe wasn't difficult to find. They had only to follow their ears, as Jasmine was singing lustily with her powerful lungs the songs her mother had taught her many years ago.
Scoot jumped up and down, squeaking vigorously to try and get Jasmine's attention. The squeaks were inaudible above the sounds being belted out by Jasmine, but she spotted the movement of her little friend and lowered her neck.
"Great to see you! What brings you here, my little chum? Hello there, Monty Don!"
When Scoot explained about the treat in store, Jasmine raised her neck and trilled out some arpeggios and scales in delight.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 5/25

The two friends and Monty Don then went on to collect Bluey from his snug little Hobbit-style home. They were all thrilled with the enormous 1950s American car that had come to collect them and take them on the trip and they all posed with Monty Don for photos before setting off!
"We'll be rocking and rolling in this Chevy all the way there," said Bluey happily.
"Will we drive the Chevy to the levee?" chuckled Monty Don. "What is a levee, anyway?"
"It's a kind of ditch or embankment, I think," said Jasmine. "Not very exciting!"

Monty Don is questing! Episode 6/25

The large car pulled up outside a stylish building lit up with colourful neon signs and Monty Don and the team jumped out in huge excitement. After thanking the driver for the comfortable ride in such a beautiful, spacious car they trooped through the revolving door to The Rock & Roll Experience, with Scoot clutching the invitation carefully in one paw. They were welcomed by a friendly attendant who advised them to follow the route indicated by large arrows on the floor, and informed them that there were activities they could take part in that would give them the opportunity of winning surprise prizes throughout their visit!

Monty Don is questing! Episode 7/25

Before embarking on their exploration of The Rock & Roll Experience, Monty Don and his friends decided to stoke up their energy with delicious milkshakes at the café while listening to the juke box. The cold beverages were so moreish that Monty Don went to the counter to order second rounds!
"We used to call these places coffee bars," reflected Jasmine. "You could get espresso! Fancy that! We thought we were so hip. These new places on the high street, Koala Coffee and Skipjacks, have changed all that. You can't get a decent cup of tea any more, you know."
The team nodded wisely and listened politely to the somewhat complicated explanation for this—something to do with vending machines needing hotter water for coffee than tea and thus ruining the latter—when Jasmine recollected herself and cut short the reminiscences.
They decided they would have to come back to the café later to sample the hamburgers, and started on their tour through the Rock & Roll Experience!

Monty Don is questing! Episode 8/25

Running through the Experience were a series of pictorial clues to the names of well known rock & roll songs. There were two (supposedly) easy ones to start. Scoot volunteered to make their entries on the quiz form and sat on the floor clutching the pencil to make their first entries on the sheet.
"I hope they'll be able to read your paw-writing, Scoot!" joked Monty Don.
"At school I won prizes for my penpetship, actually," responded Scoot. "So anyway—what do we reckon for these first two?"

Monty Don is questing! Episode 9/25

"I like the decor in this room," said Jasmine enthusiastically. "It takes me back!"
"Yes, I like the colour of the wood panelling, Jasmine," agreed Bluey.
"Look at the picture of that scooter! They used to be all the rage, you know," said Jasmine. "Anyway, what's the answer to this pictogram?"
They debated whether the picture represented a paw-shake and thus a song which began "How do you do?", as in How do you do what you do to me? or How do you do it? before settling on something completely different.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 10/25

"Oh, I know this one!" declared Jasmine. "My goodness, we used to dance to this until the early hours!"
They admired the platinum disc and movie props before moving on to the next room.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 11/25

"That's quite a scary picture, don't you think, folks?" said Monty Don.
"It is—but I like the wallpaper in this room better than any of the others so far!" declared Bluey.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 12/25

They grouped in front of the next clue.
"Don't be an angel...?" asked Scoot doubtfully.
"Angels not allowed here?" suggested Bluey.
"Heaven must be missing an angel," perhaps?" said Jasmine. "I don't know, though. It says if any one of these is too difficult, we can have a further musical clue."

Monty Don is questing! Episode 13/25

The session musicians played a musical clue and the little group all recognised it instantly.
"Gosh! I don't think I'd ever have got that from the picture!" said Scoot.
"Did you know that this song is the one recommended for humans to perform CPR to? It has exactly the right number of beats per minute, apparently," said Jasmine.
They all hummed the tune. "Yes, I can see that!" declared Bluey.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 14/25

"I've changed my mind," said Bluey. "I like this wallpaper the best. Nice and colourful—not too gaudy."
"Never mind about that—what about the clue?" asked Scoot.
"This is the easiest of them all," declared Jasmine. "Scoot, write it down. It's——"
Scoot had to strain to catch her words when her voice was all but drowned out, suddenly interrupted by a blast of music when the door to the next hall was opened.
"That looks exciting!" cried Monty Don. "C'mon, let's move on!"

