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

It's Show Time!

One day last month we diverted all calls to the Suffolk branch and closed the Norfolk branch office so we could have a company outing to the Royal Norfolk show.

This is a simply great day out with loads to see and do and some delicious free samples of food to try in the food hall.


Our first interesting encounter was with one of our wild cousins. Noel was the bravest and got up close to say hello. He didn't get much of a response though and we quickly realised that this bear wasn't alive. His size though did make quite an impression on us and made us feel really small.

We also enjoyed making the acquaintance of one of Randolph's friends. This was a simply gorgeous reindeer with some lovely velvety antlers. We simply couldn't stop stroking them and he agreed to send them to us once they had fallen off. This reindeer is for hire for Christmas events so we think we might just have to find a way to include him in some of this year's Christmas festivities.


At lunchtime we had a special treat. We sampled our favourite brewery's latest offering: Woodforde's Sundew. This was simply delicious and we immediately ordered the biggest barrel they sell for next day delivery to the branch office.


Now, we always make a point of going along to see the Sheep Show. Not surprisingly it is Woolly's favourite part of the show. Although we've heard all the jokes before and know the script off by heart, we simply wouldn't miss it.

This year was rather special though as Woolly was recognised for the fine sheep he is and invited to take part. He couldn't believe his luck as he was invited on stage to meet his heroes.


Woolly reported that Nobby was especially friendly and looked after him well. He was pleased, however, that he wasn't the sheep that got shorn as the summer hasn't been hot enough yet for him to lose his coat.

It was a simply great day out and we have the date for next year in the diary already.

Lots of love from the Norfolk branch xxx

Real Life Drama on the Box

When Bears Unlimited was first formed, we had branches in Suffolk, the Midlands and Hertfordshire. However, due to office relocations and transfer of personnel, the branch in Hertfordshire, slowly shrunk in size until the last member, TBB (Teddy Bear Bill), feeling lonely, decided to move on a semi-permanant basis to join new friends and former Hertfordshire Branch members at the Norfolk Branch. However, whenever he can, he still likes to pop back to visit his minders or invites them to come up to Norfolk to see him.

Recently one of his minders became a V.I.P. in hospital in Luton. As TBB had a bad cold which he didn't want to pass on, he asked me, Jimmy, being an ex Herts member, along with Noël and Chelmer, to head off to Luton to do some hospital visiting. As is the Bears Unlimited way, as well as cheering up our sick relative, we needed to undertake some essential quality control work. I asked Chelmer to lead, building on the experience he gained back in October last year visiting a Midland branch V.I.P.

Noel and I both have some expertise in electrical equipment so decided that the all important heart machines should be given a full check. Firstly we checked we could get a good trace from a healthy heart, then we decided take a full ECG, again this test proved entirely satisfactory. Just as well as we wouldn't settle for anything else!


On checking out the non medical equipment, we discovered that hidden in the television system was a bear sized keyboard connected to the Internet. Noël took command and sent back to all branches news of the sucessful quality control checks and news of our loved one's good progress and excellent care.


With a sucessful mission acomplished we all then headed of to the nearest Pizza Express for a scrumptious Sloppy Guiseppie and some of those lovely dough balls.

Love from me, Jimmy, and my fellow hospital inspectors xxx

Our first posting

Welcome to the Bears Unlimited Blog Spot - we think Blog stands for Bear Log! In our next few postings we will begin to introduce ourselves.

Here you see me (Jimmy) with the sunglasses and Noël my best friend and constant companion enjoying a great British summer.