SCOUT: "Is everything ready, Daddy?"
DADDY: "Yes Scout. I have the spotlights ready to shine on you."
SCOUT: "Good. Ahem," *Clears throat.* "And whilst I am wearing my tutu, please remember that I am the Great Scoutlova, thank you!" *Preens.*
DADDY: "Oh, beg your pardon, Scoutlova!"
SCOUT: "That's alright Daddy" *Cuddles Dolly.* "Now Dolly, only I can dance in this show and lead the others if I'm not cuddling you, so you can sit here and watch me. Alright?" *Cuddles Dolly tightly again before putting her down.*
DAISY-MAUDE: "Oh I'm so nervous, Daddy! I have butterflies in my tummy."
DADDY: "Oh don't be nervous, Daisy-Maud, just have fun. You will be wonderful, and you do look the part in your tutu!"
DAISY-MAUD: "Oh thank you Daddy!" *Blushes pink beneath plush mohair fur.*
BOGART: "I hope Mama Kim will like my blue tutu. I know it isn't green, which is Mama Kim's favourite colour, but the green really suits your fur, Freddy."
FREDDY: "Thank you, Bogart! I think so too!" *Preens.* "I know Mama Kim will love you dancing in your blue tutu. It's such a pretty colour and most becoming on you."
ROSIE: "I am wearing the red tutu because mijn prince Peter has a red tutu too, and he likes me in red. I want to make him so proud of my dancing!"
DADDY: "Oh he will be, Rosie. Peter loves you so much. He will be amazed by how beautifully you dance."
ROSIE: "I hope you are right, Daddy. Mijn prins Peter gets professional dance lessons from Nadu!"
SCOUT: "Ahem!" *Clears throat.* "Are you suggesting that my dancing lessons are inferior to Nadu's, Rosie?"
ROSIE: "Oh no, Scoutlova! You are a very good instructor, and an excellent dancer."
SCOUT: "Thank you!" *Curtseys deeply.*
DADDY: "Ready, Scoutlova?"
SCOUT: *Thinks.* "Daddy? Daddy?"
DADDY: "Yes Scout?"
SCOUT: "Ahem!" *Looks sharply at Daddy.*
DADDY: "Err, I mean, Scoutlova. What is it?"
SCOUT: "Daddy, are mijn beste vriend Peter and Mummy Marian watching?"
ROSIE: "And mijn prins Peter?"
BOGART: "And Mama Kim?"
DAISY-MAUD: "And Mummy June and all the Norfolk Bears?"
FREDDY: "And Pedlar, Caddy and Bernus?"
SCOUT: "And Spencer and his Mummy, and Bruno and Mummy Kat?"
DADDY: "Oh yes Scoutlova, I have told them all, and all your other bear friends too. I'm quite sure that everybear will be watching too!"
SCOUT: "Very good Daddy! Then we may begin."
DADDY: "Very good, Scoutlova."
DADDY: *Stands to the side of the stage and addresses audience.* "And now, direct from London\'s Palladium Theatre, after a successful sell-out season, we are proud to present," *Pauses for impact. "The Great Scoutlova, who will be performing 'Bear Lake', with his own troupe of bear - and fox - ballet dancers!"
Mama Kim and the Christmas Bear sent a belated Christmas gift to Paddy, Scout, Cousin Paddington, Rosie, Bogart, Jago, Daisy-Maud, Danny Boy, Algie and Freddy, which included these tutus. I think they look beautiful and the bears - and fox - look beautiful in them too!
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, includng 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.
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.