I enjoy all the seasons but I think spring is probably my favourite time. There are some plants that let us know that although it is still winter, Spring isn’t far away. The dear little snowdrop is one such plant, and lots of them can be found at Snowshill Manor at this time of year. The gardens aren’t usually open in winter but those nice people at The National Trust open them up especially for people (and bears) to see the snowdrops.
I was glad Paddington agreed to lend me his red wellingtons for the visit, as it was snowing as we walked around and although having fur I am quite hardy, my feet are not fond of getting cold and wet. The snowdrops were beautiful and created a very peaceful scene.
We walked around the rest of the gardens, though at this time of the year most plants are still asleep for winter. Here is a selfie of me with the Dove Cote behind me; you might be able to spot a dove peeping out of the window. 
There were lots of interesting things around, such as this bell post…
The former owner of Snowshill Manor used to collect things, such as penny farthing bicycles. The Manor House was shut though (as the estate was only open for snowdrop viewing), so I will have to make sure the humans return in the summer in order to fully explore. All the benches that people sit on in summer were stored inside this barn. 
On the way back I climbed up onto a dry stone wall for a photo shoot. I am quite fascinated by the way snow sticks to some things and not to others. The snow seemed to like the wall. 
One of the joys of visiting National Trust properties is the trip to the tearoom; especially welcome when paws are feeling a tad frozen. Yum yum yum….
Another feature I enjoy are National Trust produce tables where plants and vegetables grown on the premises are offered for sale by a donation. I chose several pots of snowdrops to take home; I do hope they grow in my city garden.
On arriving home I placed them where I can see them from the window. They will be planted out when the weather improves.
Horace the Alresford Bear 12/2/2017
For more information about Snowshill Manor see https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshill-manor-and-garden
On the way they stopped at a small town called Totnes for some lunch. Here I am in Totnes High Street. 
There are quite a few charity shops in Totnes; Karen always has to look in charity shops just in case there might be something there that could be useful (like a new dress). I followed her into the Cancer Research UK shop.
We noticed a familiar face sitting on a chair next to a heap of abandoned cuddly toys. He was sat staring into space and looked rather worried. I remembered how I felt when I spent a few days sat on a charity shop shelf. I said ‘Hello’ to him and he told me that he had been made in the Station Mill at Alresford and how sad he felt that his human had abandoned him to a charity shop. I asked if he’d like to come and live with some of his Alresford relatives.
Jesse had a £12 price label attached to his Alresford Crafts label, which seemed a small price to pay to rescue him. Karen took him to the shop counter to pay for him. The shop assistant wasn’t interested in our story but stood aside for us to take a photo. 
Once outside the shop Karen found a suitable bear carrier for Jesse.
It was then time to get something to eat. We went back down the hill to Maisie’s Cafe, a lovely little tearoom, where Karen treated us both to tea and cake.
I think Jesse is going to like living with us 🙂
As we went into the house I noticed a huge painting on the wall of Agatha when she was a little girl cuddling a doll.
Further on in the drawing room someone had abandoned a game of dominoes…
No one was playing the piano so I clambered up and gave a rendition of ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’. Unfortunately that is the only tune I know how to play; I really should learn some more as I often seem to come across pianos.
In the kitchen there was an old manual typewriter with an invitation to try it out. I managed to type my name, though it is not as easy as using a computer keyboard. 
Upstairs on the landing I spotted three Aspidistra plants (they take ages and ages to grow). They were sat on top of a very interesting bookcase which was made for Agatha Christie’s children, and it was full of books written by her.
I am always very interested in toilets. This mahogany seated one was inhabited by a little green frog, which was something of a surprise!
The toilet roll had ‘government issue’ stamped on it, and it looked more like the paper Karen uses to line cake tins.
I had a peep in Agatha’s dressing room…
The view out of the window was beautiful, I could see the boats going up and down the River Dart.
Behind glass there was a complete collection of all the first editions of the books written by Agatha Christie. She must have been a very busy lady.
The bear sat on the sofa in the library looked as though he needed some other bear company as he only had dolls to keep him company. I said ‘hello’ to him and wished him well.
There is graffiti on the walls of the library painted by an American Lieutenant during the 2nd World War. 
In the inner hall I found a really old Motorola mobile phone. It was quite big and very heavy and was made in the mid 1980’s.
After looking around the house I was a very hungry bear so had some lunch. The baked potato was extremely yummy.
I made sure that the door remained closed on the peach house to make sure that no naughty squirrels came in.
I like terraccota flower pots!
The cucumbers were all knobbly and didn’t look like the ones that Karen buys in the greengrocers shop.
