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 > 0:00:22I wonder which one is coming to see me today.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Ah, so it's Charlotte's turn.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Here she comes,
0:00:27 > 0:00:29racing to hear another tale
0:00:29 > 0:00:32from an epic adventurer.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!
0:00:44 > 0:00:47And what wonderful adventures they were,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51so 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 > 0:01:06is my extraordinary collection
0:01:06 > 0:01:08of teacups.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27You've still got your coat on, Charlotte. Come on.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30No time to count the clouds, we've got stories to tell.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Now, let's have a lovely cup of tea.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40But first we need...
0:01:40 > 0:01:41The teacup.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Which one?
0:01:59 > 0:02:01That one.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Ooh.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08The Roman Mortarium.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10What a choice, Charlotte.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12I do really love that story.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22This should be just perfect to drink now.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29So, are you ready?
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Ready.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Then let me tell you the story
0:02:34 > 0:02:36of Great Aunt Lizzie
0:02:36 > 0:02:39And The Adventure Of The Magnificent Mortarium.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41A-ahem.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Oh, yes, of course.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Let me tell you the story of Charlotte...- Hee-hee!
0:02:46 > 0:02:49And The Adventure Of The Magnificent Mortarium.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51It all begun long ago
0:02:51 > 0:02:53in an ancient empire
0:02:53 > 0:02:56where towns and cities of marble and gold
0:02:56 > 0:02:59nestled among the hills and fields
0:02:59 > 0:03:02in a land we now call Italy.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25After journeying for weeks over this beautiful land,
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Charlotte arrived one cool morning
0:03:28 > 0:03:31on the outskirts of an elegant town.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38She soon found herself in front of a grand building
0:03:38 > 0:03:42with an even grander entrance behind a row of marble columns.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45From the doorway came the sound of singing
0:03:45 > 0:03:46MAN HUMS
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Charlotte decided to have a closer look...
0:03:49 > 0:03:51HUMMING CONTINUES
0:03:53 > 0:03:55..until she saw a young priest
0:03:55 > 0:03:58working away at a large pile of pistachio nuts,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00muttering to himself.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03There are just so many. Two hours, I've been at it,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05and it looks like I've only just started.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I'll never get out into the sunshine at this rate.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Charlotte felt straight away that she had to help the priest
0:04:12 > 0:04:14with the mammoth task ahead.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Excuse me, would you like me to help you?
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- Can you shell pistachio nuts? - I can if you show me how.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Charlotte joined him.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27And he showed her what to do.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29- Like this?- That's right.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Then you put the nut in the pile
0:04:32 > 0:04:33and the shells in the pot.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Now only 9,999 to go.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40What are all these nuts for?
0:04:40 > 0:04:43For the priest's special supper tomorrow night.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47They always have pistachio nut tart for dessert, which they love.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I do, too, but it takes so long to make.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Maybe we could sing a song to pass time.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I only sing religious songs in here.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59But my mum used to recite a poem to me and my sister when we were little
0:04:59 > 0:05:01to try and get us to sleep.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03It was called The Moon Is In The Mountain.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05How does it go?
0:05:05 > 0:05:07The moon is in the mountain,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10the sun is in the sky,
0:05:10 > 0:05:11the wind is east
0:05:11 > 0:05:13and the clouds are passing by.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- That's lovely. - I'll teach it to you if you like?
0:05:17 > 0:05:19- BOTH:- The moon is in the mountain,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21the sun is in the sky...
0:05:21 > 0:05:25..the wind is east and the clouds are passing by.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29- BOTH:- The moon is in the mountain
0:05:29 > 0:05:31the sun is in the sky...
0:05:31 > 0:05:33And before long, they'd finished shelling
0:05:33 > 0:05:36the huge pile of pistachios.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- We did it!- We did!
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Maybe we will get out in the sun after all.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44If you throw the shells away over there, I'll sort the nuts out.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49As Charlotte went to get rid of the shells,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52an older priest called Septimus arrived
0:05:52 > 0:05:54to see how Rufus had been getting on.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Well done, Rufus.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Rufus showed him the pile of freshly shelled pistachio nuts.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03- Now all you need to do is to grind them up.- Really?
0:06:03 > 0:06:06The best way to do it is to crush them between two spoons.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09See?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11But that will take ages and ages.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13You'd better get started then,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17so they're ready for the making of the nut tart tomorrow?
0:06:17 > 0:06:18Septimus left
0:06:18 > 0:06:23and Charlotte went back to join the rather miserable Rufus.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I'll never get all these nuts ground up by tomorrow night.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Of course we will.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30We'll ground them together.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Come on, it won't take that long.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35But grinding the nuts between two spoons
0:06:35 > 0:06:37wasn't as easy or quick as she thought.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41It was going to take a month to crush them all at that rate.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43I wish we had a mortarium like my mum has.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47- That'd make things much easier. - A mortarium?
