Introducing the Kirkby Koalas - and Hedgehog update(s)

Good afternoon everyone - 

Isobel here, giving Cy Bear a rest from posting.  He's been busy elsewhere today, anyway, and one mustn't over work the Bear, must one?

For instance, marshalling the Kirkby Koalas in line is REALLY hard work!

As the title implies, the latest batch of Coldham Cuddlies Baby Koalas (or Tree Bears, as the original pattern designates them) are now ready for listing - and they will be, just as soon as this post has been published, and duly publicised via Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, not to mention just about all the  6 Etsy.com Teams that I'm on regularly.  There's quite a routine to be observed - in the hope that the Cuddlies will get viewed by more and more people.  

They're going to be listed at their current price of £14.50 each, but if more than one is required - and they make great Stocking Stuffers for anyone wanting to fill that empty space this Christmas(or even small gifts at Thanksgiving, Cyber Friday or any of the other upcoming holiday season commercial bonanzas)- a discount may well be available.  Two or three will be able to travel for much the same price as one, because in the end, they don't weigh very much when each goes on the scales. Convo me at www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES, and I'll be delighted to discuss the matter with you.

Talking of blog publicising, I've just checked on today's number of views for this blog and since we began in March 2011 and they amount to 40,871.  Given that I normally just natter about the Cuddlies (with some brief excursions elsewhere), I'm pretty pleased with that result - and want to thank everyone who reads us regularly for this wonderful total.  

Can't help feeling that all the material I'm gathering in all these posts (counting this one, it will be 322) that there should be a way of capitalising on the stories incorporated in these posts - but, frankly (getting over a touch of bronchitis as I currently am) my entrepreneurial spirit is somewhat diminished today.  The antibiotic I've been prescribed is the strongest I've had to date, and while it's doing its stuff, it's taking it out of me a bit as well.  Definitely not firing on all pistons could well describe how I'm feeling today.  Perhaps one of you wonderful Followers - when commenting, as I hope you will continue to do, can give me a suggestion as to how this new venture might be approached?  Thanks in advance.

To return to the Kirkby Koalas (illustrated above)  - they've been made with the current Koala fabric of grey faux fur with black flecks, are as tactile to touch as usual, and ready to be pram or cot toys, mantle piece or bedside table decor or whatever else comes to mind.  They're certainly one of the most popular Cuddlies - and especially so at Craft Fairs and Bazaars we've attended to date. 

I'm due to go to one on Thursday next - if I feel up to it, and can arrange a bit of transport assistance.  It's within Kirkby, and as I'm not taking the entire 88 COLDHAMCUDDLIES contingent, I may actually be able to make it by 'bus (that leaves close to our front drive, and is free to me, as a Pensioner).  The local University of the Third Age group is holding their "Interest Groups Display" for their regular October meeting, and when I met members of the Committee at a local Seniors Forum in town a couple of weeks ago, I was invited to take half a table (at no cost). So, that's what I will attempt to do!  

(In the past, the transportation has been provided by Clare since I moved up - but with the arrival of my small Grandson, she has more than enough to do, and Little One is not yet ready to meet his public full-on - although he does pretty well when we go to Church each week:  but that's a different kettle of fish all together!)

  

Not all of these will be going, but maybe a couple or three will - and they'll be accompanied by some Cuddlies that I currently have in stock (other than those that are already on show in The Artful Buttoner craft shop in Kirkby Town Centre.) 

I took some of our Novelty Slipper selection down to the Shop earlier in the week, just to give a different flavour to the Rabbits, Foxes, Wolves and, of course, Colin, the Giant Koala.  Hopefully, with both Winter and Christmas approaching  (when Slippers seem to attract a lot of attention) some pairs may be adopted this year, especially for the Children's versions.  I like making the adult versions, but somehow they are not as appealing to work on as the smaller ones are - not to mention taking that much longer, and using more of my special faux fur fabrics!  Will have to really work at finding an alternative source for these, similar to the one I had when living in Wiltshire - but that's for another day!

The Kirkby Koalas from the rear

A quick update on the Hedgehog campaign.  Nothing much more to report, other than that I've been working to publicise the attempt.  However, this week's The Lady magazine contains a letter from a reader who found she had been "adopted" by a female Hog, who after being fed with cat food, duly produced a litter of Hoglets.  She writes that she is duly flattered to have been selected as a safe haven.  She has provided two Hog Houses and hopes to be able to host many more litters. 

While still hoping that Cy Bear's post a couple of week's ago will attract some attention from that source, I'm attempting to get hold of the local weekly newspaper to see if they might like the story - and in the process have discovered that there is a local wildlife hospital (which treats Hedgehogs, as well as other animals who need help).  I'll be following up on that as well - and promise further news next week, and in the future, of course.

Until then, have a good week - and hopefully, I'll be feeling a bit more like myself by the time either Cy Bear or I post next Sunday.

Isobel

The Cuddlies' Hedghog Mission - Latest: plus news of Old Friends

Hello there Everyone:  sorry to be late this week, but events in Isobel's life overtook us, and this is the first time we've had a chance to work together on our latest bulletin from the COLDHAMCUDDLIES' World.

