I love to dance, walk and ride bikes. I also enjoy shopping for clothes in in charity shops, though on one occasion I bought a teddy bear called Horace instead!
I waited for the humans to put on their walking boots in a sunny spot.
It was a beautiful January day, very cold but with the sun shining. The lake looked very calm and peaceful. Most of our drinking water originates from this lake. The lake looks as though it has always been there, but it was built by humans in the 1950’s. See https://www.bristolwater.co.uk/our-blogs/chew-valley-lake-history
The leisure trail was completed a couple of years ago and starts at Woodford Lodge, where there us a cafe (we weren’t there at the right time to try it out). The surface is good and easy to walk along.
I stopped for a while to look at the sailing boats.
Further along I sat on a splendid log and watched some geese fly over. My human was too slow to photograph them!
The reservoir was full to the brim with lots of water gushing over the weir.
There is another cafe at the picnic area, there wasn’t time to go in but I did enjoy watching all the birds. The ducks follow all children about thinking they might have food for them!
I lost my cap at the lake, but my lovely human went again the next day and found it, albeit a bit muddy, near where the ducks are!
It is winter and the days are short and gloomy, and often wet, so I decided to start knitting. There was wool and knitting needles in the house, but I did have to order a knitting pattern for bear sized clothes (details at end of blog). The pattern was for a ‘Build-a-Bear’ type of bear so I had to adjust it a bit to fit me.
I did 8 extra rows on the back and front to make the jumper a bit longer so that it wouldn’t get too short stretching around my tummy, which is rounder than a ‘Build-a-bear’ tummy! Once the back, front, and two arms were knitted they all had to be put onto one knitting needle to knit the neck. I found doing that a bit fiddly, but next time I make a jumper I am sure it will be easier.
After knitting the neck band, which I did fairly loosely as my neck is thicker than ‘Build-a-bear, all the pieces were sewn together.
I was jolly pleased with the finished article, though there were a few neck stitches that weren’t quite right.
In our house we have a large box full of buttons. My late grandhuman collected most of them. I spent quite a while looking for a button to hide my wonky neck stitches! I found a red button, and a little wooden flower button to go on the bottom edge.
It didn’t take long to sew on the buttons.
Jolly pleased with the finished jumper, the first one I have ever made!
I think deep red suits me, and it matches the furniture too!
If you have a bear like me and would like to knit a jumper, my human got the pattern from ‘Bears with Flairs’ on eBay. We had a fantastic pattern with a reindeer on the front, but just knitted it plain to get used to knitting, and we added 8 rows onto the body to make it fit me. I am quite squashy and managed to get my head through the hole without too much problem!
It was snowing when I arrived at SS Great Britain for their special Victorian Christmas event.
The people were all dressed in Victorian clothes.
Behind me a young girl was very busy keeping the deck clean.
Inside some tasty treats were ready for 1st class passengers
Humans aren’t too keen on rats, but this chap seemed friendly. He was just mooching around looking for something to eat.
More posh food in the kitchen ready to be served to those 1st class passengers!
There was a whole queue of people waiting to be served in at the canteen.
Outside I sat for a while with two very nice ladies while they waited for the carriage to leave.
The ship always has lots of mannequin humans, the driver of the carriage was one, but the ladies were real live humans. When the live humans dress in the style of the mannequins, it if they stay still it is hard to tell the difference!
The horse was a model horse too, I think a very realistic one.
Before leaving I was delighted to meet the real Father Christmas and his assistant.
This was an enjoyable thing to do on a cold December Sunday afternoon. There were also male voice choirs singing sea shanties, and the man that designed the ship, Brunel, was wandering around too. I last visited the SS Great Britain on a sunny day in May. The admission ticket lasts for a whole year which is useful especially if you live nearby.
I was jolly pleased to hear the humans say that they could take me along with them on The Supermarket Slay Ride. The purpose of the ride was to collect food from supermarkets for a charity, The Trussell Trust, to create Christmas hampers for humans that don’t have much money at the moment. I was ready to go before the humans!
The ride was organised by All Terre Adventures. All taking part met in the Small Goods cafe at Temple Meads.
Everyone was given a shopping list, and the remit was to buy at least 5 items each while on the ride.
After cycling for about an hour we stopped for brunch at Warmley Waiting Room, a lovely cafe situated on the Bristol – Bath cycle path.
Dr Who had left his tardis at Warmley Station! I didn’t see him there though.
The ride was quite long for a small bear, 28 miles mostly on cycle paths around Bristol. Here I am in Stoke Park with The Dower House behind me.
When we were nearing the end of the ride we stopped to get the shopping.
Mince pies; yum yum yum….
Tinned vegetables, they will keep and are easy to cook.
I collected up quite a few items on the list and took them to the checkout.
At the end of the ride I climbed up and put all the things that we had bought on the table where everything was being collected.
Lots of food had been collected, which will make festive meals for quite a few humans.
After a journey over hills and down country lanes I arrived at The Hunter’s Inn, a splendid old hotel situated in the Heddon Valley in North Devon.
I always like to test the comfiness of the bed when I arrive anywhere. This bed was good.
I looked out of the bathroom window and was pleased to see that it had finally stopped raining.
After a look at myself in the mirror it was time to go out and explore.
The stream outside of the hotel was in full flow, with the water brownish in colour due to picking up mud as it gushed down the valley after the heavy rain.
I climbed up onto an arched bridge for a photo, but had to be very careful not to fall in (a hidden human was holding onto my foot just in case…)
The river had tremendous power rushing towards the sea down through the Heddon Valley.
It was a tad windy at Heddons Mouth. I was at risk of getting blown away so a human held on to me for this photo!
I tried to shelter in the lime kiln but it was fenced off….
I found a suitable overhanging rock instead, which got me out of the wind for a while!
Back at The Hunter’s Inn I enjoyed a nice mug of tea and biscuits.
The following morning I got to meet the resident peacock, apparently he is called Colin, but I doubt that he knows that…
Humans often have three course breakfasts in hotels. I decided to give it a go, starting with fruit and muesli…..
…….followed by full English vegetarian breakfast……
…..finished off with honey on toast. I only had one piece of toast as there was a danger that my jumper would get stretched too much. I didn’t need any more food for the day.
Before making our way back to Bristol where I live we did a walk from Valley of the Rocks to Lynton. The scenery is all very beautiful.
Here I am aboard Cardiff Cruises ‘Lewis Alexander’ at Penarth Barrage in Cardiff Bay, about to set off across the sea to visit Flat Holm, a very small island in the middle of the Bristol Channel.
The Barrage is a huge lock gate that maintains the level of water in Cardiff Bay.
Some other vessels went throught at the same time as us.
The scenery as we went out was quite industrial.
It wasn’t long before Flat Holm Island came into sight.
A map of the island was passed around for the perusal of the passengers.
After landing we set off to explore the island. We joined a tour but you can just wander around on your own if preferred.
The lighthouse is at one end of the island. It isn’t possible to go inside but still interesting to look at from outside.
There are lots of solar panels to provide the electricity as there is no mains power on the island.
Flatholm has no fresh water supply. Rainwater is collected from a sloped terrace that runs into a tank at the bottom.
In the 1860s Queen Victoria & Prince Albert were concerned that the French Navy might attack and a series of forts were built known as Palmerston Forts (the building was directed by Lord Palmerston). Big guns were hidden in pits (Moncrief pits) that could be pushed up to fire then would come down again when the gun recoiled. They were never actually used in wartime and were later replaced by anti-aircraft guns in the 2nd World War. Here I am sat on one of the Victorian guns next to a Moncrief pit.
I decided to have a look inside the pit too.
Not much to see, and I had to hurry out as the rest of the group had continued on the tour!
There is a lovely view of Steep Holm from Flat Holm. I would like to go to Steep Holm but due to tides you have to stay on the island for 12 hours which is quite a long time on a small island.
I rejoined the group to go to the next point of interest.
This odd structure is a monument commemorating the work of Marconi. According to the guide no one really knew where to put it when it was delivered by helicopter back in the 1980s, and it was finally dropped here. The first radio transmission across water took place in 1897 from Flat Holm.
There is a big ruined building, the remains of an isolation hospital that was used to house sailors with patients in the late 19th century. Before it was built tents were used.
There are a couple of beaches on the island. Sometimes humans visiting in specially organised group trips swim in the sea.
The farmhouse has been converted into bunk rooms and a flat where the island warden lives.
The foghorn hasn’t been sounded since 1984.
It is huge and looks like it would make a very loud noise.
I think I would fit inside of the fog horn!
The building next to the foghorn is now a holiday cottage. It sleeps up to 6 people and costs £100 a night to stay in.
I climbed up to have a peep in through a window It looked quite nice inside (no one staying there so all very tidy).
It was lunchtime, there is a pub called ‘The Gull & Leek’ in the old barracks, where we got mugs of tea. I sat and ate my packed lunch in a shady spot opposite next to the fire buckets.
Before we left I had a quick look in the museum which is also housed in the barracks.
The time on the island passed very quickly and it was soon time for us to go back.
I was last back on the boat!
Bye bye Flat Holm…
I really enjoyed my Flat Holm Island adventure, including the boat trip there and back.
To begin, humans must not do same as me and sit next to the big cannon, it isn’t allowed. Teddy bears can sometimes do things that humans cannot…
From inside of Dartmouth Castle there are lovely views of the River Dart.
I sat on a small cannon. These were used to defend Dartmouth hundreds of years ago. A sign said some of them had more recently been used as traffic bollards before being returned to the castle.
Inside the castle there is a replica of a very old gun. Guns like this were used to fire through openings in the wall at floor level over 600 years ago.
Soldiers used to wear very heavy iron helmets to protect their heads in battle.
