0:46:50 > 0:46:57.
0:47:07 > 0:47:12Ooh, it's so cold outside. I think it might snow.
0:47:12 > 0:47:16Hello, I'm Frances. Have you been outside today? It's very cold.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19I think I'll just warm myself by the fire.
0:47:19 > 0:47:20Oh!
0:47:20 > 0:47:23What's this Christmas tree doing here?
0:47:23 > 0:47:25Ah!
0:47:25 > 0:47:30I think the rabbits in tonight's bedtime story
0:47:30 > 0:47:34have put it here while they move house.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36Let me tell you all about them.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39The story's by Julia Rawlinson and Tiphanie Beeke,
0:47:39 > 0:47:43and it's called Ferdie's Christmas.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46It was an ice-bright Christmas Eve
0:47:46 > 0:47:50and the sky was a dazzling blue.
0:47:50 > 0:47:54Every tree in the wood was frost-sprinkled and sparkling
0:47:54 > 0:47:59and frozen puddles creaked and crackled under Ferdie's paws.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02He padded down the bank where the rabbits used to live,
0:48:02 > 0:48:07bounced over the fallen tree that blocked their old door and stopped,
0:48:07 > 0:48:09and looked,
0:48:09 > 0:48:11and had a terrible thought.
0:48:11 > 0:48:15How was Father Christmas going to find the rabbit's new home?
0:48:16 > 0:48:20Ferdie shivered as a chill wind sliced through the wood,
0:48:20 > 0:48:23rattling the bare branches.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26He thought about how sad he would feel
0:48:26 > 0:48:28if he had to leave his cosy den.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31He thought about how the rabbits would feel
0:48:31 > 0:48:34if Father Christmas did not come.
0:48:34 > 0:48:38Then he thought about arrows.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41Ferdie began to scrunch around,
0:48:41 > 0:48:44collecting sticks from the frosty ground,
0:48:44 > 0:48:48making a trail of arrows leading to the new burrow.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51"What are you doing?" asked Squirrel,
0:48:51 > 0:48:55looking down from the branches. "Making a trail to the rabbit's
0:48:55 > 0:48:59"new burrow for Father Christmas." said Ferdie.
0:48:59 > 0:49:04"Otherwise, they might not get their presents," gulped Squirrel.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07And he scampered down to help Ferdie collect more sticks.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10A flock of birds had gathered in the treetops,
0:49:10 > 0:49:15their feathers fluffed against the cold, to see what was going on.
0:49:15 > 0:49:19"We're making a trail to the rabbit's new burrow," said Ferdie.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22"For Father Christmas," added Squirrel.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25"We'll help you," chirped the birds.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28The trail passed between bare trees
0:49:28 > 0:49:32and crossed the tinkling, ice-rimmed stream
0:49:32 > 0:49:37as the sun began to set, turning a dazzling gold.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40Ferdie and Squirrel shivered with cold
0:49:40 > 0:49:42and hurried up the little hill
0:49:42 > 0:49:45to where the mice were draping their nest
0:49:45 > 0:49:47with holly and ivy leaves.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49"What are you doing?" asked the mice.
0:49:49 > 0:49:53"We're making a trail," said Ferdie.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56"To the rabbit's new burrow," added Squirrel.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59"For Father Christmas," added the birds.
0:49:59 > 0:50:04"You better hurry," said the mice. "It's getting late. We'll help you."
0:50:04 > 0:50:07So Ferdie, Squirrel, the birds and the mice
0:50:07 > 0:50:11finished the trail to the rabbit's new home,
0:50:11 > 0:50:15which was sweet with the smell of blackberry pie,
0:50:15 > 0:50:16cosy and warm.
0:50:16 > 0:50:20They gathered round the crackling fire,
0:50:20 > 0:50:23thawing out their icy noses,
0:50:23 > 0:50:25nibbling pieces of pie
0:50:25 > 0:50:28and singing Christmas songs.
0:50:28 > 0:50:32And while Squirrel put on a juggling show
0:50:32 > 0:50:35with holly, berries and mistletoe,
0:50:35 > 0:50:39outside, in the shivery darkness,
0:50:39 > 0:50:41it began to snow.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43Fat, white flakes
0:50:43 > 0:50:46tumbled softly from the heavy sky.
0:50:46 > 0:50:51They landed light and whisper-quiet
0:50:51 > 0:50:53on the frozen ground.
0:50:53 > 0:50:58And when Ferdie went to the burrow door to go home for the night,
0:50:58 > 0:51:02the snow was soft and deep and white
0:51:02 > 0:51:05and all the arrows had gone!
0:51:05 > 0:51:09"Oh, no!" cried Ferdie, blinking back tears.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13"What will happen to your presents now?
0:51:13 > 0:51:18"Father Christmas will never be able to find your home!"
0:51:18 > 0:51:20Ferdie stared out into the darkness,
0:51:20 > 0:51:23imagining Father Christmas lost in the snow.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26"I know," he said, gathering his friends.
0:51:26 > 0:51:31"If we stay awake tonight when Father Christmas visits our homes,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34"we can tell him where he needs to go."
0:51:34 > 0:51:37The animals said goodnight to each other
0:51:37 > 0:51:41and hurried off through the snow-muffled wood.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44Ferdie snuggled down in his warm, soft bed
0:51:44 > 0:51:47to keep watch for Father Christmas.
0:51:47 > 0:51:51But curled in the cosy hollow of an oak tree,
0:51:51 > 0:51:55Squirrel began to snore.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58High in the snowy branches of the fir tree,
0:51:58 > 0:52:01the birds began to doze.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04In their toasty warm nest,
0:52:04 > 0:52:08the mice dreamt of ribbon-wrapped berries.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11And in his snug little bed,
0:52:11 > 0:52:17Ferdie's...eyes...closed.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21So when Father Christmas came to call,
0:52:21 > 0:52:24everyone was fast asleep.
0:52:24 > 0:52:25And next morning,
0:52:25 > 0:52:29when Ferdie rushed to the rabbit's burrow,
0:52:29 > 0:52:32Father Christmas had found them after all.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35"I'm sorry I went to sleep," puffed Ferdie.
0:52:35 > 0:52:38"But I brought you a Christmas rose."
0:52:38 > 0:52:41"And we brought nuts," panted Squirrel,
0:52:41 > 0:52:43pulling the mice through the snow.
0:52:43 > 0:52:47"And we've brought berries," sang the birds,
0:52:47 > 0:52:51spiralling in the snow-bright sky.
0:52:51 > 0:52:55"And best of all, you've brought yourselves.
0:52:55 > 0:52:59"There's room in the burrow for everyone.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02"Happy Christmas!"
0:53:02 > 0:53:05cried the rabbits and they welcomed their friends
0:53:05 > 0:53:08into the berry-bright warmth of their home.
0:53:08 > 0:53:11That story was called Ferdie's Christmas.
0:53:11 > 0:53:16Ooh, I feel all warm and cosy after that story. Do you?
0:53:16 > 0:53:20And I'm really glad Father Christmas found the rabbit's new home.
0:53:20 > 0:53:25But it's time for you to go to bed and for me to say good night.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29Have sweet dreams and I'll see you soon for another story.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32Night-night.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd