Stories for my Grandkids – Ramblings of a retired teacher

The Old Bear

Day after day, month after month year after year the old bear sat in the cupboard at the top of the stairs. He shared the cupboard with some other old bears and some old ornaments. The shelf he sat on was a bit like an old people home for bears.

(For Jemima)

Chapter 1

The old bear

They just sat there… all day… every day. They had run out of things to say many years ago, but they liked each other’s company. Most days were the same. They all just sat on the shelf in the cupboard at the top of the stairs.

The old man and his wife, who lived in the house, would often walk past the cupboard, but these days they hardly ever stopped to look in and say hello.

Some days, and these were the days the old bear liked best, some children came to visit and the house was filled with lots of giggling and laughing and the young ones would run past the cupboard playing their childhood games of hide and seek or making dens from loads of blankets and pillows. The old bear loved the sound of the children’s laughter and excited voices, but he was sad that the children never stopped to look in to see him sitting on the shelf in the cupboard on top of the stairs.

The old bear loved company. He was created – bears are not born, they are created – a very long time ago, when the old man who owned him was a very little baby. He was a Christmas present. The old bear loved being a Christmas present, it made him feel special. The old bear was indeed a very special bear. His owner had loved him very, very much for many, many years. All his beautiful fur had been ‘loved’ off. He no longer looked as beautiful as he used to, but he was still a very special old bear. He had been taken to bed for many years, he had been taken on holiday, he had been played with and thrown about but he always knew that he was loved.

But, there was one thing, one very big thing, that made the old bear very sad. It wasn’t that his fur had all been ‘loved’ off, that was a special thing and sitting with his friends on the shelf in the cupboard at the top of the stairs kept him warm, even in the winter. Neither was it the fact that the old bear had never been given a name. He often used to think about what name he would like to be called, but usually he was happy just to be called the old bear.

It wasn’t even the fact that his music box had been removed. That had happened many years before and the old bear could hardly remember the tune, although he did remember that the little boy’s mother used to call it Greensleeves. The old bear though that Greensleeves was a silly name for a piece of music, although he liked green things usually!

Nor was it even the fact that he had lost one leg. It was very painful when it happened, but that too, was a long time ago.

What made the old bear really, really sad was that he could not see. When he was created, he had two bright shiny eyes made of glass. He loved to look at the face of his owner – the little boy who had loved him so much – he loved to look at all the other toys in the bedroom. Sometimes the little boy would take him outside into the garden and then the old bear would love to look at the beautiful blue sky and clouds, the birds flying in the sky and the lovely things around him, the flowers and vegetables that the little boy’s father used to grow in his garden.

But now, the old bear didn’t have any eyes. He could no longer see. He lived in a world of darkness. If you close your eyes and look around that’s just what it was like for the old bear.

He lost his eyes a long time ago. While he was sitting on his shelf he would try to remember what the little boy who loved him was like.

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He knew the little boy was now an old man and he wondered if he still had the same face. He would feel his fur and remember how soft and fluffy he used to be and he worried, nearly every day, that now he looked a bit scruffy that he wouldn’t be loved so much.

But one glorious day, one very happy day, something happened. It was a day that the old bear would never forget.

It was Christmas Day, quite early in the morning and the old man opened the door of the cupboard at the top of the stairs and took him out. He was held for a while and although the old bear could not see, he felt sure the old man had a smile on his face and looked at him with a lot of love.

He was put into a bag and he hoped he was being taken somewhere very special. After a lot of moving around, the old bear was placed on the floor in the same bag. The old bear had no idea where he was, but he could hear people, a lot of people, all laughing and wishing each other a “Happy Christmas’. Then he heard some songs being sung. Soon after, he heard the voice of the old man talking. He was telling the people about the best Christmas present he had ever had and suddenly he picked the bag up and the old bear was taken out and held up. Was this true? Was he – the old bear – the best Christmas present ever? Even though he had no eyes, he felt a little tear trickle down his left cheek. He felt so happy.

If the old bear had still had his eyes, he would have noticed small girl, who was sitting, watching. This little girl had the face of an angel and her eyes were wide open as she looked at the scruffy old bear. Going through her mind was a special plan… a very special plan indeed.

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Chapter 2

The old bear finds a new friend

Big Bear

Hello, I am Big Bear.

I don’t know what my real name is – my previous owner couldn’t look after me anymore and I got sold. Lots of people don’t like me very much because I am quite a big bear. Also, I am not very cuddly! My stuffing is hard and when children press my tummy they nearly always say, ’This big bear is very hard!’

I don’t know why my stuffing is hard, I think its because I am very old. I wish I had soft stuffing. I wish I was a cuddly bear. Having hard stuffing means I am very good at sitting up on my own. I am also very good at turning my head. I have special fittings on my neck and on my arms and legs. I am very proud of them.

I also like my eyes. They are made out of glass.

I am old. Most of my fur has been loved off and so have the pads on my hands and feet. My previous owner tried to fix me but she did not do a very good job.

I was very excited today because I found a new owner. He was old like me and he had a kind face. He bought me and paid a lot of money. I hope this means that he will love me. I liked him straight away. I especially like it when he said he lived with a lady who loved toys and always cared for them really well. I hope she can wash my dirty clothes and fix the pads on my hands and feet.

I was also excited because my new owner told me that he had some grandchildren who loved to play with bears. I love playing with children. While I was waiting for a new home the people put me up on a shelf.

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I don’t like sitting on shelves very much. I enjoy being with children and other toys.

When I went to my new owner I was put in a big bag. I was very nervous and I was very excited all at the same time. My new owner took me out of the bag and told me that he was going to take me home.

He was very kind and gentle. To keep me safe he put me in a car seat. It was the car seat he uses for his grandchildren, Lois, Eli and Max. I enjoyed my ride home.

I was a little bit nervous when the car stopped outside my new house. It looked very nice indeed. It had a blue door.

When we went in, I sat on a big bench by the door. It was very comfortable indeed. Just then a little dog came running up to see me. My new owner called her Belle, it was a nice name for a dog. The little dog and I soon became friends and Belle let me put my arm around her. I think we are going to be friends.

I like my new home and I am excited to meet the lady who will care for me and the grandchildren who will play with me.

