PADDY: “Daddy? Where are you taking Scout, Bogart, Rosie, Emmett and I?”
DADDY: “It’s a surprise for you all!”
SCOUT: “Oh I hope it is exciting!”
BOGART: “And adventurous!”
ROSIE: “And for tenacious bears!”
EMMETT: “And fun! Don’t forget fun, everybear!”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and ROSIE: “And fun!”
DADDY: “I promise it will be all of these things, everybear!” *Walks, then stops and puts Paddy, Scout, Bogart, Rosie and Emmett on the ground.* “Surprise!”
EMMETT: “Where are we?”
BOGART: “It’s a fun fair!” *Claps paws with delight.*
PADDY: “With a Ferris wheel!” *Puts paw to mouth.*
SCOUT: “Which is just bear size!” *Claps paws with delight.*
PADDY: “Oh Daddy! How wonderful!”
DADDY: “Well, since Emmett is new to Melbourne, I wanted to show him some of the sights, and I thought you would all enjoy riding to the Ferris wheel.”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE and EMMETT: “Oh thank you, Daddy!”
DADDY: “You’re all very welcome!”
SCOUT: “Oh! Rosie and Bogart! We can ride the Ferris wheel to the top! It’s very high! Perfect for tenacious bears like us!”
ROSIE: “It’s sooooo high, Scout! I’m excited!” *Trembles.*
SCOUT: “I bet it is so high that we can look from the top and see mijn beste vriend Peter, who is also your prince Peter, Rosie!”
ROSIE: “Do you mean we can see all the day to Denmark, where he is having a holiday with Mummy Marian?”
SCOUT: “I bet we can! And we can wave to him!”
ROSIE: “And I can blow him 10,000 soft snuffly kisses!”
SCOUT: “I don’t know if the carriage of the Ferris wheel will stay up long enough for you to do that, Rosie.”
ROSIE: “Then we will just go around again, and again, and again until I have, Scout!”
SCOUT: “That’s a good idea, Rosie!”
BOGART: “Oh! If you can see all the way to Denmark, maybe I can see as far as the Netherlands, and I will be able to see my best friends Fuzzy and Danbo! Bleep! Love Danbo!” *Gasps.* “Maybe I can even see as far as Alabama and see Mama Kim and all the Riversong Bear Clan!”
EMMETT: “Do you think if Scout and Rosie see Peter, and Bogart sees Fuzzy, Dano, Mama Kim and the Riversong Bear Clan, that I might see Funky, Paddy?”
PADDY: *Rests a paw on Emmet’s shoulder.* “Well, it is very, very tall, Emmett. There is only one way to find out! Let’s try. You can wave to your best friend Funky in the Netherlands and I will wave to mijn beste vriend Oleg, who is holidaying with Peter and Mummy Marian in the Netherlands too!”
EMMETT: “If we can see that far, I wonder what else we will see?”
PADDY: “Who knows, Emmett, but whatever we see, I know it will be wonderful, and you will enjoy it!” *Nods enthusiastically.*
EMMETT: “Will you hold my paw, Paddy?”
PADDY: “Of course I will, Emmett!” *Holds out paw, which Emmett grasps.*
DADDY: “Wait everybear! Before you ride the ferris wheel, I would like to take your photograph, please.”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE and EMMETT: “Alright Daddy!”
DADDY: “Now, gather round everybear! Just stand at the base of the Ferris wheel.”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE and EMMETT: *Gather closely together.*
SCOUT: “You should be at the front, Rosie! I’ll stand next to you!”
ROSIE: “Oh good idea, Scout! I will sit here!”
PADDY: “Come stand next to me, Emmett.”
EMMETT: “Thank you, Paddy.”
BOGART: “I feel tall standing on this red step! I can see over your head, Scout!” *Giggles.*
SCOUT: *Turns around and giggles too.*
DADDY: “Right, look this way everybear. When I count to three, everybear say ‘grumbly tummies’. Alright?”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE and EMMETT: “Yes Daddy!”
DADDY: “Alright! One… two… three!”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE and EMMETT: “Grumbly tummies!”
*Camera goes click and whirr as Daddy takes the photograph.*
It was a fine, but cold, day a few weeks ago, so I decided to take advantage of the nicer weather and take some of my bear clan to a wonderful miniature golf range, which has popped up along the Yarra River in Docklands. The little course, installed beneath a life size Ferris wheel along the corniche, features a range of animals, a Melbourne skyline and even a working bear size Ferris wheel! It was too wonderful an opportunity to refuse, and I’m so pleased to have given them all the opportunity to have some fun and play. I think the young builders on a nearby site were both amused and perplexed as they watched the bears and I playing together. Perhaps they have never seen such well behaved and tenacious bears before.
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, including 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.
Made by Merrythought in England, Emmett is a charming little bear, sweet and smiling, crafted from multi-tonal marl grey mohair and featuring golden velvet paws. He is accessorised with a classic tartan woollen scarf. He is number 23 or a limited worldwide edition of 200.
