One, two, three. It's happy pants.

One, two, three. It's happy pants.

Good day. And welcome to Happy Pants, a show specially for kids and especially for you. My name is Geraldine.

Good day. And welcome to Happy Pants, a show specially for kids and especially for you. My name is Geraldine.

And my name is Kate. And together we're your happy pants team for today.

And my name is Kate. And together we're your happy pants team for today.

Are you wearing your happy pants today? We are. Mine are orange. Orange is a hot color. And it reminds me of the feel of hot sand as I walk down to the beach for a swim.

Are you wearing your happy pants today? We are. Mine are orange. Orange is a hot color. And it reminds me of the feel of hot sand as I walk down to the beach for a swim.

Mine are orange too, but not such a hot orange as yours. This kind of orange makes me think of sweet, juicy mandarins.

Mine are orange too, but not such a hot orange as yours. This kind of orange makes me think of sweet, juicy mandarins.

Happy pants have lots of pockets and mine seem to be bulging today.

Happy pants have lots of pockets and mine seem to be bulging today.

Mine too. The things we find always mean something, and we have to bend our brains to work out what that something is. How about we make a list as we go?

Mine too. The things we find always mean something, and we have to bend our brains to work out what that something is. How about we make a list as we go?

Well, it's a great idea, Kate. I've got a pencil and paper somewhere. All right. Ready when you.

Well, it's a great idea, Kate. I've got a pencil and paper somewhere. All right. Ready when you.

Are. Okay. I have a packet of cornflakes and a tube of super glue in this one. And some Velcro fastening. Oh, a tub of Play-Doh. And right down the bottom. Oh, some pop sticks, some post-it notes and an ice cream cone. Your turn. Geraldine.

Are. Okay. I have a packet of cornflakes and a tube of super glue in this one. And some Velcro fastening. Oh, a tub of Play-Doh. And right down the bottom. Oh, some pop sticks, some post-it notes and an ice cream cone. Your turn. Geraldine.

I have a packet of chocolate chip cookies. Oh, yum. And one of potato crisps in this pocket. And a line of Tom thumb fireworks. And a box of matches in this one.

I have a packet of chocolate chip cookies. Oh, yum. And one of potato crisps in this pocket. And a line of Tom thumb fireworks. And a box of matches in this one.

I've just found a roll of cling wrap, too. Any ideas how they all fit together.

I've just found a roll of cling wrap, too. Any ideas how they all fit together.

Not yet, but it looks as if there are two different kinds of things. Maybe we should put them into two lists. One list for things we can eat and the other for useful things.

Not yet, but it looks as if there are two different kinds of things. Maybe we should put them into two lists. One list for things we can eat and the other for useful things.

Let's try that and see if it gives us any ideas. Okay, for the things we can eat list, we have corn flakes, pop sticks, ice cream cones, chocolate chip cookies, and potato crisps.

Let's try that and see if it gives us any ideas. Okay, for the things we can eat list, we have corn flakes, pop sticks, ice cream cones, chocolate chip cookies, and potato crisps.

And the useful list is Velcro, Play-Doh, post-it notes, fireworks, matches, cling wrap and superglue.

And the useful list is Velcro, Play-Doh, post-it notes, fireworks, matches, cling wrap and superglue.

Hmm. My brain needs a bit of stretching. I can't fit those things together.

Hmm. My brain needs a bit of stretching. I can't fit those things together.

Oh. Me neither. Awesome. Stretching. Music, please.

Oh. Me neither. Awesome. Stretching. Music, please.

Have you worked it out yet?

Have you worked it out yet?

No. Nothing seems to fit together.

No. Nothing seems to fit together.

Mm. Could you pass me the list, please? Maybe we ought to start at the beginning.

Mm. Could you pass me the list, please? Maybe we ought to start at the beginning.

Well, I would, Kate, but I was fiddling with the superglue. And now my hand is stuck to the table and I can't get it loose.

Well, I would, Kate, but I was fiddling with the superglue. And now my hand is stuck to the table and I can't get it loose.

