SCOUT: “Paddy! Look! Daddy is gathering up leaves in the garden to put into the dustbin.”
PADDY: “Yes, I can see that, Scout.”
SCOUT: “It’s such a lovely, sunny day. He should be playing, not gathering leaves. Do you think we could help him?”
PADDY: “That’s a very good idea Scout.”
SCOUT: “Oh, but there are soooo many leaves, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Well, in my experience, many paws make light work. I’ll get the others and we can all help Daddy!”
SCOUT: “What a good idea! Then we can all play!”
PADDY: *Goes and fetches Cousin Paddington, Bogart, Jago, Daisy-Maud, Rosie, Algie, Danny-Boy, Orson and Freddy.*
DANNY BOY: “Aye begorra! What are all these leaves doing on the ground in the middle of summer.”
SCOUT: “Well of course there are! We’ve just had autumn! What would autumn be if it weren’t for autumn leaves?”
ORSON: “But it’s summer, Scout! We haven’t had autumn yet.”
SCOUT: “Oh no! No again!” *Rubs forehead with paw.* “Paddy! Paddy!”
PADDY: “Yes Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, Orson and Danny Boy are confused by the seasons, just like Daisy-Maud was.”
ALGIE: “I’m a bit confused too, Paddy, but then again, I often get confused.”
JAGO: “Don’t worry Algie and Danny-Boy, Daisy-Maud and I were confused about the seasons when I first came here too.”
DAISY-MAUD: “To be honest, I’m still adjusting, Jago.”
BOGART: “It can take a while to acl… aclim… get used to it, Daisy-Maud. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
ORSON: “So why are there autumn leaves in summertime, Paddy?”
PADDY: “Well Orson. It isn’t actually summertime here. It’s wintertime.”
ORSON: “But the sun is shining and there are blue skies, and it’s quite warm. It’s like summer back home in Norfolk.”
PADDY: “Well, it may feel like that, but Australia is in the southern hemisphere, and in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the other way around. It is summer in December, Winter in July, Autumn in April and spring in September.”
ORSON: “Goodness Paddy!” *Scratches head.* “I did notice that it was an unusually warm Christmas here at Daddy’s house, but I thought it was nice and toasty because the fire was on!”
COUSIN PADDINGTON: “Oh no, Orson. It was because it was summer, and summers here can get very hot sometimes.”
ROSIE: “But lovely warm sunny days mean lots of time playing hide-and-seek in the garden!”
PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, ROSIE, ORSON, DANNY BOY, ALGIE and FREDDY: “Hoorah!”
DADDY: “Oh!” *Graps chest in surprise.* “Goodness everybear! I didn’t see you all there. What are you all doing?”
PADDY: “We’re helping you collect the fallen leaves Daddy, so that way then you can play rather than work.”
DADDY: “Oh how kind you all are! Thank you so much everybear!”
PADDY: “Well, it was Scout’s idea, initially.”
DADDY: “Well, thank you everybear and fox, and special thanks to you, dear sweet Scout.”
PADDY, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, ROSIE, ORSON, DANNY BOY, ALGIE and FREDDY: “You’re welcome, Daddy!”
SCOUT: “Gosh!” *Blushes pink beneath woollen fur.* “It’s my pleasure, Daddy. I like to be helpful.”
DADDY: “Yes, I know you do, and you’re all doing so well putting all the fallen leaves in a pile that I think very soon it will be time for tea. Would you like that, everybear and fox?”
PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, ROSIE, ORSON, DANNY BOY, ALGIE and FREDDY: “Oh yes Daddy! Hoorah!”
SCOUT: “And then after that, can we play hide-and-seek?”
DADDY: “Yes, it’s such a lovely day today: perfect for hide-and-seek. I think that is an excellent idea!”
PADDY, SCOUT, COUSIN PADDINGTON, BOGART, JAGO, DAISY-MAUD, ROSIE, ORSON, DANNY BOY, ALGIE and FREDDY: “Hoorah!”
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