I love playing.

Bob the Bear goes to Disneyland

Chapter 1.

Bob the bear was a very special bear.

He lived in a drawer in an office. The office belonged to a lovely lady; she was the Headteacher of a school. Bob the bear lived in a school and all the children and the teachers were his friends.

He was a very happy bear. He liked having lots of friends. Do you like having friends? Bob does.

Bob the bear liked living in a drawer and although he was a bit squashed, he made himself as comfortable as he could. However, what Bob the bear liked most of all were the times he was taken out of his drawer, so that he could go on holiday with one of the children of the school. Bob loved going on holiday, he had been to many places all over the world.

One cold November day Bob the bear was taken out of his drawer and given to Mia and Millie. Mia and Millie were going to Disneyland. Bob was very excited. The Headteacher told Mia and Millie to be very careful that Bob did not get wet. It is not good for Bob’s fur when he gets wet.

Mia and Millie promised that they would take very good care of Bob.

He was taken home in Mia’s bag, it was a lovely bag with a picture of Anna and Elsa from Frozen on the front. Bob knew that Anna and Elsa lived in Disneyland; Bob was looking forward to seeing them.

Bob went to Disneyland in Mia and Millie’s car. They went on a big ship. The ship was called a ferry.

Bob did not feel very well on the ferry. He had to lay down.

When they arrived in Disneyland Mia, Millie and Bob were very excited.

“We are here, we are here, we are here!” they shouted, jumping up and down. They arrived in the night, so they all went to bed early so they could enjoy the next day in Disneyland.

Bob had a bed of his own and he was very comfortable.

There was a picture of Lightning McQueen on his bed. Bob was very happy; Cars was one of his favourite films. That night Bob had a lovely dream that he was meeting all the characters from the film. It was a lovely dream.

When they went to breakfast, Bob wanted to help Mia and Millie get their cereals. He tried hard to turn the wheel but he found it was too hard.

Bob did not have cereals; he knew that the Headteacher like him to eat ‘healthy’ food, so Bob had fresh fruit for his breakfast. He liked having fresh fruit and he cleared his plate. Bob wished he was back in school so he could have a clean plate award – then he remembered he was in Disneyland and he was excited again and soon forgot about his clean plate sticker.

He also had a glass of orange juice for his breakfast. He knew that orange juice was healthy. Bob was such a good bear.

Chapter 2

It was soon time to go into Disneyland and Bob was so happy. There were so many exciting things to see as they walked to the park.

When they got to the gate, he put his own ticket through the scanner. The lady on the gate was very kind. Bob liked it when people were kind to him, he was such a small bear.

Bob was so excited to be in the park! There were so many things to see and do. He thought he would burst.

Millie wanted to go on the teacups first. Bob didn’t know what the teacups were. He was hoping it wasn’t a fast ride. Bob did not like fast rides – do you like fast rides? Bob doesn’t!

Bob like the teacup so Millie let him have two goes! Bob was happy – he thought Millie was very kind.

Next Mia and Millie showed him the sword from the story of King Arthur.

In the story, the person who pulled the sword from the stone would become king. At first Millie helped Bob pull the sword out. It moved a little bit and Bob thought he would like to pull the sword on his own. Millie let him but it was no good, Bob was not strong enough.

Millie smiled at her little friend he was such a brave little bear. He was such fun. Where would Mia and Millie take him next? He soon knew the answer.

When Bob the bear saw Sleeping Beauty’s Castle his eyes nearly popped! It was very beautiful and Bob thought that Sleeping Beauty was very lucky to live in such a lovely place as this. Bob wondered if there was a drawer in the castle he could live in.

Near the castle was a huge Christmas tree and Bob thought it would be fun to sit with the presents. Mia and Millie were very careful not to leave Bob here at the tree.

He was so happy and thought that Disneyland was just about the best place he had ever been and what made it even more special, was that he was spending time with such lovely friends who loved him and cared for him.

Next they passed a jazz band who were playing some lovely music. When they saw Bob, they stopped playing their music and asked Bob if he would have a photograph with them. He thought that this was a great idea. Bob loved music and one day – if he ever moved to the Juniors he hoped that he could learn to play an instrument

It was nearly the end of the first day and Bob decided he would like to ring his Headtecaher just to let her know that he was fine and that Mia and Millie were looking after him so well. There was no answer. Bob was sad.

That night, when they were back in the hotel, Bob went to bed early. He knew that when he woke up there would be many more adventures to enjoy with his little friends. They had promised that the next day they would visit the Pirates of the Caribbean. Bob loved pirates, he was so excited that he found it hard to go to sleep. When he did, he dreamed of meeting a real-life pirate.

To be continued…

George – The bear nobody loved

The bear in this story is real…

The Bear Nobody Loved

Chapter 1

George was a bear that nobody loved. He lived all on his own in a caravan down by the seaside. George was a lonely bear.

It hadn’t always been like that. A long time ago George was loved. He used to live in a big house in the country with two children Ben and Lucy.

George belonged to Ben who used to play with him every day and took him to bed every night. George was a present for Ben when he was born and he was a bear who was loved very much indeed – but that was a long time ago.

Ben was now grown up and he thought he was too old to play with bears, so George was taken to the caravan by the seaside. He was put on a shelf high up in the caravan and that’s where he stayed –

day after day,

week after week,

month after month and

year after year.

George didn’t like being on his own in the caravan, he wanted to be played with and loved by a child. He wanted to have adventures and be a brave bear. He wanted to have cuddles at night-time. No one cuddled George any more. He just sat on the high up shelf in the caravan down by the seaside.

Ben’s family did not visit the caravan any more, so it was very quiet all the time. In the summer it was very hot and in the winter it was very cold. Sometimes George could hear the seagulls walking on the roof of the caravan.

Even the seagulls had friends, but George had no one. He was a very lonely bear.

Sometimes George thought that if he were more handsome perhaps a child would love him again. George only had one eye and the one eye he did have was all scratched and George couldn’t see very well.

If you cover one eye with your hand and screw your other eye up, you will have an idea what it was like for George as he sat on the high up shelf in the caravan down by the seaside.