Oh, gosh, we can't have that. I'll just have a look in the cupboard to see if there's anything there which will dissolve the superglue. Oh, here we are. Happy pants never fail. Superglue remover. That should do the trick.

Oh, gosh, we can't have that. I'll just have a look in the cupboard to see if there's anything there which will dissolve the superglue. Oh, here we are. Happy pants never fail. Superglue remover. That should do the trick.

Well? It's working. Oh, I was afraid I'd be stuck there forever.

Well? It's working. Oh, I was afraid I'd be stuck there forever.

I reckon Happy Pants wants us to talk about superglue. What do you know about it?

I reckon Happy Pants wants us to talk about superglue. What do you know about it?

I know that it sticks my hand to the table. Actually it sticks. Anything to anything. And it'll stay stuck for good. I do know that super glue was the result of an experiment that went wrong.

I know that it sticks my hand to the table. Actually it sticks. Anything to anything. And it'll stay stuck for good. I do know that super glue was the result of an experiment that went wrong.

Really? Wasn't it meant to be a glue?

Really? Wasn't it meant to be a glue?

No. About 70 years ago, a scientist was trying to make a hard, heat proof plastic for airplane windshields. But the brew he made just wouldn't go hard. It just stuck things together. And then nothing could take them apart unless you used a special solvent.

No. About 70 years ago, a scientist was trying to make a hard, heat proof plastic for airplane windshields. But the brew he made just wouldn't go hard. It just stuck things together. And then nothing could take them apart unless you used a special solvent.

Big word alert. A solvent is a substance which dissolves something else. So instead of a hard plastic windscreen, he ended up with a liquid glue we call super glue.

Big word alert. A solvent is a substance which dissolves something else. So instead of a hard plastic windscreen, he ended up with a liquid glue we call super glue.

And there's a name for that sort of thing. It's called serendipity.

And there's a name for that sort of thing. It's called serendipity.

Big word alert. Serendipity. The name for an unplanned, fortunate accident.

Big word alert. Serendipity. The name for an unplanned, fortunate accident.

Oh. Of course, all those things in our pockets today were the result of fortunate accidents. They were serendipitous discoveries.

Oh. Of course, all those things in our pockets today were the result of fortunate accidents. They were serendipitous discoveries.

Even cornflakes.

Even cornflakes.

Even cornflakes. More than a hundred years ago, two brothers who were doctors at the same hospital wanted to find some healthy, tasty breakfast food for their patients. John and Willard Kellogg experimented with a number of things, and one day, a tray of boiled, mushy wheat was accidentally left out and it went stale and flaky. But instead of chucking it in the garbage, John put it in the oven just to see what would happen. It dried into crispy flakes and the patients loved it. The brothers tried a number of different grains and found that corn made the tastiest flakes. And that is why we have corn flakes today.

Even cornflakes. More than a hundred years ago, two brothers who were doctors at the same hospital wanted to find some healthy, tasty breakfast food for their patients. John and Willard Kellogg experimented with a number of things, and one day, a tray of boiled, mushy wheat was accidentally left out and it went stale and flaky. But instead of chucking it in the garbage, John put it in the oven just to see what would happen. It dried into crispy flakes and the patients loved it. The brothers tried a number of different grains and found that corn made the tastiest flakes. And that is why we have corn flakes today.

Yeah. And Velcro, the stuff that closes the openings in our clothes instead of zips or buttons. It even takes the place of shoelaces in our sports gear. Press it together and it stays shut until you peel it open. It was invented because a Swiss engineer was walking his dog and noticed that there were lots of burrs sticking to the dog's coat and his trousers. He wondered just how burrs could hang on so tightly. So he looked at a burr with his microscope. He found that all the tiny spies on the burr had a tiny hook on the end. The hooks clung on to the dog hair and the wool in his trousers. He had the idea that if he could make a strip of tiny hooks and another of tiny loops, they might fix together. So a man walking his dog ended up by using a bit of imagination, making Velcro.