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Yes. It's a small bowl you grind things in.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It makes it quicker and stops the nuts getting everywhere.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Maybe we could borrow it from her?
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Maybe. She only lives up the road.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01But I'm not allowed out of the temple to get it.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Then Charlotte had one of her brilliant ideas.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I could go and get it for you!
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Great.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11I'll be as quick as I can.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Charlotte thought that collecting the mortarium
0:07:14 > 0:07:16would be a piece of cake.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18But, of course, it was NEVER
0:07:18 > 0:07:20going to be as easy as that.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
0:07:22 > 0:07:25She arrived at Rufus' mum's house.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28But when she knocked, there was no reply.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30She was just about to leave
0:07:30 > 0:07:33when she heard a voice from behind her.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34Hello, my deary.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Can I help you?- I'm Charlotte.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I've got a message from Rufus.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Oh, Rufus, my lovely son.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41- How is he?- He's fine.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45He told me about the mortarium and asked if he could borrow it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- My mortarium?- Yes.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49He needs to grind pistachio nuts
0:07:49 > 0:07:53to make a nut tart for the priests' special supper tomorrow night.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Oh, but I haven't got it. I lent it to my daughter.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Maybe I could borrow it from her.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01You could, but she's in Rome.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Rome?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05She'd only just left Rufus
0:08:05 > 0:08:09and already everything was all over the place.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12She'd done her best to help shell the nuts.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16She'd tried to help him grind them but without much success.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20She'd thought that borrowing the mortarium from Rufus' mum
0:08:20 > 0:08:22would be as easy as winking.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26She couldn't go back to Rufus without the mortarium, could she?
0:08:29 > 0:08:33There was nothing else for it but to hotfoot it to Rome.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35to Rufus' sister's house.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44So, off went Charlotte in her old battered boots.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48She scrambled up the rugged mountain paths until,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51when she was almost out of breath,
0:08:51 > 0:08:54the path ran out.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04There was only one way to get to the other side.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11Charlotte took a deep breath.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Safely across, she set off once more
0:09:29 > 0:09:31until there, before her,
0:09:31 > 0:09:35was the magnificent city of Rome.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42There wasn't a minute to gaze in wonder.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Charlotte had to get that mortarium.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Charlotte heard the sound of footsteps,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53so she knocked politely on the door.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
0:09:56 > 0:09:59It was opened by Rufus' sister, Camilla.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Hello. Can I help you?
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I'm Charlotte and I've got a message from Rufus.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07He asked if he could borrow the mortarium.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- The mortarium?- Yes.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12He needs it to grind some pistachio nuts
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- for the priests' special supper tomorrow night.- Oh. Hang on.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Charlotte was delighted,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21but when Rufus' sister came back holding the mortarium,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24she looked a little suspicious.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Just a minute.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29How do I know you know Rufus? You could be anyone.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I could give you my mum's mortarium and never see it again.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Charlotte was flummoxed.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- Then suddenly she remembered... - The poem!
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Rufus' sister wasn't sure what poem Charlotte meant.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Until Charlotte started reciting.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45The moon is in the mountain
0:10:45 > 0:10:47The sun is in the sky
0:10:47 > 0:10:49The wind is east...
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- BOTH:- ..and the clouds are passing by.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Rufus and I used to love that poem when we were little.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57He must've sent you.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- Here, you take the mortarium. - Thank you.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Finally, Charlotte had the mortarium.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06It was very like a bowl,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08except it had a spout to one side
0:11:08 > 0:11:11to pour out whatever you'd ground up.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13It was MUCH heavier than it looked.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15She put it carefully into her bag.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Send him my love.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- And tell him to keep saying the poem.- I will.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- Bye.- Bye. Thanks.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Back came Charlotte in her old battered boots,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33over the plains and down the mountainside.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38I felt like a very long journey indeed
0:11:38 > 0:11:41as Charlotte ran straight back into the temple.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44- I've got the mortarium!- Ssh!
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- They're making an offering.- Sorry.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48(I've got the mortarium.)
0:11:50 > 0:11:51If we start now,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53we should be able to grind all the nuts
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- and still have time to go outside in the gardens.- Great.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- Start grinding.- Yes, let's.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07And that was that. The whole kit and caboodle.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Charlotte And The Adventure Of The Magnificent Mortarium.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15- Rufus had SO much to do. - He did. But you helped him.
0:12:15 > 0:12:16I liked the poem -
0:12:16 > 0:12:19The moon is in the mountain And the sun is in the sky...
0:12:19 > 0:12:23..The wind is east And the clouds are passing by.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25I think we've got a mortarium at home.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29We call them mortars now, but they're exactly the same.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Well, I never! Is that the time already?
0:12:32 > 0:12:35Come on. Your mum will be here in a minute.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Your coat.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53How did that get there?
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Home time now, Charlotte.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Bye, Great Aunt Lizzie.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Cheery-bye, Charlotte.