We went on to explore the fernery, which is an excellent place for bears
I climbed up to have a closer look at the broken pot, but only as far as the sign that said ‘no further please’.
There were also some pet graves in the fernery. I think the pets that lived at Greenway probably had very happy lives living in such a lovely place.
I was delighted to come across a bear sized tractor.
We walked through some woods until we arrived at an area known as ‘The Battery’. I climbed up onto the wall and could see Dartmouth in the distance.
I stopped and had a little rest against the wall and then wondered about the large iron thing with a hole in that was right in front of me.
I had a look inside, though the humans told me that it wasn’t a wise thing to do!
I realised then that it was an old cannon. I felt safer at the other end.
Just along a woodland path from The Battery we found The Boathouse.
The Boathouse is a perfect place to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the view of the river.
The lower floor of The Boathouse has a special plunge pool. The plunge pool is being repaired and restored at the moment so we were unable to see it. I am sure we will visit again when the work is finished.
The house looked lovely in the sunshine as we walked back up the path…
I stopped and had a rest for a while in one of the deckchairs…
…after which it was time to leave. We will be back 🙂
Before we went into the house I noticed some small humans rolling down the grass bank. I decided to have a go…
Jolly good fun it was too!
I could have happily spent more time playing ‘roly-poly’ but the humans said we needed to visit the house before it closed.
The first thing of interest to me was the napkin folding table. I decided to have a go…
…and made a hat that I though might be good for wearing while cooking.
Further along a corridor I came face to face with this chap. I’m sure he moved a little bit while I was watching him so I kept well back just in case….
I tried out the typewriter in Lord Robartes’ study. It was quite hard work typing each letter with my paws.
In the nursery I spotted a couple of bears playing football and called out “Hello”.
Two more bears were on a shelf in the nursery library; they were keeping a close eye on all the visitors looking around the house.
The Robartes family must have been very worried that a fire might break out. I discovered this huge hose hung up on one landing….
….plus three very impressive red buckets.
Lady Robartes’ used to enjoy honey with her afternoon tea in her private sitting room.
I was delighted to find a piano with a sign inviting people (and bears) to play. I played my version of Teddy Bear’s Picnic, after which my paws were very tired.
On entering the kitchen a large cake caught my eye. A room guide announced that the Victoria sponge was edible, but that it had been on display for a few weeks, so I decided not to try it.
In another kitchen room someone was in the middle of shelling peas; I think they must have gone for a tea break (shelling peas is hard work). 
Scullery maids would have spent all their time washing up pot after pot in this sink without any rubber gloves. I’m glad I’m not a scullery maid.
There were joints of meat of all shapes and sizes sat in a big cabinet with wheels on the bottom. 
I think I could make a good vegetable stew with this lot.
Bread was all made in the kitchens of Lanhydrock in this huge oven.
Yum yum yum…. 
I always enjoy a bit of grinding with a pestle and mortar, especially cinnamon which smells almost as good as honey.
The tool in this photo is a special device for cutting up giant cones of sugar. 
In the dairy I tried my hand at making butter. 
The handle has to be turned round and round and round and round very fast until the cream eventually turns into butter. My paws soon got tired.
In another room there was a special table made out of marble with water running all around it. It is for keeping things cool, and setting jelly. The jelly made me feel suddenly very hungry, but I wasn’t allowed to eat it. Karen said I could have a treat later.
The treat was very yummy indeed.
The gardeners must work very hard; I spent a while admiring this dazzling display of begonias.
Away from the formal garden there is a magnificent tree with lots of holes for bears to hide in.
There is lots to see at Lanhydrock and I think we probably could have spent longer there but the staff were shutting everything up as they wanted to go home for tea. Perhaps my humans will take me again one day.
The best thing about The Clinker was the window with a special seat for bears right in front of it. I spent quite a lot of time sat here while the humans did long walks (they say I am ‘too big’ to take everywhere)
I saw many dogs (and humans) of all shapes and sizes walking by. I even saw some bears. When I spotted a little Merrythought bear outside looking up at me I ran downstairs to say hello. He’s called Severn Bear and travels about extensively with his humans. They took a photo of us together for Instagram.
There was an interesting book in The Clinker with lots of photos of the places where the humans walk but don’t take me…
One evening Karen announced that she thought the tide times were right to see the Boscastle blow hole in action (a place where water squirts out of a hole in the cliff). I was very excited and waited patiently in the new bear carrier for transportation.
When we arrived at the view point there were a few gushes of water, but not anything spectacular. Karen thought it was probably better at some tides than others depending on the height of the tide etc. I still enjoyed watching the waves.
