Paddington, Scout and the Christmas Cards

SCOUT: "Paddy? Paddy, where are you?"

 

PADDY: "I am in the dining room, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Do you want to come and play hide-and-seek in the garden with me and Rosie and Emmett and Bogart? The rain has stopped! It’s lovely and sunny outside!"

 

PADDY: "Sorry Scout, I'd love to, but I have to write Christmas cards to all our Flickr friends. I will play hide-and-seek with you later. You go ahead with Bogart, Rosie and Emmett"

 

SCOUT: "Oh Paddy!" *Disappointed.*

 

ROSIE: "But it won't be as much fun without you, Paddy!" *Disappointed.*

 

BOGART: "I agree, Rosie! It won't be as good without you, Paddy!" *Disappointed.*

 

EMMETT: "It's magical when you play with us, Paddy!" *Disappointed.*

 

PADDY: "Yes, I'm sorry, Scout, Rosie, Bogart and Emmett, but..." *Sighs.* "There are so many cards to write."

 

SCOUT: "Hmmm..." *Thinks.* "Hmmm..." *Ponders.* "I have it!" *Squeals.*

 

PADDY: "What have you got, Scout? Don't tell me you stood on one of Daddy's sequin pins? He did drop some the other day, and I keep finding them on the Oriental rug in here." *Shakes head.* "Careless Daddy!"

 

SCOUT: "No, no, Paddy! I have the solution to your problem!"

 

PADDY: "You do, Scout?"

 

ROSIE: "What is it, Scout?"

 

BOGART: "Scout always has great ideas! What is it, Scout?"

 

EMMETT: "I can't wait to hear it!"

 

JAGO: "Hullo everybear! I can't wait to hear either."

 

DAISY-MAUD: "Nor can I. Tell us your thoughts, Scout."

 

PADDY, SCOUT, ROSIE, BOGART and EMMETT: "Hullo Jago! Hullo Daisy-Maud!"

 

SCOUT: "Well, here is my thought! You always say that many paws make light work, don't you Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "Yes I do, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Well, we have many paws right here!" *Waves paws around him.* "We can all help to write the Christmas cards with you, Paddy! Many paws make light work!"

 

PADDY: "Oh Scout!" *Claps paws in delight.* "You are so clever! Will you all help me write Christmas cards everybear?"

 

SCOUT, ROSIE, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD and EMMETT: "Of course Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "Hoorah!" *Claps paws more.*

 

JAGO: "I would like to write to Otis, Odessa and Pat. (veebruar)" with a special wish for Odessa." *Blushes pink beneath blue mohair plush.*

 

PADDY: "Of course you must, Jago." *Smiles.*

 

BOGART: "I want to write to Mama Kim, the Riversong Bear Clan and the Lagniappe Bear Clan. (BKHagar *Kim*)."

 

SCOUT: “I will write to mijn beste vriend Peter and Mummy Marian. (Marian Kloon (on and off)).”

 

ROSIE: "Please let me sign that card too, Scout! I want to write a special message to mijm prins, Peter and include 10,000 soft snuffly kisses for him!"

 

PADDY: "I need to sign that card too, Scout! I need to write to mijn beste vriend Oleg!"

 

EMMETT: "I need to sign that too, so I can send love to Funky."

 

JAGO: "And so do I, Scout! I need to write to my best friend benny, and I'm suire Daisy-Maud would like to write to Benny too, wouldn't you Daisy-Maud?"

 

DAISY-MAUD: "Oh... oh... oh..." *Blushes pink beneath mohair plush.* "Only if it isn't too difficult, Scout!"

 

BOGART: "And I need to add that I love my best friends Fuzzy and Danbo! Bleep... luv Danbo!"

 

SCOUT: "Alright Rosie, Paddy, Bogart, Emmett, Daisy-Maud and Jago." *Scratches head with paw.* "I do hope there will be enough room! I am adding lots and lots and lots of kisses!"

 

PADDY: "Scout, we must make sure we send snuffly kisses to Frosty (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577222907...) too! "

 

SCOUT: "Alright Paddy! I'll make sure I fit that in! Phew!" *Wipes forehead with paw.*

 

JAGO: "I will write to Mummy June and Algie, and my bear family back in England, Bruno, Big Bear, Posh, Bella, little Rosie and Happy (junibears). You can sign it too, Daisy-Maud!"

