DADDY: "Come along Paddy, Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago and Freddy. I have set out the tea things and Scout has been a big help, and has put out the rocky road."
SCOUT: "And I didn't eat any either!" *Nods emphatically.*
"Even though I do have a grumbly tummy! Grumbly tummy Daddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
DADDY: "Well, sit down Scout, and very soon, none of you will have grumbly tummies!"
PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO and FREDDY: "Thank you Daddy!"
FREDDY: *Sniffs.* "The rocky road smells delicious, Daddy."
BOGART: *Sniffs.* "Yes it does, Daddy."
JAGO: "What a lovely treat!"
COUSIN PADDINGTON: "You see Freddy, we have lots of tea parties here."
SCOUT: "Paddy? Paddy!"
PADDY: "Yes Scout?"
SCOUT: "Paddy, do you think they get rocky road in gaol?"
PADDY: "I don't know for certain, Scout, but I don't think so."
SCOUT: "I'm glad that Dolly and I aren't going to gaol then."
PADDY: "I'm glad you aren't going to gaol either, Scout."
SCOUT: "Grumby tummy, Paddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
DADDY: "Well everybear... and every fox, Freddy... enjoy the rocky Road tea party!"
The Rocky Road dessert was first created in Australia in 1853. Unscrupulous businessmen took confectionery items that had been spoiled by their journey from Europe and mixed them with local nuts as well as low quality chocolate to try to recover them instead of throwing them out. In British influenced areas it was previously referred to as 'Tiffin' but the Australian/American name of rocky road has now come to predominate in Britain.
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 is a sister set to a 1930s Shell China Company faerie tale tea set I also have. This set was given to me as a gift some years ago by a close friend who knows I collect nursery ware and children's tea sets. Each guest at the tea party also has a tiny doll (bear) sized nursery napkin which is hand embroidered with a donkey motif. 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 mustartd spoon and is sterling silver.
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.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. 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.
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.
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.
