Hello, dearest daydreamer. Welcome back to the Isle of Neverwas. It is finally spring, the days are longer, and colour is returning to the island. Trees are unfurling their leaves, flowers are blooming, and the days are warmer. 

We have a special story for you today from Travelling Ava’s journal. The last time we heard from our adventurer, she had followed a strange light that had accidentally transported her to the Isle of Neverwas. The Portal disappeared, leaving Ava in the middle of nowhere with no way to return home. 

It had been a long walk from the standing stones to the bus stop. My legs were tired, and my feet were hurting me, and I was so happy to see the bus. I climbed aboard and found myself a window seat. I like a window seat, where you can watch the world go by. I placed my explorer bag beside me and unbuttoned my coat. Sometimes you need a moment to get your bearings.

I looked around the bus, and the passengers were my first clue that this might be the most unusual place I had ever travelled to. Sitting at the window seat across the aisle from me was a green frog wearing a black top hat. He was also watching the world slip by. I turned around and noticed that the back seat of the bus was occupied by a rabbit wearing a beautiful blue waistcoat. He had a wicker basket on the seat next to him, yarn gently unrolling as he moved his knitting needles, nose scrunched up in deep concentration. Sitting on the seat in front of me, a fairy with bubble gum pink hair, her wings, twitching and shimmering to the beat of the music she was listening to in her headphones. At the front of the bus, two ladies sat, deep in conversation, now and again a hearty laugh escaping them, the sound rising over the rumbling bus engine.

I was sitting, gazing at the map I had started to draw of my journey so far, wondering where this bus was going, when someone said hello. I looked up and noticed that the frog wearing the top hat was giving me a little wave. It was only polite to give a small wave back. Perhaps this curious-looking gentleman frog could help to answer some of my questions. Like, where am I? Where am I going? And how did I get here? You know the small stuff. 

The frog slid across his seat so he was sitting a little closer. He held out his hand and introduced himself as Albie the Adventurer. I reached across the aisle to shake his hand and introduced myself. Albie was excited to meet a fellow traveller and asked if this was my first trip to the Isle of Neverwas? It was such a relief to know where I was, but I had never heard of the island before. I explained to Albie that I had been following an unusual light, and the next thing I knew, I was in a field next to some rough, grey standing stones. The light had disappeared, leaving me with no way home. 

Albie informed me that the Portal sometimes disappears. It doesn’t often happen, but it does sometimes. He also explained that the light that had brought me to the island moves around. It would show up somewhere, eventually. If I were in a hurry to get home, he knew a couple of fairies who could help me. This put my mind at rest. How lucky am I that my first friend on the island was also an adventurer and an expert in travelling by Portal? I have journeyed by Portal before, but never on purpose.

Albie uses the Portal to travel to our world and has spent much of his life exploring the British Isles and writing about his adventures. I didn’t know this at the time, but Albie is a local celebrity. Without needing to ask lots of questions, he kindly explained that you won’t find the Isle of Neverwas anywhere on any map. It is an island that exists somewhere between here and there. A place that exists at the edge of a dream. He also let me know that the bus was taking us to Slumber-On-Sea, the largest town on the island. 

It was fortuitous that I met Albie. He was born on the Isle of Neverwas. He grew up at Chapel Oak, and that morning decided to visit his family; most of his family still live next to the pond. Albie doesn’t return home very often, but woke up that morning and hopped on the bus. Spring is Albie’s favourite time of year because of the bluebell meadow, which also has some of the oldest trees on the island.

We sat chatting happily for the rest of our journey together. I was much happier now I knew where I was, where I was going, and that there was a way for me to get home with the help of my new friend Albie. 

Albie is now retired.  He owns a guesthouse in the centre of Slumber-on-Sea called No. 27. Before retiring, this unusual frog wearing the top hat used the Portal many times and visited places throughout the UK. Sometimes his adventures lasted an afternoon, and other times, for a few months. Albie writes books about his travels and guidebooks for the islanders, filled with travel tips for the fairy folk in search of adventure. Albie explained that most islanders choose to stay on the Isle of Neverwas. The island folk are curious about the Portal and our world, and his books are best sellers.

