Hello and welcome to Bottle Ship with our friends the Giflings. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review and share the podcast with your friends. And you can email us... And now it's time for today's episode, The Dressmaker's Thimble. In your world, things are important. But what about the things that aren't important anymore? Well sometimes those things end up here in the magical land of Dilstonia where little creatures called the Jiflings live on their little Jifling ship.
They find these things that we throw away and fish them out of their sea so they can recycle them and put them to good use once again. And here they are now, ready to work. Eccentric young pumpkin. I'm ever so excited. The hedge, who was a very lazy jiffling. Like, hey man, is it time for a bed yet? Miss Katie, who loves fixing things and dressy up. Sometimes I like both together. Albert, the ship's gardener. Hey, who's been into me cabbage patch like?
And Fridulein, a very sensible Diffling who looks after everybody on the ship. Yeah, that is correct. Today on the ship, everybody is enjoying some fun playtime. So they've all delved into the sea cupboard to find things they can reuse in their games. Although the Giflings are very small. Their ship is as big as your imagination. So their sea cupboard holds all sorts of special treasures they can recycle.
Young Pumpkin and Hedge were first to emerge from the cupboard, carrying a piece of timber and a bucket. We're going to make a fun springy seesaw. And when I seesaw to the top, I'll, like, spy all the snacks in the kitchen, man. That's very clever, Hedge. Next out was Miss Katie, who was carrying an old telescope. I'm going to use this as a pretend microphone so I can be a pop star. Oh, that's very fun. Well done, Miss Katie.
Then, finally, out came Frideline and Albert. Frideline was pushing young pumpkin's favourite tricycle bike and Albert was carrying an old sponge. Well, I've decided that I want to learn how to ride a bike today. So I'm going to use this old sponge as knee and elbow pads. And as a helmet to protect my heed. Yeah, you must always protect your head, Albert. That is where all the important decisions live. That's right, Friedeline.
So everyone went to their own little corner of the ship to play their game. And when Albert was ready, Friedeline steadied the tricycle bike for him. So, first of all, Herr Albert. You should know that riding a bike is lots of fun. So, let's start with the great big smile.
Albert actually looked a bit worried, but he knew Friedlein would be there to help him. So he put his foot on the pedal. But just before Albert could begin, Miss Katie came cartwheeling over, performing her special pop star song. Twinkle, twinkle, Miss Katie I am the princess of the sea Well, it was a lovely song but now Albert was rather distracted and wasn't peddling anywhere Miss Katie!
Could you and would you be the pop star gifling on the other side of the ship, please? Albert must concentrate on riding the tricycle bike. Well, okay. Miss Katie wasn't super keen on this because she thought that all pop stars had to have an audience. But she trotted off so that Albert could learn. Now that you have mastered sitting on the tricycle bike, Albert, let's try pedaling. So Albert placed his foot on the pedal of the little bike and off he went.
He was a bit wobbly at first, but he was having a brilliant time. Until... Twinkle, twinkle, pop star jiff Bestest jiff that ever did live Oh no! Albert was so distracted by Miss Katie's singing song performance But he's wobbled right over. Sorry, Albert. Are you OK? Aye, but my heed's a bit sore, though. I think I might have needed a bigger sponge helmet. Miss Katie. You should not keep distracting Albert when he's trying to learn. Oh, it's that time again, Giffs.
That sound means an object which has been lost or thrown away on Earth has been caught in your net. So now we need all your help to heave it up onto deck. The object landed on deck with a tin-tin tambourine. It was made of china, with a rounded top and a hollow middle. Albert guessed at what it could be. Well, I think that is a Jiflin washing basket.
That I can put my muddy gardener's clothes in. But then, young Pumpkin stepped forward, for he knew all about the object today. He tippy-toed up onto the story seat. And then he began his tale. This is the dressmaker's thimble. Long ago in the Victorian times, when everybody wore fancy robes and gowns, there was a very talented dressmaker called Florence.
Florence was always busy making magnificent clothes for people, so she would always wear her trusty thimble on her finger to help... pushed the needle through the cloth whenever she was sewing. Well, one morning Florence got invited to the local theatre where the best actor ever, Sir Henry Shaftesbury, was performing in a play. Ah, dear dress lady, come hither, said Sir Henry. I'm afraid the buttons on my beautiful actor's waistcoat have popped off all over this fine oak floor.
