What to Buy a Chef Bear

I bet you're all sitting there thinking you know exactly what I got for Christmas. After all, can there be a more logical present for a chef than a recipe book? As it happens, this year I didn't get any recipe books. This probably has something to do with the fact that the kitchen cupboards are already overflowing with recipe books, and if I spent any more time reading recipe books, then hungry bears would never get fed (there is quite a constant demand for home cooked meals at the Bear Cave).

I was lucky to receive some wonderful presents but one that particularly took my fancy was the pair of pickle jars that you see me with in my photo ...


These were speciality chilli pickles made by Cottage Delight Speciality Foods. One was a hot chilli pickle, and I got very excited when I read it was an 'intensely hot pickle' as I simply adore hot and spicy food. It certainly goes very well with my curries, and the rest of the chaps have been kind enough to say that as it is my present from them, I shouldn't give too much away. The other pickle was delightfully named 'Chillililli' - what a great name! As it is not really the salad season, I have been enjoying it with my lunchtime sandwiches.

Although I love cooking, it is a special treat to be able to sit down and enjoy fine food, like this, that others have prepared.

Lots of love, Oakley (Head Chef) xxx

What to Buy a Bear: Part 8

Hello from Bears Unlimited action bear Chelmer, and my brother Curly.

I, Chelmer, am a bit of a dare devil, and a sedate lifestyle is not for me. I will try any activity at least once, and the scarier and more dangerous the better: bungee jumper is my middle name. I am also the Bears Unlimited personal trainer and it is my job to make sure all my B.U. friends stay in great shape.

My brother Curly has the same genes as me, so usually comes with me on my adventures, but, he is a bit more sensible than me, and keeps his feet on the ground more of the time. As such he is a great foil for me as he makes sure we always stay safe.


One of our favourite presents from our B.U. friends was the great book you see us with in our photo. It is called Learning to Breathe and, it isn't a guide to personal training as it sounds, but a book about mountaineering, written by incredible mountaineer Andy Cave, a climbing contemporary of Joe Simpson of Touching the Void fame.

We love reading books by people who, we have to admit it, are even more adventurous than ourselves. Mountaineers are a breed apart, and we really admire their daring, courage and sense of adventure. Andy Cave's book is particularly interesting as it tells how he went from working underground as a miner, to successful mountaineer. What a change of lifestyle!

Lots of love, Chelmer & Curly xxx

What to Buy a Bear: Part 7

Bonjour mes amis, Gilbert ici. Vous savez que je suis un ours francais, mais je suis tres content habiter en Angleterre avec Bears Unlimited.

But perhaps I should write in English, as I now live in England. Although I have now been here for a couple of years, I have retained quite a few of my innate French characteristics. The most visible of these, is my chic and groomed appearance. I cannot help but be debonnaire and well turned out, with not a hair our of place, at all times.

Now I don't want you to think I am inferring anything untoward about English bears. They have huge personalities and are very generous and lovable, and they certainly don't smell! They probably even have more cuddle appeal than me. However, the differences are such that no-one would ever mistake me for an English bear.

See what I mean ...


This picture also shows one of my favourite Christmas presents from the chaps. Toiletries are the perfect present for me, as you will have worked out by now. This soap that you see me with is rather special as it is bear shaped and contains oatmeal, so is perfect for both exfoliating and conditioning my fur.

Merci beaucoup mes amis ours, c'est un cadeau tres agreable.

Lots of love Gilbert xxx

What to Buy a Bear: Part 6

Dear readers, you might have remembered that I, Eddie, got a mention at the end of the last post. This was because I reported that the chocolate and biscuits helped to keep me warm when I went out on my daily visit to see my seals. For those that don't already know, I am the chief boating bear, and I like nothing better than to be out on the water in a boat of any description, although I am especially fond of canal boats, and my seal boat, which I keep at Morston, from where I run seal trips to Blakeney Point.

There are no prizes for guessing that my presents from the gang were largely water related, although they do like to give me some surprise presents as well.


Here I am with a selection of the nautical reading material I was thrilled to receive for Christmas. I felt thoroughly spoilt when I opened the latest editions of both of my favourite boating magasines: Waterways World and Canal Boat. I was even more excited when I opened a book called Narrowboat Dreams. Just looking at the title, and knowing how often I dream of narrow boats, I immediately felt a great affinity with the author, and knew I was really going to enjoy this book.

For those who have wondered, the snow and ice didn't keep me away from my seal boat. I was out every day, although I did check that my distress flares were not past their best before date, just in case. I am, however, appreciating the extra few degrees of warmth since mid week. It made no difference to my seals though, as their layer of blubber keeps them warm whatever the weather.

Lots of love Eddie xxx

What to Buy Other Furries: Part 5

There was of course, one other thing which greatly contributed to the enjoyment of the Slumdog Millionaire viewing; that was Dessie and Black Doggy sharing some of the edible presents - biscuits and chocolates - they received for Christmas, with the rest of us.

The biscuits were, in fact, no ordinary chocolate biscuits, they were M & S seriously chocolately biscuits, which are rather special.


