A Day Out on Uppie

One day, when Aunty Ann and Uncle Derek were staying with us, it was such a nice day that Grizzly and Polar decided we should go out on Uppie, including us bears. 

This was going to be little Dudley's first ever trip on the boat and he was very excited about that. 

Uppie hadn't been out since last autumn, so we were a little worried that the engine might not start, but it did and soon we were on our way along the Macclesfield Canal, for lunch at The Rising Sun pub.

We kept Aunty Ann and Uncle Derek company in the cratch at first, while Polar steered the boat and Grizzly worked the little lock, then Uncle Derek and Grizzly steered the boat, and Polar sat in the cratch with all of us and Aunty Ann, taking photographs.

We all had a tasty lunch, and Hanley had lots of beer bubbles, before we set off again.  

Polar took the tiller and steered us to Ramsdell Hall, to turn the boat around, then we made our way back past the pub, to the little lock, across the aqueduct and back to our wharf.

We had enjoyed a lovely journey and one of us had an exciting evening to look forward to as well.  Grizzly and Uncle Derek both love jazz, so Polar had treated everyone to tickets to see (and hear) the National Youth Jazz Orchestra at the Repertory Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent.  

She didn't think she could take a big Bear Bag along, but said one of the small bears could go in her coat pocket.  We all agreed Waverley should go, as Aunty Ann and Uncle Derek had adopted him for our hug, so he was smuggled in to the show.

Waverley said it was marvellous, and that he had enjoyed dancing to the music on Polar's knee.  Hanley Bear was sad that he's just a bit too big to hide in a pocket, as he likes jazz too, but Polar says she'll definitely take him to the next show she and Grizzly plan to see.  

She hasn't told us what it is yet, but she's sure Hanley will love it.