PADDY: "Hullo everyone! Do you know what? It is a public holiday on Tuesday in Melbourne, where we live, because Tuesday is the day for the horserace that stops a nation the..."
EMMETT: "That must be a big race, Paddy!"
PADDY: "What, Emmett?"
EMMETT: "To stop a nation, I mean. If it stops the nation it must be very big indeed!" *Awestruck.*
SCOUT: "What horsey race is being celebrated tomorrow, Paddy?"
PADDY: "Well Scout, I was just about to tell everyone. It's the Melbourne Cup!"
SCOUT: "Hoorah!" *Jumps up and down excitedly.* "I love horseys!"
ROSIE: "Oh me too!"
BOGART: "Me too!"
EMMETT: "Me three!"
SCOUT: "Goody!" *Jumps up and down even more.* "Let's all ride imaginary horsies! Giddy up horsey! Don't you stop. Just let your feet go clippity-clop!"
PADDY: "Ahem!" *Clears throat.* "Before I was interrupted..." *Gives Emmett and Scout a hard stare which they ignore as they ride their imaginary horses.* "Lots of people go to the Melbourne Cup every year, and they get dressed up in beautiful clothes. They watch the horses race and there is even a fashion parade called Fashions on the field."
SCOUT: *Stops riding imaginary horse.* "Ooohhh! Can we go, Paddy?" *Hopeful.*
PADDY: "No Scout."
SCOUT: "But why not, Paddy? It would have been my first Melbourne Cup." *Disappointed.*
PADDY: "The Melbourne Cup is no place for little bears unless they are accompanied by their Daddy or Mummy, and as Daddy isn't going, we won't be going either."
SCOUT: "Oh I am disappointed about that, Paddy."
PADDY: "I know, Scout. But don't worry, we can all still celebrate here at home!"
SCOUT: *Perks up.* "How Paddy?"
PADDY: "Well as you can see, we have a Melbourne Cup tea party here on the lawns, and I asked everybear to dress up so that we can have Fashions on the Field - Bear Style."
SCOUT: "Oh! I was wondering why you asked us all to come to tea in our best finery! I had trouble picking what was my very best finery."
PADDY: "Well, you do have a very large and..." *Pauses as he thinks of the right word to use.* "Theatrical wardrobe."
SCOUT: "Thank you Paddy!" *Bows.*
PADDY: "That is a very pretty hat you are wearing, Bogart."
BOGART: "Oh thank you, Paddy! I like a classical look." *Preens.* "Your hat is very pretty too. I think blue suits you."
PADDY: "Oh thank you, Bogart."
EMMETT: *Tugs on Bogart's white plush arm.* "Do you like my beret, Bogart? I borrowed it from Scout because I don't own a hat."
BOGART: "Oh I do, Emmett! It looks très chic on you!" *Giggles.*
EMMETT: "Très chic, Bogart? What's that? It sounds like a sneeze!" *Giggles.*
BOGART: *Giggles more.* "I am told it is foreign for very pretty. A little frog at the bottom of the garden taught me!"
JAGO: "I would have liked to have worn Paddy's hat." *Grumbles.* "I think it would suit me better. It's blue after all, and I love blue. I hope Odessa doesn't look at me and think I look silly in this smaller red hat." *Blushes pink beneath blue mohair plush.*
DAISY-MAUD: *Giggles.* "Oh! It's alright, Jago."
JAGO: "Alright, Daisy-Maud?"
DAISY-MAUD: "I mean you look very fetching in that red hat, even if it isn't blue. And it's not too small. It looks the perfect size for your head. I hope that Benny doesn't mind that I'm just wearing my everyday blue floral hat for today's Fashion on the Field - Bear Style." *Blushes pink beneath mohair plush.*
JAGO: "Daisy-Maud! Why would Benny mind? He is a bear of very good taste, and he loves you, just as you are!" *Nods emphatically.*
CORNELIA: "Well, I think you both look lovely in your hats."
DAISY-MAUD: "Oh thank you, Cornelia. You look very smart in your hat too, and I love your lace parasol."
CORNELIA: "Oh thank you! It's new! I found it in one of Daddy's cupboards and I thought to myself, how sad it is that this parasol is sitting, hidden here. So I appropriated it! And I borrowed my hat from Rosie."
ROSIE: "Well, I didn't want to wear that hat for today's Fashion on the Field - Bear Style, and it suits you."
