Strange Day Apple Tree House

# No matter if you're young or old

# With good friends you'll never be alone

# Shining light on our joyful world

# Ain't nothing going to beat that place we call home

# First days, new days, ordinary best days

# New things to discover, new people to meet

# Fun days always

# Playing with your friend days

# Life is for the living out at Apple Tree House. #

Mali, are you sure it's working?

-Yeah, yeah, it is. Stand back.

-OK, press record.

Keep it steady, Mali, so that it looks good.

All right, I'm trying.

And action!

We're here at the community centre

waiting for a well-known but rare creature.

Can you put the fruit over there, please?

We are all waiting but before we tell you about the big surprise,

we are going to tell you a story.

The story of the strange day.

This morning, Mum and I got up early and sneaked out of the flat.

Morning, Patience. Morning, Sam.

Oh.

Wow, what a luxury.

Perfect morning.

No queues for the bathroom, fresh coffee.

Peace and quiet.

Yeah, this is nice.

Somehow, it feels strange.

We know Dad is a creature of habit...

..and always starts his day with a coffee.

And then he always looks at his to-do list in the Kobi Cave.

So we had a sneak peek of his list to see what needed to be done.

First job for the Apple Tree caretaker was...

Fix a leaky drainpipe at number 25.

But Bella's dad had already fixed the leaky pipe,

so Kobi would have nothing to mend when he got there.

And we'd even taken everything away.

Right. Let me get this drainpipe sorted.

Oh, no. Where are all the paint tubs?

I left them here to collect the rainwater from the broken pipe

so the area wouldn't get flooded.

But there aren't any puddles.

I don't remember fixing this.

They've done a good job. There's a new clip on the pipe and everything.

That's strange.

Oh, well.

One off the list.

Dad must have been confused.

I can't imagine his face.

Next on his list,

the plastic recycling bins needed changing for a new metal one.

Even stranger.

Who's changed all the bins over?

At this rate, there won't be any work for me to do today.

I could have the rest of the day off.

Because we knew the bins were being replaced,

Mali got his dad and Grandma Zainab to help.

They took away the old plastic wheelie bins

and rolled the new metal one into place.

I hope this plan is working.

Ah-ah.

Hey, you guys. What's all the giggling?

Um...

Mum, we're making a video telling the story of Dad's strange day.

Oh, don't point that camera at me!

-And don't forget the tea chests.

-Oh, yeah.

Your father's had his eye on those for ages,

since Alf told him he was clearing them out.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he realises they're not there!

Where did they go?

Nadeem, Ian and Katie moved the tea chests earlier this week.

-Remember?

-Of course.

Alf.

Alf?

Hello, Alf, it's Kobi.

I've come to collect the old wooden tea chests

that were meant to be left outside.

Old wooden tea chests are extremely useful and very hard to come by.

It would be a real shame if they ended up in the rubbish.

Now the tea chests are here.

You know, old tea chests are hard to come by.

And it would be a real shame if they ended up as rubbish.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Hello, Katie?

-Hello?

-It's Dad. Quick, Mali, hide!

Grandma Zainab, go to the door and have a chat with him.

Oh, hello, Kobi.

-What are you up to?

-Have you seen Bella's mum?

She said she would return the community centre keys after yoga

so I could tidy up the tables and chairs.

Oh, don't worry about that.

I had a chat with her earlier and she's sending Ian round

to tidy up and then he'll return the keys later.

Oh, well, in that case, care to join me at the cafe for a cup of tea?

Oh, that's a very tempting offer,

but I've got to take Nadeem's packed lunch to the zoo.

He forgot it this morning.

Oh, I won't hold you up, then.

I suppose I'll just make the most of a very restful but strange day.

Yes, you do that.

Enjoy. Bye!

Come on, guys, the coast is clear.

Oh, my goodness, that was close.

He really has no idea what's going on.

He thinks he's having a real lazy day.

Brilliant. So everything is going to plan.

Right, come on, everyone.

We've not got long to get everything else sorted.

You know, Flo, it's been one of those days

when everything's just fallen into place.

I started off today with a long list of chores that,

in the end, I didn't need to do.

Hey, how good is that?

Really? It's like that for me sometimes at the cafe,

when it seems everything's going just right.

But I'd make the most of it if I were you.

You're right. Quite frankly, it has been a very relaxing day.

Even though it has seemed a little strange.

What's that smell?

-Is Frank out the back baking?

-Yeah.

Beautiful. It smells like a cake. I'd like to try some of that.

It's some home-baked bread for the, um...

PHONE RINGS

Hello. Kobi's phone.

Oh, Ian. Yes, Ian.

Problems?

The community centre doors won't open.

OK, I'll come over now.

OK, yeah, bye-bye. Bye-bye-bye-bye.

-Anything important?

-No jobs, no repairs.

-I knew it was too good to be true.

-Never a dull moment.

Yeah, always something to do, even on a strange day like today, hey?

-Oh, well. See you later.

-See you.

-Are we ready?

-Yes, we are.

DOOR BANGS There's a noise at the door.

-It's him!

-Hide.

-Quick, hide. Everyone, in positions.

Here, here.

You need to lift that and give it a twist...

..and then I'll sort it out with a little bit of oil later.

Surprise!

Happy birthday!

-Surprise!

-Of course, now I get it.

My birthday. I'd completely forgotten.

You'd forget your head if it wasn't screwed on.

Happy birthday from everyone who appreciates all that you do

-on the estate.

-Ah!

-Happy birthday, Dad.

I can't believe you didn't realise what was going on.

I would never have forgotten my birthday.

You must have felt strange having nothing to do.

Yes, I did.

I felt very strange.

But I don't understand, I've been looking for these things all day.

Tea chests, plastic paint pots, wheelie bin.

What on Earth are they doing here?

That's the real surprise. We've been using those things for...

Drumming!

Drumming?

Patience told us it was your birthday.

Yeah, that's right.

And everyone wanted to throw a surprise, so we got solving.

To find out more about Ghanaian culture.

Where drums aren't just used for entertainment.

In Ghana, drums are really, really important.

They are also used for telling stories or for special events,

like a ceremony for the Ashanti king and queen at their palace.

Ooh, and important people all have colourful umbrellas.

But drums aren't just for kings and queens.

They are used for other occasions, like birthdays.

Well, that's brilliant research,

but I don't understand why you need old plastic paint pots,

the old plastic wheelie bins and old tea chests.

We'll show you.

MUSIC PLAYS

Oh!

Hey, hey, yeah! All right.

THEY SING

# It's been a funny old day But in a very strange way

# I'm delighted to say Happy strange day

# You see I forgot

# I was losing the plot

# But you surprised me, you lot, on a strange day

# It's a strange day

# It's a strange day!

# You surprised me because it's my birthday. #

Thanks for helping making my dad's strange day party a big surprise.

It was nothing, but Bella did loads as well.

The best bit was learning how to play the African drums.

Dun-dun-dun-dun!

-You're a good friend, Mali.

-And you're a great friend, Sam.