SCOUT: “Paddy! Jago! Bogart! Freddy! Come quickly!”
PADDY: “Oh what is it Scout? What’s wrong?”
SCOUT: “Nothing is wrong Paddy! Why do you always think something is wrong when I call you?”
JAGO: “Usually because something is wrong, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “Well, not today everybear and fox!”
BOGART: “What is it then, Scout?”
FREDDY: “Yes, do tell us, Scout!”
SCOUT: “Look! I found a magic faerie toadstool house, right here at the base of this paperbark tree!”
PADDY, JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: “Goodness!”
BOGART: “That is sooo exciting, Scout!” *Trembles.*
JAGO: “Have you seen any faeries yet, Scout?”
SCOUT: “No I haven’t Bogart. Maybe we could sit and wait and watch for them.”
FREDDY: “How do you know this is a faerie toadstool house, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Well Freddy, don’t you remember from Daddy’s books of faerie tales, little faeries poke their heads out through the doors and windows.”
PADDY: “Sometimes gnomes live in toadstool houses, Scout.”
JAGO: “And sometimes pixies and sprites, as well as faeries.”
SCOUT: “That’s true. Let’s keep watch and see who comes out.”
PADDY, SCOUT JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: *All sit down and watch the front door carefully.*
JAGO: *Tummy grumbles loudly.*
SCOUT: “Sssshhhh! Hush Jago!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “You’ll scare the faeries and they won’t come out.”
BOGART: “Or the pixies, gnomes or sprites.”
SCOUT: “Sssshhhh!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “Bogart we need to be quiet.”
PADDY, SCOUT JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: *All sit down and watch the front door carefully.*
FREDDY: “Paddy?” *Whispers.* “Paddy?”
PADDY: “Yes Freddy?” *Whispers.*
FREDDY: “How long will we have to wait for the faeries, or pixies, or gnomes to come out?”
PADDY: *Shrugs shoulders.* “I’m not sure, Freddy. Faeries can be tricky. They are also very cautious.*
BOGART: “What if the toadstool house is empty, and the faerie real estate agent is trying to let it out.”
SCOUT: “Oooohhh…. I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t see a to let sign, do you?”
JAGO: “I don’t, Scout.”
DADDY: “Hullo everybear and fox.”
PADDY, SCOUT JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: “Ssshhhh!” *Puts paws to mouths.*
DADDY: “What are you doing?” *Whispering.*
SCOUT: “We are waiting for the faeries to come out of the faerie toadstool house, Daddy.” *Whispers.*
BOGART: “Or gnomes.” *Whispers.*
FREDDY: “Or pixies or sprites.* *Whispers.*
PADDY: “But we haven’t seen one yet.” *Whispers.*
DADDY: “Well, I’m not surprised, little ones.”
PADDY, SCOUT JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: “You aren’t Daddy?”
DADDY: “No. Faeries, pixies, sprites and gnomes are very tricky. They can slip in and out without you even noticing, even if you are looing intently at the door.”
PADDY: “Oh we know, Daddy.”
JAGO: “But we thought it was worth a try.”
SCOUT: “Do you mean we won’t see any faeries, Daddy?” *Tears well in eyes.*
DADDY: “Oh don’t be sad, Scout. You will see faeries, but you won’t see them by watching out for them.”
BOGART: “We won’t, Daddy?”
DADDY: “No Bogart. You will see them out of the corner of your eye, when you least expect it.”
JAGO: “Like when we are having a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, Daddy?”
DADDY: “Very possibly, Jago.”
PADDY: “Could we go home and have some tea and chocolate biscuits, then Daddy?”
PADDY, SCOUT JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: “Grumbly tummies, Daddy! Grumbly tummies!” *Rub tummies vigorously.*
SCOUT: “Are you sure, Daddy!”
DADDY: “Oh I’m quite sure. You may not see them this afternoon, or even today, but I know you will see faeries soon, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Well in that case, let’s all go home and have tea and chocolate biscuits!”
PADDY, JAGO, BOGART and FREDDY: “Hoorah!”
Now that the colder weather is here, Paddy, Scout, Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago, Freddy and I are taking advantage of the days when there is sunshine by finding adventures in the crisp outdoors. Even our own front garden provides beauty and adventures in abundance for little bears and foxes!
Being slightly colder here now, Paddy and Scout are wearing hand knitted scarves, Paddy and Bogart are wearing hand knitted hats and Freddy is wearing a hand knitted cape, all made by Lorna's Lovely Looks. Paddy sports a crown pin and Scout insisted on wearing a pink striped teacup one, which seems most appropriate for him. Both pins were gifts from a good friend who is very fond of Paddy and Scout. Jago’s hat is an antique doll’s beret made of good quality red and black houndstooth.
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.
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.
Freddy Fox is made by Merrythought in England. I bought him, of all places, from a men’s accessory shop in Melbourne’s Block Arcade, called Mr. Wares. Freddy Fox is made of English Mohair with felt paws and glass bead eyes. He has so much charm and charisma that already he is winning hearts with anyone whom he meets, and he is kind and sweet, which makes him an ideal member of our family.