Paddles! The Huggable Polar Bear, Over the Rainbow

Paddles and Bracken and all the new pupils are feeling nervous and anxious - its’ their first day of school. An over confident Fagan bosses it in an impromptu game of Gaelic Football. Miss Hoot the Teacher and Uncle Liam the Head Master put the pupils into pairs in class and to their dismay Paddles and Fagan are put together - it looks like they have nothing in common. It’s going to be a long day. Paddles discovers that Fagan is nervous too, and finds the toy that Fagan made and then lost. Everyone is impressed with Fagan’s inventiveness. Fagan is relieved and at the end of the day everyone else is also. They’ve all made new friends and had a great day. Same time tomorrow then?

In trying to teach Paddles hurling, Fagan and Bracken are a bit too competitive, and despite Paddles’ best efforts on the pitch soon there’s a falling out, with Bridie caught in the middle. Paddles is very downcast and wishes they could all be friends again. The Old Moor Hen suggests a visit to the Magical Wishing Tree. Overhearing, Fagan thinks this might just make all his dreams come true! But what sort of wishes really come true, and who will visit the tree?

It’s Halloween! The crows have been at he vegetables again, so Mr Wolfie has tasked Paddles and Bracken with the job of making a scarecrow. Fagan discovers the scarecrow and decides it might be a hoot to dress up and scare the locals. After much shrieking and screaming the whole community are convinced their village has a monster on the loose. Until Paddles figures it out and gives Fagan the fright of his life.

"It is the 83rd annual conkers competition in Drumsna and Paddles, Bracken, Bridie, Fagan and even Uncle Liam are all competing for the renowned title of “The Supreme Conqueror”. Everyone wants to win and each competitor is ready to do whatever it takes. Bracken steeps his conker in vinegar. Fagan finds a monster conker namely a coconut which fell off the back of the Drumsna delivery van. Fagan and Bracken beat all opponents and meet in the final. Fagan’s coconut is declared the winner and Mrs Hoot reprimands Bracken for using vinegar, declaring that all conkers are created equal. Paddles accidentally falls on Fagan’s coconut, which shatters revealing it is not a conker but a coconut and he is disqualified as the winner. Uncle Liam declares Paddles the winner as his conker is the only remaining one that is whole. The kids learn to play fair and have fun."

Paddles wants to play but despite an extensive search of Drumsna for a play mate and something to do everyone is too busy. Hhhmmm, what’s going on? Bracken and Bridie eventually provide a welcome diversion in the form of a game of trust involving Paddles and a blindfold, and lead him to the Village Hall. Surprise! The hall is full of friends and balloons, and there’s a mouthwatering celebratory spread laid out too – happy ‘home day’ Paddles (much more exclusive than a birthday!) so glad you came into our lives!

PADDLES and BRACKEN investigate mysterious activity at the village school which the OLD MOORHEN tells them is the work of the ‘little people’ who’re annoyed that the school has been built over their very own ‘fairy-road.’

It's a day of sunshine and showers, but the rainbow over Drumsnella brings a smile in more ways than one (eventually....) The piglet twins, Fergal and Fergus, have got packets of sweets from the shop as payment for helping Mrs Twigg out. This gives Fagan an idea for yet another get rich quick plan, and he offers his services as an odd job man around the village. But nothing he does is a 'help' and he just ends up getting in to trouble and making the day go from bad to worse. The rainbow gives him a better idea - why not dig for a pot of gold instead, and instant wealth! Fagan enlists Paddles' help and they zoom off after the rainbow. But they can never reach the end of the rainbow and there's no pot of gold to be found. Could the day get any worse? The old Moor Hen reminds them that rainbows always bring a smile, and that's the best reward of all. This gives Paddles an idea to cheer everyone up after Fagan's disastrous efforts around the village.

"The Harvest festival is on and Paddles, Bracken and Bridie help Mr and Mrs Wolfie in the vegetable garden. Once the vegetables are collected Mrs Wolfie sends Paddles, Bracken and Bridie off to pick “wild blackberries” so that she can make her famous Blackberry Pie. Fagan plots to steal the blackberries that the intrepid friends pick. Fagan picks 3 blackberry bushes and then hides himself in the best fitting one, so that he becomes a mobile blackberry bush. Fagan using his disguise follows the three friends as they pick blackberries and Fagan eats as they pick, unbeknownst to the friends. Paddles meanwhile is enjoying his blackberries so much that he fantasises about swimming and diving in blackberries - this enables Fagan to steal more. Paddles eats so many blackberries that he keels over with Blackberry Stomach. Fagan falls into a Bunch of nettles and is uncovered when he squeals with pain. The friends come to his rescue and find a soothing dockleaf.