http://www.timothyhope.com A Christmas Expedition in 24 Letters - a seasonal adventure of Arctic exploration and invention en-PI All text by Tobias Sturt http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ | all images copyright Amanda Gray 2009 JellyCast http://www.jellycast.com tobias@ruritania.co.uk (Tobias Sturt) Arts & Entertainment Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:04:00 +0000 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:14:37 +0000 http://skelington.jellycast.com/files/podcast_sm.jpg http://www.timothyhope.com 144 144 A Christmas Expedition in 24 Letters - a seasonal adventure of Arctic exploration and invention Tobias Sturt Tobias Sturt tobias@ruritania.co.uk podcast No No A Christmas Expedition in 24 Letters - a seasonal adventure of Arctic exploration and invention Timothy Hope, desperate to impress the beautiful but disdainful Lady Misericordia, stows away on Lord Daunt's expedition to the North Pole, and finds himself caught up in an adventure of high seas, deep crevasses, slavering wolves, reindeer sleigh rides and much, much more, with only his wits and inventiveness to keep him and his friends alive. The Adventure Calendar of Mr Timothy Hope is a seasonal story of unlikely accidents and hair-raising escapes told in 24 letters sent home by Timothy Hope as he journeys in the Arctic Circle. Featuring characters such as the unhinged big-game hunter Baronet Oxshott, the scatter-brained genius Professor Cumulus and the always inventive Timothy Hope, the story is a frequently silly, always exciting sleigh ride into the heart of Christmas itself. Written by Tobias Sturt and read by Jon Millington. http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/26 In which Mr Timothy Hope discovers an awful lot of things, about the expedition, about his friends, but most importantly about himself, and prepares to have a very Happy Christmas and an even happier life. Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:14:56 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/26 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/26 A Merry Christmas for all concerned Timothy Hope hears some important news from Ghastington Hall, but has plenty of other matters on his mind, including what the expedition was really about, whether Oxshott will get a train set for a present, who Harry really is and just how Merry his Christmas is going to be. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope 00:06:46 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/25 In which Mr Timothy Hope has his finest hour as he finally puts into action his plan to protect the mysterious Nicholas from the ghastly Baronet Oxshott, with many alarums, incursions, emergencies and revelations. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:39:01 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/25 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/25 War comes to the North Pole Baronet Oxshott carries out his threat to attack Nicholas and Timothy Hope and Harry must put their plan to defend their new friend into action, with extraordinary and unexpected results. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope toy toys nick nicholas 00:13:09 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/24 In which Mr Timothy Hope sleeps badly, but does not let that distract him from his cunning, if desperate, plan to defend Joulutontti. Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:28:49 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/24 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/24 The Toys of War Timothy Hope and Harry set up to prepare to face Baronet Oxshott, commandeering the toy making factories of Joulutontti in a desperate attempt to make weapons with which to defend their new friend. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope toy toys nick nicholas 00:07:51 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/23 In which Mr Timothy Hope fails to find out more about the strange place in which the expedition has ended up and Baronet Oxshott turns out not to be gone at all. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:30:31 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/23 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/23 A Baronet in the night Timothy Hope continues trying to find out more about the strange place they have come to, hidden away in the Arctic mountains, and their mysterious host Nicholas, but all he manages to discover is that Baronet Oxshott appears to have survived his fall into the snow. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope toy toys nick nicholas 00:10:05 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/22 In which Mr Timothy Hope tries to get to bottom of things and ends up building a steam-driven toy train instead, but does at least meet their mysterious, but very jolly, host. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:52:50 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/22 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/22 Toys ans the very strange people who make them Timothy Hope and Harry set out to explore this strange place they have found hidden away high in the Arctic mountains, only to discover workshops for, apparently, toy-makers. They do, at least, meet their host, a large and largely jolly man. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope toy toys steam train nick nicholas 00:09:56 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/21 In which Timothy Hope arrives at a strange house hidden away at the top of the world, but is this the true goal of the expedition? Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:19:27 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/21 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/21 The house at the top of the world The expedition arrives at a mysterious settlement, hidden away on a plateau high among the Arctic mountains. Is this the goal that Professor Cumulus has been leading them to? What is this place and why has he brought them here? No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope airship balloon mountains 00:09:20 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/20 In which Timothy Hope goes for a balloon ride across the top of the world, but Baronet Oxshott punctures everyone's fun Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:03:15 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/20 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/20 Across the Arctic skies by boat The expedition ride Timothy Hope's balloon borne boat through the mountains, but Baronet Oxshott's insatiable need to shoot things puts a hole in their plans. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope airship balloon boat float glacier mountains 00:10:12 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/19 In which Mr Timothy Hope faces a seemingly insurmountable obstacle and proceeds to surmount it by the unlikely tactic of taking to the air in a boat. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:48:34 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/19 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/19 To the skies by boat Professor Cumulus leads the expedition into what seems like a dead end, but Timothy Hope comes to the rescue once more, this time is a lighter than air idea that takes the adventure up into the wide Arctic skies. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope airship balloon boat float glacier mountains 00:07:06 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/18 In which Timothy Hope finds himself stranded and invents a whole new form of transportation, with the help of some portable stoves, some luggage straps and Harry's unlikely stockings. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:28:43 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/18 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/18 Steam, sleds and stockings Baronet Oxshott manages to lose the expeditions' sled dogs, but Timothy Hope and Harry put their heads together and invent a whole new form of transport, while Oxshott himself begins to act even more strangely than usual. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope steam-power sled stocking mosquito steam 00:07:49 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/17 In which Timothy Hope finds himself on expedition rations, but its not just the expedition that's going hungry. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:10:51 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/17 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/17 Bacon and bears Lord Daunt has put the team onto what he calls 'expedition rations', but when Oxshott tries to sneak a crafty midnight snack, he attracts the attention of more than just his fellow adventurers No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope polar-bear bear bacon rations 00:06:21 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/16 In which Timothy Hope takes a journey by dog sled, which takes him into some very precarious places indeed. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:36:58 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/16 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/16 A dog sled on thin ice The expedition takes to dog sleds in their journey onwards towards the Pole, but Professor Cumulus is nowhere as able with a whip as he thinks he is, and he quickly lands Timothy Hope in some very serious trouble indeed. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope sled husky huskies crevasse 00:07:51 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/15 In which Timothy Hope flies a kite, finds some reindeer and almost loses a friend. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:58:20 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/15 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/15 Flying a kite in the Arctic circle The Sami herders the expedition are staying with lose their reindeer in a storm, but Timothy Hope has a brilliant idea, which results in Harry almost getting carried away. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope kite reindeer sami lapland flying 00:08:59 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/14 In which Timothy Hope first encounters the true glories of the Arctic in a reindeer sleigh ride and the splendour of the northern lights Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:57:04 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/14 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/14 By sleigh to the Aurora Borealis The expedition continues with the team taking reindeer sleighs to meet a tribe of Sami, where they are awed by the Northern Lights, well, apart from Baronet Oxshott, who has a very different opinion, as usual. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope northern-lights sleigh reindeer aurora borealis 00:08:13 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/13 In which Timothy Hope struggles to free the train from an avalanche and goes ice skating with wolves. Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:37:05 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/13 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/13 Wolves in the snow The expedition's train becomes stranded in an avalanche high in the mountains, and although Timothy Hope has a brilliant plan to get them out of trouble, a pack of wolves has other ideas. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope wolf wolves Norway train Arctic avalanche 00:07:36 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/12 In which Timothy Hope attempts to preserve a shark and ends up getting somewhat wind-dried himself but, at least, manages to cross into the Arctic Circle Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:44:16 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/12 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/12 Into the Arctic Circle Professor Cumulus decides to try and help Baronet Oxshott pickle his shark, and ropes in Timothy Hope and Harry to help, but, as some relief from the fish preservatives, they at least get to indulge in some celebrations as they cross into the Arctic Circle No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope shark Norway train Arctic 00:05:35 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/11 In which Timothy Hope arrives in Norway and attends a dinner with speeches, where Oxshott takes exception to dinner, chairs are thrown and an hasty exit must be beaten. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:15:53 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/11 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/11 Fish, feasting and furore Ashore in a Norwegian port, the expedition begins to prepare for their journey into the Arctic Circle, but Oxshott is on hand to make sure that nothing goes according to plan. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope shark Norway train 00:06:53 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/10 In which Timothy Hope finds that all that stands between him and dry land are bad weather and a shark, but there's nothing that can be overcome with the application of ingenuity and Baronet Oxshott's fists. Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:58:50 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/10 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/10 Rough weather and sea monsters The expedition find their way to dry land blocked by terrifying weather and an even more terrifying shark, but Timothy Hope's inventiveness and Baronet Oxshott's right hand are equal to any challenge No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope sea shark Norway 00:06:19 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/9 In which Timothy Hope joins Lord Daunt's expedition but begins to wonder whether Professor Cumulus is precisely the kind of person they should be following. Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:08:30 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/9 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/9 All at sea with Professor Cumulus Timothy Hope has finally been accepted as an official member of the expedition, only to discover that Professor Cumulus may be even more absent-minded than he ever imagined. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope sea ship hat 00:05:47 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/8 In which Timothy Hope stows away and subsequently discovers that he does not like lifeboats, rough seas, bread and cheese and, most of all, stowing away. Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:29:16 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/8 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/8 Across the North Sea in a lifeboat Timothy Hope stows away on the expedition's ship, crossing the North Sea to Norway, only to discover that stowing away is a good deal wetter, colder and nauseating than he imagined it would be. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope stowaway 00:06:32 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/7 In which Timothy Hope makes the acquaintance of a seagull called Walter, and Walter makes the acquaintance of a hat, a wig and a beard, with almost disastrous results. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:24:17 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/7 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/7 Down at the docks with Walter Still in disguise, Timothy Hope dodges discovery by letter and by sea bird as the Baronet's new friend, a gull called Walter, takes a fancy to Timothy's hat. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope 00:06:12 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/6 In which Timothy Hope devises some unique en route entertainment for Baronet Oxshott, who proves to be a troublesome travelling companion Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:34:52 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/6 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/6 On the road with Baronet Oxshott Baronet Oxshott finds the coach journey too dull without having something to kill, until Timothy Hope comes up with a novel use for Professor Cumulus' Remarkable Elastic Rope No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope 00:05:08 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/5 In which Timothy Hope adopts a cunning disguise and embarks upon an adventure, which turns out to be all too bouncy. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:05:44 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/5 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/5 Bouncing through Britain Mr Timothy Hope stows away on Lord Daunt's expedition to the North Pole, but discovers that the expedition across wintry Britain quite adventure enough, especially with the help of Professor Cumulus' Amazing Elastic Rope No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope 00:06:53 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/4 In which Mr Hope applies his inventiveness to the problem of dancing, with extraordinary and puddingy results Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:27:05 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/4 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/4 Dancing with Lady Plaid Timothy Hope puts on his amazing clockwork dancing shoes for Lord Daunt's Farewell Ball, only to discover that his genius for invention may get him into to more trouble than it might solve. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope 00:06:43 http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/3 In which Timothy Hope pedals a Magic Lantern show, has Baronet Oxshott laugh in his face and makes a solemn vow. Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:22:53 +0000 Content http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/3 Tobias Sturt http://skelington.jellycast.com/node/3 A Farewell Ball at Ghastington Manor Timothy Hope, private tutor to the beautiful but unkind Lady Misericordia, helps out with the organisation of a Ball to celebrate the departure of Lord Daunt's expedition to the North Pole. Help that inexplicably includes pedalling, hiding in a cupboard and being laughed at by a Baronet. No christmas story adventure letters north-pole arctic santa explore timothy-hope 00:07:42