Yeah. And Velcro, the stuff that closes the openings in our clothes instead of zips or buttons. It even takes the place of shoelaces in our sports gear. Press it together and it stays shut until you peel it open. It was invented because a Swiss engineer was walking his dog and noticed that there were lots of burrs sticking to the dog's coat and his trousers. He wondered just how burrs could hang on so tightly. So he looked at a burr with his microscope. He found that all the tiny spies on the burr had a tiny hook on the end. The hooks clung on to the dog hair and the wool in his trousers. He had the idea that if he could make a strip of tiny hooks and another of tiny loops, they might fix together. So a man walking his dog ended up by using a bit of imagination, making Velcro.

Serendipity and imagination. Oh, way to go!

Serendipity and imagination. Oh, way to go!

Popsicles. That was an accidental discovery. An 11 year old boy called Frank Epperson forgot to finish his glass of cordial one afternoon and left it out on the patio with a stirring stick in it. During the night, there was a very deep frost, and when he found the glass next morning, the cordial was all frozen round the stick. He didn't want to waste it, so he pulled it out of the glass and started licking. Delicious. That's how the idea of ice lolly started. So popsicles are the result of a happy accident?

Popsicles. That was an accidental discovery. An 11 year old boy called Frank Epperson forgot to finish his glass of cordial one afternoon and left it out on the patio with a stirring stick in it. During the night, there was a very deep frost, and when he found the glass next morning, the cordial was all frozen round the stick. He didn't want to waste it, so he pulled it out of the glass and started licking. Delicious. That's how the idea of ice lolly started. So popsicles are the result of a happy accident?

Gunpowder was another accidental discovery hundreds of years ago. Some Chinese scientists were trying to make a potion that would make people live forever. Well, instead, they made a powder that exploded with a satisfying bang. The powder was used to make firecrackers, and for hundreds of years, Chinese people used these firecrackers for all sorts of celebrations where loud bangs were needed. And it wasn't until the secret of how to make this noise making powder found its way to Europe that somebody thought it was a great way to blow things up, or to fire a cannon at enemies. And that's when it became known as gunpowder.

Gunpowder was another accidental discovery hundreds of years ago. Some Chinese scientists were trying to make a potion that would make people live forever. Well, instead, they made a powder that exploded with a satisfying bang. The powder was used to make firecrackers, and for hundreds of years, Chinese people used these firecrackers for all sorts of celebrations where loud bangs were needed. And it wasn't until the secret of how to make this noise making powder found its way to Europe that somebody thought it was a great way to blow things up, or to fire a cannon at enemies. And that's when it became known as gunpowder.

Hmm. Let's forget about guns. I've thought of another thing that was a serendipitous accident. Ice cream cones. Before ice cream cones were invented, ice cream was served in paper cups at a fair in Saint Louis about 100 years ago, an ice cream seller ran out of cups. The man at the next store was selling squares of freshly baked sweet pastry, and he gave the ice cream seller some to keep him going. The ice cream man quickly rolled the warm pastry into cone shapes and put a scoop of ice cream in the top. His customers went wild and ice cream in a cone you could eat. The two stallholders joined forces and were so successful that they became partners. And that's another accidental discovery.

Hmm. Let's forget about guns. I've thought of another thing that was a serendipitous accident. Ice cream cones. Before ice cream cones were invented, ice cream was served in paper cups at a fair in Saint Louis about 100 years ago, an ice cream seller ran out of cups. The man at the next store was selling squares of freshly baked sweet pastry, and he gave the ice cream seller some to keep him going. The ice cream man quickly rolled the warm pastry into cone shapes and put a scoop of ice cream in the top. His customers went wild and ice cream in a cone you could eat. The two stallholders joined forces and were so successful that they became partners. And that's another accidental discovery.

Shush, dad, I'm trying to listen to Happy Pants.

Shush, dad, I'm trying to listen to Happy Pants.

Fun fact every step you take uses 200 different muscles in your body.

Fun fact every step you take uses 200 different muscles in your body.

Kate, do you like potato crisps?

Kate, do you like potato crisps?

Is there anyone who doesn't?

Is there anyone who doesn't?

