0:00:09 > 0:00:13Here they come, my two intrepid explorers -
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Charlotte and Elliot.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18I'm their Great Aunt Lizzie, you see,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21and I wonder which one is coming to see me today.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Ah, so it's Charlotte's turn.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Here she comes,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31racing to hear another tale from an epic adventurer.
0:00:44 > 0:00:50And what wonderful adventures they were, so long ago and so far away.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I collected a few souvenirs along the way.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03But my most precious possession of all
0:01:03 > 0:01:08is my extraordinary collection of teacups.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27You've still got your coat on, Charlotte. Come on.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31No time to count the clouds. We've got stories to tell.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Now...
0:01:33 > 0:01:34Let's have a lovely cup of tea.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42- But first we need...- The teacup.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47But which one?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01That one.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Oh...
0:02:06 > 0:02:08The wooden mould.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10What a choice, Charlotte.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13I do really love that story.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23This will be just perfect to drink now.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30So are you ready?
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Ready.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Then let me tell you the story of Great Aunt Lizzie
0:02:36 > 0:02:39and the adventure of the wooden mould.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Ahem.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Oh, yes, of course.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Let me tell you the story of Charlotte
0:02:45 > 0:02:49and the adventure of the wooden mould.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52It all began long, long ago
0:02:52 > 0:02:57in ancient Egypt where towering pyramids
0:02:57 > 0:03:03and gigantic limestone statues graced the golden sand dunes.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23In the heart of the desert beneath a cluster of palms,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27a mud-brick village sheltered from the Saharan sun.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34All was quiet when Charlotte first set foot on its dusty streets.
0:03:35 > 0:03:40There was no-one to be seen but a man carrying a bucket of water,
0:03:40 > 0:03:43which he set on a table by the door of a little house.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Neith. There should be enough water
0:03:46 > 0:03:49to last you and the baby until I get back. I'd better go.
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Thank you, Shu.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Just don't forget your work things or your lunch.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56They're where you left them.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58SHU LAUGHS
0:03:58 > 0:04:00- Bye, Neith.- Bye, Shu.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04The sound of singing drew her towards the little house.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07# Hmm, hmm...baby, sleep
0:04:07 > 0:04:10# Hmm, hmm, hmm. #
0:04:10 > 0:04:15- Hello.- Hello. That's a lovely tune you're singing.- Thank you.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Our baby likes it, too.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22- It always sends her off to sleep. - Are you a dressmaker?- Yes.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24I make them and swap them for food.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Does your friend make clothes, too?
0:04:27 > 0:04:30My friend... Shu?
0:04:30 > 0:04:33No, he's my husband. He's a builder.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36- What does he build? - But before Neith could reply,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40she spotted a wooden frame hidden behind the bucket.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Oh, he's forgotten it.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46He won't be able to finish his work without it.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- BABY CRIES - Now my baby needs a feed.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53I can't be everywhere at once.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57That was when Charlotte had one of her brilliant ideas.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01- I could take it to Shu, if you want. - Please. That would be so kind.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- He's working at the temple at the top of- Main Street. OK.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Please be careful with it. It's made of wood.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- Wood is very rare and expensive here.- I will.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Always keen to help,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Charlotte set off for the temple.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20It was by no means the biggest temple she'd seen in Egypt
0:05:20 > 0:05:24but it was still magnificent.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29As she came nearer, she could see Shu, who was ever so busy.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32There was more to this than making mud pies.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Sand from the desert, mud from the river, little stones,
0:05:36 > 0:05:38but most important of all - straw.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47After mulching it up in a tub with a big stick, Shu stopped
0:05:47 > 0:05:51and began to look around as if something was missing.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56This, thought Charlotte, was probably a good time to interrupt.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01Excuse me, your wife Neith asked me to bring you this.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Oh, my djobe mould. Ha-ha. I was wondering where it got to.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09The Pharaoh's architect is coming. It's no day to leave tools at home.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13- I dread what would happen if I couldn't make bricks today.- Ah.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- So a djobe mould is for making bricks?- Yes, mud bricks.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19We call them djobes. I'll show you how we make them.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Actually I could do with a rest. Why don't you show me?
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Always keen to have a go, Charlotte rolled up her sleeves,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28ready for action.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Now, scoop a portion of the mixture into the mould.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36It reminded Charlotte of making sandcastles at the beach.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37Once it's full,
0:06:37 > 0:06:41you have to jiggle it a little to free the mud brick from the sides.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Ta-da!
