Once again the Treacle Tree was saved and they journeyed on towards home where everything would be calm and peaceful… or so they thought.

Oh dear, Miss Nettles, Doctor Snuggles’ housekeeper, was just returning from a visit to her old friend, Madame Dumpitoo, who lived way up on Bettleback Hill. Hugo the frog, nearly had a fit when he spotted her, for during her absence he and his pals had been having a right old rave-up, and the house was in a dreadful mess. Quickly he alerted his animal friends and they had a frantic tidy-up before Miss Nettles entered the house.

Miss Nettles was rather annoyed to find the house deserted and somewhat untidy. She felt like going straight back to Madame Dumpitoo’s. However she came across a note resting against some grimy dishes, which said, "Sorry gone into space. No time to tidy up. Back soon. Snuggles"

"That explains it," mutteredMiss Nettles. "Well, while they’re away, I’ll set to and straighten the house up… What’s that?" she cried out, on hearing a strange rumbling noise in the sky.

"Miss Nettles, come quickly!" screeched Cootboót, the messenger bird. "It’s them. They’re coming back."

Miss Nettles rushed into the garden where the din grew unbearably loud. "Without warning, the rocket materialised in front of Miss Nettles’ nose. There was a blinding orange flash from the cooking pot handle and the Dreamy Boom Boom came to rest. Doctor Snuggles and his travelling companions bounced out onto the grass. The Treacle Tree, who had landed just before them, was already straightening his branches and leaves.

Miss Nettles gave the doctor a hearty welcome and announced that she would whip up a super-duper dinner for him and his friends that evening. Over dinner she would have the pleasure of listening to the stories of their exciting adventures.

And what was to become of the Treacle Tree? Well he returned to his usual position in the garden, outside Doctor Snuggles’ window, and Ed the squirrel, snuggled up in his cosy home among the Treacle Tree’s branches.

That night, just before Snuggles retired to bed he looked out and smiled at an older and wiser tree, and wished him a very good night, as he’d done for a number of years now… at least, quite a while before the Treacle Tree’s adventurous flight into the outer reaches of space.