 

DAISY-MAUD: "Oh yes, and Orson, Danny Boy and Algie can sign it too!"

 

SCOUT: "And then will we go outside and play hide-and-seek?"

 

PADDY: "Goodness no Scout! We have many more cards to write, like to Sweety, Tandoori, Pezi, Luis, Bärbel, Granny Ursula and Grandpappa Rudi (ursula.valtiner)!"

 

SCOUT: "Oh yes, and to my nephew twice removed and once added, Marvin and his Mummy, Auntie Sky, (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577221865...)"

 

JAGO: *Whispering to DAISY-MAUD: "I still don't understand how Scout can be the nephew of Marvin, twice removed or otherwise. Cousins maybe."

 

DAISY-MAUD: *Whispers back.* "I'm sure you are right, Jago, but let us not interrupt Scout's enthusiasm." *Nods seriously.*

 

SCOUT: "Oh! Oh!" *Jumps up and down with exitement.* "I also need to write to Spencer and his Mummy (FinouCat), and Tiny and Tinica and the Welsh Wild Garden Bear Clan (CarenPolarBears), and Jeanne (Jeanne1931) and Pedro, Edna and the Secretary’s Gang (Der Sekretär)."

 

ROSIE: "And Sky, Bertie and Posh (fenman_1950) and Mr. Doug and the Texas Bear Clan. (Creamy Pet)!.”

 

BOGART: "And Sebastian and Pound Puppy (A n t o i n e t t e), and Anne-Miek and the Bibbe Bears. (Anne-Miek Bibbe).”

 

PADDY: “And ever so many more! All our Teddy Bear Tuesday friends, in fact! And that’s a lot of cards to write!”

 

DADDY: "Goodness everybear! It sounds like you may need my help writing cards too!"

 

PADDY, SCOUT, ROSIE, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, and EMMETT: "Oh hullo Daddy!"

 

DADDY: "I could write to Bernie, Radcliffe, Mummy Veronica and little Darla (veephilion) and…”

 

SCOUT: “No Daddy! I want to write to Bernie, Radcliffe, Mummy Veronica and little Darla!”

 

DADDY: “Oh, alright Scout.”

 

PADDY: *Whispering.* “Scout has a little bit of a crush on little Darla, Daddy.” *Giggles.*

 

DADDY: “Oh! Well, maybe I could write to Bruno, Petsy, Ted and Mummy Kat (saltwood67)."

 

SCOUT: "Let's hope that Bruno managed to find a way to break the spell on Tomie! We must include Tomie on that card too, and Caro, and my good friend Inner-Dog, and Sultan, and Nalle and Anuk!"

 

DADDY: "I will, Scout! I will include them all. I want to help and share the love too."

 

PADDY: “That would be wonderful, Daddy!” *Claps paws with happiness.* "Now please fill up a teapot or three for us, Daddy, as writing is thirsty work! Meanwhile everybear, you may help yourself to my cards and a pencil and you can write some Christmas Cards too! Get yourself a cup, and once Daddy has filled the pot, I'll pour you some tea."

 

DADDY: “And then can we all play hide-and-seek?”

 

PADDY: “Yes Daddy! Then we can all play hide-and-seek.” *Nods enthusiastically.*

 

EMMETT: "I have never played hide-and-seek with you before, daddy!" *Shy and excited.*

 

The Christmas Cards are special "Classic Paddington" Christmas Cards of Peggy Fortnum illustrations. They come as a box set of twenty made up of four designs, published by Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom.

 

This beautiful 1920s cottage ware children's tea set was made in England by John Maddock and Sons Royal Vitreous China Company. It is a child size replica of the 'Rustic' pattern cottage ware made for adults. The Willow Pattern teacups are part of a nursery tea set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1920s. It features four cups and saucers (not all the set is being used today) as well as a tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated with the Willow Pattern in blue, just like the life-size equivalent. It has two sister sets: a 1920s Shell China Company nursery rhyme tea set that I was given as a gift some years ago by a close friend who knows I collect nursery ware and children’s tea sets and a faerie tale set from the 1930s Shell China Company faerie tale tea set that I have built up from various sellers over time.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Made by Merrythought in England, Emmett is a charming little bear, sweet and smiling, crafted from multi-tonal marl grey mohair and featuring golden velvet paws. He is accessorised with a classic tartan woollen scarf. He is number 23 or a limited worldwide edition of 200.

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