PADDY: "I'm very proud of you Scout. You were very diplomatic, helping Oleg and I to forgive Peter for his silly trick."
SCOUT: "Oh thank you, Paddy! I think being angry with other bears, or people, is just a waste of time and energy."
PADDY: "You are right, of course, Scout. Life is too short to remain upset with other bears."
SCOUT: "Oh yes Pa..." *Pauses and listens.*
PADDY: "What is it, Scout?"
SCOUT: "Can you hear that, Paddy?" *Listens closely.*
PADDY: "Hear what, Scout? I can't hear anything."
SCOUT: "There is a scratching sound coming from down below."
PADDY: "Well, it certainly isn't me, Scout."
SCOUT: "Oh, I never said that it was Paddy."
PRINCE MAURICE: "That's because... it was... me!" *Scrambles onto the table, huffing and puffing.* "I say... that was quite a... climb up the... lace tablecloth! Hullo! How do you do!"
PADDY: "Goodness! A little mouse!"
SCOUT: "Who are you, little mouse?"
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh!" *Puts paw to forehead.* "I scarcely know myself these days!"
SCOUT: *Looks closely at mouse.* "You are wearing a crown, little mouse! Are you the Mouse King?"
PRINCE MAURICE: "I say! Very well observed, little bear. No, I'm not a king, but I am a prince: Prince Maurice of the Maileg Mice!" *Doffs crown.* "How do you do!"
PADDY: "How do you do, Your Highness." *Bows head in deference.* "I'm Paddy, and this is my friend Scout."
SCOUT: *Bows head in deference.* "Hullo Prince Maurice! How did you get here?"
PADDY: "And what can we do for you?"
PRINCE MAURICE: "How do you do, Paddy and Scout. Well, this is how it happened. Once upon a time, in a time that feels a very, very long time ago, I decided to go on an adventure!"
SCOUT: "Oh goody! Adventures are fun!"
PRINCE MAURICE: "So I said goodbye to my Mummy and Daddy, the King and Queen of the Maileg Mice, and set off with some of my friends. However, whilst I was seeking out adventures, I got lost."
PADDY: "Oh no!" *Puts paw to mouth.*
PRINCE MAURICE: "Yes Paddy, I lost my friends and then I lost my way. I walked, and I walked, and I walked."
SCOUT: "Goodness! You must have had a grumbly tummy, Prince Maurice."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh I did indeed, Scout."
SCOUT: "Oh dear!" *Shakes head sadly.* "There is nothing worse than a grumbly tummy, Prince Maurice."
PRINCE MAURICE: "I still do, Scout, and I'm thirsty. I say, is that a pot of tea, I see."
PADDY: "Why yes it is, Your Highness. Would you like a cup of tea. I have a spare cup here."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh I say! That would be spiffing! May I partake?"
PADDY: "Of course, Your Highness. Let me pour you a cup." *Pours tea into teacup and pushes over to Prince Maurice.*
PRINCE MAURICE: "I say! Thanks awfully!" *Drinks deeply.* "Oh! Such a wonderful brew! So reviving!"
SCOUT: "Our Daddy made it, Prince Maurice."
PADDY: "Please go on with your story, Your Highness."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Well, I walked, and I walked, and I walked."
SCOUT: "Yes, you said that, Prince Maurice."
PRINCE MAURICE: *Looks at Scout.* "I'm painting a picture, Scout."
SCOUT: "No you aren't, Prince Maurice! You are telling a story!"
PADDY: "Scout! Hush!" *Puts paw to mouth.*
SCOUT: "But it's true, Paddy!" *Implores.* "Prince Maurice is telling a story! He doesn't have any paints, so he's not painting a picture. Do you think he is hal...haluc... do you think he is imagining things because he is hungry?""
PADDY: "I know Prince Maurice is telling a story. Let's hush and let him finish, Scout." *Puts paw to mouth again.* "Please go on, Your Highness."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Thank you, Paddy. Well, I walked until I found myself on your doorstep. I knocked, and I knocked, and I knocked at the door."
SCOUT: "I didn't hear the door, Paddy. Did you?"
PADDY: "No Scout, but I suspect that Prince Maurice has a rather genteel and quiet rap. Isn't that so, Your Highness?"
PRINCE MAURICE: "Quite right, dear Paddy! Quite right! So I knocked, and I knocked, and I knocked until Miss Matchbox opened your door."
SCOUT: "Miss Matchbox?"
PADDY: "The Matchbox cat doorstop who stands by the front door."
SCOUT: "Oh!"
PRINCE MAURICE: "And Miss Matchbox suggested that as you were having tea in the dining room, I might join you. What a spiffing idea, I thought to myself, especially as I have a grumbly tummy and I was thirsty!"
PADDY: "Please drink some more tea, Your Highness. There is plenty more in the pot."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh thank you, Paddy! Spiffing!"
SCOUT: "Well, if you were looking for adventures, Prince Maurice, you have come to the right house! We are always having adventures, aren't we Paddy!" *Nods to Paddy.*
PADDY: "Indeed we are, Scout."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh hoorah! Then I've come to the right place! I've finally found my adventures!"
SCOUT: "Oh indeed you have, Prince Maurice! Why don't you stay here with us and have adventures?"
PADDY: "Oh yes, that's a good idea, Scout. Yes, please do stay with us, Your Highness."
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh may I? May I really?"
SCOUT: "Of course!"
PRINCE MAURICE: "Oh spiffing! I'd love to! Thank you Paddy and Scout!" *Claps paws with joy.*
SCOUT: "Now, let us introduce you to Daddy! You'll love him like we do, and I know he will love you too! Daddy loves everybear, fox, duck and mouse!"
This beautiful nursery rhyme tea set was made in England by the Shell China Company in the 1930s. It features six cups, saucers and plates as well as a teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl. Each piece is gilt edged and decorated and feature different nursery rhymes including: "Ding Dong Dell Pussy’s in the Well", "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe", "Old King Cole", "Pat a Cake Pat a Cake Baker’s Man", "Little Tommy Tittlemouse", "See Saw Margery Daw" and &This Little Pig Went to Market" amongst others. The set I acquired 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 "Little Tommy Tittlemouse" 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.
Prince Maurice is a Maileg mouse, given to me as a birthday gift by my two goddaughters. Maileg (pronounced My’lye) is a brand of charming Danish-designed toys created to inspire children’s favorite playtime stories. By bringing storybook whimsy to everyday moments, Maileg toys help children (large ones and small) explore the pure and simple wonder of imagination. Beloved for their heartwarming personalities, Maileg toys show playfulness and charm in every last detail. Theirs is a timeless world filled with beautiful accessories and settings.