0:00:09 > 0:00:11# Katie Morag
0:00:11 > 0:00:13# Far away across the ocean
0:00:13 > 0:00:15# Katie Morag
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# Over the sea to Struay
0:00:17 > 0:00:20# Katie Morag
0:00:20 > 0:00:22# Far away across the ocean
0:00:22 > 0:00:24# Katie Morag
0:00:24 > 0:00:26# Over the sea to Struay. #
0:00:32 > 0:00:37My name is Katie Morag McColl and I live on the island of Struay.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41I suppose it's quite wee but it's ginormous to me
0:00:41 > 0:00:43and everyone looks out for me
0:00:43 > 0:00:46when I'm out and about having my adventures.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49This is where I live with my family.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52My mum and dad run the shop and post office.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55This is the bedroom I share with my brother Liam.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58My mum says it's an absolute midden.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01This is the croft where Grannie Island lives
0:01:01 > 0:01:03with her animals and hens.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06This is the village where Neilly Beag lives.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Hello, how you doing?
0:01:10 > 0:01:13'And I think it's the best place in the whole entire world
0:01:13 > 0:01:18'and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.'
0:01:18 > 0:01:20# Katie Morag. #
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Everybody loves birthdays but I reckon I love them
0:01:25 > 0:01:28more than anyone else in the world.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30That's cos me and my two grannies
0:01:30 > 0:01:34all have our birthdays on the exact same day
0:01:34 > 0:01:40Imagine three Christmases all on the same day, or three Halloweens.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44'Well, that's exactly what my birthday is like and that's why
0:01:44 > 0:01:49'it's the most totally, absolutely, brilliant time of the year.'
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Liam, what do you think of my birthday list?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54A new pair of wellies?
0:01:54 > 0:01:57One thumb, not bad.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59A dictionary for school?
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Zero thumbs?
0:02:03 > 0:02:07A chocolate rabbit, entirely made out of all chocolate?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Finally, we have a winner.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17WHISPERING
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Oh! Would you care for another cup of tea, Granma?
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Why, that would be lovely.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31'Have you ever noticed how weird grown-ups can be
0:02:31 > 0:02:33'when they want to keep a secret?
0:02:33 > 0:02:36'They go all funny and start pouring each other cups of tea
0:02:36 > 0:02:40'and there's no point in even asking what they're up to
0:02:40 > 0:02:43'cos they'll never, ever tell you.'
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- What have you got there, Katie Morag?- Nothing.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55Well, if you must know, I'm doing my top-secret birthday list.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59- I'm sticking it on the fridge to keep it safe.- Why is it top-secret?
0:02:59 > 0:03:05Well, if people knew what I wanted but I knew they knew,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07then I would know what they were getting me
0:03:07 > 0:03:11and it wouldn't be a surprise and I love surprises.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Ah, but what if someone walks past the fridge
0:03:14 > 0:03:16and accidentally reads it?
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Accidents happen.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23So what are you two up to?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- BOTH:- Us? Nothing!
0:03:26 > 0:03:30'Like I said, no point in even asking.'
0:03:30 > 0:03:33SHEEP BLEAT IN DISTANCE
0:03:34 > 0:03:36SCHOOL BELL RINGS
0:03:41 > 0:03:43What's that, Katie Morag?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46I'm ordering birthday presents for my grannies.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51A tractor key ring for Grannie Island and smelly soap for Granma Mainland.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Soap? That's worse than socks.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Grannies love smelly soap.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58I think it's perfect.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Will the presents even get here on time?
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Of course it will!
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Unless the ferry's late.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- TEACHER:- Right, now, children, who can tell me which
0:04:07 > 0:04:10is the next letter of the alphabet?
0:04:10 > 0:04:15'The others hadn't said anything but I knew what they were thinking.'
0:04:15 > 0:04:17It can be nice and sunny on my birthday
0:04:17 > 0:04:21but sometimes it can be really wet and windy, too.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Grannie Island calls it the May storms
0:04:23 > 0:04:25and she makes sure that she checks
0:04:25 > 0:04:29that all the wee, baby animals have somewhere to shelter.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32THUNDER CRASHES
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- What's wrong, sweetheart? - What if they cancel the ferry?
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- Oh, I'm sure they won't. - But what if they do?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42You'll be fine. I reckon the storm's dying down.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45LOUDER THUNDER CRASH
0:04:45 > 0:04:49And, even if it isn't, I'm sure it'll pass by morning.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51But if it was still stormy on my birthday,
0:04:51 > 0:04:56the ferry wouldn't sail, and if the ferry didn't sail,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00the presents I'd ordered for my grannies wouldn't arrive.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03And what about the presents they'd ordered for me?!
0:05:03 > 0:05:09When I woke up on my birthday, it was actually worse.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Ah, you're up, birthday girl.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Your breakfast awaits you.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32KNOCK AT DOOR
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- Terrible news! - Oh, is it the lambs? I went...
0:05:37 > 0:05:39No, no, it's not the lambs.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Has the burn flooded? Oh, it hasn't washed away the curlews' nest?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- No, no, the burn's fine. - Well, what is it, then?
