SCOUT: "Paddy! Paddy look!"
PADDY: "What is it, Scout?"
SCOUT: "Look Paddy! Spring must be here now! Look! The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the blossoms are covering the trees. Aren't they pretty?"
PADDY: "Oh yes, Scout! These are beautiful cherry blossoms."
SCOUT: "Cherry blossoms?"
PADDY: "Yes, Scout."
SCOUT: "But Paddy, there are no cherries! Where are the cherries? Grumbly tummy Paddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
PADDY: "Well Scout, this is an ornamental cherry blossom tree."
SCOUT: "So Paddy? Where are the cherries? I don't mind if the flowers are ornamental. Where are the cherries?"
PADDY: "No! No! No, Scout! I don't think you understand. An ornamental cherry blossom tree doesn't actually have cherries."
SCOUT: "What? Is this cherry tree hiding them then! I'm very hungry Paddy, and I would like some cherries! Grumbly tummy Paddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
PADDY: "I’m so sorry, Scout, but this tree will not give you any cherries I’m afraid."
SCOUT: "Well Paddy, then I think this tree is a very mean tree for not sharing its cherries with us! Wouldn’t you like some cherries too?"
PADDY: *Sighs.* "Well, yes I would, Scout, butiIf you would just listen to me, I'll explain."
SCOUT: "Well of course I'm listening to you, Paddy." *Looks excitedly at Paddy.* "Where are the cherries?"
PADDY: "Scout, there are no cherries on this tree, and there never will be."
SCOUT: "What?!?!?" *Shocked.*
PADDY: "This is an ornamental cherry blossom tree. It doesn't actually have any cherries. It's called an ornamental cherry blossom tree because it doesn't actually bear fruit, only blossoms. It just looks pretty and ornamental."
SCOUT: "Really Paddy?!?!? No cherries?!?!?"
PADDY: "Well yes, Scout. That's what I said."
SCOUT: "Well! Doesn't that just take the cake?" *Thinks.* "Well actually now I come to think of it, it doesn't, because if this is a cherry tree that doesn't grow cherries, we can't have a cherry cake! Shame! What a naughty fake cherry tree!"
PADDY: "Why is the tree naughty, Scout?"
SCOUT: "Because it is fibbing! It pretends to be an cherry tree!" *Indignant.* "It even calls itself a cherry tree, but it isn't a cherry tree at all! That's false advertising! It's a fake, fibbing not real and naughty cherry tree! Naughty fake cherry tree that doesn’t grow cherries!"
PADDY: "Well... I don't think it is actually the tree's fault that it is called an ornamental cherry blossom tree, Scout."
SCOUT: "Then whose fault is it, Paddy? Is it the owner of this pretty house with the fake cherry tree that isn't really a cherry tree at all in the garden? Naughty owner!"
PADDY: "Well no, Scout. It isn't their fault either. Ornamental cherry blossom trees have been called that for a very, very long time."
SCOUT: "Really Paddy? Longer than you and Daddy have been alive for?"
PADDY: "Oh yes Scout! Much longer."
SCOUT: "Wow! That is ancient! Like when you tell me that the world used to be black and white back in ye olden days!"
PADDY: "Scout!"
SCOUT: "What?!?!?"
PADDY: "Scout, it's only the telly that was black and white, not the world. And anyway, it’s rude to refer to senior people or bears' ages, or that we used to live in the olden days!"
SCOUT: "I didn't actually say you or Daddy were ancient, Paddy. I just said that the time before you were born were ye olden days, and black and white, which really does mean that they were ye olden days."
PADDY: *Sighs.* "Well Scout, whether they were olden days or not, or in black or white or not – which they weren’t – these trees have been called ornamental cherry blossom trees for a very long time, so there is no-one to blame."
SCOUT: "Oh well. I still think it's false advertising, and the trees should be called fake cherry trees!" *Nods emphatically.*
PADDY: "Well, technically Scout, the name of the tree is correct. It's called an ornamental cherry blossom tree, and it is bearing lots and lots of lovely blossoms. You even said so yourself, Scout."
SCOUT: "That's true Paddy. However, even if the name of the tree is correct, that still leaves one big problem for me."
PADDY: "And what is that, Scout?"
SCOUT: "All this talk of cherries makes me hungry, Paddy! Grumbly tummy Paddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
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.
Although it is spring, still being colder here, both Paddy and Scout are wearing hand knitted scarves and Paddy is wearing hand knitted hat by Lorna's Lovely Looks. Paddy sports a heart pin and Scout insisted on wearing a pink cupcake one, which seems most appropriate considering his perpetual grumbly tummy. Both were gifts from a good friend who is very fond of both Paddy and Scout.