My new gadget

I love old things, vintage fabrics, the feel of the old leather on ancient suitcases; everything and anything with a touch of nostalgia. However I do have a confession to make! I also have a passion for the latest gadget....it makes my heart melt to hear the the little digital bleep a camera makes and I hug my iphone like a teenager at times! It is hard to believe that when I was a child all these things were unheard of.

Anyway I do tend to have a steady turnover of outdated gizmos so I gathered them together and said a farewell - waving them goodbye as they travelled to the big ebay place. What a relief to cull the amount of snakey leads winding dangerously and curling in dark corners.

What! No gizmos? That would not be possible. I am now the proud owner of another - I was so smitten by one that I saw at the Bear Festival in London I bought one from the same litter! It is a Samsung Galaxy Note which has a really large screen but much smaller than a tablet. Ideal for taking with me to fairs and events with pics of bears and hedgies (and of course my cat).

The above pictures were taken using the Paper Camera App which is enjoyed by so many users.

I like the effect!

Bear hospital patients

One patient went home today - his name was Big Teddy and he looked pleased to see his Mum Carol when she came through the door to collect him!

The patient in the picture above underwent his operation today as well..... You can see he is in a much better condition now than he was before. Poor guy was feeling a little wobbly in his arms and legs, couldnt see and lost his head! He will be fit and well enough to travel home next week.

Happy memories

Still rummaging through the boxes of memorabilia in the loft with a view to loft upgrading, we are really enjoying ourselves! Roger came at the weekend and sifted through his old toys and I had a good time looking through my own.

I can hardly believe it is 20 years since I first went to the Doll and Bear convention at DisneyWorld Orlando. I was invited on three occasions to participate and it was such a wonderful opportunity. The very first time was the best - just at the time when all the Christmas decorations appeared and of course it was all so new to me.

I made a wonderful big bear for the auction and delighted at the results. Just before I was due to send it out there it was in my car boot when the car was stolen! I was so upset; more about the bear than I was about the car. When the police arrived he patted me on the shoulder and said 'don't worry madam, we will get your bear back!' Amazingly enough he did!

I have put the badges etc carefully back in the tin and placed it lovingly on my shelf in my new haven. However, I have put the watch on ebay - it seems such a pity that no-one has ever worn it. The item no. is http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290682871393?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 if anyone is interested to have a look!

New Fairs, Old Fairs - 2012

Pencil in hand and Calendar on table, it is time for decisions regarding fairs and shows we will be travelling to this year! Due to some date changes and resultant clashes with other shows we are not able to attend Glamis Castle and Scone Palace - so apologies to those in the Perthshire region as we havent been able to find anything else as yet to replace these.
Alan has been working hard on his side of the desk booking things and searching for hotels etc and we have made a decision to travel to Devon for the Devon Bear Festival in Newton Abbot! When I was a child we travelled to Devon and Cornwall every year for holidays and I havent been in that direction for over 30 years... So we thought it would be a nice opportunity to go to the fair and enjoy a few days around Dartmoor.

To be honest I am not sure if I have any collectors in that area but I hope we will meet some enthusiasts who would like to adopt a Scottish hedgehog! (or bear of course). We were still dithering whether to make the long drive when we spotted a hedgehog hospital situated only a few miles away from the venue. Alan knew then he had no chance to put me off the trip - it is a must!!!! Just as well there is an interesting looking Steam Railway nearby too.
So if there are any hedgehog collectors out there, the date is Sunday 15th April at the Newton Abbot Racecourse.

Before that fair we have another lengthy drive to get to the Motorcycle Museum on the 25th March which is near the NECC Birmingham. We have actually been there before just once many years ago so we still regard this as a 'first'. I am up to the ears in boys clothes at the moment for hedgies and bears etc - so many people have asked me for boys just recently and I must admit the girls do tend to take over a bit! The motorcycle museum seems to be the ideal venue to show off these little guys. Hope to see you there!

Photo albums

Something I have been meaning to do for years! I have finally got round to sorting out my photo mountain. Hundreds upon hundreds of old pics before my first digital camera. (Actually the picture above is a cheat because they are all the digital ones!!!) Remember those days? It was so stressful taking all those shots, rushing round to the chemist to get them developed and then looking at them over a cup of coffee hoping that at least some of them were worth the trouble!

I didnt throw them all out though...I kept at least one copy of the pics of old work - after all some of them will be about 30 years old. Someday I may want to collect them all together in a photo book for posterity.

Busy busy day at Kensington

It was the most wonderful lovely fantastic day on Sunday at the Winter Bearfest!! I had worried and fretted and panicked over the filling of my cases.....what to take......and what not to take.....whether I had made enough....or too much.
I need not have worried. It was great. The hoggy clothes went down well and sold quickly; fashionable animals needing to have new outfits for the spring season - I was pleased that I managed to get the wardrobe into my suitcase to show them all off.
So many friends old and new came to my stand and adoptions were being made all day! So much so that we nearly forgot to have our lunch!!
Glenda came to take away her latest big boy - she was determined to take him down Oxford Street with her - I am sure he enjoyed the trip; apparently he waved cheerily to all the passers by!
Tina brought me some beautiful crystals to give me some much needed energy after my weeks of being unwell and took away a new little fella and my first very tiny hedgehog (handstitched)
It was hectic. It was good. A GREAT BIG thankyou to everyone who came along - you have no idea how happy I was to see you all. xxxxxxxx

Winter Bearfest London

The suitcases are out - the bears are looking excited! It is time for the Winter Bearfest at the Kensington Town Hall in London this coming Sunday. Decisions decisions as to who is going and who doesnt as the animals are queuing up to hop into the open case. This is my favourite bear show of the year - a bit of cheer during the cold days of winter when the hibernation temporarily halts for the festivities.

Again we are flying down from Scotland so space and weight can be a problem and careful last minute adjustments needed! (Can I wear bears under my sweater I wonder?) It is at these times when I wish I made miniature bears....so much easier to carry!

I do hope it is a busy day - I really look forward to seeing everyone!