Well, a chef called George Crumb was having trouble with a rude and picky customer who complained that his potato chips were too. Thick and sent them back to the kitchen. And this was in the days when potato chips were cut by hand when they were needed. So George cut up a new batch, making sure they were nice and thin. The customer complained again, so this time George cut them paper thin, fried them till they were crisp and too hard to eat with a knife and fork. Put too much salt on them and delivered them to the customer. He expected that the customer would get the message shut up and leave. But to his surprise, the customer loved them. Pretty soon, George Crumb was selling them by the bag because everyone wanted the new potato crisps.

Well, a chef called George Crumb was having trouble with a rude and picky customer who complained that his potato chips were too. Thick and sent them back to the kitchen. And this was in the days when potato chips were cut by hand when they were needed. So George cut up a new batch, making sure they were nice and thin. The customer complained again, so this time George cut them paper thin, fried them till they were crisp and too hard to eat with a knife and fork. Put too much salt on them and delivered them to the customer. He expected that the customer would get the message shut up and leave. But to his surprise, the customer loved them. Pretty soon, George Crumb was selling them by the bag because everyone wanted the new potato crisps.

Oh, yes. Hey, what's a computer's favorite snack?

Oh, yes. Hey, what's a computer's favorite snack?

Oh, come on, Kate, tell me.

Oh, come on, Kate, tell me.

Microchips.

Microchips.

Oh.

Oh.

Well, how about this one? What is a chip's least favorite day?

Well, how about this one? What is a chip's least favorite day?

Mm, I don't know.

Mm, I don't know.

Friday?

Friday?

No. Now, tell me what other things were on that list. I seem to remember there was a box of matches.

No. Now, tell me what other things were on that list. I seem to remember there was a box of matches.

Well, before matches were invented, people had to carry around a bit of steel. A very hard rock called flint and some dried moss if they wanted to light a fire. The steel was struck on the flint, which made a spark. The spark fell onto the dried moss and started to smolder. Blowing on it made the moss catch fire, and the burning mass was then put in with some little sticks and so on, until there was a decent fire. All that was messy and took time. A chemist started experimenting to make a better way of starting a fire, and managed to get one of his gooey mixtures on the end of his walking stick. Next time he needed the The stick. He found a lump of dried goo on the end and tried to scrape it off on a stone, and the stick burst into flame, now burning a perfectly good walking stick. Every time he wanted to make a fire didn't seem like a good idea, so the chemist used small slivers of wood instead. He could dip the ends into the mixture, let it dry, pack them all into a small box. The box even had a striking surface on the side, and that was much better than carrying flint, steel and moss around.

Well, before matches were invented, people had to carry around a bit of steel. A very hard rock called flint and some dried moss if they wanted to light a fire. The steel was struck on the flint, which made a spark. The spark fell onto the dried moss and started to smolder. Blowing on it made the moss catch fire, and the burning mass was then put in with some little sticks and so on, until there was a decent fire. All that was messy and took time. A chemist started experimenting to make a better way of starting a fire, and managed to get one of his gooey mixtures on the end of his walking stick. Next time he needed the The stick. He found a lump of dried goo on the end and tried to scrape it off on a stone, and the stick burst into flame, now burning a perfectly good walking stick. Every time he wanted to make a fire didn't seem like a good idea, so the chemist used small slivers of wood instead. He could dip the ends into the mixture, let it dry, pack them all into a small box. The box even had a striking surface on the side, and that was much better than carrying flint, steel and moss around.

All of those things happened because of a fortunate accident. That's just crazy.

All of those things happened because of a fortunate accident. That's just crazy.

Oh, it's great to have a crazy imagination. The best ideas pop into your head when you're doing something else.

Oh, it's great to have a crazy imagination. The best ideas pop into your head when you're doing something else.

True, but maybe not as crazy as this song.

True, but maybe not as crazy as this song.

Fun fact number four is the only one with the same amount of letters.

Fun fact number four is the only one with the same amount of letters.

What other crazy ideas turned out to be useful?

