PADDY: "Oh come everybear! Come and see what Mr. Postman just delivered to us!"
JAGO: "What is it, Paddy?"
ROSIE: "Another surprise! Christmases around Daddy's house are very magical and so excitng!"
SCOUT: "Oh I know! That's why I love Christmas so much! You never know what is going to happen next!"
BOGART: "I hope it's a present!
Maybe it's Mama Kim's parcel! Oh!" *Looks around to make sure no-one heard him.* "Ssssshhh! I must keep that a secret in case it doesn't arrive before Christmas."
DUCKIE: "Perhaps this time it will be some yummy worms and grubs!" *Excited.*
PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, FREDDY and ROSIE: "Worms and grubs?!?! Yuck!" *Stick out cute little pink bear tongues.*
DUCKIE: "Don't be hasty to judge it until you've tried it." *Sniffs and hoists beak into the air haughtily.* "Actually, worms and grubs are quite delicious!"
PADDY: "Enough talk about worms and grubs!" *Waves paw dismissively.* "Look what Mr. Postman delivered, every bear, fox and duck?"
ROSIE: "Oh look! It's a beautiful Christmas card!"
SCOUT: "Look, Father Christmas is on the front!"
JAGO: "And he is cuddling a bear!"
COUSIN PADDINGTON: "And he has such a sweet look on his face. So loving!"
FREDDY: "It looks like it has been painted by hand, Paddy!"
PADDY: "That is because it has, Freddy. This is a unique card, every bear, fox and duck!"
DUCKIE: "Unique? How is it unique? It is made of a piece of folded over paper, just like all the other cards."
JAGO: "Duckie! Don't be uncharitable. It is Christmas, after all."
PADDY: "Well, you are right in tat respect, Duckie, but it is unique because it has been hand drawn and painted by Daddy's friend Maria for all of us."
SCOUT, COUSIN PDDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, ROSIE, FREDDY AND DUCKIE: "Wow!"
DUCKIE: "Who is this Maria person? I have heard you mention her before, Paddy."
PADDY: "Maria is a lovely lady who is one of Daddy's very good friends. She loves bears."
SCOUT: "Oh she does! She has met us before, Duckie and she loves us sooooo much!"
PADDY: "And Maria is an artist too! She makes unique cards out of recycled paper. She also made the koala and gum leaf heart hanging off the tree. See?" *Points paw to tree.* "Maria knows that Daddy loves and collects antique postcards. She also knows that he loves bears, so she drew and painted this card just for him, and for us, to say merry Christmas."
JAGO: "Oh isn't that the loveliest present, everybear?"
DUCKIE: "Ahem!"
JAGO: "And duck and fox!"
ROSIE: "Oh how lovely! What does she say, Jago?"
BOGART: "Did she mention us, Paddy?"
SCOUT: "Oh I'm sure she would have, Bogart! Maria loves bears too!"
PADDY: "Yes she did Bogart! She sends us all her very best wishes and treasures our friendship."
BOGART: "Oh that is lovely! That is a beautiful present to bestow upon all of us!"
PADDY: "And she wishes us a year of health and peace ahead."
ROSIE: "Maria is obviously a very nice and kind person!"
PADDY: "And talented too!"
JAGO: "Just like Mummy June is! It's a beautiful card! Can we put it beside Mummy June's card, Paddy?"
PADDY: "Oh I think that is a lovely idea!"
FREDDY: "You know, I really like this Christmas thing! Everyone is so nice and kind and caring of one another!"
PADDY: "Well that is the magic of Christmas, Freddy! It is a time of good will to all people, bears, ducks and foxes."
SCOUT: "Oh that is so lovely! Thank you Maria!"
ROSIE: "Yes, thank you Maria!"
BOGART: "What a wonderful gift to all of us! Thank you Maria!"
PADDY: "Thank you for all the kind wishes and love, Maria! Paddy, Scout, Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Rosie, Freddy, Duckie, Daddy and I are sending you and your Mummy, Signora Anna, lots of Christmas big little bear hugs and snuffly Christmas kisses!"
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.
Rosie is Scout's cousin, because like Scout, she is a free trade knitted bear from Africa. She was made in Kenya by one of the Kenana Knitters, Martha Wanjira. She is made from home spun and dyed wool. She was a gift to me from two very dear friends, includng the one who gave Scout to Paddy.
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.
Travelling all the way from London, Cousin Paddington was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, so it looks like he is stopping with us for a long while. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.
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.
Duckie I saw when I was at a Sunday market on a stall of homemade knitted and crocheted items. She caught my eye straight away with her happy, smiley face and bright colours. I think she finds life with my bears intriguing and perhaps a little confusing, however she is learning.