And, as everybody knows, acting without buttons is sheer madness! Can you sew them back on, please? So Florence gathered up the buttons, ready to reattach them to the waistcoat. But as soon as Florence started sewing, Sir Henry began doing the biggest shoutiest acting ever. I am the East and Juliet is the West. Oh, what a bother love is. Ouch. Oh, no.
Poor Florence was so distracted by Sir Henry that she pricked her thumb on the sewing needle. Sir Henry, please, said Florence. I really need to concentrate. Can't you practice somewhere else? So, Sir Henry flapped over to the other side of the stage, leaving Florence happily sewing away. But before long Sir Henry came flouncing back bellowing loudly to be or not to bumblebee That was the question
Double ouch, cried Florence, because now she had pricked her thumb with the needle again. Sir Emery, I simply can't concentrate when you're making all this racket. Racket? Racket! This is art, not racket! Dear lady, the play must always go on. Well, in that case, it will have to go on without me. And without your buttons. Good day, sir. Then Florence got up and walked out of the theatre, rubbing her rather sore thumb, leaving behind her special thimble.
And so, that evening, Sir Henry had to perform in his shabby old buttonless waistcoat, which the crowd didn't enjoy at all. Oh no! But it was too late because it had simply been impossible for Florence to do her job when she was constantly being distracted. And now the thimble is here, man. So what should we use it for? That's a good question, Hedge. What do you think, Driflings?
Well, perhaps it could be the kaleidoscope that we could put pretty pictures inside. That would be fun, Frideline. But then Miss Katie stepped forwards, for she had a great idea. As there wasn't quite enough sponge, why don't we let Albert use the thimble as a bicycle helmet so he can safely concentrate on learning to ride without any distractions? Oh how clever!
So all the giflings helped to tie a big piece of elastic to the thimble before popping it onto Albert's head. And don't you know, it fit him perfectly. All the gifs watched as he wibbled and wobbled and then... managed to go straight ahead on the bike and when he'd come to a safe stop everyone clapped then after a delicious supper of seaberry surprise with ocean sprinkles all the jiflings jumped into the and then it was time for bed. Good night, young pumpkin. Good night.
Good night, Albert. I'll see you in the morning, Lake. Good night, Friedeline. And it is a good night. Good night, Miss Katie. Night, night. Good night, Hedge. Hedge? Oh, I think the hedge is asleep already. And goodbye to you too, wherever you are. Maybe next time you see a thing that you might throw away.
You'll stop and see if you can use it again, just like our friends the Jiflings. And maybe the thing you use again will have a story to tell too. Goodbye. Thank you for listening to Bottle Ship. For all the parents listening, if you'd like to, you can donate to the show at patreon.com forward slash bottleship. And as a thank you, we'll send your child a personalised audio message from the Giflings.
And for all the children listening, if you enjoyed the show, please leave a review and share the podcast with your friends. We've had some lovely reviews this week, haven't we, Giflings? That's right, like this review from England. It says, my favourite gif is Miss Katie because she likes to dress up like me. Please can you never stop the stories. From Caitlin.
P.S. I wish I could see you with all of my heart. You are the best ever and thank you again for your stories from Caitlin. I love you so much. Oh, thank you very much, Caitlin. That is the perfect review. Oh, yes. And we've had this review, too, from America. It says... Hi, we're brothers in Ohio, USA. Henry, seven, and Ollie, five. We've been listening to your show since you were on Storytime.
Look forward to each new episode of The Gifflings. When we can't wait for a new show, we just re-listen to all of our favourites over and over again. Thank you for such a fun bedtime adventure. Henry says his favourite gifling is Pumpkin because he is so hilarious. and ollie says albert makes him laugh the most aye keep up the good work and we can't wait to see what the giflings get into next well thank you very much henry and ollie That is a brilliant review. Like Totally Man and...
Thank you to everyone who wrote us an email or sent us a review. Like Mari and Max in America. And Issa, Whitley and Colette too. Thank you so much for writing to us. We really love to hear from everybody. That's right. And if you'd like to send us an email, please send it to thegiflings at gmail dot com. Also, if you like listening to stories, why not check out our sister podcast, Storytime?
the children of all ages. Thanks again and we'll bring you more exciting adventures with our friends the Difflings very soon. Goodbye!