The next day I posted a postcard to my Grand human on the way to the shops.
Fortunately there was still room for me in the bag after stocking up on a few groceries.
Right next door the The Clinker there was a very old Lime Kiln. It isn’t used for heating lime anymore and makes an excellent hiding place for bears.
The day that it rained was a bit of a problem as I didn’t have any wellies with me (I borrow Paddington’s at home). I wanted to go for a little walk, so borrowed human walking boots.
Here is a selfie of me at the end of the harbour. 
I was feeling quite tired as the boots were quite heavy. I kept going though as I wanted to give some money to the man collecting for National Coastwatch; they keep an eye out for boats or people in the water or walking the coastpath that may need assistance. 
In this photo you can see the white lookout station on the left in the distance. Boscastle is a splendid place with lots to see. I was quite sad to wave goodbye at the end of our stay. 
The humans weren’t sure where to look for the other buildings, so we popped into a shop called ‘May contain nuts’ and bought a little map. I hoped that we would return to same shop for pasties later as they looked delicious.
We soon found the village school, which used to really be a school but nowadays is a hotel and restaurant.
Not far up the hill we found the school teacher Louisa’s house. It was actually a holiday house. I climbed up onto the window sill for a photo.
We then set off to find Aunt Ruth’s house. I had to stop and study the map for a while.
On the way to Aunt Ruth’s we passed a cottage with an excellent name. I wondered if there was lots of honey inside.
Aunt Ruth’s house was up the hill a little bit; it was for sale. I thought it looked like a good house for bears.
My legs were getting tired so I climbed back into the bear carrier in order to find the pharmacy.
Here I am perched on the windowsill for a photo. I held on tight as a dog was looking rather interested in me.
The pharmacy shop is really a confectioners. The humans went inside and bought ice creams – pharmacies don’t usually sell ice cream!
Next we went up the hill to get a closer look at Doc Martin’s House. I stopped on the way to look at the school from the other side of the bay.
On arrival at Doc Martin’s house there was quite a queue of people outside waiting to see him.
I climbed up the front steps to see if he was actually there!
No sign of him today – the people were going to be waiting a very long time.
Going back down the hill I wondered if we could get a cup of tea at Bert’s Cafe.
Bert wasn’t in so we went back down to the harbour. I think I look good in yellow boats.
Was jolly pleased when the humans went back to ‘May Contain Nuts’ and bought pasties for lunch. 
Watersmeet rates very highly in my mental list of places that are good for bears and their humans to spend time. It is good just to sit and watch the river gurgle down the valley.
In some places the river Lyn gets quite frothy as it tumbles over rocks. I didn’t sit too close as I really don’t like getting soggy fur.
I am quite an adventurous bear though, so when I spotted this log across the river proceeded to clamber to the middle of the river.
My humans were getting a tad concerned that I might fall in but I felt quite safe and sat for a while.
We followed the river for a couple of miles down to a place called Lynmouth where the river flows into the sea.
Here is a selfie of me sitting on the bridge.
I was very interested in the boats that were in the harbour. I like to read the names; one day I might find a boat named after me!
There is a very interesting railway at Lynmouth that takes people to Lynton which is at the top of the cliff. The railway is powered by water, and when one engine goes up the one at the top comes down at exactly the same time. 
I would have liked to have a ride, but there wasn’t time as we had to walk 2 miles back up the valley again and get to the tearoom before closing time for cake. I like cake.
We walked back up the valley to Watersmeet on the other side of the river. I had to stop and admire the lovely view.
I was very pleased when I finally spotted the tea room, and extremely happy that it was still open.
We had to cross on a wooden bridge over a big waterfall to reach the cafe. Here I am sitting on the railings, though a human was holding my legs to make sure I didn’t tumble over the edge.
Yum yum yum chocolate brownie and a pot of tea.
After filling my tum I had a look at the signs hanging on the front of the tearoom.
The lovely old building needs a new roof and the National Trust are fundraising by getting bears (and people) to sponsor slates for the roof.
I decided to sponsor a slate. My name will forever be up in the roof of the Watersmeet Tearoom, or at least until it needs another new roof (quite a long time I would think).
By the time I had finished writing my slate (I can only write slowly with my paws) the tearoom had closed. I posed with my slate on the steps.
I think perhaps I should have written ‘Watersmeet is a good place for bears’, but there wasn’t much time, and I am not sure that there was room for another word on the bottom line.
On the way back up to the car park right at the top of the hill, I stopped for a while and watched another waterfall.
