PADDY: “Isn’t it a lovely day everybear?”
JAGO: “Indeed Paddy, the sky is so blue today!”
BOGART: “Oh yes, Paddy! The sun is shining.” *Skips.*
ROSIE: “And there are pretty flowers coming out!” *Skips with Bogart.*
SCOUT: “And it’s nice and warm!” *Skips with Bogart and Rosie.*
DAISY-MAUD: “Although, it is still peculiar to me that it is springtime here. In my mind it should be autumn around now, with pretty coloured leaves.”
JAGO: “Don’t worry dear Daisy-Maud. Remember that I told you that I was confused about the seasons when I first came here too.”
BOGART: “I remember that! We went for a walk in springtime and you said it should be autumn, just like Daisy-Maud is saying now. It confused me too, Daisy-Maud, when I first arrived here from Alabama.”
PADDY: “And me when Daddy and I came from England.”
JAGO: “But trust Paddy, Bogart and I when we tell you that you will get used to it, in time.”
DAISY-MAUD: “Oh I believe you all, and at least I have my pretty sunhat to wear today.”
SCOUT: “Paddy, all this walking and skipping is making me, tired. Can we stop and rest for a little bit?”
PADDY: “Very well, Scout, but just for a little bit. Daddy will be missing us before too long.”
JAGO: “If he isn’t already.”
DAISY-MAUD: “Come, we’ll sit under these pretty nasturtiums, and you can sit on my lap.”
SCOUT: “Oh thank you, Daisy-Maud!” *Picks a nasturtium flowers and sits on Daisy-Maud’s lap.*
JAGO: “Would you like to sit on my lap, Rosie and Bogart?”
BOGART: “I’ll be fine Jago, I’ll stand here next to Paddy and keep him company.”
PADDY: “That’s very good of you, little Bogart.”
ROSIE: “Oh I would love to sit on your lap, Jago! Thank you so much!” *Picks a nasturtium flower and sits on Jago’s lap.*
SCOUT: “These are such funny looking flowers.* “Twirls nasturtium in his paw.*
ROSIE: “But such a pretty colour!” *Twirls her nasturtium too.*
DAISY-MAUD: “They are called nasturtiums, Scout and Rosie.”
SCOUT: “Gesundheit, Daisy-Maud! I hope you don’t have hay fever from all the freshly cut grass!” *Puts paw to mouth in concern.*
DAISY-MAUD: “Oh I didn’t sneeze, Scout.”
PADDY: “Nasturtium is the name of the flower, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Puts paw to mouth and twirls nasturtium with the other paw.* “Nas… nastur… well, whatever they are called, they are very odd looking.”
JAGO: “But they taste delicious.”
SCOUT: “Taste, Jago?”
ROSIE: “Can you eat the nas… nastur… can you eat these flowers?”
JAGO: “Oh yes, Rosie!”
BOGART: “Have you ever eaten one before, Jago?”
JAGO: “Why yes I have, Bogart.”
DADDY: “And what’s more, you can eat the leaves too, Scout, Rosie and Bogart.”
ROSIE: “Have you eaten any of the leaves before, Paddy?”
PADDY: “Indeed I have, Rosie. I have had them in salads before. Daddy quite likes nasturtium leaves too.”
BOGART: “What do the leaves taste like Paddy?”
PADDY: “Well, they are a little bit spicy and slightly bitter.”
DAISY-MAUD: “I compare them to eating onions, Paddy.”
PADDY: “Oh! Bravo Daisy-Maud!” *Claps paws.* “That is an excellent comparison.”
SCOUT: “I can understand why you would eat the leaves, Paddy and Jago, after all we eat the leaves of lettuces when we have salads, but not the flowers! Flowers are there to look pretty!”
JAGO: “Well there are actually many different flowers that you can eat.”
DAISY-MAUD: “And there are also lots of flowers that you shouldn’t eat too. Some can give you an upset tummy!”
PADDY: “So if you don’t know whether you can eat a flower or not, you should always ask an older bear, or Daddy before you do.”
ROSIE and BOGART: “Oh!” *Put paws to mouth.*
SCOUT: “It sounds silly to eat flowers!” *Shakes head.* “Flowers are meant to look pretty!”
DAISY-MAUD: “Well, they can look equally beautiful on a plate as much as they do on a bush.”
JAGO: “Daisy-Maud and I have had candied violas before, haven’t we, Daisy-Maud?”
DAISY-MAUD: “We have indeed, Jago.”
ROSIE: “What did they taste like, Jago?”
JAGO: “Sweet, Rosie. They were candied after all.”
SCOUT: “What do nas… nastur… what do these flowers taste like, Jago?”
JAGO: “Well, why don’t you try it yourself, Scout? Then you can make up your own mind as to what they taste like.”
SCOUT: *Looks doubtfully at nasturtium flower as he twists it in his paw.* “What if it tastes bitter and yucky?” *Sticks out cute little pink bear tongue.*
DAISY-MAUD: “Trust me Scout. It doesn’t. Here, I’ll eat a petal.” *Reaches out paw and plucks off part of a petal and eats it. “Delicious!”
SCOUT: “Oh Daisy-Maud! You are so brave to eat the nas.. nastur… the flower!”
DAISY-MAUD: “Now it’s your turn, Scout. You too, Rosie. Bogart, you should try a bit too.”
SCOUT, ROSIE and BOGART: *Each taste a bit of nasturtium flower.*
ROSIE: “Oh! It tastes sweet!”
BOGART: “So it does!”
SCOUT: “Hhhmmm… it does, but I think it would take a lot of these nas… nastur… a lot of these flowers to fill my grumbly tummy! Grumbly tummy Paddy! Grumbly tummy!”
PADDY: “Come on everybear! Let’s go home. I’m sure Daddy will have the kettle on, and there will be a nice big slice of apple teacake for all of us.”
SCOUT, ROSIE, BOGART, DAISY-MAUD and JAGO: “Tea and apple teacake! Grumbly tummies Paddy! Grumbly tummies!” *Rub tummies vigorously.*
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.
Daisy Maud is Jago's little sister and was made by the same friend in England who made him. She is made of German mohair with floral fabric cotton paw pads that match her pretty sunhat, and glass eyes. A sweet and loving little girl bear, she is happy to be reunited with her big brother, Jago, and enjoys being spoiled by her new Daddy.