SCOUT: "Paddy? Paddy!"
PADDY: "Yes Scout?"
SCOUT: "Paddy, I think this has been the bestest birthday party EVER!"
PADDY: "You said that last year, on your firth birthday, Scout."
SCOUT: "I know I did Paddy, but I didn’t know that my sixth birthday was going to be even better!"
PADDY: "I’m so happy for you Scout! Birthdays should always be wonderful!"
SCOUT: "Do you know what else, Paddy?"
PADDY: "What Scout?"
SCOUT: "I have never been so happy since I came to live with you and Daddy. I was scared and alone. I had no friends, and now I have you, Daddy, Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago, Daisy-Maud, Rosie, Orson, Danny Boy, Algie, Bertie, Emmett, Edgar, Benjamin, Nanuk, Freddy, Duckie, Chippy, Flock, Sapphire, Peal, Prince Maurice and all our bear friends around the world, like mijn beste vriend Peter, sweet Aurora and your beste vriend Oleg! I am soooo happy! I love you Paddy, very, very much!"
PADDY: "I love you too little Scout, very, very much!"
SCOUT: "I think all birthday parties should end with a snuffly birthday kiss. So here is a birthday bear one from me to you!" *Gives Paddy a snuffly birthday kiss.*
PADDY: "Thank you Scout! But it isn’t my birthday, it’s yours!"
SCOUT: "I know, but I want to share the love and birthday joy!"
PADDY: "Well, that’s very good of you Scout. Do you know what?"
SCOUT: "What Paddy?"
PADDY: "I think that is the nicest snuffly birthday bear kiss I have ever had!"
SCOUT: "That’s good, Paddy!" *Smiles happily*
PADDY: "It’s very good, Scout."
PETER: "Come on mijn beste vriend Scout! I want a kiss too! Let’s go riding on my present for you, your new scooter! And Paddy, we all want to play hide-and-seek with you!"
SCOUT and PADDY: "Coming Peter!"
SCOUT: "Hullo everyone! Do you know what? Bears have two birthdays. I don’t actually know when my first birthday was as I can’t remember, so I have decided that my other birthday will be the day I came to live forever with Daddy and Paddy, which was the 27th of March! Now Paddy and I are not allowed to use the oven for fear of singeing our plush fur, so Daddy has been so kind and has baked me a birthday cake! It is a rich chocolate cake with pink cream cheese icing, because I love chocolate anything and pink is my favourite colour! Isn’t that special? Thank you Daddy! Grumby tummy Daddy! Grumbly tummy!" * Rubs tummy vigorously. "Isn’t Daddy nice to do that just for me? I can’t eat that cake all by myself, even with a grumbly tummy, so I am so glad I am having a birthday party with all my bear friends. It’s my fifth birthday this year! I have invited Paddy and Daddy of course. I’ve also asked all our bear family of Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago, Daisy-Maud, Rosie, Orson, Danny Boy, Algie, Bertie, Flock, Sapphire and Pearl and our newest members of the family, Emmett, Edgar, Benjamin and Nanuk. Of course I also asked Freddy the fox, Duckie and Prince Maurice of the Maileg Mice to come along, and also Chippy the monkey who lives in the front room. I even have mijn allerbeste vriend Peter, all the way from Mummy Marian’s house in the Netherlands as my special guest of honour! I am soooo excited! This is going to be the bestest birthday EVER! I know that everybear and everyone who Paddy has asked to come and celebrate with me will enjoy the occasion!
If today is your birthday too, I’d like to wish you a very happy birthday full of big little bear hugs and snuffly birthday kisses. Even if it isn’t, I’d like to wish you a very happy day full of big little bear hugs and snuffly kisses. Would you like some cake too?"
This beautiful nursery pantomime nursery dinner set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1920s. It features six cups, saucers and plates as well as a teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, platter, sandwich plate, a lidded soup tureen on its own dish and a gravy or cream jug on its own dish. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated and feature different faerie tales including: "The Queen of Hearts", "To Market, to Market to Buy a Fat Pig", "There was a Little Man who had a Little Gun", "Jack and Jill", "Goosey, Goosey Gander", "Sing a Song of Sixpence" and "Ride a Cock Horse" amongst others. The set I acquired from England, and it is a sister set to a 1930s Shell China Company faerie tale tea set. This set was given as a gift some years ago by a close friend who knows I collect nursery ware and children’s tea sets. There are also doll (bear) sized tea spoons which are sterling silver salt spoons, and the spoon in the "Ride a Cock Horse to Bunbury Cross" sugar bowl is an Eighteenth Century mustard spoon and is sterling silver. Their dessert spoons are sterling silver coffee spoons made by James Dixon and Sons in London in 1921.
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.
My bears Paddy and Scout have made very good friends with two bears in Holland called Peter and Oleg (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577154558… and www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577233464…) and their MummyMarian Kloon (on and off). Peter and Scout are very similar and have become best friends. Peter also loves Rosie and she loves him, so they have become prince and princess to one another.
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.
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.
Orson, named after the little bear constellation, was made by the same friend who made Jago and Daisy-Maud. He comes ready dressed in ‘trousers’ made of German mohair accessorised with embroidered braces. His paws are ultra suede and his eyes are glass. He is described as being a little bit serious minded but very friendly. He’s fine once he gets to know you.
