Paddington and Scout on Christmas Morning 15.

DADDY: *Lifts lid of box and out come three little bears.*

"Goodness!"

 

FLOCK: "Oh finally, some daylight! Pearl! Sapphire! We've arrived!"

 

PEARL: "Oh thank goodness! That was such a long journey."

 

SAPPHIRE: "You should have done as I did and slept most of the way, which made the trip fly by in the twinking of an eye!"

 

PEARL: "I could hardly do that because you were snoring, Sapphire!"

 

FLOCK: *Puts paw to mouth and giggles.*

 

SAPPHIRE: "Well, I'm sure they weren't that bad, Pearl. After all, I am a lady bear, so they would only have been little ladylike bear snores."

 

PEARL: *Giggles.*

 

FLOCK: "Look ladies! It appears that we have an audience."

 

SCOUT: "Hullo little bears! Who are you?"

 

FLOCK: "Is this Daddy's house in Australia?"

 

ROSIE: "Why yes it is. Who are you?"

 

FLOCK: "I am Flock, the bear with the silvery plush and pearl necklace is pearl, and the blue bear with the blue sapphire necklace is Sapphire. We have travelled a long way to meet you! Our online friends, Declan and Bartie of Lagniappe in New Orleans told us all about Mama Kim and about you too, so we travelled to Riversong in Alabama. We asked Mama Kim if she might help us find our way to Australia, because your home and all of you bears looked very nice too, like the ones at Lagniappe and at Riversong. We hope that it is okay to come to Australia to make ourselves our home, but we certainly don't want to intrude. In fact Bartie had no told Mam Kim that he had invited us to her house, but even though she was surprised, she was pleased to host us. We didn't want to disappoint her, but we had plans to come t Australia, which s very exciting!"

 

BOGART: "I came from Riversong too, Flock and Pearl and Sapphire! I know Mama Kim and all the Riversong Bear Clan very well! Welcome!"

 

PEARL: "Mama Kim says that we are to mind our manners and ask for your help in finding a home if you are too full up with bears here."

 

SAPPHIRE: "But we're hoping there might be room for three more bears. We are only little, and won't take up much room, or eat too much, although we do have grumbly tummies after our long journey."

 

BOGART: "Oh Daddy! We can find room for Flock and Pearl and Sapphire, can't we?"

 

DADDY: "Well of course we can! Welcome Flock, Pearl and Sapphire to your new forever home! You are going to have a lot of fun here with all of us! What a wonderful Christmas present for all of us from Mama Kim! Thank you Mama Kim, Father Christmas and the Christmas Bear for delivering you safely to us!"

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, ROSIE, ORSON, BERTIE, CORNELIA, DANNY BOY, ALGIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE, FLOCK, PEARL, SAPPHIRE and PRINCE MAURICE: "Hoorah!" *Jump up and down with excitement.*

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, ROSIE, ORSON, BERTIE, CORNELIA, DANNY BOY, ALGIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE and PRINCE MAURICE: "Welcome Flock, Pearl and Sapphire! Merry Christmas!"

 

Paddy, Scout (and Dolly), Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago, Daisy-Maud, Orson, Danny Boy, Algie, Rosie, Bertie, Cornelia, Freddy Duckie, Prince Maurice and I and I would like to wish all our flickr friends and viewers the very best for the festive season. Thank you for all the interest you have shown in our photographs and adventures this year, and all the support and encouragement you have shown. We really do appreciate it.

 

May you have a wonderful Christmas; safe, and filled with happiness and love whomever you spend it with and whatever you may do.

 

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, so it looks like he is stopping with us for a long while. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.

 

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.

 

Rosie is Scout's cousin, because like Scout, she is a free trade knitted bear from Africa. She was made in Kenya by one of the Kenana Knitters, Martha Wanjira. She is made from home spun and dyed wool. She was a gift to me from two very dear friends, including the one who gave Scout to Paddy.

 

Jago was 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.

 

Daisy-Maud is Jago's little sister and was made by the same friend in England who made him. She is made of German mohair with floral fabric cotton paw pads that match her pretty sunhat, and glass eyes. A sweet and loving little girl bear, she is happy to be reunited with her big brother, Jago, and enjoys being spoiled by her new Daddy.

 

Orson, named after the little bear constellation, was made by the same friend who made Jago and Daisy-Maud. He comes ready dressed in 'trousers' made of German mohair accessorised with embroidered braces. His paws are ultra suede and his eyes are glass. He is described as being a little bit serious minded but very friendly. He's fine once he gets to know you.

 

Danny Boy, made by the same friend who made Jago, Daisy-Maud and Orson, has a touch of the 'Oirish' in him with his emerald green scarf. He has an open mouth as he likes to sing and comes with his own songbook, "Irish Airs for Teddy Bears". He has a wobbly head to give him animation when he's talking to you, and is made of English mohair, has paws of ultra suede and eyes of glass. Quite a happy-go-lucky little character....

 

Algie is made by the same friend in England who made Jago, Daisy-Maud, Orson and Danny Boy. He is made of sparse English mohair, has paws of ultra suede and eyes of glass. A very adventurous little boy, he loves to climb and sit on top of gates, edges of tables and chairs. He adore climbing trees and will cheekily sit there with crossed legs. He's very friendly and he loves adventures of any kind.

 

Cornelia, I found in an antique and vintage market quite recently. She is a vintage edition Russ Bear from their Mohair Collection. She is made of deliberately mottled mohair to give her that vintage look. One of a limited edition of 10,000, she was designed by artist Carol Hosfstad and is completely handmade.

 

Bertie came to live with me on Christmas Day 2022. He was a gift from a very dear friend. He is vintage and is hand knitted with soft red dioxide wool and has chocolate brown felt pads on his paws. He has shiny black bead eyes and has his own very smart tartan bow. He tells me that he was living in an antique shop for quite a while, just looking for his forever home, which now he feels that he has. Bertie is very soft and loves cuddles, and whilst perhaps not as forthcoming as some of my other bears due to his shyness, he is very loving and caring and gives big little bear hugs and snuffly kisses beautifully.

 

Freddy Fox is made by Merrythought in England. I bought him, of all places, from a men’s accessory shop in Melbourne’s Block Arcade, called Mr. Wares. Freddy Fox is made of English Mohair with felt paws and glass bead eyes. He has so much charm and charisma that already he is winning hearts with anyone whom he meets, and he is kind and sweet, which makes him an ideal member of our family.

 

Prince Maurice is a Maileg mouse, given to me as a birthday gift by my two goddaughters. Maileg (pronounced My’lye) is a brand of charming Danish-designed toys created to inspire children’s favorite playtime stories. By bringing storybook whimsy to everyday moments, Maileg toys help children (large ones and small) explore the pure and simple wonder of imagination. Beloved for their heartwarming personalities, Maileg toys show playfulness and charm in every last detail. Theirs is a timeless world filled with beautiful accessories and settings.

 

Duckie I saw when I was at a Sunday market on a stall of homemade knitted and crocheted items. She caught my eye straight away with her happy, smiley face and bright colours. I think she finds life with my bears intriguing and perhaps a little confusing, however she is learning.

Done