Paddington, Scout and Bear and Bearability
SCOUT: “Hullo Paddy!”
PADDY: “Err… hullo Scout.” *Looks with consternation at Scout as he spies Scouts blonde curly wig.* “Oh! No! No! No! I’m not playing the witch in Scoutpunzel, Scout! It’s too, too demoralising!” *Prepares to leave.*
SCOUT: “Oh Paddy! I’m not Scoutpunzel today!” *Giggles behind paw.* “Please don’t leave!”
PADDY: “You aren’t, Scout?”
SCOUT: “No Paddy!” *Shakes head vehemently.*
PADDY: “Oh! That’s a relief!” *Fans face with paw.* “In that case I’ll stay.”
SCOUT: “Good, because I will need your help, Paddy!”
PADDY: “My help, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy!” *Nods seriously.* “Oh and today… ahem!” *Clears throat.* “I am not Scout.”
PADDY: “But you promise you aren’t Scoutpunzel?”
SCOUT: “Of course I promise I am not Scoutpunzel, Paddy! How could you even think such a thing?”
PADDY: *Points to Scout’s curly wig.*
SCOUT: “Oh Paddy!” *Giggles again.* “You are so funny! This isn’t my Scoutpunzel wig. Its much too short, except for my one long strand which is my special curl that Daddy gave me especially when styling it because I asked him to because it was very fashionable at the time.”
PADDY: “And what time, Scout? Who are you being today if you are not being Scoutpunzel?”
SCOUT: “Well I should have thought it was obvious, Paddy! I have a pretty muslin lace frock on, and a cameo…”
PADDY: “Yes, I noticed you wearing Daddy’s very special cameo of Prince Albert I hope you asked Daddy before you took it!”
SCOUT: “Of course I did, Paddy, and I asked if I could borrow Daddy’s very special writing slope from ye olden days that is even older than when the world was black and white!”
PADDY: *Sighs.* “I keep telling you Scout… err… whoever you are playing today… that the world wasn’t black and white, only the telly!”
SCOUT: “Well, I am too young to know what it was or wasn’t like then, Paddy!” *Preens.* “The world has always been colour since I was around, but that is because I am young and beautiful!” *Preens more.*
PADDY: “Well, I still don’t know who you are, Scout. Who are you being today?”
SCOUT: “I am being Scout Austen, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Scout Austen, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy!” Nods enthusiastically.* “You see, after we watched that documentary about Jane Austen on the telly the other night… which was in colour., so not from ye olden days, Paddy.”
PADDY: “Yes, I know it was in colour, Scout! I was sitting next to you.”
SCOUT: “Well, I was so inspired by Jane Austen’s amazing determination to write a book as a young woman during a time that women didn’t write books, that I have decided to write my own book as Scout Austen!” *Proud.* “It is going to be a best seller!”
PADDY: “Really Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy! See, I have my ink bottle and quill pen ready to go!”
PADDY: “And what is this best selling novel penned by you going to be called, Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Ahem.” *Clears throat importantly.* “I have given it serious consideration, Paddy, and after much del… delib… deliber… after lots and lots and lots of thought, I’ve decided to call it, ‘Bear and Bearability’.” *Proud.* “It is going to be a bearmance!”
PADDY: “Oh that sounds wonderful Scout Austen!”
SCOUT: “Yes, I thought so too, Paddy!” *Claps paws with delight.* “I’m glad you approve!”
PADDY: “One thing puzzles me though, Scout Austen.”
SCOUT: “Oh yes, Paddy. What pray, is that?”
PADDY: “Why do you need my help?”
SCOUT: “Well, I know that novels can be very, very, VERY LOOOONG!”
PADDY: “Some can be, Scout Austen.”
SCOUT: “Yes, at least ten pages or sometimes more!” *Flaps face with paw dramatically as he rests against the edge of writing slope. “And I only have small and dainty little paws.”
PADDY: “But what has that to do with me, Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Well, I also know that some writers have secretaries, and I thought you could be my secretary, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Me Scout... err Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy! You!” *Nods seriously.* “You have much bigger paws than me, and ones that are more used to hard work, whereas mine are little, gentle and soft.” *Strokes soft woollen paws gently.* “You are also very good at writing big words, Paddy, much better than me! So, I will dic… dict… dicta…”
PADDY: “Dictate, Scout Austen?” *Helpful.*
SCOUT: “I will tell you the story of ‘Bear and Bearability’, a sweeping and heartwarming bearmance set in the Regency era, full of heaving bear emotions, love, and the eternal battle to defeat the grumbly tummies over a nice high tea of scones and little deadly cakes!” *Sighs dramatically.* “And you can write it all down for me as I tell it to you!” *Nods and smiles.*
PADDY: “Well… I….”
SCOUT: *Pushes ink bottle and quill towards Paddy hopefully.*
The writing slope you can see in the photo is a black japanned lacquered mid Victorian papier mâché example with a red velvet lined slope. The ink bottle with is metal lid is original to the writing slope.
The Victorian cameo Scout wears at his throat is of Prince Albert’s profile. It has only recently been acquired by me. Made in 1862 of shell and set in an ornate gold frame, this tiny cameo is only two centimetres in length, yet it is superbly and intricately carved with his undeniable likeness. This cameo would have been in the top range for its fine details considering its size.
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.
