Wednesday 17 November 2021

Mrs Pins.


This portrait of my daughter, Tenpin, was painted when she was about 5; it shows her sitting with her Bear Mrs Pins, and the two baby Bears. (I have shown the painting here before)

Amongst all the children's bears (and my Alphonse) which we discovered in a big bag, was Mrs Pins. I had imagined that my daughter had taken her to Australia, so was surprised to find her here. 


So, here they are again, sitting beneath the painting, in roughly the same position as when I painted them. I think my mother made the Bears from a kit. If she did, she'd be very pleased that they're still with us, and in pretty good nick.

Mrs Pins has been very much a part of our lives, as was Alphonse. There were several other Bears in the big bag, amongst which was Wills's Bear called Harry. This (below) is the excellent replica Passport that Wills made for him.


29 comments:

  1. That is a great discovery of dear old bears in a bag. Your portrait of your daughter is brilliant.

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  2. Mrs Pins and her babies look happy to be on the bed again.

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    1. It's good to see them again, especially as I'd thought they were in Oz.

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  3. I love that you've got all those childhood bears. I have a bag and soft toys in our 'attic'. Not as old as yours. One day the kids will find them and hopefully remember them.

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    1. Bears (especially Bears) should never be thrown away. Maybe I keep too much 'stuff', but almost anything would be thrown out before the Bears.

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  4. Your kids are lucky. I don't think my father has ever entertained the idea of a loft; treasures to be found decades later. He is the most ruthless weeder of "things" ever. On death's door he'd tidy himself away if he could. Without a trace. I remember an occasion when my sister and I had a treasure box. Shoe carton. It was part of our secret society. Until my father found it, deemed it rubbish, and chucked it. Luckily I am not given to sulking but, as you can tell, that one he hasn't lived down to this day. Naturally, he can't even remember.

    Mrs Pins, long may you and memories of earlier times be cherished.

    U

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    1. Perhaps your Father's Father didn't keep anything of his. My own parents kept things of mine, so 'hoarding' is part of my DNA.

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    3. Like Father like Son? That's not my experience - and I do come from a large extended family with plenty of "research" material.

      Anyway, for obvious reasons, my grandparents, on both sides, the men doing Hitler's bidding, the women and their children fleeing the Russian advance, had to leave virtually everything behind. I think it contributed to their odd sense of detachment to material things, not being sentimental, in both their generation and that of my parents who were kids when the war ended.

      U

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    4. Fleeing a nasty regime is another kettle of fish; in which case I'm not surprised that not much was taken with them!

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  5. Teddy bears hibernate when put away comfortably in a bag in the loft. However they do prefere to be out and loved - even by a new generation.

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    1. I'm sure I heard a very feint snoring from the bag before we opened it!

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  6. How sweet, and I love that ingenious passport too.

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    1. It's a faithful reproduction of a genuine passport, made by Wills when he was about 7.

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  7. I still have my childhood teddy, and it is very much like Mrs Pins. He/she sits in my bedroom and has a " teddy" head and " rag doll" limbs. just like Mrs Pins. She originally wore a dress, but he now relaxes in a red trouser suit that my Mum knitted many years ago when the dress wore out.

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    1. Mrs Pins' dress is a bit shabby, and one of her feet needs some repair; otherwise she's OK.

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  8. Oh my gosh, what a sweet post. That attic will keep you busy for some time!

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  9. You are coming across many interesting things in Brighton.

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    1. Still lots more to discover. Our loft is not easy to get into.

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  10. I remember Wills passport ….. so amazing for a 7 year old … so much detail …. and so lovely to still have your Teds ….. ours are in the loft somewhere. XXXX

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    1. The one above was version 2, the first one was smaller and wouldn't get him through Border control. This one worked fine!

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  11. I wish that I still had my Teddy. I cut his hair when I was very small and couldn't understand why it never grew again.

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    1. I had a big white Lion that doubled as a Pyjama bag. I really miss that.

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  12. Every bear needs his or her own passport in order to prove identity when travelling abroad. Otherwise visiting foreign countries would be unbearable.

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    1. Harry was quite well travelled; his passport was essential; with his other bear essentials of course.

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  13. You are discovering many family treasures previously locked away in your UK home. Happy memories.

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