Ready for Departure

I've been taking a short break from my travels for the last couple of weeks while my secretary prepares my itinerary for the year! I have lots of exciting destinations to visit over the coming months and I am getting very excited.


I've had my paws up, taking time out to watch TV and catch up with the soaps. Now I am raring to go again.


I am due to set off tomorrow to visit Hazel who has all sorts of activities lined up for me. I'm going to Crufts (eeek... I hope all those dogs won't think I'm a squeaky toy) and then I'm off to the Isle of Wight. I am very much looking forward to being a travelling bear again.


Today I have done all my washing. It was a lovely sunny day so it was all hung out to dry on the washing line. I'm not quite sure how I'll fit it all in my case but I'm sure it'll all squish in.



If you would like me to come and visit you, please contact my secretary and she'll be in touch with my availability! All the details can be found in the last entry of the blog.


Love Scarlett, Greyhound Gap's Travelling Fundraising Bear.

The Story So Far

Scarlett Bear - Greyhound Gap's Official Fundraising Bear

Scarlett has been travelling the world since October 2007 to raise funds and awareness of Greyhound Gap in memory of Elaine Parkes.

Elaine sadly lost her battle against cancer at just 47 years old. Lainy had adopted both of her of her dogs from Greyhound Gap; the charity and the hounds themselves were extremely close to her heart. A very special young lady called Lucy (daughter of Elaines' best friend Heidi) wanted to do something to help raise funds in Lainy's memory so the idea of Gap's Travelling Fundraising Bear was born.

The day after we sadly lost Elaine a little 6 week old puppy crossed the path of the Greyhound Gap. Her medical needs were so great that her costs within 6 days mounted to a huge £2000. Her medical care is ongoing and will be for the rest of her life. The puppy was named Scarlett. In memory of Lainy, and also to help other special needs emergency dogs, the Elaine Parkes Memorial Fund was created so that other dogs like Scarlett can receive the necessary treatment without taking away from the other dogs needing the help that Greyhound Gap provide. It seemed fitting that Gap's Travelling Bear would also be named Scarlett.

Heidi and Lucy have been organising Scarlett's travel ever since but sadly Lucy has become poorly. Heidi has more than enough to cope with right now, so I have offered to take over Scarletts travel plans and act as her secretary. A massive thank you to Heidi and Lucy for doing everything they have done and for helping Greyhound Gap. Sending you both much love and get better soon thoughts to Lucy.

Scarlett Bear normally visits her host families for 1 or 2 weeks at a time in return for a small donation being made to Greyhound Gap which so far has usually been around £5 although for very special occasions this has sometimes been more, I have a recollection of Scarlett being caught in the middle of a bidding war!!

When Scarlett comes to stay it's nice to keep a record of her travels in this Blog (she's a very high-tech bear!) so that everyone can follow her adventures. Details of the blog will be passed on to her host family when she is on her way.

If you would like to have Scarlett come to stay with you and help raise funds for Gap, please email me (ali_ajp@yahoo.co.uk). Let me know how long you would like her to stay for and whether you have any preferred visit dates. Scarlett has quite a full diary until the end of the summer so please be aware that some flexibilty might be needed! I'll then confirm her travel arrangements with you and pass on payment details so that you can make your donation to Gap.

To make sure that Scarlett can continue her travels it is very important that she is sent on to her new destination in plenty of time. Therefore we ask that you do pass Scarlett on by the required date to avoid disappointing those waiting to entertain her. Please be aware you will need to cover her travel costs (postage!). All details, addresses, dates and blog details will be sent to you at the beginning of her visit. Scarlett Bear is staying with me before resuming her travels in March when she has a visit to Crufts to look forward to! She currently has her paws up in front of the TV and is munching on some toffee popcorn!

Thank you to all who have had Scarlett to stay and to all who have offered to have her visit over the coming months!

Enjoy your time with Scarlett!

Love Ali.xx
Scarlett Bears Secretary.