Our Baby Hedgehogs, taken outside in a garden

First of all, the latest on the Hedgehog front:  Isobel has posted details about our intended campaign on our Shop About Page, (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES.) as well as in the Shop Announcement section. They are also on the first row of our Shop Page when anyone calls in to the Shop to see what we Cuddlies look like.

This is Mommy Hedgehog sunbathing on a convenient wall

Then whenever anyone shows support for ANY of the Coldham Hedgehogs, they get personally thanked by individual convo message via Etsy.com. with a brief background to the campaign - just in case they had not read about it in our last week's bulletin.

Daddy Hedgehog, among the bluebells

This week, in between other things Isobel has to do (as well as fighting off the cold that she fears is "cooking") she hopes to get in touch with local media (print and broadcast) to see if she can get news about our campaign "out there" in the REAL WORLD:  so far it has basically been centred on the internet and other social media.  Will report on progress, as it happens - IF IT HAPPENS:   that's now down to YOU FOLKs, as well as us!

Now, our title promises you some news about some Old Friends - and official Associate Cuddlies.  They tend to have been Patients in our Stuffed Animal Resoration Clinic at one time or another, and this is true of some of those whose photographs I'm including here.  They all belong to Philippa. Isobel's eldest daughter, and as do all Bears, each have a story of their own - some more exciting that others maybe.

First of all there's Count Rusty de Benj - Rusty to his Friends. He was originally a raffle prize in the local pharmacy when Isobel, Peter and the girls lived in Canada, and has been with the family since the early 1980's.  When Isobel learned that one of her tickets (each time one spent over a certain amount of money, a new ticket for the raffle was issued - and I think there were about 10 that had accumulated by the time it was drawn) the only way Rusty could come home was to be strapped into the passenger seat of the family car.

Having created quite an impression on the way home, at 4ft 6ins from head to foot, Rusty has kept it up ever since.  He's travelled with Philippa around the UK each time she has moved for work purposes, and while she was in Belgium, spent some months in storage.  During that time, he got somewhat limp and dusty, so when he arrived as a Patient in the Coldham Cuddlies Clinic, (https://www.etsy.com/listing/79124185/stuffed-toy-animal-restoration-clinic?ref=shop_home_active_14)   he was de-stuffed,  He had polystyrene balls inside him (a pet hate of Isobel's) had a good warm bath and was then re-stuffed.  He now resides in the rocking chair in Philippa's bedroom in the UK. 

This is Tommy Teddy, and he doesn't look in the slightest bit like he originally did.  He was originally made with a blue and pink plush fabric and arrived in Philippa's collection of Bears when she was about 3-1/2 years old.  We'd gone to visit some Loretto Sisters in their convent in Manchester (Granma Morrell had been educated by them, and Peter spent his early years in Manchester and was therefore well known to the Sisters). 

Mother Superior arranged a mysterious delivery of this big Teddy Bear which at the time was almost the same size as Philippa herself, and he was promptly named Tommy Teddy.  He travelled with the Family to and from Canada, and also with Philippa around the UK, with Rusty.  He alas did not stand up as well to the same treatment, and indeed is a lot older than Rusty.  So, when he arrived in the Clinic he was duly taken to pieces and de-stuffed (he had foam pieces inside him, and that is no longer an acceptable form of stuffing in these days of "Health and Safety").  However, his original skin did not survive the luke-warm bath!  Isobel was able to rescue sufficient of the pattern to be able to recreate him in this more modern version using Blue and Pink Fleece, and he now sits with Rusty on the same rocking Chair in Philippa's UK home.

Now the third ursine member in this Bear family picture is known in the Family as "Big Teddy".  He was given to Philippa by Peter and Isobel for her first birthday and despite being the oldest member of  the trio, really looks in remarkable trim given his age.

When he first arrived, he was a definite favourite with his young Forever Friend:  however, shortly afterwards, a favourite Aunt and Uncle arrived from Kenya to meet Philippa for the first time, and brought with them a bright Yellow Plush Teddy Bear who became known as Sleepy Teddy.  For some reason - probably because he is a softer, cuddlier Bear - the invader ursurped Big Teddy in Philippa's affections.  Sleepy Teddy has been EVERYWHERE with her, even when she used to travel overseas to Australia, America and other exotic places for work, and he's been re-covered at least twice in his life.  (Isobel says he needs another new coat, but so far has not been able to achieve her aim of providing it).  Meanwhile, Big Teddy continues to sit serenely with his two fellow Bears - looking almost as good as new.

Isobel is busy making Baby Koalas, in between the Hedgehog Campaign arrangements, so hopefully there will be some up to date photographs to show you next week.  She's made 6 of them, and they're coming along fine.  Currently, its the battle of fixing heads to bodies that is occupying her.

See you all next week - hopefully on the right date this time around.  Your Friend, Cy Bear.

The Cuddlies Go on a Mission - to help UK Hedgehogs.

Hello Everyone - Cy Bear with you once again, this time to tell you about something new we COLDHAM CUDDLIES are going to get involved with. - trying to do our bit to save the extinction of British Hedgehogs.