One day everything changed – one wonderful, glorious, happy day. George had been sitting quietly on his high up shelf. It had been a hot sunny day and just as the sun was setting George heard a car pulling up outside his caravan. As he listened, he heard the car doors being opened and the sound of children’s excited voices. Then he heard the most exciting sound he had heard for a very long time – it was the sound of the keys being put into the caravan door.

Suddenly he heard the door opening slowly….

Chapter 2

Making friends

George was very nervous. It was a long time since anyone had visited the caravan. He was hoping there would be some children. George like it when children came to stay. Grown-ups didn’t usually bother with him and they left him on his high up shelf.

He heard the keys turn in the lock and then he heard the door of the caravan open slowly…

He put one leg over the edge of his high up shelf so he could get a better view.

Suddenly he heard a child’s voice. Then he heard another child’s voice and then another.

After that he heard the voice of the children’s daddy and mummy. The children were called Mia, Millie and Lois. They were very excited and ran about laughing and jumping on the seats. As Millie was jumping excitedly up and down she noticed George, he was looking down.

Millie stopped and stared. Millie looked at George and George looked at Millie. He thought that Millie had a kind face. He hoped they could be friends.

‘Mia look!’ she shouted, ‘a bear… let’s play with him. Get him down Mia, get him down!’

Millie’s mummy said that the bear looked a bit old and dirty and that they were not allowed to play with him.

The girls were very sad.

‘Mummy can we give the bear a bath and then we can play with him?’ the girls said.

They felt sorry for the bear, he looked lonely up there on the high up shelf. Mummy said that she would, and she took George down and put him on top of the settee to look out of the window. George was very excited.

After they had unpacked all their cases, mummy took George very gently and gave him a bath in the washing up bowl.

Mummy looked closely at George. He wasn’t a very handsome bear. He had one eye missing and his other eye was very scratched.

George thought that mummy had a very kind face. He loved having a bath. The water was warm and there were lots of bubbles.

George liked bubbles. The last time George had had a bath it was in a washing machine. George got very dizzy in the washing machine. That was the time he lost his eye.

Mummy washed George very gently and dried him with a towel. After that George was put outside on the line to dry.

He was very uncomfortable with a peg on his ear, but he loved being out in the sunshine after being in the caravan for so long.

He could not hear anything out of his ear with the peg on, but in his other ear, if he listened carefully he could hear the sound of children playing on the beach and he could hear the sound of the sea.

George loved the beach – he could not go in the sea; sea water was not good for his fur but he loved to climb rocks and build sandcastles and lay on a towel on the beach.

After he was dry, George was taken off the line and he was given a packet of his favourite snack. They were called Pom Bears.

George was so happy. He felt a little tear trickle down his cheek. It wasn’t a sad tear; it was a happy tear. George was a happy bear.

He felt clean but most of all he felt happy because he heard Mia’s mummy say that after dinner they would be going down the beach.

‘Can we take George to the beach? Millie asked.

‘Yes, of course you can,’ Mummy replied, ‘as long as you keep him out of the water.’

Millie gave George a huge cuddle.

‘You’re coming to the beach; you’re coming to the beach!’ she shouted.

He smiled.

George felt, clean, happy and loved.

Chapter 3

George goes to the beach

George sat quietly thinking about the beach while Mia, Millie and Lois ate their lunch. He heard their mummy say that the weekend in the caravan was going too quickly. George was not sure what a weekend was but he hoped it was a long time… a very long time. He loved being with his new friends.

It was not long before the girls came running out. They were wearing their swimming costumes. George wished he had a swimming costume, but he knew that he was not allowed to go in the sea because his fur would get wet.

‘You must be careful when you walk to the beach,’ Millie told him. ‘there are some very steep steps! Ask me if you need help.’ George said that he would.

Millie was good at helping, she always helped Lois when she was stuck.

George soon found out that Millie was telling the truth. The steps to the beach were very steep, but George managed just fine on his own.

George was a brave bear.

Just then the girls stated giggling. They saw a sign which said ‘Booby’s Bay’. George did not understand why the girls were laughing. George thought that Booby’s Bay was a nice name.

They soon got to the beach and George held the sun cream while mummy put the sun cream on the girls to keep them safe. Mummy was very kind and looked after Mia, Millie and Lois very well.

George wondered what it was like to have sun cream on. He thought it would make his fur very messy. They all had such fun at the beach. George liked to sunbathe. He loved the warm sun on his fur. He borrowed Mia’s towel.

Soon he decided to play with the sand. He enjoyed this a lot, the sand was warm and soft. He was so happy and wished he would never have to go back up on the high up shelf in the caravan.

Not long after that, Mia asked George if he would like to go and play in the rock pools. George said that he would, but he told Mia he would have to just sit on the edge, so that he didn’t get his fur wet.

The climb up to the rock pool was very difficult for George but he just managed it on his own.

After looking at the rock pool, George decided he needed to sit down and rest. George was tired. Playing on the beach was very tiring. Daddy had put up the tent and George had a long rest. George thought Daddy was so clever for putting up such a lovely tent.

It was soon time to go back to the caravan. On the way he heard Mummy telling Mia, Millie and Lois that they would need to pack their bags as they were leaving early in the morning. George felt very sad – now he knew that a weekend wasn’t a very long time after all. A weekend was a very short time indeed. George thought that he felt a tear running down his fur. He sniffed a very big sniff and tried to be brave.

They walked back slowly and George enjoyed climbing over a very high gate.

When they were back in the caravan the girls had a shower and went to bed. George had his own bed. It was much softer than his high up shelf. That was always very hard indeed.

When morning came, George sat outside and watched as daddy, mummy and the girls started putting lots of things into their car. George felt sadder and sadder. Daddy took Mia, Millie and Lois down the beach once more, while mummy did the cleaning, but George did not go this time. He just sat sadly on his own, wishing that his new friends could stay a bit longer.

When the girls came back Lois took George and sat him in the car. George was very excited. He thought that Lois was going to take him home. George like the car. It had soft seats.

But then George heard the keys being put back in the door. Just then the car door opened and mummy picked George up and took him back into the caravan. She put him on the settee while she tidied the cushions. George looked out and waved goodbye to the girls.

The girls waved back – George felt very sad. Before he knew it Mummy picked George up, smiled a lovely smile, kissed George right on his nose and put him back on the high up shelf.

