Booful Riddler

As the cock crows and the ravens fly
And morning sun shafts run straight as a die

Booful slinks from his kitchen bed
Off on his rounds to the milking sheds

For a slip of cream or a chase of mouse
Or a feathery snack before another sleep in the house

But on his rounds his cat eyes grow sharp
What is that he sees fizzing in the dark?

Booful then slips through the old shafts of light
And passes through space-time with ease and delight

And finds himself at a gathering of bright young kids
So he conjures up a Storywalk inside the old milking sheds

And with a gentle purr and a questioning tail
He sets you a task but which group will prevail?

First find the keyword for the chapter to open
Hidden in the gallery's artefacts and tokens

Then read the chapter with deep inspection
Although Booful will guide you in your investigation

Figure out and fathom the riddles he's laid
Then all return here to share the answers you've made

So make your notes upon your group's crib sheet
But keep your solutions close, private and discreet

So the other teams can't hear your riddle conclusions
And perhaps they will be left in deeper confusions

Now read in your groups and follow the text
And stay bright and sharp for Booful's test

Booful begins and purrs and paws
He has some old Somerset words ready in store

Old dialect phrases which are no longer used
So get ready to enjoy being bewildered and bemused

He has set them in riddles for your group to solve
Write down your answers, be bright, be bold

And as said before, keep your solutions near
Be mindful that the other teams don't overhear

So place your ears to the walls and hands on the floor
And consider those peoples who have worked here before

Across this yard, under this sky
Breathed this air and mucked out this sty

And used words and phrases which are no longer in tongue
But what can they be referring to after so long?

Here is Booful's beautiful riddle for the old Somerset dialect word

Appledrane

Paper maker black and yellow
Damn pesky persistent fellow
Fighter stinger
Sweet juice drinker

Write your answer on your sheet
Keep your voice to a whisper
Keep your comments discreet

Then write it neat upon your paper
And guard it close
You'll need it later

When you have written on your sheet then you can read on

Booful begins and purrs and paws
He has some old Somerset words ready in store

Old dialect phrases which are no longer used
So get ready to enjoy being bewildered and bemused

He has set them in riddles for your group to solve
Write down your answers, be bright, be bold

And as said before, keep your solutions near
Be mindful that the other teams don't overhear

So place your ears to the walls and hands on the floor
And consider those peoples who have worked here before

Across this yard, under this sky
Breathed this air and mucked out this sty

And used words and phrases which are no longer in tongue
But what can they be referring to after so long?

Here is Booful's beautiful riddle for the old Somerset dialect word

Snarlyhorn

I hump my home
Over moss and stone
By the shine of my silvery slipper
My thousands of teeth
Chomp through lettuce and leaf
And all manner of vegetable litter

Write your answer on your sheet
Keep your voice to a whisper
Keep your comments discreet

Then write it neat upon your paper
And guard it close
You'll need it later

When you have written on your sheet then you can read on

Booful begins and purrs and paws
He has some old Somerset words ready in store

Old dialect phrases which are no longer used
So get ready to enjoy being bewildered and bemused

He has set them in riddles for your group to solve
Write down your answers, be bright, be bold

And as said before, keep your solutions near
Be mindful that the other teams don't overhear

So place your ears to the walls and hands on the floor
And consider those peoples who have worked here before

Across this yard, under this sky
Breathed this air and mucked out this sty

And used words and phrases which are no longer in tongue
But what can they be referring to after so long?

Here is Booful's beautiful riddle for the old Somerset dialect word

Clinkervells

A super cool Jack Frost spike or pike
The Winter Queen's lance and spear delight
And all with a chilling glacial bite

Write your answer on your sheet
Keep your voice to a whisper
Keep your comments discreet

Then write it neat upon your paper
And guard it close
You'll need it later

When you have written on your sheet then you can read on

Booful begins and purrs and paws
He has some old Somerset words ready in store

Old dialect phrases which are no longer used
So get ready to enjoy being bewildered and bemused

He has set them in riddles for your group to solve
Write down your answers, be bright, be bold

And as said before, keep your solutions near
Be mindful that the other teams don't overhear

So place your ears to the walls and hands on the floor
And consider those peoples who have worked here before

Across this yard, under this sky
Breathed this air and mucked out this sty

And used words and phrases which are no longer in tongue
But what can they be referring to after so long?

Here is Booful's beautiful riddle for the old Somerset dialect word

Yaffler

The winged headbanger

Write your answer on your sheet
Keep your voice to a whisper
Keep your comments discreet

Then write it neat upon your paper
And guard it close
You'll need it later

When you have written on your sheet then you can read on

Booful begins and purrs and paws
He has some old Somerset words ready in store

Old dialect phrases which are no longer used
So get ready to enjoy being bewildered and bemused

He has set them in riddles for your group to solve
Write down your answers, be bright, be bold

And as said before, keep your solutions near
Be mindful that the other teams don't overhear

So place your ears to the walls and hands on the floor
And consider those peoples who have worked here before

Across this yard, under this sky
Breathed this air and mucked out this sty

And used words and phrases which are no longer in tongue
But what can they be referring to after so long?