Danny Boy, made by the same friend who made Jago, Daisy-Maud and Orson, has a touch of the ‘Oirish’ in him with his emerald green scarf. He has an open mouth as he likes to sing and comes with his own songbook, "Irish Airs for Teddy Bears". He has a wobbly head to give him animation when he’s talking to you, and is made of English mohair, has paws of ultra suede and eyes of glass. Quite a happy-go-lucky little character….
Algie is made by the same friend who made Jago, Daisy-Maud, Orson and Danny Boy. He is is made of sparse English mohair, has paws of ultra suede and eyes of glass. A very adventurous little boy, he loves to climb and sit on top of gates, edges of tables and chairs. He adore climbing trees, and will cheekily sit there with crossed legs. He’s very friendly and he loves adventures of any kind.
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.
Bertie came to live with me on Christmas Day 2022. He was a gift from a very dear friend. He is vintage and is hand knitted with soft red dioxide wool and has chocolate brown felt pads on his paws. He has shiny black bead eyes and has his own very smart tartan bow. He tells me that he was living in an antique shop for quite a while, just looking for his forever home, which now he feels that he has. Bertie is very soft and loves cuddles, and whilst perhaps not as forthcoming as some of my other bears due to his shyness, he is very loving and caring and gives big little bear hugs and snuffly kisses beautifully.
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.
Handmade at Merrythought in England from warm-gold tousled mohair plush, Edgar is a cheerful companion who has terracotta pure cotton velvet paws, and wears a delightful floral cotton bow tie. He is number 2 of a limited worldwide edition of 200.
Benjamin is made by Merrythought in England too. A friendly character, he has been handmade from soft, caramel-coloured mohair plush featuring a chocolate-coloured base that beautifully complements his pure wool felt paws. He wears a traditional, satin-lined waistcoat made from the finest British tweed and secured with brass studs. He is number 110 of a limited worldwide edition of 150.
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there was a bear called Nanuk. Nanuk is a Polar Bear. The Teddy Bear Orphanage in the Netherlands recently contacted my friend Mummy Marian who is well known for being a generous host for bears who need a home. They told her that Nanuk has been living at the Teddy Bear Orphanage for quite some time. They also told Mummy Marian that he’s very unhappy. Sweet Nanuk was born with a rare disease: poor body temperature regulation. He\’s always cold! The Teddy Bear Orphanage were looking for someone who lives in a country where it never freezes. Mummy Marian immediately thought of me, as like her, I am well known for being a generous host and making my home available to bears who need a family. Mummy Marian felt that Australia (where I live) would be the most perfectly wonderful place for Nanuk to live: a warm country with me as his Daddy, and many bear friends to make a family for him. I considered Mummy Marian’s request, and I immediately said “yes”! I think Nanuk will be a very happy Polar Bear, living with me and all my bears. We don’t know the end of the story yet, because of course, Nanuk’s tale is only just beginning! However, I do think he will live happily ever after!
Pearl and Sapphire are both little Russ Bears, and Flock a vintage posable bear who all arrived on Christmas Day 2023. They travelled from Mama Kim’s house in Alabama all the way here. Both are sweet little bears who are tenacious and cheeky, but full of love and snuffly kisses most of all.
Prince Maurice is a Maileg mouse, given to me as a birthday gift by my two goddaughters. Maileg (pronounced My’lye) is a brand of charming Danish-designed toys created to inspire children’s favorite playtime stories. By bringing storybook whimsy to everyday moments, Maileg toys help children (large ones and small) explore the pure and simple wonder of imagination. Beloved for their heartwarming personalities, Maileg toys show playfulness and charm in every last detail. Theirs is a timeless world filled with beautiful accessories and settings.
Chippy the monkey came to live with me when I was four. His name is derived from his innards, which are broken chips of hazelnut shells. He was made in America some time in the mid Twentieth Century. He features beautiful brown glass eyes, a felt face, hands and feet. He was given to me by one of my Grandfather’s friends who worked in a small high street toy shop which sold a mixture of new, vintage and antique toys. Chippy was vintage at the time, and had been well loved prior, so with a few holes, some worn plush and patches, he was too worn to be sold, but my family friend knew that my gentle nature and respect for my toys meant he could find a new home with me for a long time. All these decades later, she was proven right, for he still lives with me; a bit more loved, a bit more worn and with a few more patches. He also has some red chalk marks on his right hand which I remember putting on him by accident when I was six! He wanted to draw a rose on my chalkboard and I helped him do it!
Posted by raaen99 on 2025-03-27 00:40:32
Tagged: , Paddington , Paddington Bear , Paddy Bear , Paddy , teddy , teddy bear , bear , soft toy , vintage , toy , vintage teddy , vintage teddy bear , vintage toy , hand made , softie , plush , cute , cuddly , soft , Scout , Scout bear , Jago , Jago bear , Rosie , Peter , Oleg , Freddy Fox , Algie , Daisy-Maud , Danny Boy , Orson , Bertie , Flock , Sapphire , Pearl , Merrythought , knitting , knitted , knitted toy , Fair Trade , Fair Trade Bear , Scout House , Bogart bear , Bogart , birthday , birthday party , birthday cake , cake , chocolate cake , pink icing , candle , celebration , happy birthday , happy birthday Scout , Nursery Rhyme , Nursery Rhyme tea set , Little Red Riding Hood Doll , Red Riding Hood Doll , tea set , child’s tea set , vintage tea set , Shell China , Chippy Monkey , monkey , Chippy , paper hat , party , tea party , Shell China Company , Shell China tea set , Nanuk , Benjamin , Edgar , Emmett