CORNELIA: "Oh thank you, Rosie." *Preens.* "Your lovely straw hat really suits you as well, and compliments your tutu."
ROSIE: "Oh thank you, Cornelia! I know!" *Preens.*
PADDY: "Everybear looks so smart and select!"
SCOUT: "Hoorah!" *Jumps up and down excitedly.* "What do I get when I win Fashions on the Field - Bear Style, Paddy?"
PADDY: "If you win, Scout!" *Looks disconcertedly at Scout.* "Who says that you will win Fashions on the Field - Bear Style?"
SCOUT: *Giggles and waves paw dismissively at Paddy.* "Well Paddy, let's be honest: I wear this beautiful green hat so much better than you wear your beautiful blue one. I think it would have been better to give it to Jago to wear."
JAGO: *Turns to Daisy-Maud.* "I told you so, didn't I, Daisy-Maud?"
SCOUT: *Continues.* "And Paddy, I am much younger than you are, and I take very good care of myself and my woollen plush!" *Preens.*
PADDY: "Scout!" *Mortified.* "I'll have you know that I think I happen to look very fetching in this hat." *Wags paw at Scout.*
"And I'm not as old as you think!"
SCOUT: "Well, on that point we may agree to disagree." *Nods emphatically.* "Anyway, who will be the judge of Fashions on the Field - Bear Style, Paddy?"
PADDY: "Oh, I hadn't thought of that." *Ponders.* "I know!
Daddy can be the judge!"
SCOUT: "Excellent choice of judge Paddy!"
PADDY: "Thank you, Scout."
SCOUT: "Let's all go find him and show off our finery!"
CORNELIA: "No need! here comes Daddy now!"
DADDY: "Hullo everybear!"
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Hullo Daddy!"
DADDY: "Are you all enjoying your Melbourne Cup tea party?"
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Oh yes, Daddy!"
DADDY: "That's good everybear. I've just baked a cake for you. I am letting it cool down so that you don't burn your paws or cute little pink bear tongues."
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Oh thank you, Daddy!"
SCOUT: "Daddy? Daddy!"
DADDY: "Yes Scout?"
SCOUT: "Daddy, we want you to judge Fashions on the Field - Bear style."
DADDY: "Well I..."
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Please Daddy! Please!"
DADDY: "Oh very well then."
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Hoorah!" *Jump up and down with joy.*
DADDY: *Looks closely at everybear's outfit.* "Hhhmmm..." *Looks more closely.* "Hhhmmm..."
ROSIE: "Who is the winner, Daddy?" *Preens.*
DADDY: "Well..."
SCOUT: "Is it me, Daddy?" *Preens.*
DADDY: "Well yes, Scout."
SCOUT: "Hoorah!" *Jumps up and down with excitement.*
PADDY, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Ooohhh!" *Diusappointed.*
DADDY: "No, no Scout and everybear. You misunderstand me. I think you all look wonderful, so I declare you all winners of Fashions on the Filed - Bear Style!"
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART, ROSIE, EMMETT, DAISY-MAUD, JAGO and CORNELIA: "Oh hoorah!" *Jump up and down with excitement.* "Thank you Daddy!"
Paddy is right. Tuesday is a public holiday in Victoria for the "race that stops a nation": the Melbourne Cup, which is run from the Flemington race track on the first Tuesday of November every year. Every year they have "fashions on the field" where women and men get to strut their most beautiful racewear. Dressed as they are, I think everybear have a fine chance of winning joint first prize. Don't you?
This beautiful nursery rhyme tea set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1930s. It features cups, saucers and plates as well as a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated and feature different nursery rhymes including: "Ding Dong Dell Pussy’s in the Well", "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe", "Old King Cole", "Pat a Cake Pat a Cake Baker’s Man", "Little Tommy Tittlemouse", "See Saw Margery Daw" and &This Little Pig Went to Market" amongst others. The set I acquired from England, and it is a sister set to a 1920s Shell China Company nursery rhyme tea set and a 1920s faerie tale tea set. There are also doll (bear) sized tea spoons which are sterling silver salt and mustard spoons.
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.
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.
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.
Cornelia, I found in an antique and vintage market quite recently. She is a vintage edition Russ Bear from their Mohair Collection. She is made of deliberately mottled mohair to give her that vintage look. One of a limited edition of 10,000, she was designed by artist Carol Hosfstad and is completely handmade.