February 09

Hi everyone i'm here again in Bolton ,the first place i went was to give blood i wasn't frightened at all & i got a drink & a couple of biscuits afterwards







This time i went to watch a video being made with BBP & Burnproof ..BBP has been on Clubland TV & the Blackout Crew Zak he's one of them who's holding me









Not a visit i was looking forward too but us bears have to have our teeth checked as well ,so here i am with the dentist Kate Duncalf & her very nice assistant ,i think theyr'e both great & made me feel at ease ..thank-you both







I went & visited a couple of oldies Teddy & Frisky they live in Flossy's attic so they don't come to any harm & they help her when she's on her computer ,we became very good friends .







Well it was to be my last day here so i had a party just a few of Flossy's Teddy's came she has about 100 of them & they live all over her house so no room for them all ..i never got bored there

& i always had loads of company ,can you see the one in the middle with me he's called Arthur he's been my boyfriend while iv'e been here .xxx that's for him .







This is me saying goodbye to Arthur as i'm driven to the post office to be sent to my next destination ..thanks to all who have made my stay fun ..i'll miss you all especially Arthur..Love from me Scarlett Bear xxxx

Christmas in Dronfield

Scarlett Bear travelled to Dronfield Nr Sheffield to spend Christmas and New Year with us all here.
She had a lovely time. She enjoyed meeting all the family and also my horse who she went to visit. Flag is the grey horse and Riga is Flag's best friend. They are both old and retired but still get very dirty in the field. Scarlett was disgusted with them when they came in very dirty.
She did enjoy the company of Matthew my youngest son who helped her with her christmas dinner. Scarlett also played a mean game of pool with the boys too. It was a pleasure having her stay here and hope to meet her again someday.

Sue and family xxx

Dec 2008

Hi all it's me Scarlett iv'e arrived in Bolton & i'm being taken shopping with flossy's family before going out tonight



This is Dave he works at Netto & is helping me shop ..thanks Dave



Here i am working a mixer at the gig ..can you see my microphone i do sing very well & i don't mime

I'm now singing with Merlin Duo ..i'm having loads of fun

Here i'm with Lancashire Elvis

Well it's time for bed as i had a late night so i settled down on flossy's bed these are some of the friends i made during my stay i hope i don't lie on her legs ..he he
It's time to say goodbye i have to be somewhere else over Christmas but i'll be coming back & finishing off my travels in Bolton ..i hope i meet B.B.P. next time, Bye flossy see you again in a couple of weeks to finish off my adventure with you

My Cornwall Holiday! Part Two

My Cornwall Holiday, Part Two by Scarlett Bear

Here is the 2nd week diary of my stay with Ali, Graeme, Lucy, Meg and Murphy while on holiday in North Cornwall. See here for part one.

On Sunday, Ali’s Mum and Dad went home after a late breakfast. It felt a bit odd after they’d gone, but they’d only planned to stay a few days. The weather was still a bit damp and grey but we went off to Tregardock Beach in the afternoon to catch the low tide. It’s a steep climb down to the beach which is only accessible at low tide. A steep climb down inevitably means a steep climb back up! We drove home over the moors; the stream we’d paddled in last week was flooded after yesterdays downpours!! I think we all slept well that night.

Monday saw us doing one of A&G’s favourite walks, I think it was my favourite too! We walked from Constantine Bay golf course to Haryln Bay, then around Trevose Head past the lighthouse then along the back of Bobbys Bay, across Constantine Bay and back to the start. Harlyn Bay is lovely, the tide was out and there was lots of lovely sand. The dogs ran about like mad things and I paddled in the waves, it was a lovely warm day (when the sun shone)! Here I am with a little bit of Harlyn Bay behind me.

