A well-travelled bear - one for the grandchildren!

When my grandchildren were younger I bought a teddy bear (in a charity shop), who they called Edward (how original is that?)  I made him a tag which said "Edward Bear on his Round the World Tour".  I first sent him to my penpal in USA and asked that whoever had him to look after him and send a postcard to the grandchildren then pass him to someone else.  Was I surprised by the response, kindness and a lot of imagination!  My penpal gave him to a friend of hers in Canada who was travelling by road down to Florida.  "He" sent postcards and photos taken of him at all the stopping off places en route, including Disneyland (or is it World).  Then came a letter that he was going on a plane to Australia.  He went to a family in Geelong, Victoria then on to Sydney where one of the family members was an editor on Waterrats (a TV series about the Harbour Police). He met all the stars and was given a photo of them all which they all signed.

He was even taken on a Teddy Bears' picnic and the photo showed him with about 20 other bears. He got involved with the police and was arrested for being "drunk and disorderly" - photos arrived of him lying in a park surrounded by bottles!  The police issued a newsflash and he had very authentic mug shots taken. He went over to Perth then to Adelaide where a lady made him a scarf with the Crow's football colours.. One of her granddaughters had been visiting from England so she brought him back.  She then took him to Scotland then sent him home for Christmas.  Soon afterwards, he toured England for several months, including hill walking in the Lake District. He went swimming in Goa, skiing in France, Gran Canaria, Jersey, Guernsey and Cyprus.  A caravan tour took him to France, Holland, Germany, Austria, and Italy, where in Vencie he fell in love with another bear belonging to a small Italian girl. Back to England for a while, then off again to Sardinia, Hong Kong, Bali, Austria again, and Slovenia, where he fell in love with another bear which a lady had bought to take home to her granddaughter.

Altogether the children received 42 written postcards, 65 photos of him at well known places, a six-page journal (A4) of the caravan tour, 18 detailed letters and emails, and numerous tourists, leaflets, booklets, guide books and maps.

What a great way for children to learn their geography and to learn about the love of others.

What a wonderful story Jo! 

might be fun to have a traveling bear for the POE members!

Ho was one well travelled bear! Thanks for sharing it Jo.

Ruth..Flat Stanley??? LOL

How lucky is that bear, wish it was me, did he have his own passport?

Hi Lyn:  Here's the info on Flat Stanley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley

It also links to the garden gnome that Diana refers to.