Paddington, Scout and the Lucky Tutu

JAGO: "Oh well played, Orson!"

 

ORSON: "Oh thank you Jago!"

 

DAISY-MAUD: "Here Jago, after that wonderful play, you deserve a nice cup of tea."

 

ORSON: "Thank you very much, Daisy-Maud. I don't mind if I do."

 

ROSIE: "It's your turn to play, Scout! Shall I hold onto Dolly for you whilst you play."

 

SCOUT: "Oh yes please, Rosie!" *Passes Dolly to Rosie.* "You can both cheer me on!"

 

PADDY: "Good luck, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "Thank you Paddy! I am wearing my good luck tutu, so that should help."

 

PADDY: "I didn't know that was a good luck tutu, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Oh yes it is! I find when I wear it, close to Christmas, I tend to receive more tutus from Father Christmas and the Christmas Bear."

 

PADDY: "But you have so many tutus already, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "Paddy!" *Gasps and looks aghast at Paddy.* "For shame! You can never have too many tutus!"

 

DAISY-MAUD: "Good luck Scout!" *Blows a kiss to Scout.*

 

JAGO and ORSON: "Good luck, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "Thank you, everybear!" *Picks up counter.*

 

PADDY: "What are you doing, Scout?" *Concerned.*

 

SCOUT: "I should have thought that was obvious, Paddy!" *Surprised.* "I am picking up the counter, Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "But you aren't supposed to pick up the counter, Scout. You are meant to use the big counter to flick your little counter."

 

SCOUT: "But Paddy, that is very hard! Too hard for a little bear like me!"

 

ORSON: "But I did it like that, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Oh yes, but you are much bigger than me, Orson! You have much bigger paws than me, which are perfect for flicking."

 

ROSIE: "Well I flicked my counter too, Scout, and I am only little, like you."

 

SCOUT: "True, Rosie." *Ponders.* "But I would much rather throw it!"

 

PADDY: "But you can't throw the counter, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "But I will stand a much better chance of winning if I throw it, Paddy! My paw-eye coordination is very good, Paddy." *Proud.*

 

PADDY: "Well you can't, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "But why not, Paddy?" *Whines.*

 

PADDY: "Because those are the rules, Scout!"

 

ROSIE: "And you know you have to obey the rules, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Well, I like it when I play games where I can make up my own rules, Rosie."

 

ROSIE: "But that's not fair, Scout!" *Whines.*

 

ORSON: "Rosie is right, dear Scout. It would hardly be fair if Paddy, Rosie and I all flicked our counter, and yet you threw yours, now would it?"

 

JAGO: "It isn't terribly sporting, dear Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Ooohhh." *Puts paw to mouth,* "I suppose not." *Begruding.* But Jago, it will be so much harder if I have to flick my counter!"

 

JAGO: "That's true, Scout, but that is half the fun of playing. It makes it a challenge."

 

ORSON: "And you just said that you have excellent paw-eye coordination."

 

SCOUT: *Ponders.* "True."

 

JAGO: "So why don't you put them to the test, Scout?"

 

DAISY-MAUD: "And you are wearing your lucky tutu, Scout." *Kindly.*

 

SCOUT: *Looks down at tutu and tugs on it.* "That is also true."

 

ROSIE: "And remember Scout, it doesn't really matter whether you win or not. It's just a fancy game of French tiddlywinks."

 

PADDY: "That's right, Scout. What is important is how you play the game, and you should always play a game by its rules."

 

ORSON: "That's right, Paddy. You must play by the rules, Scout, even if the rules are hard."

 

SCOUT: "Oooohhh!" *Looks wide eyed at Orson and Paddy.*

 

ROSIE, ORSON, DAISY-MAUD, JAGo and PADDY: *All nod sagely.*

 

SCOUT: "Oh well! If I have to play by the rules, then so be it!" *Places counter back on the edge of the board and picks up the big counter determinedly.*

 

PADDY: "Good bear, Scout." *Smiles.* "I am so proud of you."

 

SCOUT: *Pauses.* "Will you all still love me if I don't win?"

 

PADDY, ROSIE, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and ORSON: "Yes Scout!" *Nod emphatically.*

 

SCOUT: "Alight! Here goes then!"

 

PADDY, ROSIE, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and ORSON: "Good luck, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: *Flicks counter high in the air and holds breath as he watches it fall into the cup.*

 

PADDY, ROSIE, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and ORSON: *Gasp.*

 

SCOUT: *Gasps.*

 

PADDY, ROSIE, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and ORSON: "Scout! You won!"

 

SCOUT: "I did?" *Gaps again.* "I did!" *Jumps up and down with excitement.*

 

ROSIE, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and ORSON: *Oh well done, Scout! Hoorah!" *Clap and jump for joy.*

 

PADDY: "Very well done, Scout." *Claps.* "And you did it all by yourself, playing by the rules." *Smiles.* "I am so proud of you!"

 

SCOUT: "Oh thank you, Paddy! I didn't do it alone though."

 

PADDY: "You didn't, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "No! I had help from my lucky tutu!" *Preens and brushes tutu.*

 

Scout, Rosie, Paddy and Orson are all playing "Grand Jeu de la Puce" (The Great Game of the Flea): a French version of tiddlywinks which was made in Paris by toy manufacturer Nicolas and Keller in 1914.

 

This beautiful nursery rhyme tea set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1930s. It features six cups, saucers and plates as well as a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated and feature different nursery rhymes including: "Ding Dong Dell Pussy’s in the Well", "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe", "Old King Cole", "Pat a Cake Pat a Cake Baker’s Man", "Little Tommy Tittlemouse", "See Saw Margery Daw" and &This Little Pig Went to Market" amongst others. The set I acquired from England, and it is a sister set to a 1920s Shell China Company nursery rhyme tea set and a 1920s faerie tale tea set. There are also doll (bear) sized tea spoons which are sterling silver salt spoons.

 

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, 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.

Done