The sands of Constantine Bay


It poured ready hard on Tuesday morning so we all had a very lazy morning, lunchtime and early afternoon! The horrible rain started to clear so we headed off to the favourite beach of all at Daymer Bay. The tide was on it’s way out so there was so much sand I could hardly see the sea. At Rock we got on the ferry again over to Padstow for much fudge supplies and some crumpets. While there I did a spot of sightseeing across the estuary through a special telescope. As my legs were too short, Graeme had to give me a helping hand. There was lots to see. When we got home we had crumpets and jam. Yummy!

On Wednesday we went to a place called Rough Tor (pronounced Rowter). Rough Tor is one of the 2 highest peaks in Cornwall, the highest is called Brown Willy. Apparently a Tor is a big pile of big rocks! We parked at the National Trust car park and walked up the hill to a smaller pile of rocks to the left called Showery Tor we then walked (or at least I hitched in the rucksack as normal) across the ridge to Rough Tor. We scrambled about the rocks for a while and sit by the memorial while we had a picnic:

Rough Tor on which this memorial is placed has been given to the nation in memory of those who lost their lives while serving in the 43rd (Wessex) Division in the North-West European Campaign 1944/45.

Here I am with Rough Tor behind me.

Thursday was a lovely sunny day but a little bit nippy and windy on the cliffs! We walked around Rumps Point which is a funny shaped bit of coast line that is described as buttocks! We stopped for a photo call at Pentire Point before heading down towards Polzeath.

On our last day (sniff) we walked from Crackington Haven along the valley to a stiff climb up the hill. It’s much easier being in the rucksack than walking, I don’t think my little bear legs would have made it up the hill! The walk back along the coast path was great fun and a bit of a scramble in places. We saw 3 seals! It took me ages to spot them as they kept bobbing out of sight. Here I am on the coast path just before reaching Crackington Haven – this is were we stopped and watched the seals for a while.

And here is me with the Haven behind me. There were lots of surfers just getting ready to go into the sea here. We watched for a while, but I preferred the seals.

On our last evening in Cornwall Ali and Graeme gave me a badge to remember my holiday.

We had a final walk on the moor on Saturday morning before heading home. A&G seemed a but sad to be leaving. Although I’d had a lovely time I didn’t mind leaving because I am a travelling bear and travelling is what I do! When I got home I was soon to be off on my next journey!!

Thank you for letting me share your holiday Ali, Graeme, Lucy, Meg and Murphy - hope to see you again!

My Cornwall Holiday! Part One.

My Cornwall Holiday - Part One, by Scarlett Bear

I recently went to stay in Mid Sussex with 3 black dogs called Lucy, Meg and Murphy. I was safely delivered by a very smiley and friendly postie.

Lucky for me they were about to go on their holidays so no sooner than I arrived we were off again to sunny Cornwall the very next day. After a good nights rest, my little bag was packed and off we went. I sat in the front of the car all the way there and helped my human hosts (Ali and Graeme) with their route finding. I was very excited but managed to contain myself! We arrived at our destination, unloaded the car, then went for a walk and a leg stretch after the long drive before settling ourselves in properly. I had my pick of the bedrooms, but decided that the sock drawer (strangely) was the most comfy of places!
On Sunday it was very warm and sunny we walked across Bodmin Moor to a pub where Lucy, Meg and Murphy shared a bowl of water, Ali and Graeme had beer and I had an orange juice. I was very hot after all that walking. On the way back we took a little rest amongst the moorland ponies and had a paddle in the stream.

Monday was another fine and bright day. We headed off to Daymer Bay where we walked to Rock and then got the ferry over the water to Padstow. After shopping for fudge and a pasty we climbed the hill to the monument and looked out over the estuary. Murphy was feeling a bit sleepy so had a bit of a lie down.

It was a little damp the following day and a little cooler so I wore my jumper. We went to Cardinham Woods where we walked amongst the trees and missed the worst of the showers. Ali’s Mum and Dad arrived in the afternoon for a few days. They are nice and tickled my ears and shook my paw when we met.



