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

The Holiday Gets Underway

We were very comfortable in our tent and slept well. The next morning the sun was shining and we were eager to get out and about.

We had our bicycles with us as all the cycle paths make France a great place for cycling. We pedalled into St Valery and left our cycles in the town car park as I knew there was a lovely route into the town from this point.


I was keen to ensure that my friends saw the best side of France and hoped they would become francophiles like me. I showed them some lovely views over the Somme bay and took them along small back streets with quaint houses and lots of flowers.


I was pleased to hear my friends following my lead and exchanging a friendly word or two with the locals (my French coaching has paid off!).

This characterful cottage with a very nautical theme provided a lovely spot to rest and soak in the sun.


I was pleased to see that St Valery was proving a hit with my English friends and smiled to myself as I thought about how much more they would enjoy what I was about to show them.

Lots of love Gilbert and the Bears Unlimited travelling party xxx

En Vacances

Our first picture, showing moi (Gilbert) - look closely at the basket - with some of my compatriots, should leave you in no doubt where we went for our latest adventure.

My emigration from France to Norfolk last year, to join Bears Unlimited, meant that an annual jaunt to 'la belle France' is an absolute necessity to stop me becoming too homesick. My fellow members of the Norfolk branch didn't need too much persuading to join me on our latest adventure. They said that most years they would pop across the Channel for a couple of days, to replenish the wine cellar, and agreed that an extended visit would provide a great opportunity to travel a little further afield and see more of France than the shops.


As last year, we travelled across via Eurotunnel. Thanks to me being so eager to set paw in France, we arrived at the Terminal really early and caught a much earlier train than the one we'd booked.

On arriving at Coquelles we had a drive of about 70 miles to reach our camp site just outside the lovely Somme Bay town of St Valery. This time there was no camp to set up as we had booked a Eurocamp pre-erected tent and, even more luxury, there was no meal to cook as we were able to pop across to the chalet that members of the Midlands branch had been renting for the past week, and enjoy a meal and a glass of wine with them.

First though, there was a very important task to be completed: the raising of the bear flag outside our camp area.


See what we got up to in France next time.

Lots of love Gilbert xxx

Did Gilbert make the Balls?!

Tensions have been running high in the Norfolk Bear Cave today. We've spent the afternoon glued to the television set watching the concluding matches of the 6 nations rugby tournament and cheering on our respective teams. We're sure you'll forgive us for breaking into our Irish adventures to talk about the rugby, but we could hardly talk about it after today.

As we're quite a cosmopolitan household, we have Bears Unlimited members representing 4 of the 6 nations of the competition. It makes for rather noisy spectating and some interesting alliances.

Poor Scotty Dog was so disappointed with Scotland's performance in the first match, that he went off to be on his own and we haven't seen him since. We'll tempt him out with a glass of Wherry shortly.


The England v Ireland match was eagerly awaited. Patrick made sure he got a front row seat to support his team. As French bear Gilbert knows what it is like to be in a minority of one, he cheered on Ireland as well, and between them them made nearly as much noise as the large English element of the Norfolk branch. In the end, as it was such as good match, everyone agreed that the final score didn't really matter and Patrick took the Irish defeat with good grace.


When it came to France's turn to play, Gilbert began to get quite nervous. He really did want his team to win, not only the match, but also the tournament. He proudly displayed his French rugby rosette and tried not to look too worried. As we have no Welsh B.U. members and Gilbert is very popular, he had the whole of Bears Unlimited rooting for his team, not just Patrick.

Sadly, Gilbert's dream was not to be realised but he was the first to admit his team was completely outplayed. With a typical Gallic shrug he turned to the one thing that he knows his country never fails to excel at - red wine.


What better way to drown your sorrows and enjoy the company of your friends.

Lots of love, all at the Norfolk branch xxx

Vive La France!

While Blue Bear was engrossed in the serious business of car buying, some of us got itchy feet and decided it was time for further travels. The recent arrival of Gilbert who joined us from France, gave us the perfect excuse for a trip to, where else, but France. Gilbert's been with us for about 2 months now, and while he's settled in well and nevers complains about England, we could tell he was secretly hankering to see the land of his birth again. Additionally, our wine cellar was getting rather empty, so there was nothing for it, but to get travelling.


Although Yorkie and I are the main travelling bears, we put Gilbert in charge of this expedition. He arranged us a crossing via the Tunnel and we sat on the roof of Bearmobile 1 for the short journey. We look a bit unhealthy in the yellow light but, we felt fine and the colour was only due to us obeying the rules about no flash photography.

On arrival one of our first stops was City Europe to pick up a picnic lunch in Carrefour.


Gilbert said he didn't mind us being patriotic and entering via the English gate. Once we had picked up French lunch supplies of baguette, Brie and taboule, we thought we would take advantage of the winter sunshine and blow away the cobwebs with a stroll along the coast. We thought we would go and watch the ferries entering and leaving the port of Calais.


It was typical though, we settled down on the beach at the very time that there was a lull in the arrival and departure of the ferries. It was nice to have the beach to ourselves though.

Keep reading to find out how we spent the afternoon.

Lots of love George, Yorkie, Gilbert & fellow travellers xxx

Comings and Goings

Dilly has now left us and returned home. This was sad for us as we greatly enjoyed having her to stay, and we do miss her now she has gone. However, it was not such a sad occasion for Dilly who was overjoyed to see her mistress again when she came to pick her up. We like to think Dilly had a good holiday with us and will ask to come and stay again the next time a holiday is planned.

Dilly's departure, however, coincided with a happy event, which cheered us up no end. This was the arrival of the newest member of Bears Unlimited. There is a link to Dilly, as our new friend was one of the gifts Dilly's mum brought us back from France as a thank you for having Dilly to stay.


As our latest member comes from France he has a French name. Il s'appelle Gilbert, pronounced Gil-bear (get it!). In our picture you see Gilbert being welcomed to Bears Unlimited by Marmaduke, as tradition has it that the previous newest member welcomes the new newest member (in the presence of the Bears Unlimited flag of course).

Gilbert is settling in well and already beginning to look a bit less serious than he looks in his picture. Our attempts at French and Gilbert's at English are proving very entertaining but we are all learning fast!

look out for some of Gilbert's adventures with us in the weeks to come.

Lots of love, all at Bears Unlimited xxx