Happy Birthday Mummy Marian!`

PADDY: "Hullo Daddy! My, my! A lemon meringue pie! You’ve been baking!"

 

COUSIN PADDINGTON: "Oh it smells delicious, Daddy!"

 

JAGO: "Hullo Daddy! Ooohh! A lemon meringue pie!"

 

SCOUT: "Did I hear lemon meringue pie, Jago?"

 

BOGART: "Grumbly tummy, Daddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

ROSIE: "Ooohh look! Doesn’t it look lovely?"

 

FREDDY: "It certainly does, Rosie! Well done, Daddy! The top looks so fluffy and delicious!"

 

PRINCE MAURICE: "And that pastry looks rather wonderful too!"

 

DUCKIE: "Does it have yummy grubs and worms inside, Daddy?" *Hopeful.*

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY and PRINCE MAURICE: "Grubs and worms! Yucky!" *Stick out cute little pink bear, fox and mouse tongues.*

 

DADDY: "Well, no, Duckie."

 

DUCKIE: "Oh!" *Disappointed.*

 

DADDY: "But it does have lots of lovely fresh lemons and eggs in it, and they are delicious."

 

DAISY-MAUD: "Is it somebear\'s birthday, Daddy?"

 

DADDY: "Well not somebear, but someone who is very close to bears, and someone who is very close to our hearts too."

 

SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, DUCKIE, FREDDY and PRINCE MAURICE: "Who Daddy?"

 

PADDY: "Oh! I know Daddy! Isn\'t today Mummy Marian\'s birthday?"

 

DADDY: "Why yes it is! Well done Paddy! I have baked a special lemon meringue pie for Mummy Marian. She has invited all of us to her house and enjoy a celebration afternoon tea with all of us!"

 

PADDY: "How wonderful it will be to celebrate with Mummy Marian!"

 

SCOUT: "Oh how exciting!"

 

ROSIE: "Will mijn prins Peter be there, Daddy?"

 

DADDY: "I’m sure he will be, Rosie. You know Peter enjoys a party!"

 

SCOUT: "Oh hoorah!" *Jumps up and down with excitement.* "Mijn beste vriend Peter will be there! I can\'t wait to play with him!"

 

PADDY: "What about mijn beste vriend Oleg, Daddy?"

 

JAGO: "And my best friend, Benny? I know he would love some lemon meringue pie."

 

DAISY-MAUD: "I think he deserves an extra big slice because he has such a grumbly tummy, Daddy!"

 

BOGART: "Will Fuzzy, and Danbo be at the party, Daddy? Bleep... luv Danbo!"

 

DAISY-MAUD: "What about Marty/Mary?"

 

FREDDY: "And my brother, Little Freddy and my cousin Cadie and my best friends Pedlar and Bernus and Hakus?"

 

DUCKIE: "And Granny Duck! My Granny must come!"

 

PRINCE MAURICE: "And my Maileg nephews and nieces."

 

DADDY: "Oh yes! Mummy Marian will invite all the bears, and Little Freddy, Cadie, Danbo, Esa, Hakus, Bernus, Pedlar, Granny Duck and all the Maileg Mice so that way we can all celebrate her birthday together."

 

JAGO: "But will there be enough food? This is only one lemon meringue pie. That will not fill all the grumbly tummies of everybear, dog, duck, mouse and fox!"

 

DADDY: "Don\'t worry Jago. I have another pie in the oven right now to take with us, and Mummy Marian is providing a lot of delicious treats. There will be plenty for everybear, duck, mouse, dog and fox!"

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE and PRINCE MAURICE: "Hoorah!"

 

DADDY: "Now, whilst we await Fairy Mum to open the portal, and all the bears who are still getting ready, let\'s practice singing Happy Birthday for Mummy Marian, so we will be in good voice when we arrive for the party! We\'ll get everybear else together shortly, but let\'s start now!"

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE and PRINCE MAURICE: "Yes Daddy!"

 

DADDY: "Alright! One... two... three!"

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE, PRINCE MAURICE and DADDY: "Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Mummy Marian!

Happy Birthday to you!"

 

DADDY: "Very good everyone!"

 

SCOUT: "Daddy? Daddy!"

 

DADDY: "Yes Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Daddy, do you remember Peter taught me a special Dutch birthday song to sing to Mummy Marian a few years ago. Shall I sing it again this year?"

 

PADDY, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE, PRINCE MAURICE and DADDY: "Oh yes Scout! Sing it for us now!"

 

SCOUT: "Very well. Ahem!" *Clears throat.*

"Lang zal ze leven,

Lang zal ze leven,

Lang zal ze leven,

In de gloria,

In de gloria,

In de gloria,

Hip, hip, hip, hoera!

Hip, hip, hip, hoera!

Hip, hip, hip, hoera!"

 

PADDY, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE, PRINCE MAURICE and DADDY: *Clap with delight*

 

DADDY: "That was beautiful, Scout! You have such a sweet and pure voice!"

 

SCOUT: "Gosh! Thank you Daddy!" *Blushes pink beneath woollen fur.* "I hope Mummy Marian will like my song!"

 

PADDY: "She will love your birthday song, Scout! She will be thrilled!"

 

PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, BOGART, ROSIE, FREDDY, DUCKIE, PRINCE MAURICE and DADDY: "Happy Birthday Mummy Marian!"

 

My bears Paddy and Scout have made very good friends with two bears in Holland called Peter and Oleg (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577154558...) and their Mummy Marian Kloon (on and off). Peter and Scout are very similar and have become best friends. Peter loves Rosie and Rosie loves Peter, so they have become prince and princess to one another. Paddy and Oleg are very similar too and have become best friends as well. Jago has become best friends with Benny, another of Mummy Marian\'s bears (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577200585...) and Bogart has befriended another of Mummy Marian\'s bear family, Fuzzy (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577204013...). Bogart has also befriended Danbo (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577206753... ), I’m not quite sure what Danbo is, but Bogart seems to know. Freddy Fox’s brother Littler Freddy (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577219215...) and cousin Caddy (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577209141...) live with Mummy Marian, and he is also best friends with Pedlar (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577224148...). Duckie’s grandmother, Granny Duck (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577216353...) also lives with Mummy Marian, as do Prince Maurice’s nieces and nephews (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577222512...). Today is Mummy Marian\'s birthday so everybear, fox, duck and mouse is excited and so too am I!

 

Happy Birthday (gelukkige verjaardag) dear Marian! We hope that it is wonderful day full of love! With lost and lots of big little bear hugs and snuffly kisses (berenkusjes en knuffels) from all of us!

 

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.

 

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, includng the one who gave Scout to Paddy.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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