SCOUT: "Is everything ready, Daddy?"
DADDY: "Yes Scout. I have the spotlights ready to shine on you."
SCOUT: "Good. Ahem, excuse me Daddy," *Clears throat.* "But whilst I am wearing my tutu, please remember that I am the Great Scoutlova, thank you!" *Preens.*
DADDY: "Oh, beg your pardon, Great 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-MAUD: "Oh I'm so nervous, Daddy! I have butterflies in my tummy."
CORNELIA: "Don’t worry, Daisy-Maud, I'm nervous, too! I have butterflies in my tummy as well."
DADDY: "Oh don't be nervous, Daisy-Maud and Cornelia! Just have fun and enjoy yourselves. You will be wonderful, and you do look the part in your fabulous new tutus! Blue and silver are the perfect choice for you, Daisy-Maud, and the gold of your tutu really brings pout the colour of your mohair plush, Cornelia!"
DAISY-MAUD: "Oh thank you Daddy!" *Blushes pink beneath plush mohair fur.*
CORNELIA: "Oh thank you Daddy! What a lovely compliment!" *Blushes pink beneath plush mohair fur.*
BOGART: "I hope Mama Kim will like my red tutu. I know it isn't green, which is Mama Kim's favourite colour, but the green really suits your fur, Freddy, and the red matches my bow."
FREDDY: "Thank you, Bogart! I think so too!" *Preens.* "I know Mama Kim will love you dancing in your red tutu. It's such a pretty colour and most becoming on you."
ROSIE: "I am wearing the purple tutu because mijn prince Peter is so regal, and purple is such a regal colour. 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, Great Scoutlova! You are a very good instructor, and an excellent dancer."
SCOUT: "Thank you!" *Curtseys deeply.*
PADDY: "How did I get talked into this?" *Shakes head.*
DADDY: "Smile Paddy! You look beautiful in your tutu, too. I can’t wait to see those red wellies of yours trip the light fantastic as part of this wonderful bear troupe!"
PADDY: "I’m not completely convinced, Daddy."
DADDY: "Well I am, Paddy! You will be marvellous!"
PADDY: "Thank you, Daddy!" *Bows deeply.*
DADDY: "Are you ready, Great Scoutlova?"
SCOUT: *Thinks.* "Daddy? Daddy?"
DADDY: "Yes Scout?"
SCOUT: "Ahem!" *Looks sharply at Daddy.*
DADDY: "Err, I mean, Great Scoutlova. What is it?"
SCOUT: "Daddy, are mijn beste vriend Peter and Mummy Marian watching?"
ROSIE: "And mijn prins Peter?"
BOGART: "And Mama Kim, and my best friends Fuzzy and Danbo?"
DAISY-MAUD: "And sweet Benny and Mummy June and all the Norfolk Bears?"
FREDDY: "And Pedlar, Little Freddy, Caddy and Bernus?"
SCOUT: "And Spencer and his Mummy, and Bruno and Mummy Kat, and Otis, Odessa, Pat and Ruta?"
DADDY: "Oh yes Great 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, Great Scoutlova."
DADDY: *Stands to the side of the stage and addresses audience.* "And now, direct from a sell-out season at the London Palladium, and a Royal Variety Performance, we are proud to present," *Pauses for impact. "The one… the only… 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 Christmas gifts to Paddy, Scout, Cousin Paddington, Rosie, Bogart, Daisy-Maud, Cornelia and Freddy, which included these jingle bell tutus. I think they look beautiful and the bears - and fox - look beautiful in them too!
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.
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.
Cornelia, I found in an antique and vintage market quite recently. She is a vintage edition Russ Bear from their Mohair Collection. She is made of deliberately mottled mohair to give her that vintage look. One of a limited edition of 10,000, she was designed by artist Carol Hosfstad and is completely handmade.
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.