‘Be good!’ she whispered. As she turned around, she did not see a very big tear fall from his scratched eye right on to the high up shelf. Did you know that scratched eyes could cry?

Today in a caravan in Cornwall that same little bear still sits waiting for his friends to return. As he waits he remembers the beach and the sand and the rock pools… but most of all he remembers three little girls who made him so happy.

Stay safe little friend…..

The Bear Nobody Loved – Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Making friends

George was very nervous. It was a long time since anyone had visited the caravan. He was hoping there would be some children. George like it when children came to stay. Grown ups didn’t usually bother with him and they left him on his high up shelf.

He heard the keys turn in the lock and then he heard the door of the caravan open slowly…

He put one leg over the edge of his high up shelf so he could get a better view.

Suddenly he heard a child’s voice. Then he heard another child’s voice and then another.

After that he heard the voices of the children’s daddy and mummy. The children were called Mia, Millie and Lois. They were very excited and ran about laughing and jumping on the seats. As Millie was jumping excitedly up and down she noticed George, he was looking down.

Millie stopped and stared.

Millie looked at George and George looked at Millie. He thought that Millie had a kind face. He hoped they could be friends.

‘Mia look!’ she shouted, ‘a bear… let’s play with him. Get him down Mia, get him down!’

Millie’s mummy said that the bear looked a bit old and dirty and that they were not allowed to play with him.

The girls were very sad.

‘Mummy can we give the bear a bath and then we can play with him?’ the girls said.

After they had unpacked all their cases, mummy took George very gently and gave him a bath in the washing up bowl.

Mummy looked closely at George. He wasn’t a very handsome bear. He had one eye missing and his other eye was very scratched.

George thought that mummy had a very kind face. He loved having a bath. The water was warm and there were lots of bubbles.

George liked bubbles. The last time George had had a bath it was in a washing machine. George got very dizzy in the washing machine. That was the time he lost his eye.

Mummy washed George very gently and dried him with a towel. After that George was put outside on the line to dry.

He was very uncomfortable with a peg on his ear, but he loved being out in the sunshine after being in the caravan for so long.

He could not hear anything out of his ear with the peg on, but in his other ear, if he listened carefully, he could hear the sound of children playing on the beach and he could hear the sound of the sea.

George loved the beach – he could not go in the sea; sea water was not good for his fur but he loved to climb rocks and build sandcastles and lay on a towel on the beach.

After he was dry, George was taken off the line and he was given a packet of his favourite snack. They were called Pom Bears.

George was so happy. He felt a little tear trickle down his cheek. It wasn’t a sad tear; it was a happy tear. George was a happy bear.

He felt clean but most of all he felt happy because he heard Mia’s mummy say that after dinner they would be going down the beach.

‘Can we take George to the beach? Millie asked.

‘Yes, of course you can,’ Mummy replied, ‘as long as you keep him out of the water.’ Millie and Lois promised that they would be very careful and that they would look after George.

Millie gave George a huge cuddle.

‘You’re coming the the beach; you’re coming to the beach!’ she shouted.

He smiled.

George felt, clean, happy and loved.

Chapter 3

George goes to the beach

The Bear Nobody Loved

George was a bear that nobody loved. He lived all on his own in a caravan down by the seaside. George was a lonely bear.

Chapter 1

George was a bear that nobody loved. He lived all on his own in a caravan down by the seaside. George was a lonely bear.

It hadn’t always been like that. A long time ago George was loved. He used to live in a big house in the country with two children Ben and Lucy.

Ben was now grown up and he thought he was too old to play with bears, so George was taken to the caravan by the seaside and used as an ornament. He was put on a shelf high up in the caravan and that’s where he stayed –

day after day,

week after week,

month after month and

year after year.

George didn’t like being used as an ornament, he wanted to be played with and loved by a child. He wanted to have adventures and be a brave bear. He wanted to have cuddles at night-time. No one cuddled George any more. He just sat on the high up shelf in the caravan down by the seaside.

Sometimes George thought that if he were more handsome perhaps a child would love him again. George only had one eye and the one eye he did have was all scratched and George couldn’t see very well.

If you cover one eye with your hand and screw your other eye up you will have an idea what it was like for George as he sat on the high up shelf in the caravan down by the seaside.

Suddenly he heard the door opening slowly….

Noman the Snowman – Chapter 2

After almost eighteen months Noman the Snowman makes welcome return….

Chapter 2

‘I like you,’ Alfie said to Noman.

Alfie loved Noman’s stick arms. Alfie loved to pick up a stick every time he went for a walk. He thought it would be fun to have sticks for arms.

Alfie began to wish he was a snowman.

Noman was happy; he liked it when people said he could be their friend. Alfie stared hard at his new friend. He wondered what it was like to be a snowman. He didn’t think he would like to be a snowman. He thought it would be a bit cold. Alfie liked to be warm and especially enjoyed cuddles with his mummy and daddy.

‘Do you like being cold all the time?’ asked Alfie.

‘Yes I do,’ said Noman. I love it. ‘What I don’t like is the rain and the sun, they are not good for me.’

Just then Mia and Millie came running back out into the garden. Noman hoped they would not mention his green, sticking out teeth.

Now it was Mia and Millie’s turn to stare at Noman.

Noman was a bit worried.

‘Why are you wearing sunglasses?’ Millie asked him quietly. Millie had a lovely pair of sunglasses but she only wore them in the summer when she went to the beach in Cornwall.

‘I wear sunglasses because I want to be a cool snowman and besides when I was made, my owner didn’t have any coal to use for my eyes,’ Noman replied in a voice nearly as quiet as Millie’s.

‘I like them,’ said Millie, ‘they suit you. You do look like a cool snowman. I am sad you have got no coal for your eyes.’

Noman thanked Millie for saying such kind things, he was not used to children saying nice things. Most of his old friends only made fun of him and his green, sticking out teeth.

Now it was Mia’s turn to ask her new friend a question.

‘Where are your daddy and mummy?’ she enquired. ‘Are you here on your own?’

Noman told the three children that he didn’t have a mummy or a daddy and that snowmen usually just lived on their own.

