SCOUT: “Oh Paddy! Look at all the pretty autumn leaves!”
PADDY: “Oh yes! Don’t they look glorious, Scout! Such lovely colours! This is an English Maple tree, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Ooohhh! Do you think we could take a closer look at the leaves, Paddy?”
PADDY: “I don’t know, Scout.” *Doubtful.* “You know what usually happens when you climb a tree, Scout.”
SCOUT: “I get stuck, do you mean, Paddy?”
PADDY: “Exactly, Scout.”
SCOUT: “But it is much harder to get down a tree than it is to get up one, Paddy.”
PADDY: “I know Scout because more often than not, I get stuck up the tree trying to rescue you.”
SCOUT: *Giggles.* “At least Daddy always comes and rescues us.”
PADDY: “True, Scout. Thank goodness for Daddy!” *Fans face with paw.*
SCOUT: “Yes, thank goodness for Daddy indeed.” *Thinks.* “Hhhmmm. He might be the solution to getting to see the pretty autumn leaves up close.”
PADDY: “What do you mean, Scout?”
SCOUT: “You’ll see, Paddy. Ahem!” *Clears throat.* “Daddy? Daddy!”
DADDY: “Yes Scout?”
SCOUT: “Daddy, can you lift Paddy and I up onto the tree so we can look more closely at the leaves?”
DADDY: “Oh of course I can Scout.”
PADDY: “And can you stay close by so that when we are done, you can lift us back down?”
DADDY: “Why of course I can, Paddy!”
PADDY and SCOUT: “Oh thank you Daddy!”
DADDY: “Are you ready, Paddy and Scout?”
PADDY and SCOUT: “Yes Daddy!”
DADDY: “Alright! One… two… three…”
PADDY and SCOUT: “Wheeeeeeee!”
DADDY: “There you go. Now you can look at the leaves as closely as you like.”
SCOUT: “Look at all the pretty colours, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Oh yes! They are so pretty!”
SCOUT: “This is so much fun, Paddy! Wheeeee!” *Bounces on branch.*
PADDY: “Yes it is, Scout! Wheeeee!” *Bounces on branch.*
SCOUT: "We are so high! I think I can see mijn beste vriend Peter! Peter! Peter mijn beste vriend! Can you see me?" *Waves enthusiastically.* "Hullo mijn beste vriend!" *Waves more.*
PADDY: "Why yes! I can see mijn beste vriend Oleg too! Hullo mijn beste vriend!" *Waves enthusiastically.* "I hope you are having a lovely day!"
DADDY: "Hold on Scout and Paddy, and don't fall!" *Concerned.*
SCOUT: “Why don’t you climb up here with us, Daddy?”
DADDY: “But Scout, if I climbed up in the tree, who would rescue me, if I become stuck?”
PADDY: “And if Daddy became stuck in the tree, who would rescue us, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Hhhmmm…” *Ponders.* “I don’t know, Daddy and Paddy!”
DADDY: “We would all be stuck in the tree together, and then we would have to wait for someone to come by and rescue us. And what should happen if you have an attack of the grumbly tummies whilst we are stuck in the tree?”
SCOUT: “Oh no!” *Puts paw to mouth.* “I hadn’t thought of it like that! I should hate to be stuck in the tree with an attack of the grumbly tummies! Best you stay on the ground then, Daddy.”
DADDY: “That’s a very good idea, Scout.” *Nods emphatically.* “I’ll do just that, and when you have finished playing in the tree, I’ll lift you back down again and we’ll go home and have some tea and crumpets.”
PADDY: “Tea and crumpets, Daddy? Yummy! I think we should go home and eat them right now, Daddy.”
SCOUT: “Yes, I have a grumbly tummy right now, Daddy! Grumbly tummy, Daddy! Grumbly tummy!” *Rubs tummy vigorously.* “Can we get down now please?”
DADDY: “Not before I take a photo of you sitting up amidst the autumn leaves, Paddy and Scout. Then I will take you home and we will have tea and crumpets. Now! I have my camera here. On the count of three say ‘grumbly tummies’ Paddy and Scout. One… two… three!”
PADDY and SCOUT: “Grumbly tummies!”
*Camera goes click and whirr.*
DADDY: “Thank you, Paddy and Scout. Now, come down where I can reach you, and we’ll go home and have some nice hot tea and crumpets.”
PADDY and SCOUT: “Oh thank you Daddy!”
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.
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.