Fortunately, us bears don't tend to put on weight if we eat too many biscuits and chocolates, unlike our minders. This makes them ideal presents for us, as we get all the pleasure of the delicious taste, with no lasting calorie effects. Perhaps one of the reasons, is that there are so many of us, by the time they are shared round, we don't get to eat that many each.

This was why the other present, the Clebrations tin, was such a good one. There were enough chocolates in that tin for several rounds of the bear cave. Eddie said that when he later went out into the cold to visit his seals, he was kept a lot warmer by usual by all the chocolates and biscuits he had eaten, so it is true that they are good for you.

Lots of love, all at Bears Unlimited xxx

What to Buy a Reindeer: Part 4

Hi readers, Randolph here, to tell you that I too am happy spending time indoors at the moment. This is because I got a new DVD to watch for Christmas, and a cold, snowy day provided just the right excuse to settle down to watch my new DVD with the rest of the Norfolk Branch friends.

Here I am showing my present to my friend Tommy, who as you know is our gardening bear.


Not surprisingly, the snow has put a stop to Tommy's work in the garden, so he was the first bear to ask me if he could watch the DVD with me.

As you can see, the DVD is Slumdog Millionaire, a film that the rest of the bears knew I was eager to see. We watched it a few days ago and treated ourselves to an authentic cinema experience, settling down to watch it with pop corn, glasses of Wherry and dimmed lights.

We thought it was a great film and recommend it to any of our readers who haven't seen it yet.

DVDs are great presents for hot water bottle animals such as myself, as we work night shifts, and rest during the day, but often have free time for fiilm watching in the evening, especially if our minders go to bed late.

Lots of love, Randolph xxx

What to Buy a Bear: Part 3

Two other members of the Norfolk branch aren't bothered about spending more time at home than usual during this cold snap. These guys are Jimmy and Noel, and the reason they are happy to be at home is all down to one the Christmas presents they received.

Here they are with their present of a jigsaw roll.


What you won't have known until now, is that bears are great puzzlers, and Jimmy and Noel are especially enthusiastic. Up until now, their puzzling has been curtailed by the need to keep the bear cave tidy and the complaints received when half done puzzles get under paw. There are, after all, a lot of bears living in a finite space in Norfolk, and, while they wouldn't have it any other way, it does mean anything not being used has to be put away.

The new jigsaw roll means that at the end of a puzzling session, Jimmy & Noel can now simply roll up their puzzle and tidy it out the way of all those paws. They are very happy as they will be able to have a puzzle permanently on the go.

Jimmy & Noel have decided to start with a lovely Lake District scene. This is the Ashness Bridge puzzle you can see in the picture. Other bears are keen to lend a paw, although Ungi has been told that they would prefer it if he entertained with his guitar playing, rather than helping with the puzzle.

Hope you are keeping warm and upright (when outside!)

Lots of love, all at Bears Unlimited

What to Buy a Bear: Part 2

Hi, Ungi here, to tell you about one of my lovely Christmas presents. It was kindly given to me by my bear friends, to help me fulfil one of my long held ambitions, that is to play the guitar.

I'd already had my guitar as a previous Christmas present but, while the guitar was great, the 'how to play' guide that came with it, wasn't quite so good. I therefore needed something clear and simple that would get me up and playing. And, as you can see, I got it!


We think the 'Dummies' series of books are simply great and 'Guitar for Dummies' is no exception. I'm already playing a few chords and picking out the notes of Kumbaya for Bris and Gio to sing along to.

My friends, being the supportive bears they are, were worried that, by giving me this book, they were implicating that I was a 'dummy' and that I might be offended. Not so, I'm not a proud bear, and the only place to start is at the beginning and to take it one simple step at the time, the simpler the better.

Now I have this present, I'm certainly not worried about being kept indoors by all this cold weather, as it gives me plenty of opportunities to get practising.

Look out for my CD on Amazon soon!!

Lots of love, Ungi xxx

What to Buy a Bear: Part 1

So the New Year is finally here, and what cold and icy conditions it has brought with it. We went out this afternoon to get some fresh air and to admire the frosty landscape, but we found it very dificult to stay upright and our paws were slipping in all directions. We began to think we should have asked for skis or crampons for Christmas.

If we didn't get skis and crampons for Christmas, what did we get? We've already said that bears are experts at choosing just the right present, so we thought we might tell you about some of the presents we received. In some instances this will give you an opportunity to find out a bit more about us.

We'll start though with one of George and Yorkie's presents, which will come as no surprise.


What else can you give such a well-travelled pair of explorer bears than the biography of perhaps the world's greatest living explorer, Ranulph Fiennes? In our picture you see George and Yorkie enthusing about this very appropriate gift to their brothers Isaiah and Dale.

George and Yorkie are currently reading this book together as neither could wait for the other to read it first. It is obviously quite gripping as they've hardly been seen since they started reading. While we all admire Ran Fiennes achievements tremendously, we're not sure we'd want to be described as 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'. This is apparently how his propspective father-in-law described him. It's a wonder he ever got married!

We'll be back soon with more presents.

Lots of love, the Bears Unlimited gang xxx