Paddington, Scout and Lorraine Lee

SCOUT: "Oh Paddy! Paddy look!"

 

PADDY: "What is it, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Look Paddy! Roses! I haven't seen any roses since forever!"

 

PADDY: "Well, Spring is in the air, although it is still a bit too cold not to wear hats and scarves out of doors, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "These roses are soooo pretty!"

 

PADDY: "Oh yes, Scout! Lorraine Lee is very beautiful."

 

SCOUT: *Looks oddly at Paddy.* "Well, I'm sure she does, Paddy, but I wouldn't know about that, as I don't know her."

 

PADDY: "But of course you do, Scout. You just said that Lorraine Lee was beautiful."

 

SCOUT: "Oh Paddy! Are you ill?" *Puts paw to Paddy's forehead.* "Do you need to lie down?"

 

PADDY: "I'm feeling fine, Scout. Why do you ask?"

 

SCOUT: "Well, not to be rude, but when you start talking gibberish nonsense, I start to worry about your mental fac... mental facu... mental facutal..."

 

PADDY: "Faculties, Scout?" *Helpful.*

 

SCOUT: "The state of your brain, Paddy. I mean, it does come from ye olden days when the world was black and white, so I imagine you are bound to have a loose wire or screw sometime."

 

PADDY: "Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "What?!?!"

 

PADDY: "How many times have I told you that it is rude and bad mannerly to refer to a bear's age? Especially mine!"

 

SCOUT: "I'm just trying to suggest that you might have that early onset amnesia, Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "It's early onset dementia, Scout, and I'll have you know that my mental faculties are perfectly fine." *Nods seriously.*

 

SCOUT: "Then why did you say I said that a lady called Lorraine looked pretty when what I was really saying was pretty were these pretty peachy pink roses, Paddy? If that isn't early onset anesthesia, I don't know what is!"

 

PADDY: "Early onset dementia, Scout, and the reason why I said that is because that is what these roses are called. They are called Lorraine Lee roses."

 

SCOUT: "Ooooh!" *Puts paw to mouth.* "Oh that's alright then!" *Sighs with relief and cuddles Paddy.* "I'm so glad you don't have early onset Anastasia, Paddy. That would make me very, very sad if you did!"

 

PADDY: "It's no...." *Shakes head and cuddles Scout back.* "Oh never mind, Scout. I'm glad I don't either."

 

SCOUT: "Paddy! Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "Yes Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Doesn't that make it confusing for the roses?"

 

PADDY: "Does what make it confusing for the roses, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Well, being called Lorraine."

 

PADDY: "Why would that be confusing to the roses, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Well, when you call to one bloom and say 'Hey Lorraine!', they will all turn their heads because they are all Lorraines!"

 

PADDY: "I hadn't thought about that, Scout, but I suppose they must be used to it, since they have been called Lorraine Lee roses since 1924."

 

SCOUT: "Woooowwww Paddy! That really is ancient! That is more than one hundred years ago! That's even older than you and Daddy, Paddy!" *Looks at roses in amazement. "And yet they still look so fresh!"

 

The Lorraine Lee rose was bred in 1924 by Australian rose propagator Alister Clark, who named the pretty peach pink bloom after his cousin, Lorraine Lee, when she chose it as a seedling from his collection. It was designed to thrive in Australian conditions, is known for its vigorous growth and unique winter flowering, and has become one of Australia's most popular roses.

 

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 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.

 

Being colder here, even though spring is in the air, both Paddy and Scout are wearing hand knitted scarves and Paddy is wearing hand knitted hat by Lorna's Lovely Looks. Paddy sports a heart pin and Scout insisted on wearing a pink cupcake one, which seems most appropriate considering his perpetual grumbly tummy. Both were gifts from a good friend who is very fond of both Paddy and Scout.

Done