Mia, Millie and Alfie felt sad; they all loved their mummies and daddies very much, they were sad that their new friend didn’t have a daddy or a mummy.

Millie thought they could adopt Noman and he could live in their garden all year. She would ask he mummy later.

‘Do you have any friends?’ Alfie asked him, trying not to look at his green, sticking out teeth, which had started to chatter in the cold.

‘I have three friends, but I don’t see them very often. One of them looks just like me and he wears sunglasses and a scarf too, but my best friend is called Olaf. He is very famous and he is a film star. We have been friends for a long time.’

Mia was so excited to hear this. She loved to watch Olaf in her favourite film.

Noman told Mia that he wanted to be in a film too but no one asked him because of his teeth.

Mia looked at Noman’s teeth. They did look a bit green, but she thought that he still looked very handsome.

“One of my friends is very rich, Noman told the children, ‘he lives in a big house and he has a real hat to wear on his head.’

Mia remembered the snowball hat she had made for Noman. She wished she could give Noman a nice hat just like his friend.

Just then Mia’s mum called them in for dinner and they said goodbye to Noman. They asked him to wait in the garden till they came back out. Noman said he had nowhere else to go and that he would see them later.

Noman felt happy to have three such lovely new friends.

Luna’s story

Hello. My name is Luna.

It was the name given to me by my creator. Did you know bears don’t get born? We are created. My creator was a lovely lady called Lainy. Lainy lives in England, so I am an English bear.

Some people call us ‘Teddy’ bears, but we don’t like that, we like to be called bears. My creator told me that I was special when she created me. She told me I am the only one like me, there never has been and there never will be another bear just like me. I have a label that tells everyone how special I am. I have German glass eyes.

I like being special.

Last week I was adopted. Bears like to be adopted. We always love our creator and we will never forget them, but we are made to be adopted. On the journey down to my new home I was very excited and very nervous. I was in a basket with my chums.

People who see us think we are cute, especially Giraffe and Elephant. We always tease them that they are not bears, but we never break friends. We always love each other, and when one of us gets adopted, we are all very happy.

When I saw my new home I was very pleased. I could tell they liked me because they cuddled me a lot, but the lady of the house said she could not afford me and would like to pay instalments. I asked Elephant and Giraffe what instalments were, but no one knew. I was very worried.

Then after tea, a chubby little man with a gentle face said he would adopt me as a present for Easter for the kind lady. She smiled a lot and was very happy, but she was not as happy as me.

So I was adopted – it was the best day of my life.

It was hard saying goodbye to my creator Lainy and my chums. I was sad to see them go. It was strange to be on my own for the very first time.

My new owner said I was now a Welsh bear, as I had come to live in Wales.

I love being a Welsh bear.

When you are adopted your new owner can change your name but my name is going to stay the same. I like being called Luna. I am glad my name was not changed.

My new owner put me on the mantelpiece.

I like being on the mantelpiece, you can see all that is going on. My new family is very excited, as there is a very new baby in the family.

I saw the new baby. She is very pretty. When she is older perhaps she will want to play with me. I would like that very much.

On my first day in my new home I met two more bears. They told me all about where I had come to live. They told me about a girl who lived in the house; she is very sweet and gentle. I will love her too. There is also a little dog called Belle. She is a good dog and doesn’t bite toys.

I am glad Belle does not bite toys. I would not like to be bitten by a dog, even if it is a small one.

It was good to have some bear friends. They looked a bit old but they were very friendly.

One thing they did tell me was about another bear, a very old bear that lived in a cupboard upstairs. No one ever played with him any more. He was very old. They say he is blind and has only got one leg. His fur has all been loved off. Some of the toys in the house are afraid of him.

At night I am put on top of a cupboard near the pictures of two very old men.They both have very kind faces. I have not seen them in the house. I think maybe they have gone away.

If I turn my head a bit I can see some old writing in a frame. It looks like the writing is a love letter. Maybe one of the old men wrote it to someone special, like me. I know I am a special bear.

When I look at the old men in the pictures I think again about the old bear who lives in the cupboard upstairs.

I think he sounded very nice. I expect he has many stories to tell. I wonder if one day I can meet him and hear all about his life.

Spring 2014

At last Spring has arrived and after months of putting off adventures because of the rain and the cold, the bright blue skies and warm sun made today a good day to go adventuring again. Alfie did not stay over last night and arrived just before eight followed by Millie just after nine, after the Princess Mia had been dropped off at school.

We had to wait until Mia’s lessons were over before we could go, so Millie and Alfie spent a leisurely morning playing in the little piece of paradise their Nan had created for them. The grown ups – Millie’s mum, the lady of the house and my good self enjoyed breakfast together and chatted through many things, putting the world to right. Just after ten we were joined by Belle’s aunt, who had brought some left over chicken and a little love note. Belle had soon devoured the chicken and Belle’s aunt had joined us for breakfast, which meandered into coffee time, as relaxed mornings do.

Before long it was time to pick up the Princess Mia from school and I was duly dispatched leaving the ‘girls ‘ to carry on nattering.

The Princess was glad to see me but it soon became obvious that she had a ‘tights’ problem. Every five yards of walking saw her tights drop down to her knees and after pulling them up many times, we decided the best solution was a ‘piggy back’. This worked fine and we soon arrived home and the problem with the underwear was duly reported to mum, who rolled her eyes and blamed the incorrect sizing!

After a hasty lunch we soon found ourselves heading for the station and the first real adventure of 2014.

After battling with the machine at the station, the tickets were carefully placed in an accessible pocket, the dog in another pocket and we awaited the arrival of the train.

We were quite a crowd with three little kids, one glamorous gran, a little fat OAP and a scatty nervous little Yorkshire Terrier.

We looked quite a sight on the platform. Getting on and off the train need some technical manoeuvrings, but the lady of the house was magnificent at lifting the pushchairs, the kids and the little fat OAP onto the train in Eastbrook, off and on another train at Cardiff Queen Street and eventually off at Lisvane and Thornhill. While I was being helped on the train in Cardiff I noticed work on the new platform had only progressed slowly since we last adventured this way. I wondered what had caused the delay.

