Dare You Lose Your Bear?
Gilbert Bear
This is Gilbert. Gilbert is one of two very special toys for toddler and Chopsy child Sidney. Gilbert the bear and Mr Soft Dog (where do these names come from!) are Sid’s favourite comforters. Mr Soft Dog is not allowed to leave the house as he is for bedtime. Gilbert is the favourite comforter for the pram.
On the 29th of November 2008, a tragic incident happened involving Gilbert. Whilst at Whitchurch car boot sale, Gilbert was dropped out of the pram. This absence was not noticed for around half an hour. When his disappearance was finally realised all hell broke loose.
The crying and screaming could be heard as far away as Kingswood, floors were searched, children scanned, stalls turned upside down.
It was a very long and highly emotional half hour until Gilbert was tracked down to a stall full of children’s toys. The evidence suggested that in anticipation of yet another Thomas the Tank Engine to add to his burgeoning collection, Gilbert had been dropped in the heat of excitement and become mixed up with the goods on sale.
It was a very relieved family that departed quickly with Gilbert intact and safe.
This is just one small incident. Chopsy Cousin to Sidney has a Dare the Bear. A small and now ragamuffin brown thing of which four others have been purchased incase the terrible thing happens. Dare becomes lost.
Dare the Bear
“I have aged in the last three years” mum of Megan (nearly 3) says. “If we lose Dare then Megan will not sleep. She gets so upset when Dare goes AWOL. I have had to get some back-ups and pretty much fitted an emergency smash glass situation in case Dare gets lost. I pray that this will never happen.
“I hate Dare. Sometimes when no one is looking I drop kick the bear because I hate him and the huge hold he has on our lives. He used to be called Ted then became Dare when Megan got ted and bear mixed up. I hate Dare but I love him too. It’s a complicated relationship.”
Emily’s Blankee
Six-year old Emily loves her blankee. Emily and blankee used to be inseparable until a parent programme installed by her father reduced blankee contact time to bedtimes and car journeys.
Emily was one of those children who is a big fan of the blanket, the ones who at 15 still have a bit of rag under their pillow that was once their favourite comforter.
Emily’s father explains to us how after six years, Blankee still rules their lives. “There was one recent blankee episode when she stayed at her grandparents for a weekend. Blankee was left there accidently as the naughty grandparent forgot to bring it back. This meant that when it came to bedtime back home, Emily was having a paddy of such magnitude that Grandad had to drive it all the way over.”
“I feel tied to it because it is very moth eaten and getting older. She is over the age of 6 and I’m scared to put it in the washing machine, as the holes are slowly getting larger. As her fingers have got bigger they are making the blanket fall apart and though I can repair it with a needle and thread it is now starting to become more thread than blankee that is left. It would be easier to make a complete new one. It annoys me a little bit the hold this blanket has on us but then she’s a little girl of six and it makes her feel happy. It makes her thumb go straight into her mouth. You then can’t hear a word she says.”
Top Chopsy Comforter Reads:
I’ve forgotten Edward
Susan Hill and Helen Averley
The Blanket
John Burmingham
Alfie gives a hand
Shirley Hughes
Dogger
Shirley Hughes