Of course, I was curious about the mysterious light that had brought me to the island. My new friend told me it is always connected to the UK. He has spent his whole life passing through the Portal. It never took him to any other country. He has often wondered whether other countries have their own magical gateways connecting them to other enchanted islands. He has journeyed to France, Spain, and Portugal, but hasn’t ever discovered another Portal. He did tell me that not as many people pass through the Portal to the island as they used to. It is also quite unusual for the Portal to disappear. It’s always connected to the UK, so it must be somewhere on the island, probably just hiding or having a rest.

As our journey to Slumber-on-Sea continued, the bus stopped a couple of times. The rabbit got off carrying his basket of knitting, and a small bear climbed aboard the bus, giving a little wave to Albie. Albie tipped his top hat to him. My tummy gave a loud grumble, so loud that even my new friend could hear it. The little bear that has just boarded the bus probably heard it too. Albie suggested we pay a visit to Rosie’s tearoom once we arrived at our destination. I always do my best thinking and best adventuring after a cup of tea and a bite to eat. 

As we got closer to town, I peered out the window. The countryside gave way as clusters of houses began to appear. Five minutes later, we passed into a busy town. Fairies flittered about, a hedgehog was pushing a buggy, a little one following behind her. A rabbit wearing a pink dress and a straw hat was browsing a shop window, chatting animatedly to a gnome, pointing something out. Humans, animals, and fairy folk living and working side by side. This is really an enchanted island. 

Albie rang the bell, signalling to our bus driver that we wanted to get off. The bus stopped at the top of a busy high street. My tummy was grumbling quite a bit by this point.  It was a short walk from the bus stop to Rosie’s tearoom. Albie led the way. 

Rosie’s cafe is owned and run by Mrs. Morris. Outside the cafe, tables and chairs are clustered on the pavement. Inside the tearoom is cosy, tables with mismatched chairs are dotted around the centre of the room. Some worn but comfortable-looking armchairs are over in one corner, arranged around a low table.

Between sips of tea and mouthfuls of the best veggie soup I’ve ever tasted, Albie told me that Mrs. Morris used to be a dinner lady. She discovered the Portal waiting for her outside the school kitchen door next to the bins. She has always been curious and decided to take a closer look. Unlike me, the Portal brought her out at the top of the high street at Slumber-on-Sea. Fifteen minutes later, she found Rosie’s cafe and a help-wanted sign in the window. She knew this was where she was meant to be. Mrs. Morris travelled back through the Portal, packed her bags, handed in her notice, and moved to the island. She started work at Rosie’s cafe, and after Rosie retired, Mrs. Morris took over. She has been living on the island for almost 30 years. Mrs. Morris believes that the Portal chose her that day. Her life had been dreary, and she had so many dreams. All of those dreams have come true on the island, including becoming a champion rower. That is a story for another day.

Before we left the tearoom, Albie pulled a small circular card from his pocket and handed it to me. The front of the card was embossed with a red No.27. I flipped the card over in my hand to see the B&B’s address and phone number printed on the back.

I’m sure I will never meet a more interesting frog. Albie reminded me that the Portal would turn up again, but if I was in a rush, he had a few friends who could help me get home. But if I wanted to stay longer and explore the island, there was a room at the guesthouse waiting for me. I thanked Albie for all his help. He lifted his top hat, revealing a small tuft of hair on the top of his head, and gave me a little bow and walked off down the street whistling a little tune to himself. 

I had made my first friend, I had a way home, and a place to stay. I could hurry home, but I might never find my way back to the Isle of Neverwas. How many people get to explore a mysterious, magical island with a mischievous Portal? This could be my greatest adventure yet.

For my daydreamers, mischief-makers, and restless souls. Welcome to the Isle of Neverwas. You are home.