Birthday Lunchbox

We ourselves had no need of the tea shop (at that point), as we had a delicious birthday lunchbox packed. We had to do a bit more walking before lunch though. We didn't mind, as it was lovely scenery, all new to us, and it is always good to work up an appetite. Mind you we were exercising our jaws, catching up on each other's news, as much as our legs.


When a break for lunch was called, we bears all eagerly gathered round to see what was in the lunchboxes. We were very pleased to see chicken tikka sandwiches and, one of our favourites, cheese with the famous Aunt Jessie's marrow chutney. This really makes a bear's mouth salivate (recipe available from chef bear Oakley for anyone who is tempted). In the lunchbox, we also had Aunty G's lovely buns (although it was very hard deciding between fruit or chocolate), Nutrigrain raisin cake bars (kindly provided by Fred's Mum and very good walking food) and some very juicy and rosy red Braeburn apples. Definitely a feast fit for a bear and very soon there was much happy munching.

Fortified by our lunch, after a fur raising trip across a golf course trying to avoid flying balls, we climbed up to two of the landmarks in Bradgate Park, the memorial and the Old John Tower, a local folly dating back to 1784.


We were too close to it to get the whole of Old John in our picture, and you can probably see more of the view of Leicestershire that we had, than you can of us. Some of us are there, but you'll have to look very closely, in true 'Where's Bear' fashion.

Tiny had to retire from the picture as he'd just had an accident falling into a muddy puddle (Norfolk branch minder to blame) and was in the process of being cleaned up.

As we descended from this high point, we spied the tea room again, a long way in the distance. This time, it beckoned to us, so we took a cross country route to get there. On the way we passed some lovely old trees which made a great playground for us with a soft carpet of bracken to cushion us if we fell off.


As we sat resting on this old tree, we wondered if it had been around at the time Lady Jane Grey was born in the park, and whether it had watched her grow up. We're sure that at least that stage in her life must have been happy, given how beautiful these surroundings were.

We didn't dwell on these thoughts for too long though, as our need for that cup of tea became even greater, so off we went.

Lots of love, once again from all 3 B.U. branches xxx