I gazed down at my dad and mums old house as we passed Llanishen and thought about my childhood growing up on that council estate in North Cardiff. When we stopped at Llanishen Station my mind went back to the days when the stationmaster tended the station garden and old steam trains came and took us to Barry and Lavernock.

The walk from Lisvane Station to Cefn Onn Park was a short one. I longed for the days of the old Cefn Onn Station, which took you to the heart of the park.

Parc Cefn Onn, originally named “Parc Cefn On”, in Lisvane, north of Cardiff, is a country park created in the valley of the Nant Fawr stream, which eventually runs into Roath Park. There are no early postcards of Parc Cefn Onn, because it originated in private ownership and was not open to the public until acquired by the Council in 1944, well past the peak of postcard production.

Beginning in 1911 the park was laid out by Ernest Prosser, General Manager of the Taff Vale, Cardiff, and Rhymney Railway Companies, whose intention was to create a woodland estate and house on the land then known as The Dingle. In the park he built a summerhouse where his son could convalesce from tuberculosis. Prosser abandoned his plans to build a house at The Dingle when his son died in 1922, but he continued to maintain the grounds until his own death in 1933. The estate was then inherited by a nephew who sold it to the Cardiff Council in 1944 for £7,500, after Prosser’s gardener, Tommy Jenkins, alerted members of the Council to the opportunity.

William Nelmes, Cardiff’s Director of Parks, described how Parc Cefn Onn came to be acquired:
“Local Authorities are often blamed for the protracted way in which they conduct their business and probably with some justification. In the case of the Parc Cefn On acquisition, however, very prompt action was taken: On a certain Saturday, in 1944, news was received that the property was for sale and the next day it was inspected by several members of the Council; on the Monday a deposit was paid by the Chairman of the Estates Committee and on the Tuesday a meeting was specially convened to approve the purchase of the property by the Corporation.”

The purchase was formally agreed on 21st August 1944 and the name Parc Cefn On was adopted the following month.In 1951 repairs to the thatched roof of the summer house cost £25-10-0.

The park quickly became popular with visitors, such that more frequent bus and train services were introduced and Cefn Onn Halt was opened by the Great Western Railway. The Council continued to develop the park into a site of national horticultural importance, attracting many visitors especially in the rhododendron season. The present day Parc Cefn Onn contains some rare and important native and exotic trees, while the streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting provide varied habitats for wildlife.

THE name Cefn Onn means ‘ridge of ash trees’.

There is an extensive network of streams and ponds throughout the woods. The biggest pond is artificial and created by damming the stream. Eventually this stream, as I said before, runs into Roath Park Lake. The streams and ponds act as a habitat for frogs, toads and common newts to spawn in the spring.

There are many rare and exotic trees in this park and some of them made Mia, Millie and Alfie gasp in admiration.

The size, colour and variety of trees are simply stunning – The Dawn Redwoods are the largest of their species in the city at 28 metres and an Edwardian- planted Grand Fir at 48 meters is reputed to be Cardiff’s tallest tree. The colour is forever changing with rhododendron and azalea providing late spring interest.

Once we walked in through the gate and under the motorway and into the park, the dog’s lead was removed, the kids set free from the pushchairs and we were off, running, kicking dead leaves, picking up sticks. We had the most marvellous time, breathing in the fresh air and celebrating the arrival of Spring.

We passed many other people, old and young alike; all stopped for a chat or exchanged pleasantries. It was so good to be out.

Before long we passed the magical spot where the path, now long overgrown, slopes down to the old Cefn Onn Halt.

The kids had no idea, but even the lady of the house became a bit misty eyed as she herself thought about those happy days of long ago.

We arrived at the large pond, which the three little ‘uns loved and many sticks and stones were thrown in.

After a while we moved on towards the old summerhouse, built for the first owner’s sick son but now derelict.

We decided on a photograph but I was reminded of my age and lack of agility here. I set the camera on timer and went racing up to join the others, but things I did a couple of years ago are no longer possible. I failed!

We had to sit and wait until a lady walked by and she was asked to take the photograph.

She did well.

I had forgotten how beautiful this park is and we made our way around before finding a picnic table to stop and have a drink.

After a brief break, we continued and Mia felt like a break, so she asked Alfie to push her in the pushchair. He duly obliged!

We carried on around the park and soon found ourselves back at the gate. It was so wonderful to be out and to be able to enjoy such beauty, with three little treasures and one amazing lady who has brought such joy to my life. I looked at the kids running through the leaves and thought of Oscar Wilde’s story of The Selfish Giant. At one stage in the story the Giant says… ‘ I have many beautiful flowers in my garden, but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.’ Today I know how he felt!!

We made our way next door to The Old Cottage.

This is now a pub/restaurant, but years ago my friend lived here; it was their home. It must have been an idyllic place to live! Here, we enjoyed a welcome cup of tea, before thinking about heading home. We arrived home tired and happy, with fresh air in our lungs and happy memories locked in our minds, never to be forgotten.

I reflected on the old hymn I used to sing in church…

“Count your blessings, name the one by one.” That is almost an impossible job for me I have too many…

But here are three to start off!

Rambling Alone – Parc Cefn Onn.

On a recent day out with my grandson, we found ourselves in Parc Cefn Onn. Parc Cefn Onn is a country park on the northern fringes of Cardiff. It contains a truly magnificent collection of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Visitors here can enjoy the stunning scenery and the calm, relaxing atmosphere.

The park was originally designed some 90 years ago taking advantage of the gentle valley containing the Nant Fawr stream. I am sure this is the steam which runs down through Llanishen woods where I played as a young child. Cardiff Council acquired the site in 1944. The streams, ponds, woodlands and other planting make this a rich haven for wildlife.

This was a place I visited regularly as a small child. We would walk across fields from the estate where we lived and enjoy this wonderful place, before walking home across the same fields. The journey home always seemed miles longer than the journey to Cefn Onn. When money was not too tight we would occasionally catch a train. We had a station in Llanishen and one stop up the line was Cefn Onn Halt. In those days catching a train meant only one thing – steam! I loved those old trains with a passion; who could fail to be stirred by the hissing monsters that travelled those shining steel lines.

In the deeper recesses of my mind I can remember some trains we used to call a push and pullie. If I remember the train stayed at one end and the guards van had some kind of viewing cabin at the back. I must ask Mr. Google to help me see if my memories are correct.

