This Week's Progress Reports on COLDHAMCUDDLIES Activities

Greetings once again, Everyone:  

Cy Bear back in harness with further news on the Clerical Bears project - as well as an update on the the journey undertaken by the newest Arm Puppet Activity Toy to be created by Isobel. 

 

Grey Tiger Puppet - "in motion"

He's still en route, taking a little longer than hoped because for some reason or another, the parcel was thought to be "suspicious" by United States Customs Service.  That is not an unexpected hiccup by the way:  even with the Customs Declaration Form correctly filled in, Customs Services all round the world have to be careful of packages entering their environs, and regrettably, Toys (especially Arm Puppets) could well be used to try to smuggle "undesirable" products into their respective countries.  COLDHAMCUDDLIES travelling to Canada have been particularly susceptible in the past.   A GIANT PARCEL containing 8 pairs of COLDHAMCUDDLIES Novelty Fluffy Slippers as Christmas presents for Isobel's Niece's family looked as though it had been invaded by the time it got to its destination - with part of the packaging ripped off the top where the packages had evidently been removed and individually scanned!!  However, this is the first time there appears to have been more than a day involved in any smooth progress from the United Kingdom to  an USA ultimate destination.

Grey Tiger Puppet's Itinerary to Date:

Package In-Transit Updates 

Tracking History

August 5, 2018, 5:54 am 
Departed USPS Regional Facility 
SCRANTON PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER  
Your item departed our USPS facility in SCRANTON PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER on August 5, 2018 at 5:54 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination. 

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August 5, 2018, 4:48 am 
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility 
SCRANTON PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER  

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August 5, 2018, 3:18 am 
Departed USPS Regional Facility 
LEHIGH VALLEY PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER  

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August 4, 2018, 11:31 pm 
Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility 
LEHIGH VALLEY PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER  

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August 2, 2018, 2:32 pm 
Inbound Out of Customs 

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Inbound Into Customs 

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August 1, 2018, 9:51 pm 
Processed Through Facility 
ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)  

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Origin Post is Preparing Shipment 

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July 30, 2018, 11:50 pm 
Processed Through Facility 
LANGLEY HWDC, UNITED KINGDOM 

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July 28, 2018, 11:50 am 
Acceptance 
UNITED KINGDOM 

Thus, with any luck, MrGG should be getting his package delivered to him early next week - USPS willing!  This tracker service is a great help - as well as rather a fun thing to do - especially, if like Isobel, you like to know EXACTLY where a Cuddly is, when they are travelling to their respective Forever Homes.  She particularly enjoys using the Tracker facility because a close family member was involved in the team that thought up and provided the programme for use by Royal Mail several years ago.  

Rear View of Grey Tiger Puppet - being handled

On the other Cuddlies production front - the Clerical Bears, there is good progress to report there too.  Sister Bear now has a head and almost has a completed habit.  (Her ears were still only pinned on, as was her veil - they are now in their permanent position, which will be revealed when she is ready for presenting to the public!)

She's not meant to depict a  Sister of an actual Religious Order, but merely to be a recognisable concept of one.  Her Head looks like this currently, and Isobel isn't intending to change it much more at the moment.  Although future models may well get made in a different order.  That's why our First Attempts can take a lot longer to make than those that follow.  (It can involve a lot of trial and error!)

Since this photo was taken earlier in the week, she has her two arms in place, and the hem is currently being worked on.  She now just needs to have her head attached to the body, and a white cape sewn in place around her shoulders, (that's ready to be attached)  as well as a pair of black shoes at the end of her legs.  (Isobel is currently in two minds as to which pattern she will be using for Sister Bear - the one she's used already for the Padre Bears:  or the pattern she uses for the Dressed Lady Rabbits, Foxes and Wolves).  That will be visible the next time we post here!

Meanwhile, yesterday, Isobel travelled to visit one of our haberdashery outlets -  in nearby Mansfield.  There she purchased several more sets of eyes, noses and fabric with which to make the bodies of our proposed Missionary Bear model (which we propose to offer in two versions - to be clarified as and when they are both made!) and the trousers for our Reverend Bear (hopefully to attract customers of all faiths - or None, not just Catholics!)  

When all the models are assembled, Isobel is planning on taking photos of each of them, together with one all in a group, and doing an article about them - and then sending it to a former member of the Cathedral Parish Choir (the one that leads the singing at St. Barnabas Cathedral's 1000 BST Mass each Sunday.  There are other Choirs at the Cathedral as well).  She works for a prominent UK Catholic weekly publication - and may well be happy to have the package for placing "on the spike", as it was described when Isobel's late husband, Peter, used to work in the publishing industry (viz. a useful story to fill a gap in a journal page, and one which could appeal to a lot of their readership!)  Fingers crossed that the plan can be accomplished as it could help to "spread the word" and lead to enhancement of the St. Barnabas Cathedral Roof Maintenance Appeal.   Which in the end, is the real reason for the Clerical Bears in the first place!!

Right Everyone, that's it for this week. Great to be with you again - and do hope you're all enjoying your various summer vacations - wherever that may be!  See you all soon - hopefully.

Your Friend, Cy Bear