Chocolat and gherkins...!!!

Being bears, we all love chocolate and the book / film "Chocolat" is a particular favourite - we watched it once again this afternoon while waiting in vain for the rain to stop. French breakfasts were very much to our taste - big bear friendly bowls of hot chocolate to slurp, with a nice bit of Nutella spread thickly on baguette to dunk. We liked the pain au chocolat too but found these too wiffy waffy for dipping. You can see Isaiah licking his lips as he contemplates the mouth watering selection of goodies - he's very lucky, he can eat what he likes and still stay very svelte unlike his minders!

However, on further perusal, he discovered a bowl of gherkins! Now bears like gherkins but not for breakfast surely? Very odd! it took Isaiah so much by surprise that he didn't realise he was endangering his bearhood by sitting on a knife and he nearly got caught by the waiter and had to dive back to the safety of his minder's table tout de suite before being discovered drooling over the buffet. Anyway, the bears tucked in as they knew they were off on a big adventure later that morning, about which more will follow.

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Bank Holiday blues

As Norfolk Branch and Midlands Branch are both off having a bit of an adventure, Suffolk Branch are feeling at a bit of a loose end this weekend, especially as the weather is being typically Bank Holiday - ish. We've put our bear BBQ on hold and have decided to cheer ourselves up by reminiscing about our recent holiday in northern France. Here you can see us resting our weary paws and catching a few rays after scrambling up a big sandy cliff from which point we waved at our bear friends across La Manche.

Then in a spirit of entente cordiale, we decided to try the local fare and as we were at the seaside, it had to be moules mariniere. We were amazed at the 101 different ways to cook them and quite fancied the curry and beer varieties but in the end we thought we'd start with the traditional way. Kiwi fell in the pot moments after the photo was taken - you can see he's looking a bit off balance - and had to be rescued by Isaiah but after that escapade we slurped away and found them quite tasty! But we drew the line at the oysters our minder opted for - well we wouldn't want to choke on a pearl would we? Watch out for odd petit dejeuner choices later in the week. A bientot!

Hello from Us and and Goodbye from Them!

Hi folks, Chelmer and Rocco here, safely back home now, after a most amazing holiday. We hope our blogs conveyed to you how much we were enjoying ourselves and all the amazing new experiences we had.

We've simply got to go back to Germany (for certain female furry reasons) and we can't wait to have another gliding trip and to see Hunnybunny again, so we have asked our camp leaders, Birgit & Wade, if we can stay again, when we are next due for a holiday. We're pleased to report that they have said yes!

Meanwhile Eddie, George & Yorkie and busily packing for their next adventure, so we're returned just in time to say goodbye to them and to enjoy a pint of Wherry with them before they go.


One of the things they are packing is the new Bears Unlimited flag (this might give you a clue about the nature of the adventure they are about to embark on). In the photo you can see the flag flying and you will be seeing a lot more of it in the next few blogs from the Norfolk branch, although you might have to wait a while for them.

We are all very proud of our flag and wish to thank Aunty G for a fantastic design and production job.

While you wait for news of Eddie, George & Yorkie's big adventure, if you're lucky you might just hear from the Suffolk branch about their latest travels.

Lots of love, all at Bears Unlimited xxx

My visit to Frankfurt by Rocco

Hi gang!
 
I thought I'd better write today as Chelmer seems incapable. He's been on the internet all day, I think checking flights to Frankfurt. He's been really badly smitten by Teddy De Baer, who we met at the weekend. She's about 7 years older than us but even I have to admit that she wears her age well. She was quite good company too. She ate and drank a bit too much for my liking and I'm sure she is harbouring some dark secret. She was very moody at times - a fact which Chelmer was oblivious to. You should have seen him. He carried her bag all day, found seats for her, bought her nearly a pound of Haribos - and she was lapping it all up. I tell you if they'd been my only company I'd have screamed!

As it was, Katrin, who we were staying with, and who is Birgit's sister, was absolutely wonderful. She was charming, funny, very good looking for a non-bear, and although at times somewhat embarrassed about being seen with us two prize specimen of the bear world, you could almost forget that she was human. Oh yes, and she was an excellent cook!

I can recommend the skyscraper festival to all of you. We enjoyed lots of rides, spectacular architecture, great weather, jaw dropping stunts and brilliant music. The atmosphere was very peaceful and Germans seem a very inclusive nation. They even had a bear band! This liberal attitude and lack of prejudice really surprised me very pleasantly.


Ok. I'm just off to do the washing up as Wade has gone to Tai Chi and Birgit is flaked out on the sofa, looking brain dead.
 
Speak to you soon,
Rocco

My visit to Frankfurt by Chelmer

Hello you lot,
 
We were completely and utterly gone when we arrived back here from the fantastic skyscraper festival in Frankfurt last night!!! We got up at 3 am on Saturday morning and by midday we had met Teddy De Baer. Nobody had told us that Teddy was a girl!!!!!!!!!! And, you've probably guessed this already, but Rocco is in love! Being the more mature, I let him believe that she was interested in him, when really she only had eyes for me. But I played it cool. However, I know she was looking at me when I abseiled from various towers, bungee jumped without screaming and did a 200 m zipwire off the second highest tower without twitching. She daintily fed me little morsels when we were having lunch 30 m up in the air suspended from a crane, and I'm sure you can also tell that we are far closer from the enclosed photo, although I made sure that Rocco didn't feel too left out. However, at that particular moment he was engrossed in the strawberries, being the pig that he is.


Teddy and I have exchanged addresses and I'm sure I'm going to see her again. I wished you could have met her. She smelt lovely and had the most interesting and varied personality. We discussed architecture, relationships, and many other things, but the best thing was that we shared a tremendous sense of fun. She went on nearly as many attractions as I did and on some we went together. We raced each other up a tower on a bicycle ( I let her win) and we did a bungee jump where we were tied into a sack together, winched up about 50 m and then dropped without warning. My assured presence meant that she hardly squealed! By the time the amazing fireworks started we were really very close and she dropped her head onto my shoulder to get an easier view.
Anyway, it's nearly dinner time now and I want to send off a quick email to her before I eat. I'm sure she's been waiting for it all day.
 
With much love,
Chelmer

Chelmer & Rocco's Fifth Day at Camp Griem-Leada

Hello,

Today we spent learning a few important German phrases, as we'll be spending the weekend in Frankfurt. We've been told that we will be meeting Teddy de Baer, so numero uno in our repertoire is 'drei Wherry Bier bitte'. We've also mastered 'wo sind die Schrebergaerten?' and 'zum Flughafen bitte'. Speak to you lot on Sunday!

Lots of love,
Chelmer and Rocco

Chelmer & Rocco's Fourth Day at Camp Griem-Leada

Hi you guys,

It was sooooo nice to see you at Badminton tonight. You really made the atmosphere special! Thanks!! Didn't realise just how much we'd missed you.
So, you already know what we did, but here's the evidence. As you can see, we took our umpiring seriously. We had to. The players were getting so uppety at times......We thought Jeremy was particularly gazelle like and his tiger surfaced on several occasions. Roarrrrrrrrr.

By the way, we forgot to tell you: we might not be coming home again. It's so lovely here - and there are far too many where you are. What do you think?

Chelmer and Rocco

P.S. Badminton is a doddle. As you can see it took us hardly five minutes to get the hang of it.


P.P.S. A very fine looking crowd you are


P.P.P.S. We're not asleep, we're concentrating on the lines!