This has all come about since Isobel read an article in a weekly magazine to which she subscribes called "The Lady".   In the edition for 25th September 2015, there is an article entitled "Is it the last hurrah for The Hedgehog?".  Apparently Hedgehogs in the UK are declining at such a rate that by 2025, it is thought hedgehogs could become a "mere urban myth, perhaps vanishing from some urban areas completely".  "The Lady" says that in the 1950's there were 30 million of them:  by 1995, they had reduced to 1.5 million.

That's an awful thought for any one who likes Hedgehogs as I do - especially as I have three Coldham Cuddlies friends who are Mommy, Daddy and Baby Hedgehogs - seen here, all together on a table in "The Artful Buttoner", the craft shop in Kirkby in Ashfield - where last week, I was telling you that Colin the Koala has now taken up a spot,

Isobel took this photograph of them yesterday morning, so we could start work on our campaign to help the Hedgehog survive in the 21st Century in the UK.

The Coldham Cuddlies Hedgehog Family

Isobel and I have put our heads together and decided we're going to try and do something to help save our Hedgehogs and would like to ask for support from all our Followers here, on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and anybody else who might be reading this post today.

All of our Hedgehog Toys make great companions for anyone - from birth to whatever age you want to choose, there's no upper limit.  We've got Cuddlies who are companions to a former good neighbour of ours who lives in The Hospital of St. John, Heytesbury, who has a Mommy and a Baby and is nearly 90.  That's where we used to live until we moved to Nottinghamshire last year. There also used to be a lady who lived in the Village there, who made a point of buying a Baby Hedgehog for each great grandchild as he or she arrived in the world (think there were at least 3 before we left Wiltshire) - so you see they have great appeal.  They are also always popular when they appear at Craft Shows and Charity Bazaars.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/95653745/baby-hedgehog-toy-flecked-brown-plush?ref=shop_home_feat_3

https://www.etsy.com/listing/95653310/mommy-hedgehog-art-doll-brown-and-cream?ref=shop_home_feat_2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/95653310/mommy-hedgehog-art-doll-brown-and-cream?ref=shop_home_feat_2

Isobel has decided that anyone who wants to buy one of our Hedgehogs - the prices are shown if you use the links given to each individual Toy - she will donate 10% of each sale and send the proceeds to www.tiggywinkles.com (mail@tiggywinkles.org).

In addition, if you add up the cost of all three Hedgehogs it comes to £49.50 - which is £50.00 as near as makes no difference.  So, if anyone wants to buy the Family all together, she'll reduce the price to £40.00 for the three of them, which means £4.00 will go to Tiggywinkles for each Family purchased.  There are some in stock, and they don't take too long to make:  orders will be treated strictly in order of receipt.  Baby takes a couple of days, with Mommy and Daddy taking a day or two longer each.  Isobel tells me that if folks would prefer Daddy to be in the prone position like his wife and child, she'll be happy to accommodate that request.

I'm told that there are two particularly famous Hedgehogs in the world:  a Mrs. Tiggywinkle, who is the heroine of a book of the same name, written by a lady called Beatrix Potter.  Isobel is particularly fond of that story - as were/are Philippa and Clare,  her daughters.  There is also a relative newcomer in the world of fictional hedgehogs, this time in the field of video games (whatever they may be) called Sonic the Hedgehog.

 Isobel doesn't know much about the latter, but she's determined to do what she can to help save the real time Hedgehogs - and asks all of you Followers, Readers and anybody else who are interested - to think about possibly getting a Hedgehog for Christmas (to begin with) and any time else, afterwards.  They make great Stocking Stuffers I am told (again, whatever that might be.  I think I would be too big for that).

Thanks for reading this - and I do hope you will think about it.  Isobel will make them as quickly as she can - so if it is for Christmas 2015 that you want them - you'd better get on with ordering them!

Until next week:  your friend, Cy Bear.

Coldham Yogi is my full name.  I'm Cy Bear to my friends.

PS: The LADY magazine  has actually featured the Stuffed Animal Restoration Clinic - we wrote about it in this post in 2014 - http://coldhamcuddliescalling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/more-about-stuffed-animal-restoration.html   (and if this link doesn't work, you can reach it by going to the right side of our blog page, and finding it under the blog for 16th January 2014).

Adventures (or possibly, Misadventures) of Colin the Koala - Part Two

Good afternoon once more Everyone:  Cy Bear here again.

Me in a Cherry Tree a couple of years back

Lovely to be back, as it looks like there's going to be a break in communications for at least one week, while Isobel goes to Normandy next week, and while we still await the arrival back home of Colin the Giant Koala, about whom I posted last Sunday. 

There has been yet another mix-up between Isobel and the Couriers - poor old Colin, he seems to be jinxed, doesn't he?  She thought she'd ordered - and paid for - a Courier service:  they booked it as a parcel service, which entailed our customer having to haul Colin to the nearest Parcel Shop, from which his journey would then commence.  

That is until Thursday this week - when we thought he would be arriving with us here in Nottinghamshire,  Instead, we received a message from the Customer telling us that he was still waiting to be picked up.

Having been thus alerted to the true situation - and after exhaustive searches on the Courier's site, and Isobel being able to find out how to "chat" to some one on line, another journey was arranged - with the first one being cancelled.  A refund of the "ticket" home is due early next week, and Isobel is hoping that she has now organised Colin's departure from London to begin on Monday morning.