Watersmeet is indeed a beautiful place. I hope to go again oneday.
We walked through some woodland and came to a little house where people get married, though no one was getting married so I was able to pose for a selfie.
As I toddled along the path I was surprised to spot a flamingo on the lake. It was quite pink but I don’t think the camera captured the colour very well.
It is just as well that I am not keen on swimming, as there were several signs requesting visitors not to go into the lake.
Close up the viaduct was enormous. Trains don’t use it anymore. I wondered whether it would be possible to walk across it. 
I was drawn to a sign mentioning bears in the herbaceous border.
The rudebeckia was looking splendid.
On the lake shore there was a thatched boathouse with small tethered boat. I climbed in for a photo shoot.
Further on round the garden some of the paths were quite challenging for my short legs. 
This is the view from a little bridge going across the stream. It was very peaceful.
After all the walking I was jolly pleased to find a seat where I was able to snooze for ten minutes before exploring further.
The dahlias were in full flower and looked very bright and cheerful. I’d like some dahlias in our garden at home but it is already full of plants!
There was a ‘knotted’ garden with lots of low hedges that I particularly liked. I think I look quite tall in this photo.
I couldn’t resist climbing up on a wall to smell the sweet peas.
On the way out I bought some new plants that would just about squeeze into our garden at home. The yellow daisies (osteospernums) were reduced in price as it is the end of the season and they don’t always survive winter if the weather is too cold. My humans thought we’d give them a chance.
As soon as we got home I planted them in our front garden.
After buying our tickets we went onto the station platform to wait for the train to arrive.
The train arrived at exactly the time that the timetable said that it would.
Nye and myself helped Growler on to the train and we found a comfy seat.
I undertook the very important task of showing our tickets to the ticket inspector.
As the train left the station we decided to climb up onto the table for a better view. Growler used a special seat which also doubles up as a human purse.
Dogs used to have to have tickets to get on the trains at Ropley.
We had a little rest on a platform bench for a while…..
…until we spotted a train coming in on the opposite side of the tracks. Very quickly we crossed the bridge to the other side of the track to watch it being filled up with water. We didn’t get there quite quick enough to get a photo of the water filling, but here is the engine and the big tube they used for filling it up.
There is an interesting room up some stairs at the station where people and bears can see into the workshop through a big glass window. In the same room there are also lots of tables and chairs with some activities for young humans such as pictures to colour in. I was particularly delighted to find some hats for bears to try on. I found a splendid station master’s hat. Here I am modelling the hat in the ticket booth.
I also made friends with the station master’s cat.
The time had nearly arrived for the next train to Alresford to arrive, so we waited safely in the back pack on the platform. 
This train had carriages with red seats which I rather liked.
As the train moved off we soon got into our positions on the table in order to see the view from the window.
We then walked down to the end of the train to see the engine moving to the other end of the train.
It was here that dear old Growler had an accident with his nose. He was so excited about going on a real steam engine he climbed out the bag too quickly and caught his nose.
Fortunately Karen had some plasters in her bag. We performed a quick bit of first aid so Growler was still come up into the engine cab with me.
I tried my paw at shoveling coal but it is very hard work for a small bear.
We stayed well back from the fire. I am particularly at risk due to having acrylic fur. Dear old Growler doesn’t have much fur anymore.
We sat for a while on special seat for bears.
After climbing down I had a closer look at the outside. The engine was called ‘Cheltenham’, and was one of the most powerful locomotives to operate in the UK. There is more information here: 
I was then delighted to be invited up for a look at the signal box.
The signal lady kindly got me a chair to stand on in order for me to reach the levers. 
She said that the tea towel was very important and had to stay on the correct lever.
I decided to get a souvenir of my experience so treated myself to a new raincoat in the gift shop.
The humans were hungry as it was lunchtime, so we headed to Alresford High Street to Tiffin Tea Rooms. While waiting for lunch we comforted Growler about his nose and applied another plaster to make sure he didn’t lose any woodchips from his snout.
I ordered watercress soup, which was very yummy indeed.
After lunch it was time to take Nye to see the building in which we were both made. It used to be The Town Mill, but has been converted into flats.
Nye was happy to know that he had been made in a lovely location. 
We had time for a short walk along the River Arle before catching the train back for the return trip. 
I said ‘Hello’ to a family of swans.
My little legs were starting to get very tired after such a busy but exciting day.
We said ‘goodbye’ to Alresford before heading back to the station to catch the train back to Alton.
There aren’t any photos of our return journey. We were so tired we fell fast asleep as soon as we sat in the carriage.
Horace the Alresford Bear 