Paddington Takes Care of Oleg

OLEG: *Puffing and panting.* "Hachoo...ha...ha..achoo! Just a few more ....hachoo...metres! I can see the magic portal...." *Puffs more.* "My hands are so cold and my paws are so wet."

 

PADDY: "Oh come mijn beste vriend Oleg! Come on! It is nice and warm here!" *Encouraging.* "I will give you a helping paw! You made it!" *Smiles.* "Ik hou zo veel van je mijn beste vriend Oleg! I am so glad you are here!"

 

OLE: *Shivering.* "I'm so glad to see you again mijn allerbeste vriend Paddy. I brought the hat that you can put on the gnome's finger." *Hands hat to Paddy.*

 

PADDY: "Oh thank you Oleg!" *Gives Oleg a big little bear hug.* "Oh my!" *Gasps.* "Oleg! You are soaking wet!"

 

OLEG: *Shivering.* "Please mijn beste vriend...do you have hot Twinings English Breakfast tea you can give me? I'm so cold after my ride on my bicycle through the rain through Mummy Marian's garden."

 

PADDY: "Oh yes, dear Oleg! Come! Let me take you inside. Daddy has the kettle on."

 

OLEG: "Hachoo...ha...ha..achoo!" *Sniffs and wipes nose.* "Oh thank you Paddy." *Sniffles more.*

 

PADDY: "Here, snuggle under this nice warm blanket, mijn beste vriend, Oleg. Make yourself comfortable here on the sofa."

 

OLEG: "Oh thank you Paddy! Hachoo...ha...ha..achoo! You are such a good host."

 

PADDY: "Here, I will snuggle in right next to you and give you a nice cup of Twinings English Breakfast tea, extra hot! You can warm your paws around the cup, and the tea will warm you tummy and warm you all over from the inside out!"

 

OLEG: *Shivers less as he starts to warm up. "Oh thank you, dear Paddy! Hachoo!"

 

PADDY: "Oh it looks like some of the rain clouds in Mummy Marian's garden snuck through with you, Oleg!" *Points to rain clouds floating up into the sky.*

 

OLEG: "Oh I am so sorry, my dear Paddy! I didn't realise!" *Worried.*

 

PADDY: "Oh it doesn't matter, Oleg. We need a little bit of rain for the flowers, and soon the clouds will disperse and we will have sunshine again."

 

OLEG: *Sips hot Twinings English Breakfast tea.*

 

PADDY: "Do you feel better now, Oleg?"

 

OLEG: "Do you know what, mijn allerbeste vriend Paddy? I do! I feel warmer, dryer and happier already!"

 

PADDY: "A cup of tea always makes you feel better, mijn allerbeste vriend Oleg!" *Smiles happily.*

 

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 www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577233464...) 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.

Peter was helping Mummy Marian tidy up the garden for winter and was wheeling the gnome when Oleg saw him and suggested putting it in the shed. You can see here: www.flickr.com/photos/66094586@N06/54916639055/in/faves-4... or in the first comment below. Of course Peter said "no" and insisted that he be brought here to our house for the duration. Oleg was very worried that I would be offended by the gesture of the gnome, which he finds most inappropriate, so he tried to stop Peter, but unfortunately without success. Oleg went looking for a hat that could be put on the gnome's finger to make it look friendlier. On his bicycle, in the pouring rain and strong, bitter wind, Oleg raced to the magic portal with a hat for the gnome as you can see here: www.flickr.com/photos/66094586@N06/54927162085 on in the first comment below. Now Oleg is safely at my house, and I am sure that under Paddy's care and ministrations, he will soon feel warm and happy again.

 

This beautiful Nursery Rhyme tea set has been made by Royal Crown Devon and dates from the late 1910s. It is decorated with "Old Mother Hubbard", "Ding-Dong Dell, Pussy's in the Well", "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Jack and Jill", pictured by famous fine art illustrator John Hassall (1868 - 1948), who was actually a family friend of ours in England. Arguably John Hassall's most famous creation was "The Jolly Fisherman" in 1908, which is regarded as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time in the United Kingdom.

 

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.

 

Thank you to Marian Kloon (on and off) for the use of her photo of Oleg in my photo montage.

Done