Now, as the Courier in question does not guarantee a delivery in anything under 5 Working Days from pick-up, that could pose a problem.  As I said in the opening paragraph, Isobel is due to be travelling to Normandy, France (with visits to friends en route, as well as a special lunch at a hotel called "The Compleat Angler" near where Philippa lives, which is on the way to said friends in Kent). 

They will then be overnighting at Folkestone and getting on an early Chunnel Train to Calais, from whence Philippa will be driving both of them to stay with family in Normandy for five days.  As Isobel is doing the navigating both ways, I am trusting that all will be well. (She used to be pretty good at it, I'm told, here in England, so presumably it won't be THAT different in France!  When they're there, there are plans for photographs to be taken of my Twin, Peter Bear, together with old friends Mons. Reynard and Madame Lapin:  so look out for a post about them soon!)

The reason for stopping off at "The Compleat Angler", in a town called Marlow, is that it is where Isobel and Peter spent their wedding night in 1969.  As Thursday happens to be the 46th Anniversary of that date, Philippa suggested it might be nice to go there - and the arrangements were set up accordingly. (Isobel's main memory of that day - apart, of course, from the Wedding itself - was Peter going to dinner, in this very posh hotel, wearing bed room slippers.  He'd spent the whole day in a new pair of shoes, and his feet were killing him.  It wasn't such a social disaster, however:  as Peter always wore leather slippers (polished to a high degree!) and could get away with it!!)

So, Colin is likely to arrive back in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on either Friday or Saturday of next week - when Isobel will be far away in Normandy.  Matters have been arranged that the parcel will be taken in by our kind next-door neighbour at Old Chapel Close - where we now live.  The good lady has already seen Colin - before he was packed up for his journey to London - so she knows he's going to take up quite a corner in the corridor of her flat!  (Isobel could have arranged for Colin to be delivered to Clare's home, three doors away - but with the recent arrival of a Little Man in the lives of Clare and Alan, an enormous Giant Koala parcel seemed to be an additional responsibility too far.)

Interestingly, while discussing the new travel arrangement with our Customer - who happens to be an Australian living and working in the UK, who had been particularly excited to find Colin for the project she was working on. Isobel discovered that, our Customer was working on a a video in which Colin would have "played" a major part.  Such a shame that the journey south didn't work out - as that would indeed have been a "FIRST" for any of us Cuddlies.  (On the other hand, am not sure any one could have handled Colin's ego had the plan been fulfilled.)  Yes, I'm jealous!!  But then who wouldn't be? 

Just to remind you - this is Colin's head already....

Sorry, we cannot centre this photo - as we couldn't last week - because it's been "cut and pasted" directly from our listing in our Shop.  The layout of this blog doesn't seem to allow us to do it, AND centre it!

We have "re-activated" Colin, because one never knows if or, indeed when, someone else might want him to feature in a Video, or as a Special Mascot, or even as a Special Prize in some Tombola or Raffle competition  - whatever any of those might be!!  You know me:  being a mere Beaver Lamb Bear, these things are a complete mystery to me.

Just to revert to Isobel's proposed journey to Normandy later this coming week - she's been making some new Baby Rabbits for our shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) based on the very first Baby Rabbits she made in the 1970's.  Then she only had access to some yellow and white plush fur, so as babies don't care what colour their Cot or Pram Toys come in, she made one for Philippa and one for Clare, when she arrived some years later.  That first Baby Bunny was named "Treasure" by Philippa when she was able to speak, (because her Grandmother used to call her that -  usually when she was holding the Toy in her hand)- and so every Yellow and White Plush Coldham Baby Bunny made since has been referred to as "Treasure" ever since. 

 One of the three Treasures shown below

will be accompanied by a Purple Fleece Rabbit - because the two travellers are going to meet the Little Boy who has recently arrived in the home of a former flatmate of Philippa's.  Treasure 15 (because he was made in 2015) is Isobel's gift:  Purple Bunny is going to be Philippa's present to her latest Honorary Nephew. 

 I think the final presentation will look like this.

Right, think I've wittered on long enough for this week.  However, since you're going to have a week's break from a post, perhaps you'll forgive me - just this once.

Your good friend, Cy Bear,

As Promised - Showing where the Cuddlies used to live

Hello there Everyone - it's Cy Bear back again somewhat surprisingly, and this time, I'm not chatting to you all about my fellow Cuddlies, but about where I used to live before Isobel and I moved to Nottinghamshire.  Amazingly, it is a year ago this week that this happened.  Isobel did promise to show you some pictures of the place, so this is what this week's bulletin from the Cuddlies is all about.

There has got to be a reason, I can hear some of you thinking to yourselves (as a Bear, that's what I think happens when human beings do what they do).  Well there is.  An amazing thing happened to one of the Cuddlies this week, and it's not yet over.  The eventual outcome will happen next week, So Isobel (and I, because of course I get consulted), decided that we'd wait until the whole story could be told all in one go.

So, as promised here are some pictures of The Hospital of St. John, with an explanation of what it now is in the text  (printed in blue).  It is taken from the brochure about the establishment for would-be residents.

