SCOUT: “Look Paddy! It’s a beautiful sunny day outside! Let’s ask Jago to come outside and explore the garden and the street with us!”
PADDY: “Oh good idea, Scout. I’m sure Jago would very much enjoy exploring a little bit of his new neighbourhood.”
SCOUT: “Good! I will ask him!” *Walks up to Jago.* “Jago? Jago! Jago, would you like to come outside with us? We would like to show you our garden and a little bit of the street we live on.”
JAGO: “Oh hoorah! Thank you very much, Scout! I would so like to see some more of the pretty neighbourhood I now call home.”
BOGART: “May I come too!”
SCOUT: “Of course Bogart! Let’s go!” *Jumps up and down with excitement.*
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and JAGO all get ready and go outside. They walk past DADDY on the computer on their way to the door.
DADDY: “Where are you four off to?”
SCOUT: “We are taking Jago on a wander, so we can show him the garden and a little bit of our street.”
DADDY: “Well, just don’t stray too far, don’t play on the road and don’t speak to any strangers. When you want to play, please play in the garden.”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and JAGO: “Yes Daddy!”
JAGO: “Hhhmmm….” *Scratches head with paw as he looks around the garden.* “Hhhmmm…”
SCOUT: “Jago! Jago what is it? You look concerned!”
BOGART: “No he doesn’t, Scout. Jago looks confused!”
JAGO: *Sits by the neighbour’s gate and scratches head even more with paw.*
PADDY: “Jago, are you quite alright? Is the sun too hot for you?”
JAGO: “Oh no the sun is lovely, it’s just that I am confused.”
BOGART: “See Scout, I was right, he is confused.”
PADDY: “Why are you confused Jago? What’s the matter?”
JAGO: “Well, Mummy Junie did tell me that there are different plants here in Australia, but I also see many that are the same as in England, like roses and lilacs, jasmine and wisteria.”
PADDY: “Yes that is true. There are many native plants and many imported ones too. Why is that confusing, Jago?”
JAGO: “Well, it’s just that they all look like they are in their first flush of spring blooms. How can that be when it is autumn? Where are the autumn leaves on that oak over there, or that maple there?” *Points to an oak tree and a maple tree.*
SCOUT: *Giggles.* “Silly Jago! It’s not autumn time, it’s spring time!” *Giggles more.*
PADDY: “Scout! That isn’t very nice of you to laugh at Jago.”
SCOUT: “But he says it should be autumn when it’ spring, Paddy! That’s funny!” *Giggles more.*
BOGART: “No it isn’t, Scout!” *Waves paw admonishingly at Scout. “For shame! I had the same problem with the seasons when I came here.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Stops laughing.* “Oh! I’m sorry Jago. It’s just this is always the time that Spring comes. I don’t understand how now can be autumn when really it is spring!”
PADDY: “That’s because you have only ever lived in the southern hemisphere, Scout. Whereas Jago, Bogart and I have lived in the northern hemisphere.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “I am sorry, Jago! Really I am!” *Contrite.*
JAGO: “Oh I’m sure you are, Scout. You are a good and kind bear. I know that you would never purposely say anything to upset me. Can you explain why things are so topsy-turvy here, Paddy?”
PADDY: “Of course, Jago. Australia is in the southern hemisphere, and in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the other way around. It is summer in December, Winter in July, Autumn in April and spring now.”
JAGO: “Goodness Paddy!” *Scratches head.* “A warm Christmas! How on earth will I get used to that?”
BOGART: “Trust me, you do, and don’t worry, Father Christmas still comes here on a sleigh with gifts for good little bears, even if there is no snow.”
JAGO: “Oh well! That’s a relief! I feel so much better now.”
BOGART: “And just think Jago, for this year you get to go from late summer into spring and then summer again, so you will have two summers and no winter this year!”
SCOUT: “And sometimes in summer, Daddy takes us to the seaside!”
JAGO: “Does Australia have a seaside too?”
SCOUT: “Oh my goodness yes! Miles and miles of seaside! Daddy tells me that we are just a big island in the middle of the ocean.”
JAGO: “Well, two summers in a year and no winter, and miles and miles of seaside! That does sound like a good bargain.”
PADDY: “And don’t worry Jago, we will still have a proper Christmas dinner with turkey and ham, and plum pudding for dessert with lashings and lashings of Daddy’s homemade custard on Christmas Day!”
JAGO: “Well that sounds splendid too, Paddy!”
DADDY: “Hullo you four! I was just coming to find you. I thought you were going to show Jago the street, Scout, Paddy and Bogart.”
SCOUT: “Well, we didn’t get quite that far, Daddy.”
DADDY: “Yes, I see you only got as far as the neighbour’s gate.”
PADDY: “You see, we had to stop and explain to Jago how the seasons are opposite here, Daddy.”
DADDY: “Oh! Of course! I don’t know if I will ever get used to the differences to England, Jago, but you do adapt. Do you understand now, Jago? Did Paddy, Scout and Bogart give you a good explanation.”
JAGO: “Oh they did, thank you Daddy! They also told me that you make homemade custard.”
DADDY: “I do, Jago. Would you like some?”
JAGO: “Oh may I Daddy?” *Puts paws to mouth and trembles with excitement.* “Only if it isn’t too much trouble, of course!”
DADDY: “Yes of course, Jago. I will make a custard tart for afternoon tea for you, Paddy, Scout, Bogart and Cousin Paddington.”
JAGO: “Oh thank you Daddy! I must confess that all this exploring has given me a bit of a grumbly tummy, Daddy!”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and JAGO: “Grumbly tummies Daddy! Grumbly tummies!” *Rub tummies with paws.*
DADDY: “Well, why don’t you all play hide-and-seek out here in the garden in the spring sunshine, and when I have made the custard tart, I’ll call you in.”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and JAGO: “Thank you Daddy!” *Run off to play hide-and-seek*
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.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. 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.
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.