Here is Booful's beautiful riddle for the old Somerset dialect word

Furzepig

I sleep in a quilt of leaves the long slow winter
Dressed in a gown of splendid splinters
In spring I arise
To dine upon worm cake
And fresh slug pies

Write your answer on your sheet
Keep your voice to a whisper
Keep your comments discreet

Then write it neat upon your paper
And guard it close
You'll need it later

When you have written on your sheet then you can read on

Booful begins and purrs and paws
He has some old Somerset words ready in store

Old dialect phrases which are no longer used
So get ready to enjoy being bewildered and bemused

He has set them in riddles for your group to solve
Write down your answers, be bright, be bold

And as said before, keep your solutions near
Be mindful that the other teams don't overhear

So place your ears to the walls and hands on the floor
And consider those peoples who have worked here before

Across this yard, under this sky
Breathed this air and mucked out this sty

And used words and phrases which are no longer in tongue
But what can they be referring to after so long?

Here is Booful's beautiful riddle for the old Somerset dialect word

Flittermouse

You'll catch me at dusk
As the day ebbs to rust
Whirling and twirling in the air
Dozy daytime sleeper
Crack and crevice creeper
Always returning to my lair
Kids can sometimes hear me
Many strangely fear me
But for that I do not care

Write your answer on your sheet
Keep your voice to a whisper
Keep your comments discreet

Then write it neat upon your paper
And guard it close
You'll need it later

When you have written on your sheet then you can read on

Now gathered in the schoolroom and awaiting the other teams
Booful wants to keep you from idling so has set you a little scheme

Prepare a special riddle from the old Somerset dialect word

Spranking - which is a watering can!

And we will see if the other teams can work it out at the end

Will it be tricky?
And will it rhyme?
Will it be short?
Or a long rambling line?

Perhaps make it meander around the word
You could make it curious and joyfully absurd

And write it down on the back of your sheet
Will the other groups guess your Booful treat?

Pupils - please hand your iPad to your tutor to finish the Storywalk

(Tutor to read out loud to the whole class)

I've brought you words from a Somerset of old
When trousers were loose tied and the winters hard cold

From a time of long labouring graft
Where sunrise would begin the endless tasks

With aching muscles and blistered hands
Of hurricane lamps and hard worked lands

These words were used but have now fallen from grace
But what did they mean back in the day

Let's do the riddles and see your answers
And which groups here are the swiftest of dancers


Riddle A - Appledrane

Paper maker black and yellow
Damn pesky persistent fellow
Fighter stinger
Sweet juice drinker

(Tutor – see what answers the teams have before revealing the answer)

The answer - an appledrane is a wasp, the other Somerset dialect word for wasp is a Jasper

The next riddle

B - Furzepig

I sleep in a quilt of leaves the long slow winter
Dressed in a gown of splendid splinters
In spring I arise
And dine upon worm cake
And fresh slug pies

(Tutor – see what answers the teams have before revealing the answer.)

The answer – a furzepig is a hedgehog

The next riddle

C – Clinkervells

A super cool Jack Frost spike or pike
The Winter Queen's lance and spear delight
And all with a chilling glacial bite

(Tutor – see what answers the teams have before revealing the answer.)

The answer – clinkervells are icicles

The next riddle

D – Snarlyhorn

I hump my home
Over moss and stone
By the shine of my silvery slipper
My thousands of teeth
Chomp through lettuce and leaf
And all manner of vegetable litter

(Tutor – see what answers the teams have before revealing the answer.)

The answer – a snarlyhorn is a snail

The next riddle

E – Yaffler

The winged headbanger

(Tutor – see what answers the teams have before revealing the answer.)

The answer – a yaffler is a woodpecker

The next riddle

F – Flittermouse

You'll catch me at dusk
As the day ebbs to rust
Whirling and twirling in the air
Dozy daytime sleeper
Crack and crevice creeper
Always returning to my lair
Kids can sometimes hear me
Many strangely fear me
But for that I do not care

(Tutor – see what answers the teams have before revealing the answer.)

The answer – a flittermouse is a bat

(Tutor - How did the groups do? This is also a good moment for your groups to share any riddles they wrote whilst waiting for the other groups to finish in the sheds.)

So Booful thanks you and slinks quietly away
Through a gloaming-light-pocket at the edge of the day

With a gentle purr and a question mark tail
Perhaps he will return one day with more riddles to unveil

But as he departs he bids you recall
These old Somerset dialect words for one and for all

And use them whenever you can
And keep them alive, well that is his plan

Dumbledore - bumblebee

Colly / Oozel – Blackbird

Copbone – kneecap

Cuckoo buttons – small burrs from teasels which get caught on your clothes when you go walking

Doaty - the nod when falling asleep in a chair

Farnticles - freckles

Giltincup – buttercup

Spranking – watering can