We had some clotted cream to use up so I decided to make some scones to go with it. National Trust Book of Scones seemed the best place for a recipe as National Trust scones are always very yummy.

To begin you have to rub the butter into the sifted flour to make a mixture that looks like fine crumbs. I used gloves to do this to stop my fur getting messy.

I added the sultanas and sugar, then beat an egg ready to go into the mixture.

The egg was added to the mixture along with the milk (I used oat milk). I kept a little bit of eggy milk to use later (to brush over the scones before cooking)

We managed to tag along with the humans on a winter mini-break to Mudeford at the Christchurch Harbour Hotel.

The bed was very comfy with plenty of room for two small bears.

The room was listed as having a partial view of the harbour.   We found that the flat bottomed cushions made excellent seats to sit on and look out!

The bench in the hotel garden was also a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the winter sun on the fur.

There is a wonderful view from the hotel quayside.  The atmosphere was very peaceful as we watched the ducks swimming on the calm water.

The hotel has a spa, but being filled with acrylic fibre we don’t like to get wet as it makes us all heavy and soggy. Saunas make us rather too hot. However, we make excellent models for robes and slippers.

A relative of Henry was having a rest in the corridor. Nuvac has a happy face like me.

We were jolly pleased to find a swing in the hotel grounds, though it was a tad big for us.

Venturing a bit further afield we wandered to Mudeford Quay and climbed up onto the piles of rope for a photo.  In the main season ferries go from Mudeford Quay to Mudeford Sand banks which are just a short distance away across the water.  We would have to find another way to get there!

On the beach we found a log to rest against while enjoying more winter sun.

In the distance across the water we could see The Isle of Wight and the Needles. We have been to Isle of Wight a few times, and visited the Needles on one visit. See our blog about the Needles here: https://horacethealresfordbear.com/2017/04/27/the-needles-new-battery-old-battery/

The food at The Harbour Hotel is very good with a great selection available at breakfast. We had already eaten croissants, granola and fruit salad before starting on our cooked breakfasts. I liked the tiny saucepan the baked beans were served in.

On our last day the humans decided to drive around to Hengistbury Head so that we could walk to the Mudeford Sandbanks and see the beach huts.

Nye nearly disappeared in the long grass – can you see him?

We tried to decide which beach hut we liked best.

But we actually liked all of them.

We also quite liked this little boat!

We really enjoyed our couple of days in and around Mudeford. Before leaving the hotel we posed for one last photograph on the quayside.

Horace the Alresford Bear 20/1/2023

The trees were very interesting to look at, the staff at Attingham had been very creative with the various themes.  I really like the clock maker’s tree.

For more information about Attingham see: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/attingham-park

Horace the Alresford Bear 30/12/22

It is good to do something festive on Christmas Eve. The humans were in Somerset so they took us to Barrington Court to see the lights trail there.

After spending a few minutes posing for photographs on the reindeers we continued on up the path.

Once inside the barn there were lots of Christmas trees covered in twinkling lights. It all looked very festive.

We rested for a while in a little tree shelter.

The candles looked very realistic – they were fake candles powered by batteries, much safer than real candles as there is no danger of them causing a fire

We posed for a photo with some candles.

We climbed up into one of the trees for another photo…

All the climbing made our legs tired so we had a little rest before leaving the barn.

The lights trail is open until January 1st 2023, on days when Barrington Court is open. It is only short but lovely for small bears with little legs and we think small humans would like it too.

The last time I was at Barrington Court was during spring 2020. See https://horacethealresfordbear.com/2020/06/19/barrington-court/

Horace the Alresford Bear 24/12/22

The humans were going to a Dance at Westlands in Yeovil so booked into a Premier Inn for the night. They took us along too!

The humans ate some Christmas chocolates that were in the room but left us the biscuits…

We needed a bit more than biscuits though so decided to go and eat in the restaurant after spending a while looking at the menu.

‘Pub food’ is served in Premier Inns. We rather enjoyed the chips, we don’t get them at home…

My desert was made from ice cream, chocolate flake and chocolate buttons, and I rather enjoyed that too.

Nye opted for some caramel apple pie with ice cream.

Eating so much food made us quite tired, so we soon fell asleep. The beds were very comfortable.

For breakfast we just had a couple of croissants each as our tummies were still full up from the evening meal.

We went back to the Inn (which is next door to the restaurant), packed up our things and were ready for another adventure.

The Inn we stayed at was at Yeovil Airfield. We thought it was a good place for a stop over.

Horace the Alresford Bear 24/12/22

Cold weather has arrived, the humans decided to go for a wintery walk at Dyrham Park. There was a giant wreath in front of the house which made me look rather small.

I wandered off for a walk around the gardens. It is good to keep moving when the weather is chilly, it helps to keep bears and humans warm.

The gardeners were ‘resting’ the grass next to the waterfall and pond, so I couldn’t get close to the edge. They do this as during busy times the grass gets worn away by the many humans walking all over it.

The gardeners were very busy in the formal gardens and had lots of pots placed ready for planting.

They had plans to tell them exactly where to put the pots. I don’t know what was in the pots, we will have to visit again in spring to find out!

Wheelbarrows always look better with small bears inside…

At the Old Lodge there was a Christmas tree surrounded by very large presents. The boxes were big enough to contain big teddy bears.

Two rather splendid tractors were in the children’s play area. Fortunately there were no children around so I was able to try them both out…

I liked the red one best.

I had a potter about in the mud kitchen, which made me start thinking about real food.

The humans bought me a very tasty cheese and onion pasty in the tea room which warmed me up and filled up my tummy nicely. Yum yum yum.

I visit Dyrham quite often as it is near Bristol where I live and have blogged about it several times. If you wish to see my other blogs just type ‘Dyrham’ into the search box.

Horace the Alresford Bear 7/12/2022

I managed to tag along with the humans on a special visit to Bath for afternoon tea at The Pump Room.

The Pump Room is very grand with a chandelier and a big piano at one end, where musicians were playing music.

There is a splendid view of The Roman Baths from the Pump Room windows. I visited the baths a few years ago. (See https://horacethealresfordbear.com/2018/03/07/the-roman-baths-in-bath/)

After being seated a waitress brought three plates full of treats for me to share with just one human. Yum yum yum.

After eating as much as my tummy could manage I went over to the fountain where warm spa waters emerge from the ground.

Small cone shaped cups were available for visitors to sip some of the spa water. Back in the late 17th century aristocrats came here to ‘take the waters’ as they believed that the mineral rich spring water could cure illnesses. I had a sip, it just tasted like warm water!

Before leaving the Waitress kindly put all the leftover cakes in a box for me to take home and share with my friends.

I am a very lucky Bear.

Horace the Alresford Bear 1/11/2023