The station at Cefn Onn is hidden in a deep, dark; silent cutting and only accessible by foot and this tiny wayside stop was situated next to a one-mile long tunnel that took the railway under Caerphilly Mountain. Cefn Onn Halt was opened by the Great Western Railway to serve the 160-acre wooded area known as Cefn-Onn Country Park (curiously, the halt was known as ‘Cefn On Halt’ until British Rail returned the missing letter ‘n’ back in the 1960s). The down station platform was connected to the opposite platform (and Cefn Onn Parc) by a high wooden footbridge..

Local resident Mike Slocombe, writing in October 2004 had these wonderful memories…

“I regularly used the halt to commute to work in the late 70s and, latterly, found the station a convenient starting point for long, solitary walks up Cefn Onn Ridge and Caerphilly Mountain.   Waiting for the train was always a pleasant experience, as the secluded cutting was almost silent apart from the sound of a nearby brook, the wind in the trees and singing birds.   The imminent arrival of a train was always an exciting moment – you’d hear the distant rumble of the train entering the northern portal of the tunnel, with a deep ‘whooshing’ sound getting louder and louder before the train burst into the daylight, just 20m from your platform.   At this point you had to manically wave your arms around to get the driver to stop (a mission I was not always successful at).   Sadly, a thumping great motorway nearby has put paid to the tranquility of the scene, with the area now resonating to the endless roar of M4 traffic.   The station closed on Saturday, 27th September 1986, with a new station – and acres of new housing – springing up nearby.   Closure was initially scheduled for March that year, but was delayed after an objection was received from one person.   So the trains no longer stop at little Cefn Onn halt, and the tranquility of this once-obscure area has been lost forever.”

This photograph was taken in the Autumn of 1984, looking down from the footbridge. By this time, the oil lamps had long gone and the only customer facilities provided on the bare platform was a short wooden bench.

When I visited the park some months ago I came across the old bridge site – the bridge is long gone – and the path which led down to the old station platform. Having a puschair and a grandchild made it impossible to even think of battling down to the station. I made a promise to myself that I would return and stand again on the old station. Today was the day.

I left home and caught the train, stopping to buy my ticket at the newly installed ticket machine at Eastbrook station near my house.

Even now the thrill of buying a train ticket is still the same. No more little cardboard ticket pushed into the stamping machine, but a bigger brighter one purchased with my plastic passport to paradise.

I had to change trains in Cardiff but it gave me a great opportunity to see the progress being made at Queen Street Station, which is being ‘modernised’. Sadly to me it looked much as it had done some weeks previous, although I am sure much as been done behind the scenes.

I arrived at Lisvane and Thornhill Station, the station that replaced Cefn Onn Halt in good time and strolled up into the park, just a short walk of a couple of hundred yards. As I went underneath the M4 – a horrible blot on the landscape – I noticed a new mural had been painted on the motorway wall. It definitely improved the entrance to the park. Well done to all concerned.

Soon I was lost in the peace and tranquility of this beautiful place. I could see my dad and mum walking with me, stopping to rest on one of the benches. They were incredible people… I miss them.

The path leading to the station is halfway through the park. When the park was closed at the end of the day years ago, I guess the station was unusable, as there seems to be no other way in or out. I must find out if that was true.

I was really excited as I made my way down to the station. The first part of the path was surprisingly clear, but lower down my legs were getting sting by the nettles. I battled on through the pain. At the bottom of the path there was a sharp turn right onto the top of the steps that led down to the platform. Here it was very overgrown and I had to force my way through branches and brambles and nettles whilst negotiating a number of steps. At the bottom another right-hand turn and some more thick branches and I was there!

Magical.

The platform itself was completely covered with ballast and the thick vegetation had almost reached the platform edge, but there was just enough room to walk safely along it. Michael Slocombe had it exactly right when he wrote about…

…. the secluded cutting was almost silent apart from the sound of a nearby brook, the wind in the trees and singing birds.

Very soon I heard the vibrations of the railway lines, which told me a train was approaching. Not wishing to alarm the driver of the train, by letting him see this funny little fat chap, apparently waiting for a train on a station that had closed when he was a little boy, I stepped back behind some branches while the train thundered by and disappeared into Caerphilly Tunnel.

I spent some time here, talking photographs and just enjoying the tranquility of the beautiful little place – a disused station, forgotten by the world, missed I am sure by the hundreds of passengers on the trains that pass here every day.

I would have loved to cross the track to stand on the other platform, but that would have been breaking the law and I was not prepared to do that. Another time I would find access to the other side or ask Railtrack to rebuild the wooden bridge.

After a long while I reluctantly made my way up to the park again. It meant more stung legs but that was fine. I had achieved what I set out to do.

At the top, rather than go home I decided to walk up into the park past the pond and see if the playing field was still there. In my childhood there was a teashop there and we would often buy a tray of tea and a glass of cordial, usually Vimto or sarsaparilla pop. Such happy bygone days!

The field was still there but the teashop, like the station, long gone. The park was deserted apart from me, but I listened and could hear again the sound of children laughing and my brother and sister and I giggling as we rolled down the hill. I could hear my mum shouting at us to mind that we didn’t roll into the large pond, which lay at the bottom of the slope.

I strolled back down through the park, got involved in some lovely conversations with folk walking their dogs. I walked passed the old summerhouse; I don’t really remember much about it though.

I also passed this little old man who was pushing lady in a wheelchair. Her body was badly twisted and her face was distorted. She was very badly disabled, my heart went out to her, but it was the love and compassion being shown to her by the little old chap, which almost took my breath away. He was so wonderful and obviously loved her very much. He spoke so gently and lovingly to her, patiently explaining the beauty of the place and the sounds of the birds and the babbling of the stream. Some people deserve medals.

I stopped on the way back near the ‘bottom pond’, a place I had never previously seen, despite many visits to the park. It seemed natural to pray here. I thanked God for my family – parents who loved me and gave me so many happy memories – my kids and grandkids, who had brought such happiness into my life. I thanked God for people like that little old chap I had just met who just make the world a better place. Then I thanked God for His beautiful creation, which we so often just take for granted.