"The Hospital of St John is situated in the heart of the village of Heytesbury. It is not a Hospital in the medical sense, but in the mediaeval meaning of the word as a ‘Hostel’. Although it was founded in 1472 and has provided accommodation for those needing it ever since, there is nothing mediaeval about it today."

This picture shows the oldest part of the Hospital - which has blocks of flats, bungalows and studio flats surrounded by gardens.  These buildings have been in situ since 1764, and form the front entrance to the complex.  The white flagpole on the left of the picture flies the Union Jack on appropriate occasions throughout the year (both for National commemorations, as well as local ones too).  (The original building for the Hospital was at the other end of the Village to it's current location, but was burned down in the 1760's to be replaced with the current structure.  There have been additions in the 1970's, which is where Isobel and I lived - built at the rear of this building.)

A closer shot of the Clock, which chimes on the hour, and the Coat of Arms of the Heytesbury family who originally set up the Charity to look after workers on the Heytesbury estate in 1472  - or thereabouts.  The family still has associations with the village, and direct descendants are currently resident in Australia.  (Sorry the picture is slightly skewed - but Isobel was taking it in a bit of a hurry!)  

If any one is interested, a brief history of the place can be seen by Googling "The Hospital of St.John and St. Katherine, Heytesbury".  Until the 1950's, there were 12 gentlemen and 1 lady resident (the Cook and Housekeeper)  - in the charge of a Custos, and the men regularly paraded to the Village Church in the uniforms they were provided with when they became residents.  There are still folk in the village, Isobel tells me, that remember this well.

"There is a small staff headed by an Administrator, who is responsible to the Trustees for the smooth running of the Hospital, and the pastoral interests of Residents are undertaken by two Chaplains, one of whom is resident. Staff are on hand to deal with emergencies and give limited support in the event of temporary sickness of any Resident. Home helps, ‘meals on wheels’, private carers and the services of the district nurse and social services are, of course, available in the normal way.

This shows one side (the east facing one) of the complex - although it does go back a bit further than the camera angle allowed.  The wall surrounding the garden and buildings is listed - which made for difficulties when - because of modern transport and sheer old age - parts of it began to bow outwards. In 2014, when surveyors came to decide how to cope with the problem they also blamed the shrubs and holly bushes that had been planted innocently, but whose roots were undermining the wall. So, the decision was taken to remove them, while the wall was restored by specialist contractors.   While residents affected were initially somewhat dismayed, when they suddenly realised how much light had been kept out, the culling was eventually welcomed.

This shows the western frontage (at the front of the complex - taken from where Isobel stayed when she recently visited Wiltshire, and where the stories about Berry, the Lurcher and her two feline Friends, Merlin and Pelinore were based - our post on 09/08/2015).

The white building on the right of the picture is The Angel Inn, one of two traditional English pubs in the village - where the portions are huge and the prices similarly high!  However, it was most convenient to be able to take one's visitors over, if one didn't feel like providing hospitality oneself.  The Angel has it's own history as a coaching inn - and one can see where the coaches were driven in (not in this picture though!) when travellers were journeying between the south Coast (Southampton being the nearest big spot), via Salisbury and Bath, through to Wales and the West Country.

(The gardens shown in the front of the picture are actually allotments - tilled by some more active residents, and also the Garden Committee, who undertake to provide the flowers for the Chapel.  I understand from Isobel that they do a great job.)

"The House Supervisor is on duty Monday-Friday during normal working houses. She is not qualified to carry out nursing duties; her duty is to be ‘a good neighbour’. No nursing care or administration of drugs is permitted. Proposed residents requiring more than this degree of attention would be better served by a residential care home or a nursing home.

The Hospital comprises attractive one or two bedroomed flats and bungalows, all of which are particularly suited to the needs of retired or elderly people. The dwellings are self-contained and centrally heated. Residents bring their own furniture.

The view from our living room one Spring day.  

Where Isobel recently stayed  - the other side shown in the picture above

"The Hospital is run under a charitable scheme and is non-profit making. Residents are required to make a contribution toward the cost of their accommodation and there is also a charge for the heating and hot water. (The cost of living at St John’s is within the means of those whose only income is a state pension).

The residents' Hall

"Some communal facilities are provided, they include a Hall where social functions are held, and a Residents’ Social Group organises events and outings. Residents are under no obligation whatsoever to be more sociable than they feel inclined. There is a Chapel where regular services are held. Other facilities include a limited number of garages for rent, a Guest Room, a composite TV licence for all dwellings, and a laundry room.

The Hospital is set in pleasant grounds and the village Post Office cum shop is just along the road. Buses serve Warminster, Bath and Salisbury."

Here is another shot of the view from the living room window, and if you look closely, you can see the Village Church (which has a full peal of bells, which regularly practice during the summer months).

A picture taken at, or around, the same time as the Spring pictures shown earlier in one of the cherry trees shown earlier.  With that, I'll end for this week.  Hoping that everyone has a good week and that preparations for "Back to School" are well in hand.

Your friend

Cy Bear

Starting Afresh - First Cuddly with a New Look

Goodness gracious me - but it is such a long time since I've been able to talk to you - Cy Bear back with you again!