0:05:46 > 0:05:48The ferry's cancelled!
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Well, of course it is.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54You might not have noticed but it's a touch blowy out there.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56What about Katie Morag's birthday?
0:05:56 > 0:06:00What about the special delivery from Mrs Hodge?
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Oh, dear. Well...
0:06:03 > 0:06:05the first thing you're going to do
0:06:05 > 0:06:07is stop standing there like a wet banana.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14We don't want you catching pneumonia.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17But Katie Morag, she's going to be so disappointed.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Och, don't worry, we'll work something out.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22You know what I always say.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25"East, West, home's best."
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- When the going gets tough, the tough get going.- Yes.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Och, I say the other thing, too.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I was sure it was going to be the worst birthday ever.
0:06:38 > 0:06:43No ferry, no presents for my grannies, and no presents for me.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46That's the thing about living on an island.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50You can't just pop down to the shops cos there aren't any.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54'Well, not apart from Mum and Dad's
0:06:54 > 0:06:58'and that sells mostly just a lot of stuff that grown-ups like.'
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Sorry, Liam, I don't feel like playing at the moment.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Liam McColl!
0:07:07 > 0:07:09You are an absolute genius!
0:07:20 > 0:07:24- What are you up to, love? - Oh, this and that.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35FOLK MUSIC
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- Happy birthday, Katie Morag. - Thanks, Neilly Beag.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Whatever were you wanting all this lavender for?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26You'll have to wait and see.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05- (Is the coast clear?) - (They're up in their bedroom.)
0:09:05 > 0:09:07(Neilly Beag's outside with the stuff.)
0:09:07 > 0:09:09(Well, let's go give him a hand.)
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Mum? Dad?
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Hello?
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Where is everybody?
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Wait outside. Remember the code.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Granma!
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Ho-ho, oh, happy birthday, ma petite chou-fleur.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48You, too, Granma. Where is everyone?
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Erm... they're out checking.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- Checking what? - The grass.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58It's a thing grown-ups do. Waste of time, if you ask me.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06In you come, you lot.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07Is the grass OK?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10The grass?
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Erm, you were checking...
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Oh, so we were.- Oh, it's fine.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Exactly as it should be.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Were you wanting something?
0:10:19 > 0:10:20- Here.- Oh.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- Where are you going? - Wait and you'll see.
0:10:26 > 0:10:27Oh, that's lovely.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Oh, isn't that lovely?
0:10:29 > 0:10:32"You are all invited to a special event.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35"Location, Katie Morag's bedroom.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37"Time, right now.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41"Dress, whatever you're wearing
0:10:41 > 0:10:44"but no muddy wellies because Dad just swept the floors."
0:10:44 > 0:10:47That's my girl.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Right, what are we waiting for?
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Surprise, surprise! Happy birthday to our two grannies.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- Katie Morag!- Katie Morag!- Ha-ha!
0:11:06 > 0:11:08NEILLY KNOCKS ON WINDOW
0:11:08 > 0:11:12I made you both special presents cos the ferry didn't come in time.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15They're not your real presents but I still thought you'd like them.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Oh, thank you.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Oh!
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- It's Alecina! - It was all Liam's idea.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27It's the leftovers from the peg dolly.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- Oh, it's beautiful. - My turn.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38It's perfume made from fresh lavender. Neilly Beag helped me.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Oh, it's absolutely wonderful!
0:11:42 > 0:11:46- But it's your birthday, too, Katie Morag.- I don't mind waiting.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Well, that's all very well, but we've got a surprise for you, too.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Do you?
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Wait a minute. Where's Neilly Beag?
0:11:57 > 0:11:59HE KNOCKS ON WINDOW
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Aww...
0:12:03 > 0:12:07I kept doing the code knock but nobody answered.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10I thought you'd forgotten all about me.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Oh, as if we'd do that.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20- What's the big surprise? - What do you think it is?
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Your presents! We ordered them ages ago.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28That's what all the plotting and planning was about.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32When you get to our age, you have to learn not to rely on the ferry,
0:12:32 > 0:12:36not during the May storms when there are important things like birthdays.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Come on, then.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46Look at that.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Aww...
0:12:49 > 0:12:53'I don't know how they managed to guess but I got all
0:12:53 > 0:12:59'the presents on my wish list and a few I hadn't even thought of.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01'But that wasn't all.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04'When I had finished opening my presents,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07'they said they had one more surprise for me.'
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- ALL:- Surprise!
0:13:11 > 0:13:15- Jelly ice cream cake! - With extra sprinkles.
0:13:15 > 0:13:21And my old friend Mrs Hodge from Scarinish was going to send
0:13:21 > 0:13:25over a massive, great cake but because the ferry didn't come,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27the cake didn't come, so this will have to do you meantime.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29CHEERING
0:13:36 > 0:13:40And that was the day when the worst birthday ever
0:13:40 > 0:13:43became the best birthday ever.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47It was also the day I realised that one of the sayings
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Grannie Island always tells me is true.
0:13:50 > 0:13:55Giving really is as much fun as receiving.