Paddington, Scout and Bear and Bearability
SCOUT: “Hullo Paddy!”
PADDY: “Err… hullo Scout.” *Looks with consternation at Scout as he spies Scouts blonde curly wig.* “Oh! No! No! No! I’m not playing the witch in Scoutpunzel, Scout! It’s too, too demoralising!” *Prepares to leave.*
SCOUT: “Oh Paddy! I’m not Scoutpunzel today!” *Giggles behind paw.* “Please don’t leave!”
PADDY: “You aren’t, Scout?”
SCOUT: “No Paddy!” *Shakes head vehemently.*
PADDY: “Oh! That’s a relief!” *Fans face with paw.* “In that case I’ll stay.”
SCOUT: “Good, because I will need your help, Paddy!”
PADDY: “My help, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy!” *Nods seriously.* “Oh and today… ahem!” *Clears throat.* “I am not Scout.”
PADDY: “But you promise you aren’t Scoutpunzel?”
SCOUT: “Of course I promise I am not Scoutpunzel, Paddy! How could you even think such a thing?”
PADDY: *Points to Scout’s curly wig.*
SCOUT: “Oh Paddy!” *Giggles again.* “You are so funny! This isn’t my Scoutpunzel wig. Its much too short, except for my one long strand which is my special curl that Daddy gave me especially when styling it because I asked him to because it was very fashionable at the time.”
PADDY: “And what time, Scout? Who are you being today if you are not being Scoutpunzel?”
SCOUT: “Well I should have thought it was obvious, Paddy! I have a pretty muslin lace frock on, and a cameo…”
PADDY: “Yes, I noticed you wearing Daddy’s very special cameo of Prince Albert I hope you asked Daddy before you took it!”
SCOUT: “Of course I did, Paddy, and I asked if I could borrow Daddy’s very special writing slope from ye olden days that is even older than when the world was black and white!”
PADDY: *Sighs.* “I keep telling you Scout… err… whoever you are playing today… that the world wasn’t black and white, only the telly!”
SCOUT: “Well, I am too young to know what it was or wasn’t like then, Paddy!” *Preens.* “The world has always been colour since I was around, but that is because I am young and beautiful!” *Preens more.*
PADDY: “Well, I still don’t know who you are, Scout. Who are you being today?”
SCOUT: “I am being Scout Austen, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Scout Austen, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy!” Nods enthusiastically.* “You see, after we watched that documentary about Jane Austen on the telly the other night… which was in colour., so not from ye olden days, Paddy.”
PADDY: “Yes, I know it was in colour, Scout! I was sitting next to you.”
SCOUT: “Well, I was so inspired by Jane Austen’s amazing determination to write a book as a young woman during a time that women didn’t write books, that I have decided to write my own book as Scout Austen!” *Proud.* “It is going to be a best seller!”
PADDY: “Really Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy! See, I have my ink bottle and quill pen ready to go!”
PADDY: “And what is this best selling novel penned by you going to be called, Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Ahem.” *Clears throat importantly.* “I have given it serious consideration, Paddy, and after much del… delib… deliber… after lots and lots and lots of thought, I’ve decided to call it, ‘Bear and Bearability’.” *Proud.* “It is going to be a bearmance!”
PADDY: “Oh that sounds wonderful Scout Austen!”
SCOUT: “Yes, I thought so too, Paddy!” *Claps paws with delight.* “I’m glad you approve!”
PADDY: “One thing puzzles me though, Scout Austen.”
SCOUT: “Oh yes, Paddy. What pray, is that?”
PADDY: “Why do you need my help?”
SCOUT: “Well, I know that novels can be very, very, VERY LOOOONG!”
PADDY: “Some can be, Scout Austen.”
SCOUT: “Yes, at least ten pages or sometimes more!” *Flaps face with paw dramatically as he rests against the edge of writing slope. “And I only have small and dainty little paws.”
PADDY: “But what has that to do with me, Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Well, I also know that some writers have secretaries, and I thought you could be my secretary, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Me Scout... err Scout Austen?”
SCOUT: “Yes Paddy! You!” *Nods seriously.* “You have much bigger paws than me, and ones that are more used to hard work, whereas mine are little, gentle and soft.” *Strokes soft woollen paws gently.* “You are also very good at writing big words, Paddy, much better than me! So, I will dic… dict… dicta…”
PADDY: “Dictate, Scout Austen?” *Helpful.*
SCOUT: “I will tell you the story of ‘Bear and Bearability’, a sweeping and heartwarming bearmance set in the Regency era, full of heaving bear emotions, love, and the eternal battle to defeat the grumbly tummies over a nice high tea of scones and little deadly cakes!” *Sighs dramatically.* “And you can write it all down for me as I tell it to you!” *Nods and smiles.*
PADDY: “Well… I….”
SCOUT: *Pushes ink bottle and quill towards Paddy hopefully.*
The writing slope you can see in the photo is a black japanned lacquered mid Victorian papier mâché example with a red velvet lined slope. The ink bottle with is metal lid is original to the writing slope.
The Victorian cameo Scout wears at his throat is of Prince Albert’s profile. It has only recently been acquired by me. Made in 1862 of shell and set in an ornate gold frame, this tiny cameo is only two centimetres in length, yet it is superbly and intricately carved with his undeniable likeness. This cameo would have been in the top range for its fine details considering its size.
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.