Mr Bears family portrait

[madonbrew]

Just this one!!!

Teddy ...in the back corner is the sensible one who tries to keep everyone in order!

Mousey...peeping out by Paddington is the one most likely to get lost.

Giraffe looks like the quiet, sensible one, but I think he’s way more behind the mischievousness than he’ll admit too.

Paddington and Snoopy...well, they speak for themselves and Fireman Knit..they are all so grateful for him as he’s the one who’s always there in an emergency.

The others are all totally cheeky and have stories of their own...oh Captain Britannia...far left...he’s retired now, but he’s flown all around the world and has more than a tale or two to tell!

[sassy59]

What a wonderful array of soft toys Dee. I like the one at the front with the pointy teeth. Xxx

[madonbrew in reply to sassy59]

I won him at a fundraising fair...he loves singing...lots!!!!

[sassy59 in reply to madonbrew]

He looks really happy. Xxxx😀

[madonbrew in reply to sassy59]

I can just about get in my bed!!!

[sassy59 in reply to madonbrew]

I can well imagine.....lol xxxx

[madonbrew in reply to sassy59]

I do love my bears! Mr Bear and Teddy, have extra special space in my heart but I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of any of them.

My friend Margaret, who’s 70, had a massive bear collection and had to re-home some when she moved to Spain....she was so sad! I can totally understand! Think I’d have had to sneak them all through passport control!

[sassy59 in reply to madonbrew]

Our grandson who’s 8 has a very special bear he was given as a baby. He goes to bed with him. Bears and other soft toys are very special. Xxxx

[madonbrew in reply to sassy59]

I think everybody needs a bear!!!!

Before shielding I worked in a nursing home and it was one of my residents birthday’s coming up so I asked if there was anything she’d really like...and she said a teddy! Aww, made my heart smile! She was so pleased when one turned up!!!!

[sassy59 in reply to madonbrew]

Ah that’s lovely. Bears bring such joy. Xxxx

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to madonbrew]

My bed is full of bears and other animals. There’s hardly any room for me to get in 🐻

[madonbrew in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Aww I’m glad I’m not the only one with an amazing bear family!!! They are very important aren’t they! It does make getting into bed a bit tricky but I love the adventures they go on! I’m convinced I have a real’Toy Story’ situation going on with them 😂😂😂

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to madonbrew]

I have a little slot at the edge of the bed for me. Me too I’m convinced there’s a whole Toy Story thing going on. I couldn’t be without them even though I only have a tiny bit of bed to sleep on and when I go away I miss them all 🤗

[madonbrew in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

And I bet they are so happy to see you when you’re back!!!

Aww me too! And I can’t miss any of them out to say goodbye to when I go away!

Hahaha...I do sound crazy!!!

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

I love this photo, my cousin used to work at the factory where they made all the Paddington Bears. Have a goodnight and stay safe 😊 Bernadette and Jack xxxx

[madonbrew in reply to Damon1864]

Thank you!!!

Aww wow! That would be my perfect job!!!

You too! Sleep well!

[JerryMaren]

Relly nise bears💕 🐻 . We used 2 have a lot of stuffd toys back at home with mum but I dunno what hapend to them all wen we left. Two of My sisters have gient unicorns in there beds with them and Willow she sleeps all rapped up in hers like in a massive cuddle all nite long 😊Ur pic made me smile thanks🙂

[madonbrew in reply to JerryMaren]

I love that, that Willow sleeps all wrapped in a massive cuddle all night long with her unicorn!

[SORRELHIPPO]

I had an Edward Bear, with a very sad story, which has coloured my relationship with everyone I meet from the USofA. In 1968 I had to fly to the South Pacific with my Father, I was just 16 but wanted to be in fashion. So there I am, cheesecloth skirt, hippyish floaty top and weird black eyed make up. We had to stop and refuel at John F Kennedy, Los Angeles and Honolulu, then on to Fiji. I was looking forward to this, until we deplaned at JFK and the immigration/security gent, looked down at this apparition (all of 5'2") and asked me to open my cabin bag. On the top was Edward Bear, apparently over made up 16 year olds (in those days of drugs) did not have bears as travelling companions. This charming man, got a large knife out of his belt, and without a by your leave, slit his tummy open. I spent the rest of that very long journey, trying to re-stuff Edward Bear and sew him up again, my Father and the Air Crew were treated to this 16 year old, turning into a 5 year old sobbing mess. Poor old Edward never looked the same again. I have him no longer, he then got very badly damaged, when soaked in a cyclone. However share my bed with two large hippos, who act as a headboard and a great sloth, somehow feel it would be wrong to get a new bear, there was only one.

[madonbrew in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

Oh no!!!! That is a most sorry story for you and Edward Bear! 😢 No wonder you were a sobbing mess on that journey! I hope that security man considered in his heart what he’d done to you and your precious bear!