I tried on all of the helmets in the display and nearly disappeared under the bascinet helmet…
I was too bothered about the low headroom going up the stairs, as I am rather short.
I emerged at the top for a photograph. My human is usually really good at not getting other humans in my photos, but unfortunately a human emerged from the tower at the exact moment the photo was taken!
I had a walk about and looked at the beautiful surrounding views.
In the 1500s a heavy iron chain used during times of war. It was placed across the estuary going from Dartmouth Castle to another castle over the other side to stop enemy ships from coming into Dartmouth.
I had to go very carefully back down the spiral stairs.
The Gunpowder pot looked a bit dangerous but the sign clearly said to open the barrel!
Nothing exploded, not even a bang, but there was some useful information about gunpower hidden inside.
I went outside hoping to get down to the water, but was stopped by a ‘no entry’ sign.
Once we left the castle I did get to sit by the water in Castle Cover, which is a little walk along from the castle.
We went back to Dartmouth on ferry boat.
It was a splendid boat ride sitting in the late summer sunshine in a very picturesque setting.
I took old Growler and Nye along with me to stay in Longbarrow Windmill, which is situated in a field a few miles from Torquay.
We were very excited as we went through the front door.
On the ground floor we found a kitchen and a comfy sofa.
We climbed the stairs to the first floor….
…. and found the bedroom.
The windmill has very thick walls. We climbed up and looked out the bedroom window.
After another flight of stairs we found the bathroom.
The last flight of stairs up to the top was very steep for bears with short legs.
We made it to the top where there are wonderful views all around.
There was a newspaper article on the wall which included a photo of Long Barrow Windmill before the current owners bought it and converted it to a holiday home. There wasn’t much left of it in 1999!
While we were at the top of the windmill on several occasions we saw house martins flying around, they seemed to be looking in the windows.
Growler & Nye enjoyed reading a book all about Devon windmills.
At the top of the windmill it is possible to see the sun set on one side and rise on the other.
Here we are watching the sun set over Dartmoor.
We got up very early the following day to see the sun rise over Torbay.
It was a misty morning and the fields looked as though they were full of fluffy cottonwool.
We went out into the field to get a closer look…
Here we are with the sun rising behind us.
On our last day the humans went out walking so we decided to have a teddy bear’s picnic sat outside in the sunshine.
A splendid place indeed for a picnic…
We were sad to leave but felt very happy to have experienced staying in a windmill.
For more information about staying at Long Barrow windmill see:
The humans were looking for somewhere to get a cup of tea while driving through Tiverton when they say signs to Knightshayes. We found a rather lovely place.
To stretch the legs we all went for a wander around the walled garden. The banana plants looked very much at home in the sunshine.
There were also lots of beautiful white Japanese anemones
Red hot pokers were in flower too.
Next we found the house, which reminded me a little of Tyntesfield. Knightshayes was built in the gothic revival style of architecture similar to Tyntesfield in the 1870s. It belonged to the Heathcote – Amory family and built to face their lace making factory which is down in valley. It was given to the National Trust in 1972.
Instead of walking down all the steps I decided to rolypoly down the grass bank. I enjoy a bit of rolypolying. I think I may have just invented a new word!
I had a good look at the gorgeous pink water lilies.
While sat at the edge of the haha I watched the sheep. Way in the distance not visible in the photo is the lace making factory, which apparently is today used to make parachutes.
There had been an outdoor cinema event at Knightshayes the previous day, and a competition to win a holiday.
I climbed up into the giant chair for my humans to take a photo of me to enter in the competition.
Here is my competition entry photo. The winner will be chosen at random so will just be luck whoever wins. It would be a fantastic adventure if I do win a trip to the Caribean!
There were quite a few dragonflies hovering around the pond in the gardens, but catching them on a mobile phone camera is near impossible so here is a photo of me instead!
The cafe used to be stables and also built in gothic revival style.
Coffee and walnut cake. Yum yum yum….
Do visit Knightshayes if you are in the area. I found the inside of the house to be rather gloomy but the outside and the gardens are all lovely and very peaceful.
We called in at Carding Mill Valley (National Trust) while travelling through Shropshire just to see what was there, and discovered a really beautiful place.
The Valley was just waiting to be explored so off we went to find the waterfall, Light Spout.
The path followed the stream and involved in places climbing over rocks.
Finally Light Spout came into sight. It was quite a hot day but felt refreshingly cool sitting next to the waterfall.
Once at the top of the hill there was a beautiful view of the valley and a friendly sheep.
After walking back down to the valley we took the route to the reservoir and found a pool that humans were allowed to swim in.
At the cafe which is at the bottom of the valley I enjoyed a tasty cheese scone, but must admit it needed a little chutney on it really.
While sat eating the scone I watched the butterflies on a nearby buddleia bush.
Carding Mill Valley and the surrounding area is really beautiful. There were lots of children playing in the stream at the bottom of the valley and some swimming in the reservoir, so would be a great place for a family day out as well as somewhere to go walking.
Horace the Alresford Bear 