As the title of this post indicates, we at Coldham Cuddlies are thinking of starting afresh in various ways.  Jogged into action by Isobel's recent differences with her computer, we've joined a new Team on Etsy.com - called Friends R Us, and from all accounts it's going to keep Isobel busy, as well as hopefully raise the Cuddlies profile at the tame time.  (There's a lot of daily supporting each other that goes on, and lots of Treasuries and things involved as well). The Shop is going to be re-jigged, beginning with new titles and new tags - if and when there is time for it happen that is.  Finally, but actually most importantly, new Cuddlies will be coming in to the Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES).  I'll qualify that last statement by saying that perhaps they won't ALL be brand new specimens, but different versions of old favourites - just like our Frog, which Isobel has been working with over the past few days.

He's made from the same pattern used to make our previous Green Frogs - who have had either light green undersides or orange ones in the past - and Isobel has decided to another multiple offer.  This one has been listed  in the Shop earlier this week under this link -

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116285186/stuffed-frog-brown-and-yellow-animal-art?ref=shop_home_active_1

(Alas, pictures of our original Green Frogs are not currently available, I don't think - until Isobel has a chance to look at the photographs she did back up, well before the computer crashed a couple of weeks ago.  Otherwise, because she's enjoying making these guys at the moment, it may mean she makes a couple of the Green ones again - but I do know the fabric for them is running out, so that may be ALL she can do in that particular colour format.)

In case the link doesn't work, I'm going to show you some other views of this fellow - which Isobel has found a lot easier to work with this time around.  She'd realised that it was in fact easier to follow the instructions given in the pattern - TO THE LETTER - rather than make him the way she THOUGHT was even better!!   (It wasn't actually!)

 It's resulted in almost three versions of Mr. Frog being made in 10 days or so of evening sewing.  One remains to be stuffed:  the other is in the throes of being put together.  As you must realise, in effect Isobel has to make each one twice, then sew the limbs on to the body, and then sew the underside to the rest of the body after that. 

She's  hopeful that all three will be ready to be offered for sale by the middle of the coming week, because she's not going to be living in two different places from now on.  Clare and Alan have been busy getting to know and cope with their adoptive son in the last 12 days or so, and it's meant that at times Isobel has been staying up the road with their dog and two cats - feeding them at regular intervals and walking the canine too.  We are all hoping that as of this week, Little Person will be allowed home for good and can carry on getting settled - as he's shown every sign of doing to date.  Isobel can then spend all day at home, because for the next few weeks, no one is allowed near the house to enable the parent/child bonding process to strengthen.  So far so good:  and everyone can't wait until some sort of  "normality" can be achieved.

Meanwhile, here is a close up of Mr. Frog to end this post.

Hope to be back with you again next week - it will depend on what Isobel's sewing and other plans end up achieving.  Meanwhile, have a great week everyone. 

Your friend, Cy Bear.

Some other Animals of my acquaintance.

Hello there Everyone:

As promised last week when I bemoaned my stupidity in handling my "trusty" computer (or should that be MIS-handling?), this week has not been as fraught,  I've been pleasantly surprised to find that somehow on sites like One Drive I seem to have got some more pictures of former Cuddlies that might prove useful in the future.  Also, on Friday night, while surfing (a VERY DANGEROUS occupation as folks will realise in view of my proclivity towards clicking on buttons without realising what will happen next), I made another lovely discovery - some files that will be even more useful.

Among the finds was the fact that,  somehow, the list of nearly  ALL of the  80+ different  Cuddlies included in the shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) was still available for use.  Now how come I managed to save these, and not the others which were in the same place on my computer, I will never know.  But no matter:  I have something to work with!!  Hurrah!

When moving north last year, I inadvertently discarded the typed version of this list, which included all the prices for each Cuddly and the Etsy Shop section in which they appear. (It had become very tattered and difficult to keep in once piece though).  It was invaluable when blogging,  allowing me to refer to the actual reference number for each Toy.  One of the jobs planned for the summer break was to re-do the list.  Now I only have to edit it, and add the newer Cuddlies that have appeared since the original was thrown out!  Except that I have to work out how to change the format in which it originally appeared (and is filed on One Drive) so that I don't lose all the elements in the interim!! Having got this far, am confident I shall find a way.

Now, to the other Animals I re-met during my recent trip back to Heytesbury.  They include one dog - a Lurcher named Blackberry, who answers fairly readily to "Berry", and two cats (who were mere kittens when I left a year ago) called Pelinore and Merlin.  The latter are two brothers, from the same litter, but one would never know it!

Talk about a guilty  look - but, for once, she did not actually have anything to be guilty about!  Berry when I knew her last year was still small enough to be able to JUST squeeze herself through the cat flap - and take off - often to the The Hospital of St. John, an almshouse complex of bungalows, apartments and studio flats for the more mature and where I had lived with Peter since 2008, until he died in 2012.  Not every resident was willing, or sometimes capable,  to entertain a puppy, so it was an interesting test of village neighbourliness in the early days!  I sometimes found myself called upon - because of my relationship with Widget - to catch Berry and return her home!

I  used to dog-sit Berry's predecessor - a Boston Terrier called Widget.  Unfortunately, Widget died earlier in 2014, and Berry was rapidly found to replace her.  Her owners have a number of grandchildren, who are regular visitors, and a dog is regarded as an indispensable part of the family when it comes to keeping them happy and occupied.