On Wednesday we drove to Widemouth Bay, parking a little way up the hill. We headed in land towards the canal leading to Bude. Unfortunately the canal path was closed but there was an alternative route so we took that instead. For all of our walks I was carried as a passenger in the top of the rucksack. When I climbed into the rucksack today I got a bit muddled and ended upside down!!

At Bude we stopped for ice cream and I posed on a handy anchor. We walked along the coast path at the top of the cliffs back to Widemouth Bay. Ali somehow managed to slip in sheep do-do and got it all over her trousers, very stinky! The walk along the cliffs was a bit windy but I was firmly secured to the rucksack so kept nice and safe. You should have seen my fur when we got back, it was all sticking up!!

Thursday was a sunny chilly day. We went to a place called The Minions which is on the moors. Near to the Minions is a big pile of stones and rocks – at the top it’s called Cheesewring. Not sure why but never mind! It was a lovely day and we had lots of fun scrambling over the rocks. It was cold though so I wore my jumper and Ali made me a woolly hat from a sock from the dogs first aid kit. Personally I think it’s wasted on the dogs as it made a fine hat keeping my ears very toasty.

Friday saw us heading round the headland at Stepper Point, nr Padstow. We parked up at Lelizzick, walked around the headland then dropped down onto the beach at Hawkers Cove where Lucy Meg and Murphy had a blast on the sands. It was very blowy on the headland, our eyes were streaming (and my fur got very ruffled again)! We sheltered behind the daymark for a photo call.


It poured hard on Saturday, all day. We’d decided on a walk from Boscastle the previous evening and not to be defeated by poor weather we stuck to our plans. On arrival we discovered it was Food Festival weekend and were directed to a park and ride up on the hill. Luckily the little bus was happy to take hounds and bears so we headed back down the valley to start our walk. The beginning wasn’t too wet as we were fairly sheltered but as we climbed up and out of the dip it was very wet indeed. A group decision was made to miss out the cliff section of our walk and we headed onto the village centre. A small detour down tp harbour in the driving rain was well rewarded with sights of seals bobbing about in the surf. I’d not packed a rain mac so Ali fashioned me a waterproof coat from a sandwich bag tied on with string – it kept me perfectly dry! A must for every bears wardrobe.

So that was the first week on my Cornwall Holiday!

Part Two coming up!

26th July 2008

I arrived at Lyn's house in Essex and said hello to Leo the dog

I stayed with my friends Mickey and Minnie whilst I was there

On Monday I went and helped Lyn working at the pub

I met Salsa the pub dog there

I helped Lyn with Henry the Hoover

Tuesday night we went to a pub quiz. We won.

The next day I went with Lyn to the office. Here I am on the reception desk.

4th August and we went to Hertford to meet Trish. She came to stay all the way from Leicester. Her we are with the bus driver. A very nice man.

On the Wednesday we went to another quiz. We won one part of it.

Trish and Lyn took me out shopping and bought me lots of new clothes. I am so excited. I like the kilt best.

7th August, Lyn's birthday, we went out for a meal with some of her friends. We met a very nice waitress called Emma


Cheers! Happy birthday, Lyn

Then the big day arrived. It was Lyn's 60th birthday party. Trish and Lyn and bought me a special party dress. I think I look the bees knees.

At the party, I made friends with a little doggy. We spent all the evening together.

This is me with Lyn and Trish at the party

This is me at the party with Hayley and Alyson. Trish is in the background. It was a really good party and everyone had a good time.

The next morning, Lyn, Trish, Alyson and I went to a big market. We tried not to spend lots of money.

On Sunday 10th August, we went to a super dooper Dog Show. It was very windy. We had a little tent to shelter in. It also kept us dry when there was a sudden shower.

This is me with Leo the dog and all the rosettes he won at the dog show. Isn't he a clever boy.

Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Lyn and Leo. I am going to Leicester to stay with Trish, Tony, Asa and Callie the dog for a while. I don't know what adventures I will get up to there, but I'm sure I will have fun.

Bye, bye for now.