0:06:43 > 0:06:44That's nice.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49All it needs now is to bake rock-hard in the sun -
0:06:49 > 0:06:50like these.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54But then calamity struck.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Charlotte could see the damage right away.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- Oh, no.- The bricks had shattered the precious djobe mould.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01How could I be so clumsy?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- TRUMPETS PLAY - Those trumpets are for the
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Pharaoh's architect coming to inspect my work.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10I can't leave now, but without a new djobe mould
0:07:10 > 0:07:13- I won't be able to finish my work. - If you deal with him,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15I'll quickly get you a new mould.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Now, Charlotte thought getting a new mould would be a piece of cake.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Surely she could get someone in the village to make a new one.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26But it was never going to be as easy as that.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31- She hadn't gone far when Shu caught her up.- Wait.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34There isn't a carpenter in the village.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37The nearest one is across the other side of the hills.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41But it's a tough journey on this hot afternoon.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43He was right.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46The hills were like a wall across the desert.
0:07:46 > 0:07:52It was miles to the top and probably miles down the other side.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54It wasn't even lunchtime
0:07:54 > 0:07:58and already she'd got herself into such a tangle.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03She'd taken the djobe mould to the temple when Shu had forgotten it.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05She'd watched him mix up the mud and gravel
0:08:05 > 0:08:08until it was a good time to interrupt.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12- It was true that she'd enjoyed making the brick.- Ta-da!
0:08:12 > 0:08:14But then there'd been a disaster
0:08:14 > 0:08:18when Shu had dropped some bricks on the djobe mould and broken it.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21She couldn't go back without it, could she?
0:08:24 > 0:08:28There was nothing for it but to high-tail it over those
0:08:28 > 0:08:30distant arid hills and find the carpenter.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40So off went Charlotte in her old, battered boots.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44She crossed the desert peaks until,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47when she was almost out of breath
0:08:47 > 0:08:49the path ran out.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Charlotte took a deep breath.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06WOOD CREAKS
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Safely across, Charlotte set off once more until there before her,
0:09:28 > 0:09:32surrounded by the heat and the dust, was a little town.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38But there was no time to waste -
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Charlotte had to get the djobe mould.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Hello? Is anybody home?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49We're closed.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- Don't you know it's a feast day today?- But you can't be closed.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56I need a brick mould. It's very important.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59A brick mould? Do you have anything to trade?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02In all the rush, Charlotte hadn't thought
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- what she might possibly trade for a mould.- Quickly. I'm busy.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Oh...
0:10:08 > 0:10:09I give up.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14Charlotte looked at the woman and her hopeless bundle of sticks,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and then it came - a moment of inspiration.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- I want to trade.- Trade?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27This ball of string for that brick mould.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34It's good and strong.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37All right, you have a deal.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40With the brick mould safely tucked in her backpack
0:10:40 > 0:10:46she was soon heading for the hills for the second time in a day.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Back came Charlotte in her old, battered boots.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54Over the desert peaks and down the mountainside.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57What a journey she'd had. But before she knew it,
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Charlotte was back at the temple,
0:10:59 > 0:11:04just in time to give Shu the new mould.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08It's perfect, Charlotte. Thank you. I can't believe you did it.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- Did what? - Charlotte and Shu spun around to see
0:11:11 > 0:11:17the stern face of the Pharaoh's architect staring back at them.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Well, who are you?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22What are you doing here?
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Th-this, this, my lord architect, is my friend Charlotte.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- She's travelled far to learn of the work we do here.- Really?
0:11:30 > 0:11:35So tell me, what do you think of our builder's work on the temple?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37I think it's amazing.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Wise words. I'm sure the Pharaoh would agree.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Thank you, Charlotte. I'll never forget your kindness.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- Shall we have a break, then? - Yes, let's.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59And that was that - the whole kit and caboodle.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Charlotte and the adventure of the wooden mould.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06I don't know how Shu worked in that heat all day long.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Without heat to bake mud bricks, he'd have had nothing to build with.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Sloshing about in mud must have helped him keep cool.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17As any hippo would agree. Who would have thought making
0:12:17 > 0:12:19mud bricks would be so much fun?
0:12:19 > 0:12:24Or that wood to make a simple mould would be so rare and so valuable?
0:12:24 > 0:12:29- I think I prefer making sandcastles to mud bricks.- Me too.
0:12:29 > 0:12:34Blow me down with a feather - is that the time already? Come on.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Your mum'll be here in a minute.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Your coat.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Now, how did that get there?
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Home time now, Charlotte.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Thanks, Great Aunt Lizzie.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Cheery-bye, Charlotte.