Berry's particular friend in the animal part of the family is Merlin - who is a cuddly armful of fur, who is never happier than when being fussed by his humans.  Unfortunately, he is also ready to play with anything that comes into his sights - and Berry on form, is hard to miss.  Because of the difference in size, Merlin often comes off worst in a play-game - and tends to look scruffier than his brother, Pelinore - who is a much more distant feline who definitely considers such rough and tumble goings-on to be beneath him.

This picture was taken before he launched himself at me - in a vain attempt to reach me and climb up onto my shoulder.  Regrettably, he does this often (usually choosing the rear of the target human), and his claws are remarkably adept at keeping him in place, once he has achieved his objective!)  Despite that, he's a very loveable little fellow and his purrs sound much louder than he looks capable of producing.

Merlin particularly enjoys licking Berry, who puts up with the attention for so long and then moves to stop the attention happening!  

The resulting fur grab, results in Merlin looking very shaggy and ruffled in his spinal region as  show in another view of Merlin, still with the look of choosing the area of human anatomy that he wants to land on - immediately!

And then, there is the aloof, Pelinore:

While Merlin is curled up in the background, Pelinore is about to get going on his daily rounds of the big garden in which his home is situated.  The birds and other small creatures are duly wary of his attention and when the weather is fine, Pelinore spends most of the day outside.  When he does condescend to come inside, he'll find a comfortable chair, bed or window sill on which to perch - and may, sometimes, be joined by his brother.  He's does not encourage cuddles or fussing - and does spend a lot of time preening his coat and keeping it in good order.  He's still a beautiful cat - with potential to grow into his fur, methinks.

"Now - what shall it do next?"

As with all Lurchers, Berry has a good turn of speed and loves to run up and down the long garden where she lives.  This final photo shows her getting ready for one such spin up and down her favourite paths.

Nowadays, as you will realise - Berry is only able to fit her head through the cat flap, which is her way of greeting anyone who comes to the back door.

Next week, as mentioned last week, I'll show you some recent pictures of  the Hospital of St. John taken during my visit there in July - and include some other shots of the garden there, which survived the computer meltdown.  

Until next week - have a good one, everyone.  Isobel.

PS:  These photographs would not have been available were it not for the friendship and hospitality extended by the animals' owner, Katherine and Mark Venning:  both with long time family connections to the Organ Building firm of Harrison & Harrison Ltd - details of which can be found by clicking here   www.harrisonorgans.com

Incidentally, Coldham Cuddlies have been adopted by the Venning family too.

A salutary lesson learned - BEWARE of new computer programmes

Hello Everybody  - as Cy Bear is taking a well-earned rest this week (I mean two weeks on the trot could be described as hard work for this Beaver Lamb Ted), the post this week has been deemed to be my responsibility - with reason, perhaps.

After a potentially disastrous week vis a vis my computer (yes - yet again, I have had issues, but this time it's probably mostly my own fault - more later), I have spent most of this afternoon (when I normally work on the blog - with or without Cy Bear) trying to get re-organised,  So, while telling you about my computer woes, I'll illustrate this post with some photographs of the two Foxy Critters that didn't get shown last week. You may recall, there were four Cy Bear spoke about.  Three have been listed in our shop (www.COLDHAMCUDDLIES.etsy.com).  There is still one in draft format and the other has yet to be uploaded.  I promise that next week, I'll tell you about my recent Wiltshire trip, and include some photos of my canine and feline friends who have all grown up since I left just about a year ago!! That could account for two future posts - enabling me to get some Cuddlies replaced or newly made in the interim!

I am somewhat relieved to find that, actually, the disaster is perhaps not as bad as it could have been. It is all down to my ability to click on buttons without always realising the consequences - and it's time lessons were learned.

Our new Wolf dressed in Blue and White Printed Poplin

Thanks to an invitation to upload Windows 10,  I followed through - and now live to regret it!  SO BE WARNED EVERYONE!  Be very, very careful before you go down the route.  Admittedly, the programme is so new (having only been made available July 29) that the usual gremlins in any new computer software have still ALL to be ironed out.  But on the basis of thinking that having reserved my place in the waiting list, and the invitation having arrived (the day after the programme was offered to the public) the time was right, I went ahead on the basis that in the normal course of events, the current Windows 8.1 will eventually become unsupported by the great Microsoft engineers, so I might as well do it now rather than later.  BIG MISTAKE.

The installation began early evening, just as everyone in the UK was closing down - and since I don't know from which continent the actual process was being carried out from, it hadn't occurred to me that the techy guys I contact in times of crisis would not be available when needed.  All went well to begin with - and the evening meal was started

That was speedily curtailed (I'd almost finished) when what looked like the final stage was obviously not going to plan. My usual desk top picture on the screen began to behave like a mad thing - flashing on an off and when I tried to control it with mouse, cursor or any other thing that USUALLY works, nothing happened - except the flashing screen.  Alas, the computer's Help Desk had closed for the evening - so........