Monty Don is questing! Episode 15/25

Halfway through their tour of the Experience, the team entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. There were famous pawprints set in concrete, recorded interviews with stars of yesteryear were playing on wall monitors and all around were glossy photographs of those who had achieved fame, and gold and platinum discs galore.
"Perhaps if I practise my accordion enough, my pawprint could be in here one day!" said Scoot wistfully.
"That's the spirit, Scoot!" they encouraged him.
"We'd need a magnifying glass to see your pawprint, though!" remarked Monty Don.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 16/25

"That is making me feel so hungry!" sighed Scoot.
"Remember we're going to have those hamburgers and fries when we've finished! I'm sure they'll be worth the wait!" said Jasmine.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 17/25

"What is that?" asked Scoot.
"This scene of famous monuments? That tall building is——"
"No, that object on the left with the circular rotary thingamijig."
"That's how we used to communicate in the olden days," said Jasmine reminiscently.
Scoot looked at the communication device doubtfully. "A bit like two cocoa tins linked by a piece of string?" he asked.
Jasmine laughed. "That's not a million miles away. Anyway, have you written down the answer to this one? Then we can go on to the next one."

Monty Don is questing! Episode 18/25

"I really don't get this," complained Scoot, ears drooping.
"Well," said Jasmine, "I'm not sure. It does seem a tad obscure. Perhaps we'd better have another musical clue!"

Monty Don is questing! Episode 19/25

The session band obligingly played the opening of the song.
"Oh, this is beautiful," enthused Bluey. "My sister had this played at her wedding."
"A rock and roll song? At a wedding?" queried Jasmine, slightly shocked.
"Well, when all's said and done, Jasmine, what exactly is rock and roll? You could ask fifty different quiz compilers for their fifty favourite rock & roll songs and get fifty completely different lists."
"Yes, it's quite subjective, I suppose. Oh dear, I don't understand modern music at all. In the olden days you knew where you were."

Monty Don is questing! Episode 20/25

"How's that list going, Scoot?" queried Monty Don.
"Not too bad at all, Monty Don!" said Scoot. "I think we're doing quite well. Hey, there's just one more to go!"

Monty Don is questing! Episode 21/25

Scoot squeaked and scribbled down a name for the picture in front of them. Bluey peered down to see what he had written.
"Good suggestion, but I don't think so, Scoot. There's more than three of them."
They pondered further.
"By the way, this is the last pictogram question. A list of correct answers will be given right at the end," said Jasmine.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 22/25

As a final treat, Monty Don and the team were invited to pick an instrument each and play along with the session musicians.
Scoot tackled the double bass and Bluey wowed everyone with his performance on the saxophone.
"Look at me, jamming with the band," said the Jasmine proudly, bashing the bongo drums in time with the music.
They spent a very happy hour with the band and their performance was videoed and recorded for them to take away. Scoot left the session even more determined to persevere with the accordion.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 23/25

The yellow American cab pulled up outside Scoot's cosy little house.
"This is such an amazing car," said Scoot. "Can we stay in for the ride while you drop Monty Don off?"
The driver obligingly started off again and the little group relaxed, lying back in the vehicle's spacious interior while reflecting back happily over their afternoon's rock & roll fun.
"Bluey, I've been meaning to ask—why did they name you that when you're not blue?" asked Monty Don.
"For the same reason that in long-ago Nottingham a seven-foot strongman was called 'Little John'!" said Bluey.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 24/25

The team stretched their legs and wings at the end of a long, busy, action-packed day, and exercised their lungs by singing a medley of the songs they had heard that day. Eventually though it was time to bid farewell to Monty Don until the next time they met.

Monty Don is questing! Episode 25/25

"Monty Don, we're so glad you could come with us and share this amazing experience. Here's to the next great adventure! As a memento of our experience, this is an LP recording of our 'jamming session' for you, and your share of the prizes we won! Oh, and here's a list of the quiz answers!" said Scoot.
"Bye for now, Monty Don, take care!" said Jasmine and Bluey, as they waved goodbye to Monty Don and piled back into the big car to be dropped off at home again by the obliging driver.


Quiz Answers
1. The Twist (Chubby Checker)
2. Glad All Over (Dave Clark Five)
3. I Want to Hold Your Hand (The Beatles)
4. Rock Around the Clock (Bill Haley & His Comets)
5. Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
6. Stayin' Alive (The Bee Gees)
7. Maggie May (Rod Stewart)
8. American Pie (Don McLean)
9. London Calling (The Clash)
10. Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum)
11. Jumping Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)
12. Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
Monty Don has completed the quest! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also take part!