That was a special time.

As I reached the park gates I remembered that friends of mine used to live in an old cottage right next to the park. I turned left to see if the old cottage was still there.

Imagine my surprise when I saw that the old cottage was actually still there, but was now a beautiful pub/restaurant.

It was a very hot day and so I wasted no time in ordering a beautiful ice cold drink and sat down underneath a large umbrella to reflect on a beautiful day in such a beautiful part of God’s creation.

I thought of other Ramblings Alone I could have, or even better maybe Ramblings with the lady of the house. I am sure she would love to have her legs stung and her arms scratched whilst visiting old derelict stations. I can think of fewer happier ways to spend a day. I will wait for the right moment and ask her… but if you are reading this, please don’t hold your breath!

Please also visit…

http://www.urban75.org/photos/wales/cefn_onn.html

for a fascinating piece by a man who shares my passion.

Noman the Snowman

Noman the snowman was sad; nobody liked him. All his friends made fun of him because he had green sticking out teeth. Other snowmen had nice teeth that were made from coal, like proper snowman’s teeth, Noman had green teeth and they stuck out a bit.

Chapter 1

All his friends said, “Noman you don’t clean your teeth…they’re green!”

But Noman did clean his teeth every night; he was a good snowman.

Noman wanted people to like him.

He wanted people to say nice things about his big pink buttons but nobody ever did.

He wanted people to say, ”Noman, I love your glasses, but nobody ever did

Noman was sad.

One very snowy night Noman got lost. It had been snowing hard and Noman lost his daddy and mummy and found himself in a garden. He had never been there before; it looked a little bit untidy. There was a lot of rubbish and some chairs that had not been put away for the winter.

Now Noman was even sadder.

When morning came he thought he would look for his daddy and mummy. He hoped he wouldn’t see his friends. He didn’t like it when people said he had green teeth.

As he was deciding which way to go to find somewhere safe and quiet, he heard some children’s voices. He saw three little children with their noses pressed up against the window of a house nearby. They were very excited, they had never seen snow before and they had never, ever seen a snowman before.

The children were called Mia, Alfie and Millie.

Noman was sad, he thought Mia, Alfie and Millie would make fun of his green teeth, he wanted to run away, but when he looked he didn’t have any legs.

When they were dressed the three children walked very slowly out into the garden.

Noman was a little bit scared of the children and the children were a little bit scared of Noman.

“What’s your name?” Mia asked in a very quiet voice.

“I’m Noman,” said Noman.

“You look sad,” Mia said and tried to cheer him up by giving him a snowball right on the top of his head. It looked like a funny little snowy hat.

Alfie was looking at Noman’s green sticking out teeth.

“You’ve got nice glasses,” Millie said. Noman smiled and hoped his teeth didn’t stick out too much. He tried to cover his mouth, but his arms were very thin.

“And I like your big pink buttons,” said Alfie.

Suddenly Noman didn’t feel sad anymore. He had found some new friends. They were not like his old friends. His old friends made fun of his green teeth.

One of Noman’s cruel friends.

“Can I stay with you today?” Noman asked his new friends.

“Yes, Yes, Yes!” they all said at the same time, “We have never seen a real snowman before and we want to be your friend. Noman felt warm inside.

Mia and Millie ran in to tell their daddy and mummy about their new friend. Alfie stayed in the garden with Noman.

He looked hard at the face of his new snowman friend and wondered if all snowmen had green sticking out teeth. Alfie had never seen a snowman before.

Chapter 2

‘I like you,’ Alfie said to Noman.

Alfie loved Noman’s stick arms. Alfie loved to pick up a stick every time he went for a walk. He thought it would be fun to have sticks for arms.

Alfie began to wish he was a snowman.

Alfie stared hard at his new friend. He wondered what it was like to be a snowman. He didn’t think he would like to be a snowman. He thought it would be a bit cold. Alfie liked to be warm and especially enjoyed cuddles with his mummy and daddy.

‘Do you like being cold all the time?’ asked Alfie.

‘Yes I do,’ said Noman. I love it. ‘What I don’t like is the rain and the sun, they are not good for me.’

Just then Mia and Millie came running back out into the garden. Noman hoped they would not mention his green, sticking out teeth.

Now it was Mia and Millie’s turn to stare at Noman.

Noman was a bit worried.

‘Why are you wearing sunglasses?’ Millie asked him quietly. Millie had a lovely pair of sunglasses but she only wore them in the summer when she went to the beach in Cornwall.

‘I wear sunglasses because I want to be a cool snowman and besides when I was made, my owner didn’t have any coal to use for my eyes,’ Noman replied in a voice nearly as quiet as Millie’s.

‘I like them,’ said Millie, ‘they suit you. You do look like a cool snowman. I am sad you have got no coal for your eyes.’

Noman thanked Millie for saying such kind things, he was not used to children saying nice things. Most of his old friends only made fun of him and his green, sticking out teeth.

Now it was Mia’s turn to ask her new friend a question.

‘Where are your daddy and mummy?’ she enquired. ‘Are you here on your own?’

Noman told the three children that he didn’t have a mummy or a daddy and that snowmen usually just lived on their own.

Mia, Millie and Alfie felt sad; they all loved their mummies and daddies very much, they were sad that their new friend didn’t have a daddy or a mummy.

Millie thought they could adopt Noman and he could live in their garden all year. She would ask he mummy later.

‘Do you have any friends?’ Alfie asked him, trying not to look at his green, sticking out teeth, which had started to chatter in the cold.

‘I have three friends, but I don’t see them very often.

One of them looks just like me and he wears sunglasses and a scarf too, but my best friend is called Olaf. He is very famous and he is a film star. We have been friends for a long time.’

Mia was so excited to hear this. She loved to watch Olaf in her favourite film.

Noman told Mia that he wanted to be in a film too but no one asked him because of his teeth.

Mia looked at Noman’s teeth. They did look a bit green, but she thought that he still looked very handsome.

“One of my friends is very rich, Noman told the children, ‘he lives in a big house and he has a real hat to wear on his head.’

Mia remembered the snowball hat she had made for Noman. She wished she could give Noman a nice hat just like his friend.

Noman felt happy to have three such lovely new friends.

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