Horsey Goes Home

This blog is about a couple of days which were both sad and happy too, because they were the last days we spent with our friend Horsey, but they were also when we got to meet Nearly-doctor Rachael and to visit our dear friends the Berkshire Bears.

The day before we set off for our meeting with Nearly-doctor Rachael, Polar and Grizzly treated us to a day out at the lovely Dorothy Clive Garden.  At first, Horsey stayed in the car while we climbed some trees and explored the quarry garden, full of rhododendrons.  

We love the quarry garden, which is full of lovely flowers and a pretty waterfall, and we would have loved to show it to Horsey, but we knew Horsey wasn't fit enough to run all the way there and he is too big to fit in the Bear Bag to be carried there.

There are some very fragrant azaleas, which Endon loves, and wonderful views from the path around the rim of the old quarry.  Waverley said it made him feel as if he was Paddington Bear as a cub, living in Darkest Peru!

"You're somewhere even better," said Hanley Bear.  "You're in Staffordshire!" 

We loved some of the sculptures in the garden, which looked interesting and were fun to climb.  We thought the owl was especially good. 

Polar and Grizzly had come to see the laburnum arch in flower, which is probably what the gardens are best known for.  As you can see, it is very lovely.

While Polar and Grizzly had a cup of tea, we fetched Horsey and led him into the gardens, so he could see the pond and have a little gallop on the grass.

He let Waverley have a little ride on his back, trotting through the borders and jumping over the stones around the edges.  Waverley hung on very tight and had lots of fun.

"We're going to miss you, Horsey," said Waverley, giving him a hug and shedding a little tear.  "You're a super friend."

"I'm going to miss you too, little bears," replied Horsey.  "You've looked after me very well while I've been recovering from my operations.  You are all good little nurse bears and I'm sure Rachael will love meeting you."

The next day, Polar and Grizzly packed for a little holiday and we drove with them down to Long Itchington on the Grand Union Canal.  We arrived early, so they went for a walk while we kept cheerful by pretending that Horsey was driving the car with us as his passengers.

Suddenly, he gave a happy little neigh - he had seen Nearly-doctor Rachael's car!  Polar and Grizzly arrived back at the pub just in time to let us out to greet her, with Horsey getting a big hug.  She couldn't believe how well he looked and said his rug was nicer than the one her big horse has!

We decided we all liked Nearly-doctor Rachael, because she was so cheerful and kind, and obviously loves Horsey very much indeed.  We were glad we were going to have lunch with her.

While the humans ordered their lunches, Hanley tested Grizzly's beer and encouraged Horsey to try a few of the frothy bubbles on top, but he said it made his head feel funny.

We had a lovely lunch, sitting with our friend Horsey and listening to Nearly-doctor Rachael telling Polar and Grizzly about some of the adventures she has had with her nice friends, and her plans for the future, when she is Doctor Rachael.

Then it was time for us to go our separate ways.  We all hugged and promised to come and see Horsey, either while he was still at medical school or wherever he and Rachael went to live when she was a qualified doctor, as they plan to stay near the canals.

We were brave bears and didn't cry until we saw Horsey and Nearly-doctor Rachael driving away in the opposite direction to where we were going.  We all snuggled up together in the Bear Bag, feeling sad but also proud that we had helped Horsey to recover and go home.

Luckily, we had something happy to look forward to - a visit to our dear friends the Berkshire Bears and their lovely humans, Gecko and Mr Andrew.  We had tea and biscuits and Hanley got to chat about football with Little Brown Bear.

After a super visit, sitting in the sunshine in the Gecko garden, we travelled on into Hampshire, arriving at the little shepherds huts where we had stayed for Grandad Polar's birthday last summer.

It had been a busy and emotional day for us, so we were glad to snuggle up in the little bed Polar made for us.  We thought of Horsey and hoped he was happily snuggled up with Nearly-doctor Rachael, telling her about his adventures with us.

"I'm sure we'll see him again," said Waverley.

And I'm sure we will!