What other crazy ideas turned out to be useful?

Chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies.

That's not crazy. That's yum.

That's not crazy. That's yum.

A lady called Mrs. Wakefield was busy making chocolate flavoured biscuits for sale when she ran out of powdered chocolate. She chopped up a couple of bars of eating chocolate and used those instead, expecting that the chocolate would melt through the mixture and make chocolate flavoured biscuits. When they came out of the oven, she was dismayed to see that the biscuits weren't all a nice, even brown. They had lumps of gooey chocolate in them. She thought they were ruined, but like those other serendipitous happenings, they were a huge success. And they still.

A lady called Mrs. Wakefield was busy making chocolate flavoured biscuits for sale when she ran out of powdered chocolate. She chopped up a couple of bars of eating chocolate and used those instead, expecting that the chocolate would melt through the mixture and make chocolate flavoured biscuits. When they came out of the oven, she was dismayed to see that the biscuits weren't all a nice, even brown. They had lumps of gooey chocolate in them. She thought they were ruined, but like those other serendipitous happenings, they were a huge success. And they still.

Are. And Plato. Plato started off as something called cuttle, and it was used to clean soot from coal fires off wallpaper in houses. Well, it worked well, but when people switched from coal to electricity, there wasn't any more use for coal and the factory nearly went out of business. The factory owner discovered that teachers in a nearby school were giving it to children to use as modelling clay, so he quickly changed the name to Play-Doh. Changed the packaging and sold it as an activity aid for kids. Factories saved and a useful plaything for kids.

Are. And Plato. Plato started off as something called cuttle, and it was used to clean soot from coal fires off wallpaper in houses. Well, it worked well, but when people switched from coal to electricity, there wasn't any more use for coal and the factory nearly went out of business. The factory owner discovered that teachers in a nearby school were giving it to children to use as modelling clay, so he quickly changed the name to Play-Doh. Changed the packaging and sold it as an activity aid for kids. Factories saved and a useful plaything for kids.

Well, we still have post-it notes and cling wrap. What's the story.

Well, we still have post-it notes and cling wrap. What's the story.

There? Um. Post-it notes. Um. Oh oh, oh, that was supposed to be a super strong glue for holding aeroplanes together, would you believe? Didn't work. It glued stuff together, all right, but it peeled apart when it was pulled. The inventor was in a choir and had trouble finding his place in the music. And there was an aha moment when he realised that if he put some of this glue on the end of a piece of paper, he could stick it in place as a marker and pull it off again when it was no longer needed. No more lost places and stick on peel off. Post-it notes were invented.

There? Um. Post-it notes. Um. Oh oh, oh, that was supposed to be a super strong glue for holding aeroplanes together, would you believe? Didn't work. It glued stuff together, all right, but it peeled apart when it was pulled. The inventor was in a choir and had trouble finding his place in the music. And there was an aha moment when he realised that if he put some of this glue on the end of a piece of paper, he could stick it in place as a marker and pull it off again when it was no longer needed. No more lost places and stick on peel off. Post-it notes were invented.

That reminds me of another invention that happened by accident. A laboratory worker was cleaning tubes and flasks when he came across one which had a film covering the inside. It wouldn't wash off and he nearly threw it into the bin, but managed to loosen an edge and it all peeled off in one piece. It was clear, waterproof, and it clung, but it was easy to peel off if you got an edge. He showed it to the scientists, who realised how useful it could be if that laboratory worker had chucked out the film instead of showing it to the scientist. We might never have had cling film.

That reminds me of another invention that happened by accident. A laboratory worker was cleaning tubes and flasks when he came across one which had a film covering the inside. It wouldn't wash off and he nearly threw it into the bin, but managed to loosen an edge and it all peeled off in one piece. It was clear, waterproof, and it clung, but it was easy to peel off if you got an edge. He showed it to the scientists, who realised how useful it could be if that laboratory worker had chucked out the film instead of showing it to the scientist. We might never have had cling film.

