PADDY, JAGO and DAISY-MAUD: "Hullo Scout! Hullo Rosie!"
SCOUT: "Oh! Hullo Paddy, Jago and Daisy-Maud!"
ROSIE: "Hullo Daisy-Maud, Jago and Paddy! Daisy-Maud, may I have a cuddle?"
DAISY-MAUD: "Of course you may, Rosie!" *Cuddles Rosie.*
PADDY: "What are you doing, Scout?"
SCOUT: "Oh Rosie and I are writing our Christmas lists for Father Christmas and the Christmas Bear. Did you see the message from the Christmas Bear yesterday, Paddy? He is in the Netherlands at the moment, but he is coming here soon." *Nods seriously.*
ROSIE: "He is probably collecting the Christmas wish list from mijn prins Peter!" *Nods enthusiastically.*
PADDY: "That will take a while then. I suspect that Peter's list is quite long."
JAGO: "Scout and Rosie's lists look quite long too, Paddy." *Peers at Rosie's Christmas list.*
DAISY-MAUD and PADDY: *Look at Scout and Rosie's Christmas lists.*
PADDY: "Oh I think you might have made a mistake, Scout."
SCOUT: "Me!" *Horrified.* "A mistake?" *Indignant.*
DAISY-MAUD: "Well Scout," *Tentatively.* "Chocolate isn't spelt with an i."
SCOUT: "Oh." *Disappointed.* "Well, I'm sure the Christmas Bear can work out that I am asking for chocolate. He's a very smart bear, you know, Daisy-Maud."
DAISY-MAUD: "Oh I know, Scout. He and Father Christmas helped Danny Boy, Orson, Algie and I get here in time for last Christmas."
SCOUT: "Oh! That's right!"
JAGO: "You were the best Christmas present I ever received, my dear little sister."
DAISY-MAUD: "Oh thank you, Jago!" *Blushes pink beneath mohair plush.*
PADDY: "And I see you have tutus on your list, Scout."
SCOUT: "Oh yes, Paddy!" *Nods enthusiastically.*
JAGO: "Rosie has tutus on her list too, Paddy, along with 10,000 snuffly kisses from her prince Peter and an equal number of big little bear hugs from him too!"
ROSIE: "Well, that's what I am hoping for, for Christmas, Jago. I want ever so many big little bear hugs and soft snuffly kisses from mijn prins Peter... oh, and some tutus."
PADDY: "But Scout, you have listed tutus at least three times on your list."
SCOUT: "Oh yes Paddy!" *Nods seriously.* "I really want some tutus for Christmas."
PADDY: "But why list tutus three times, Scout?"
SCOUT: "To make it very clear to Father Christmas and the Christmas Bear that I want tutus more than anything else this Christmas, Paddy!"
PADDY: "But Scout, you received tutus from Father Christmas and the Christmas Bear last year."
SCOUT: "I know, Paddy!"
PADDY: "And you already have quite a few tutus, Scout."
SCOUT: "Yes, I know, Paddy!" *Nods enthusiastically.*
PADDY: "But Scout, how many tutus do you need?"
SCOUT: "As many as I can get, Paddy!" *Nods seriously.*
This beautiful tea set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1930s. It features two cups, saucers and plates as well as a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated with pixies enjoying different pastimes. The set is very rare. I acquired it from England, and it is a sister set to a 1920s Shell China Company nursery rhyme tea set and a 1920s faerie tale tea set. There are also doll (bear) sized tea spoons which are sterling silver salt spoons, and the spoon in the sugar bowl is an Eighteenth Century mustard 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.
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.
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.