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Comedy

The Curious Tale of George the Tortoise & The Council Tax Lady By RednipArt200

Welcome to the enchanting North Yorkshire Wolds, where life is slow, sweet, and occasionally absurd! Meet George, an irresistibly charming tortoise who suddenly finds himself at the heart of a comically chaotic showdown—one that no one could have foreseen. When he inherits a quaint cottage from the whimsically eccentric Dame Agatha Punch, George thinks he's in for a peaceful life. Little does he know, the local council has other plans, demanding Council Tax on his humble abode. Enter Mrs. R. Reeves, the formidable Council Tax Accounts Lady with a clipboard and an unwavering resolve. When John—George's flustered caretaker—stumbles through the revelation that George is the property owner, the stage is set for an uproarious battle against the council's inflexible bureaucracy. Faced with a bewildering array of phone calls, relentless letters, and ultimately, a courtroom confrontation, John and Mary rally together to defend their beloved tortoise. With the quirky and resourceful solicitor, Miss Penelope Peabody, in their corner, they make the compelling case that George, with his endearing innocence, can't fathom such financial obligations. As they navigate the courtroom drama, laughter ensues, and even the judge can't help but question the sanity of taxing a tortoise! The ensuing uproar leads to a stunning dismissal of the case, and suddenly, George finds himself a local celebrity. The community rallies around him, sparking a delightful celebration of silliness and camaraderie, reminding everyone of the importance of community spirit in the face of absurdity. With their struggle won and a newfound appreciation for life's little quirks, John and Mary embark on whimsical adventures alongside their blissfully unaware tortoise. The story leaves you with a sense of joyous anticipation for what's to come—proving that even the smallest creatures can create the biggest ripples in their world. Join George, John, and Mary on this heartwarming journey where laughter reigns, connections flourish, and every day promises new surprises!

Jun 29, 2025  |   18 min read
RednipArt2000
RednipArt2000
The Curious Tale of George the Tortoise & The Council Tax Lady By RednipArt200
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Chapter 1: The Little House in the Wolds

The house, small and sturdy, nestled comfortably into the rolling hills of the North Yorkshire Wolds. Its stone walls, weathered by centuries of Sunshine, wind and rain, held a quiet charm, a warmth that seemed to emanate from the very Yorkshire earth it stood upon. This was George's house.

It wasn't grand, by any means, just a cosy two-bedroom cottage with a rambling garden overflowing with wildflowers, but it was his. He'd inherited it from the late, delightfully eccentric, Dame Agatha Punch, a woman who had, in her later years, developed a fondness for tortoises.

Dame Punch's son, John, and his wife, Mary, lived in the house too. They were George's carers, although the word felt a little strange. They didn't think of it as a job. More of a? life choice. They fed him, cleaned his enclosure (when he wasn't roaming the garden), made sure he had fresh water and even changed the channel on the television for him. After all, a tortoise couldn't be expected to navigate a remote control let alone Netflix.

George was, to put it mildly, utterly dependent. He couldn't shop for groceries (imagine a tortoise pushing a trolley!), couldn't dial the vet when his shell felt a bit itchy, and definitely couldn't understand the complexities of modern technology. And then, of course, there was the language barrier. He communicated in the way tortoises do - through slow blinks, the occasional chomp on a dandelion, and a general air of quiet contemplation.

John and Mary were devoted to George. They were a retired couple, content with the gentle rhythm of life in the countryside. Caring for George filled their days with purpose, a pleasant routine punctuated by the occasional trip to the garden centre for a new variety of lettuce. They even took him on holiday with them once, driving him carefully in a specially converted cat carrier in the back of their Morris Minor. They never left him alone, except for their annual week-long getaway to the Scarborough seaside, during which their niece, Sarah, would house-sit and dutifully attend to George's needs.

Life was peaceful. Predictable. In the morning Mrs. R. Reeves, The Council Tax Accounts Lady from North Yorkshire Council, arrived.

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Alberta Abena Kunadu Owusu

Jul 2, 2025

George vs. the Council—utterly bonkers and absolutely brilliant! I’m all in for the tortoise revolution.

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