And that's just a few of the things that were invented because of a happy accident. There are lots more. Our story today is about a toy that was supposed to be a hippopotamus. Unfortunately, it had an accident when it was being made and it nearly went through the dreadful unstitching machine, which snip snipped mistakes apart and threw all the bits into boxes. It turned out to be a lucky accident, however, but you'll have to listen to the story to find out how and why.

And that's just a few of the things that were invented because of a happy accident. There are lots more. Our story today is about a toy that was supposed to be a hippopotamus. Unfortunately, it had an accident when it was being made and it nearly went through the dreadful unstitching machine, which snip snipped mistakes apart and threw all the bits into boxes. It turned out to be a lucky accident, however, but you'll have to listen to the story to find out how and why.

Yay! It's story time!

Yay! It's story time!

The Hippo Panda mouse by Jules Bentley. Princess Flo was excited. She was off to spend her pocket money at Fluffy's Fine Toys. Her favourite toy shop in town at Fluffy's Fine Toys. Everyone was busy preparing for the royal visit, but not everything was going according to plan. That owl has a skull. Cried Miss Fluffy, the owner. Remove it at once. Upstairs in the in the workshop, things were even worse. This donkey is wonky! Cried Miss Fluffly. Fix it at once! Everything had to be perfect for the princess. Anything that wasn't was thrown onto the mistakes table and sucked into the stitcher. But the day had started early and everyone was tired. They hadn't even had a tea break. And that was when another mistake happened. Someone put a hippopotamus on the wrong table, where it was given the wrong fur and thrown into the wrong box. It didn't look quite right, but Miss Fluffly had been far too busy to spot the mistake. So the toy was put on display. Welcome, Your Highness, said Miss Fluffy with a flourish. We have a fabulous selection of furry friends for you today. Amazing! Said Princess Flo. We have lions and tigers, frogs and spiders and a very cute raccoon. We have a crocodile with a lovely smile and a beautiful baboon. They're lovely, said Princess Flo politely. But Princess Flo had already spotted something interesting. Can I look at that toy, please? She said. Of course, Your Highness. This is a lovely. Uh. Miss fluffy had no idea what it was, and neither did anyone else. In all her years as owner of Fluffy's Fine Toys. She had never seen anything like it. That toy is a mistake.

The Hippo Panda mouse by Jules Bentley. Princess Flo was excited. She was off to spend her pocket money at Fluffy's Fine Toys. Her favourite toy shop in town at Fluffy's Fine Toys. Everyone was busy preparing for the royal visit, but not everything was going according to plan. That owl has a skull. Cried Miss Fluffy, the owner. Remove it at once. Upstairs in the in the workshop, things were even worse. This donkey is wonky! Cried Miss Fluffly. Fix it at once! Everything had to be perfect for the princess. Anything that wasn't was thrown onto the mistakes table and sucked into the stitcher. But the day had started early and everyone was tired. They hadn't even had a tea break. And that was when another mistake happened. Someone put a hippopotamus on the wrong table, where it was given the wrong fur and thrown into the wrong box. It didn't look quite right, but Miss Fluffly had been far too busy to spot the mistake. So the toy was put on display. Welcome, Your Highness, said Miss Fluffy with a flourish. We have a fabulous selection of furry friends for you today. Amazing! Said Princess Flo. We have lions and tigers, frogs and spiders and a very cute raccoon. We have a crocodile with a lovely smile and a beautiful baboon. They're lovely, said Princess Flo politely. But Princess Flo had already spotted something interesting. Can I look at that toy, please? She said. Of course, Your Highness. This is a lovely. Uh. Miss fluffy had no idea what it was, and neither did anyone else. In all her years as owner of Fluffy's Fine Toys. She had never seen anything like it. That toy is a mistake.

Stake.

Stake.

Cried Miss Fluffly. Get rid of it at once! So the toy was taken away, ready to be unstitched. Princess Flo did not seem happy, and Miss Fluffly was puzzled. Wouldn't you like a lion, or a tiger, or a frog, or a spider, or a very cute raccoon, or a crocodile with a lovely smile or a beautiful baboon? Princess Flo shook her head. Perhaps I can tempt Your Highness to one of our lovely bunnies, said Miss Fluffly. We have one in every color of the rainbow. No, thank you, said Princess Flo politely. Well, how about a perky penguin? Said Miss Fluffly, feeling a little flustered. Surely Your Highness won't be able to.