A speedy telephone call to my local Help Desk - also known as Son in Law - (who had advised me - though not as strongly as usual in such circumstances -  NOT to go with Windows 10) indicated that the computer was in for a long night (not to mention yours truly!).  Apparently one does NOT close down a madly performing computer in the middle of an upload, and so it wasn't until 0830 BST on Friday morning - on the dot - that contact was made with Hewlett Packard who made the computer (an HP Sleekback laptop, if any one is interested) and got the bad news that because the programme is so new, they hadn't yet developed reliable counter measures for such disasters!  A complete "Restore to Factory Default" setting was therefore prescribed - and needless to say, I hadn't backed up EVERYTHING to do with my personal settings - so have lost most of them.

Our new Coyote (the first Lady version) made with Chenille (new too)

Once the Restore mechanism had done it's stuff, I had to reapply as much as I could remember I usually use to operate the darn machine.  You know Browser(s), Skype (yet to be done), and so on. 

The computer was still having sporadic hissy fits, because it kept saying that I wasn't connected to the internet - although I'd already done that and got things done before it decided on that route - so I rang my reliable OnLineTechyGuyz and asked them to get me sorted with such important things.  By Friday evening operations were approaching "normal", although not at full speed - that's going to take some time to achieve, because I've got to find out what I was doing before this all happened!!  Technology is so fast and I'm getting increasingly slower - that alas I fear such hiccups are going to recur with increasing frequency.

Saturday was spent with the family (Philippa having joined us for the week-end) visiting a long time family friend, so not much computing was done yesterday. 

Our Fantasy Fox (listed already) from the rear view

Having spent this afternoon loading my devices back on and uploading pictures that were still on my camera (normally, they get deleted once I've uploaded them to the computer) I did find there were some for the Foxy Critters Cy Bear wrote about last week,  as well as the photographs taken when I was away in Wiltshire, so at least there will be something with which to illustrate this, while I'm on line at the moment.  

I wish I could say I've finally learned my lesson - but I THINK I've realised one doesn't upload a NEW piece of software when it is barely 24 hours old!!  There will undoubtedly be more mistakes to make as life goes on!!!

I'll end this post with another photograph of our latest, more traditional, Lady Fox Toy and - as mentioned before, I'll look forward to telling you about my trip to Wiltshire (and other news that will be happening last this week) at our normal posting time next Sunday.

This Toy was listed on Thursday - before the problems set in

Hope everyone has a really good week - and I'll try to keep on the straight and narrow internet path from now on.

Isobel

Follow up description of the latest Fox creations.

This is Cy Bear back again for the promised follow up on our new Foxy characters - even though I did suggest in the post last week that may be Isobel would tell you about her trip to Wiltshire.  However, we both felt that it made more sense for us to finish telling you about the latest Coldham Cuddlies additions before that happens.  So, here goes:

Having finished the under wear for the new Ladies, Isobel began creating the dresses - beginning with the skirts - which are essentially pieces of fabric 36 inches long (91.4 centimetres) and 10 inches wide (25.4 centimetres).  The bottom is turned up to make a hem, and Isobel - who actually doesn't like hemming that much - then tacks the seam and adds ric rac trim which she sews on with embroidered french knots.  (Before proceeding, one of our "COLDHAMCUDDLIES" labels are fixed onto the back seam of the skirt, on the underside of the dress).  The top of the skirts are then gathered and fitted over the body and sewn into the "waist" of each toy.  Then having sewn up the fabric paws, she stuffs the arms and sews them into the bodice and then fits it over the skirt top - to create a look like this:

Fitting  - or nearly - on to a pillow

Then her creativity is allowed to let rip - this time on the white felt collars with which most of our lady toys are provided.  Here is what she did for use with the yellow dressed toy:

Followed by the one for the Light Brown Chenille Coyote:

The Grey Plush Lady Wolf:

Last - but by no means least, our more familiar Chestnut Plush Lady Fox:

This results in our reaching the final stages of each Lady Toy - whether it be a Fantasy Fox (the yellow version), the Coyote, Wolf or Fox.  The order in which Isobel tends to do this is to add the tails on first, followed by adding the Head.  Finally, the collar is attached  - and here is how the Coyote and the Fantasy Fox now appear:

By the time Isobel had done everything described here last night, she only had time to do these two. The other two will be done later today, and then she proposes to list them in our Shop (www.Etsy.com/shop/COLDHAMCUDDLIES) over the next week. 

 Some of them, together with other Cuddlies, are going to be taken for display on the shelves of "The Artful Buttoner" - the haberdashery outlet in our local town, Kirkby-in-Ashfield.  Several Cuddlies have been on show there since just before Easter, and we've decided that it's time they came home, and other Cuddlies had a chance to be seen in the "outside world" - and possibly find Forever Homes for themselves!  Several Cuddlies have been adopted from this venue - and who knows what will happen to the selected ones this time around.  (Should any one of these four find a Forever Home while on show in the Town, it's not difficult for Isobel to pick it up and bring it home for me to participate in the Farewell Ceremony that happens whenever a Cuddly leaves us, and then for it to be packed up and mailed off to wherever it is destined).

I'll keep you posted, of course - and show you what the Wolf and Traditional Fox end up looking like next week.  Meanwhile, wishing everyone a good one - and here's hoping our weather will improve somewhat.  We're all feeling as though Summer will never arrive in this country!

Until the next time - your Friend, Cy Bear.