Hippos sound like good solid companions though!

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to madonbrew]

The hippos are great, lovely and squishy, I could only use them as the headboard after my husband died, as he viewed my hippo collection as somewhat deviant.

[ninelives in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

That so sad😢

[knitter]

I still have my original childhood teddy.....a bit thread bear now, and eyeless. When my children played with it, the eyes were on long sharp wires and had to be removed ....health and safety.

I have a tabby cat toy that I talk to, and much to my OH dismay a teddy and knitted hedgehog in my car.

When my late father was in a nursing home I gave him a black cat comforter, and I still have my mother’s wartime Scottie dog mascot.

Thanks for your photo and the discussion.

[madonbrew in reply to knitter]

Aww I love it that people are talking about their bear stories! And still have their childhood bears!!!! Just goes to show how important they are!

That’s lovely that you gave your late father a black cat comforter! Especially in nursing homes! Bears really do have a big role to play! And that you still have your mother’s wartime mascot! That one definitely must have seen a lot in his/her lifetime!

[watergazer]

Lovely collection of memories for you. My teddy of 60+ years is still around though threadbare and eyeless xx

[madonbrew in reply to watergazer]

Aww, I’m glad you still have your bear after all these years!!!! So many loved bears and stories! .... I can feel a book coming on!!!

[ninelives]

I had a bear in the fifties who "growled" when you tilted him

He was never the same when as a 6 year old I threw up and he was in the firing line -he got stuck in disinfectant and never recovered-his fur (lambswool) went all funny.

[madonbrew in reply to ninelives]

Oh bless him! Lol...vomit & disinfectant maybe wasn’t his best moment 🙃Poor bear!

[LittlePaws]

They look so much fun xx

[madonbrew in reply to LittlePaws]

They are!

[madonbrew in reply to LittlePaws]

I love the creative and childlike side they draw out of me!

[madonbrew]

My nephew when he was a little younger used to come over and we’d make adventures with them all....then he always used to tell my sister that he wanted to play the puppets gamewith Aunty Dee& I could never figure what he was meaning. Then I suddenly realised he meant the bear adventures

[Ardraven]

I used to have a lot of soft toys. Most of them were handed down to younger family members but I still have 2 very special ones sitting on my bookcase. Pooh Bear is very delicate now but is a family heirloom. He was given to me by father who was given him by his grandmother and he's over 100 years old. The other is not as distinguished but is just as well loved. He's the soft toy dog I had as a child when I desperately wanted a dog but wasn't allowed one. I called him Belgium and when asked why I replied that it was "because his nose belges"! No one had any answer to that so Belgium he is. He's enjoying a well-earned retirement now as I do have a lovely dog of my own these days but I couldn't part with the constant companion of my early youth.

[Caspiana in reply to Ardraven]

Hello Ardraven ,

Sorry for intruding on your post . I would love to see your Pooh bear. I actually love antique Pooh Bears and my Pooh bear is not antique. Just very old and lanky now. Any chance we can see a picture? xx ❤️ 🐻

[Ardraven in reply to Caspiana]

My phone is being repaired, my tablet is ancient and has no camera and the webcam on laptop is terrible! I'll look through my old photos to see if I have an existing picture and if not I'll take one when my phone comes back. I'll post you a picture one way or another but I'm afraid it might take a few days ☺️

[Caspiana in reply to Ardraven]

Not to worry at all. Take you time. Thanks for your reply. xx 👋😄

[Ardraven in reply to Caspiana]

Thanks for your understanding, I am a bear of very little brain and even less money so it sometimes takes me longer to work these things out than most people!

[Caspiana in reply to Ardraven]

🐻❤️

[madonbrew in reply to Caspiana]

Aww, I almost wanted to ask everyone for a picture of their bears, hahaha, but I thought it might take over the whole forum! It’s a shame we can’t add pictures into a post sometimes isn’t it!

[madonbrew in reply to Ardraven]

Aww wow, a very important and loved, Pooh Bear for so many years!!!! That really is amazing!! And Belgium! Love how you choose his name. Yes they sound very special and need extra care to keep them in one piece! They must have some stories to tell!!! What they would have seen& how much they’ve seen the world change!!!

[Caspiana]

I need to build my bear family I think Dee. I have a very old Winnie the Pooh bear . My daughter bought it for me years and years ago. He has lost his fluff and is indeed rather scruffy. Plus Chom does not like him at all. 😒 xx 🐻🐨🐼

[madonbrew in reply to Caspiana]

Oh yes, when you are finally allowed home and out & about....I know, could be a while, you’ll have to go and find yourself a lovely bear!!! Poor Pooh Bear....maybe Chom sees him as a rival, although I’m sure he’s not. Although if he’s lost his fluff he sounds like he may have had lots of cuddles in his time!