Cried Miss Fluffly. Get rid of it at once! So the toy was taken away, ready to be unstitched. Princess Flo did not seem happy, and Miss Fluffly was puzzled. Wouldn't you like a lion, or a tiger, or a frog, or a spider, or a very cute raccoon, or a crocodile with a lovely smile or a beautiful baboon? Princess Flo shook her head. Perhaps I can tempt Your Highness to one of our lovely bunnies, said Miss Fluffly. We have one in every color of the rainbow. No, thank you, said Princess Flo politely. Well, how about a perky penguin? Said Miss Fluffly, feeling a little flustered. Surely Your Highness won't be able to.

Resist this.

Resist this.

Teeny tiny kitty. But Princess Flo said no. I'm looking for something special. And that is when Miss Fluffy realized she had made a big mistake. Oh, please excuse me for one moment, she said. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, drat!

Teeny tiny kitty. But Princess Flo said no. I'm looking for something special. And that is when Miss Fluffy realized she had made a big mistake. Oh, please excuse me for one moment, she said. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, drat!

Stop the machine!

Stop the machine!

She was just in the nick of time. Snip snip snip. And the wonky hippopotamus toy was rescued. Princess Flo was over the moon. And so was Miss Fluffy. I'm so pleased you like this. Um. Uh, what is it exactly? Asked Miss Fluffy. So, Princess Flo explained he has a round hippo snout, soft panda And a fur and the whiskers, teeth and tail of a tiny mouse. But Miss Fluffy was still puzzled. He's a hippo. Panda mouse, said the princess. And he's perfect. And with that, she handed over her pocket money and headed home to the palace.

She was just in the nick of time. Snip snip snip. And the wonky hippopotamus toy was rescued. Princess Flo was over the moon. And so was Miss Fluffy. I'm so pleased you like this. Um. Uh, what is it exactly? Asked Miss Fluffy. So, Princess Flo explained he has a round hippo snout, soft panda And a fur and the whiskers, teeth and tail of a tiny mouse. But Miss Fluffy was still puzzled. He's a hippo. Panda mouse, said the princess. And he's perfect. And with that, she handed over her pocket money and headed home to the palace.

That was the hippo. Panda mouse by Jules Bentley. The reader was Geraldine. So what have we done today?

That was the hippo. Panda mouse by Jules Bentley. The reader was Geraldine. So what have we done today?

We learned quite a lot about happy mistakes. Sometimes mistakes with a bit of imagination turn out to be something special.

We learned quite a lot about happy mistakes. Sometimes mistakes with a bit of imagination turn out to be something special.

We had two big words. Solvent. That's something which can dissolve something else. And serendipity. That's an unplanned, fortunate mistake. And we had a story about the hippo panda mouse who didn't have to be perfect for someone to love him.

We had two big words. Solvent. That's something which can dissolve something else. And serendipity. That's an unplanned, fortunate mistake. And we had a story about the hippo panda mouse who didn't have to be perfect for someone to love him.

If there was anything in today's program about which you would like to know more, you can contact us on radio at Vision Australia. Org.

If there was anything in today's program about which you would like to know more, you can contact us on radio at Vision Australia. Org.

Keep wearing those happy pants and we'll catch you next time.

Keep wearing those happy pants and we'll catch you next time.

Happy pants is produced on the lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians, and the traditional owners of the land across our working area. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future in maintaining their cultures, countries and their spiritual connection to the lands and waters. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges and respects the genuine diversity and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. Happy pants has been made possible with the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.

Happy pants is produced on the lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first Australians, and the traditional owners of the land across our working area. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future in maintaining their cultures, countries and their spiritual connection to the lands and waters. Vision Australia Radio acknowledges and respects the genuine diversity and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. Happy pants has been made possible with the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.