My Bear Family
The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 2nd of April is “picture with added text”. Anyone who follows me will recognise many of the furry plush faces in this group photo, for this is my bear family. From right to left: Bogart, Jago, Cousin Paddington, Growly Bear, Scout (holding his precious Red Riding Hood Dolly) and Paddy. Although not the eldest bear in this picture (that honour being bestowed upon Growly Bear who is a century old) Paddy is my original bear. As he is a Paddington Bear made for me by my Great Aunt and given to me when I was two years old, I have naturally grown up with Michael Bond’s books about the bear from deepest darkest Peru found at Paddington railway station. Therefore, I thought for the theme this week, a quote from Michael Bond’s first book, “A Bear Called Paddington” was an appropriate choice. I do hope you like my choice of quote, and my beautiful bear family. I love them all dearly. I believe that a house is not a home without at least one bear living in it!
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Travelling all the way from London, Cousin Paddington was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. After so long here he has decided to stop with us permanently. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. A gift from a dear friend in England, he is made of English mohair with suede paw pads and glass eyes. He is a gentle bear, kind and patient who carries an air of calm about him. He is already fitting in with everyone else very nicely.
Bogart has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. He has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.
Growly Bear, the big yellow mohair bear with a somewhat stern face, was bought for my Grandmother from Hamley's Toy Shop in London in 1922. He is covered in mohair and has amber glass eyes, has articulated arms, legs and a head, and was named Growly Bear because he used to growl when you turned him upside down. He was still growling when my Mother was a child. My Uncle, born three years after my Mother, christened him The Big One, because he was the biggest teddy bear in the nursery. When he came to me as a child, I amalgamated the two names and called him, Big Growly Bear.
My Bear Family
The theme for “Smile on Saturday” for the 2nd of April is “picture with added text”. Anyone who follows me will recognise many of the furry plush faces in this group photo, for this is my bear family. From right to left: Bogart, Jago, Cousin Paddington, Growly Bear, Scout (holding his precious Red Riding Hood Dolly) and Paddy. Although not the eldest bear in this picture (that honour being bestowed upon Growly Bear who is a century old) Paddy is my original bear. As he is a Paddington Bear made for me by my Great Aunt and given to me when I was two years old, I have naturally grown up with Michael Bond’s books about the bear from deepest darkest Peru found at Paddington railway station. Therefore, I thought for the theme this week, a quote from Michael Bond’s first book, “A Bear Called Paddington” was an appropriate choice. I do hope you like my choice of quote, and my beautiful bear family. I love them all dearly. I believe that a house is not a home without at least one bear living in it!
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Travelling all the way from London, Cousin Paddington was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. After so long here he has decided to stop with us permanently. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. A gift from a dear friend in England, he is made of English mohair with suede paw pads and glass eyes. He is a gentle bear, kind and patient who carries an air of calm about him. He is already fitting in with everyone else very nicely.
Bogart has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. He has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.
Growly Bear, the big yellow mohair bear with a somewhat stern face, was bought for my Grandmother from Hamley's Toy Shop in London in 1922. He is covered in mohair and has amber glass eyes, has articulated arms, legs and a head, and was named Growly Bear because he used to growl when you turned him upside down. He was still growling when my Mother was a child. My Uncle, born three years after my Mother, christened him The Big One, because he was the biggest teddy bear in the nursery. When he came to me as a child, I amalgamated the two names and called him, Big Growly Bear.