Hi all! I hope you had Happy Thanksgivings and are all staying safe!
As you may’ve guessed, the hospital is pretty full — I think that when the world breaks, people turn to their beloved stuffed companions (who never let us down) and after months at home together, they figure, at least he or she or they can feel better, and then the animal or doll comes to the hospital for a spa and rejuvenation.:-)
In any case, I’ve been saving up stories as usual, and thought I’d start with Paddington’s. He was here last month for a spa and a new outfit – so I guess he came for a spa and a fitting? Here’s Paddington’s diagnosis photos:
Not too bad, just a little deflated and with his smile a bit out of sorts.
He began his stay with a bubble bath:
Got a new heart with a bit of original stuffing:
And soon was feeling much better:
So it was time to size him for some new clothes. Originally, the plan had been a new blue felt coat and yellow hat, a la the books… but then his person decided he should have a red hat, like in the latest movie, and then I thought, velour would work better for his coat, so he could have a proper hood and pockets like in the movie too. Unfortunately, I haven’t found wood buttons in teddy bear size that are like a traditional Paddington coat buttons, so his are a bit different there, but he’s unique, so he should have something unique to him too, right?
Anyway, here’s Paddington all spiffed up in his new clothes, ready to fly home:
Paddington flew home (to Arizona not London) and his person wrote:
Imagine: You set up your two best friends, Harry Styles and Paddington Bear, on a date and they fall in love over their mutual appreciation for marmalade and good manners. Later on they invite you to their colorful quirky wedding where you meet Paddington’s Mom who has recently left her husband and is very appreciative to you for helping her son find love. You hit it off and she takes you on a romantic date in the sewers and draws pictures of you. You fall in love and move in together in a whimsical little flat next to Harry and Paddington’s marmalade shop where you both also work.
This is the complete video - 2:18 minutes - including the last little part where they clinked the teacups and saucers with their spoons. Yesterday I didn`t know that there was an extended version. I love that video so much.
Ma’amalade sandwich Your Majesty?
The Queen and Paddington Bear get the Platinum Party at the Palace rocking.
#PlatinumJubilee #PlatinumPartyatthePalace
Surely even the most ardent of republicans can’t deny how adorable this was.
Have to admit, moderately impressed by the one part of the Jubilee I actually watched on TV, which was the queen interacting with Paddington Bear. Like. This woman is in her nineties and they figured out how to get her to interact pretty darn well with a fully CGI character. Well done, effects people.
This was followed by songs from Queen, which despite being called Queen does not have songs that fit the monarchy At All. Those have weirded me out just hearing them from a room over knowing it’s the music for a jubilee event. ESPECIALLY “We Are The Champions (of the world)” being played for the literal monarch of the literal British Empire In Decline.
Alexander Boris Johnson is a British politician, author, and former journalist, who has served as the prime-minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party since July 2019, and a politician since 2001. He also served as mayor of London from 2008 to 2016 and foreign secretary from 2016 to 2018.
He was educated at Eton College and at Oxford University, where he was elected president of the Oxford Union in 1986. He began his career in journalism at The Times. He was an assistant editor of The Daily Telegraph from 1994 to 1999. He largely adhered to the Conservatives party line but adopted a socially liberal stance on issues such as LGBT rights in parliamentary votes. During his mayoralty, he banned alcohol drinking on much of London’s public transport, an oversaw the 2012 Summer Olympics, a new bus range and cycle hire scheme.
He identifies as a liberal-conservative. Supporters have praised him as an entertaining, humorous, and popular figure, with an appeal stretching beyond traditional Conservative voters. In a snap general election in December 2019, he led the Conservative Party to their biggest victory since 1987, and the biggest percentage vote share of any party since 1979.
Paddington Bear was found in Paddington Station, London. He came from ‘deepest, darkest Peru’ with a note on his coat and a note on his luggage. A statue of him (based on the original drawings of illustrator Peggy Fortnum who first illustrated the works of Michael Bond) can be found near platform 1.
I like to imagine Paddington had his “elevensies” today with his best friend, Mr Gruber, who escaped the Hungarian Revolution as a refugee in the 1950s. They likely bonded over their shared experiences as immigrants living in London, and found the humour in how peculiar the British can be when it comes to their nationalistic tendencies and blissful hypocrisy during such grandiose celebrations as this weekend’s.
The Queen drumming out we will rock you with a spoon on a teacup with Paddington is the most unexpected and brilliant thing I’ve seen all weekend. Love it
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee “Party at the Palace”
In an amazing event, the front of Buckingham Palace was turned into a giant IMAX screen, some of the world’s most famous singers performed, a drone laser light show (and it had to be a tea pot pouting a cuppa!)
The Queen enjoyed her own cup of tea at Buckingham Palace, broadcasting her fellow tea companion.
