Teddy bears.

Chocolatelovinggran I'm in the NW and so used this one: The Dolls House Shop and Doll & Teddy Hospital, but I think they have others across the country.

I don’t collect teddies but I have been given a few as presents over the years. I’m a fan of Winnie the Pooh and have an ancient Pooh bear, not like the Disney version.

It's probably a fad thing to start taking teddies out and about.
Cutesy.

I don’t think it’s odd to collect teddies but I think it’s very odd for an adult to take them on holiday or wedding or anything else I can’t even get my clothes in a suitcase let alone teddies

The amount we get donated in the charity shop is ridiculous bags and bags of them

MissA-I think that Prince Andrew should have stuck at Teddy ?. When he starts to move onto real women, it doesn't always go quite so well....

Now you've piqued my interest, Chewbacca.
Where would I go to have my bear repaired ?

I had my 2 childhood teddy bears repaired about 10 years ago and it cost me £50 per bear.

Inspired by The Repair Shop, I've thought about having him restored to his former glory but decided he wouldn't be "him" then (after I'd found out how much it would cost)
Maggiemaybe my childhood Teddy is in a box in the attic - I really should have a go at being a Teddy Lady and repairing him myself.

In the meantime, he has been usurped by a teddy I won in a raffle who sits on DGD's bed. I do chat to him sometimes. He's lovely and he never answers back

I always loved Teddy Bears as a child (never dolls) and still do. I still have my childhood Teddy rather battered but still loved. I would not go so far as including him everything I do and taking him out for meals and photographing him ( he is not very photogenic anymore, but neither am I come to that) Each to their own!

When we were on holiday in NZ one Christmas years ago we returned to the hotel each evening to find a bottle of Champers and a small teddy on the bed. It was getting like a teddy bears picnic after a few days so we asked the receptionist why they kept appearing. They were apparently a Christmas gift for staying each night over Christmas. We gave most of the Champers back (we were travelling around) and left with five teddies. One we called Wellington, and he was tucked into the top of MrA's rucksack while we were travelling. At the airport one day I was a bit gobsmacked to see a group of schoolchildren all crowded behind MrA (absorbed in a travel guide) all giggling and pointing and taking photos. I was very relieved to find it was Wellington that was drawing the crowds, not a pair of MrA's undies hanging out of his rucksack. His mate, Duncton Bear, used to sit in the back seat of my car when I commuted to work. Now they both live on a bookshelf in the bedroom.

I believe Grayson Perry takes his teddy, Alan Measles, with him on motor bike rides.

I agree that adults collecting Teddy bears isn't odd. But bringing them out and about with you is surely unusual behaviour?

Unusual behaviour - possibly, but without the eccentrics amongst us, it would be a dull old world. We need more eccentrics.

Juliet27

I accidentally knocked my very old Teddy out of the cupboard the other day. I said sorry and gave him a kiss before I put him back. Am I odd?

Definitely not. You’re a loving Teddy mum ?

Casdon

I don’t think it’s any more odd to collect teddy bears than it is to collect china, or stamps, or whatever. People collect all sorts of weird things, don’t they? The only one that freaks me out is those dolls that look like real babies.

I agree that adults collecting Teddy bears isn't odd. But bringing them out and about with you is surely unusual behaviour?

I accidentally knocked my very old Teddy out of the cupboard the other day. I said sorry and gave him a kiss before I put him back. Am I odd?

I don’t think it’s any more odd to collect teddy bears than it is to collect china, or stamps, or whatever. People collect all sorts of weird things, don’t they? The only one that freaks me out is those dolls that look like real babies.

I love teddy bears. I had a sort out when we moved and most went to the charity shop. I have two left that sit on the bedding box.

Oh, the thought of prince Andrew with a teddy bear.
Bleurgh!

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6e/54/69/6e5469ebe5756751461b1781031182b3--big-teddy-brideshead-revisited.jpg

... Remember BRIDESHEAD REVISITED... Lord Sebastian Flyte?

LOL

I know a woman of 38 who does that. Her bear went on honeymoon with them, goes on every holiday (and she's made clothes for it) She's also got a doll that she's got things for - a pram, crib, etc. This lady is married with sons aged 10 and 6. I wonder if she'd have liked a daughter.

I confess that my much-loved childhood teddy, Edward, lives on a chair in the spare room (just the one of him though). Poor soul never goes anywhere - he's lost his voice box and a lot of his straw stuffing, is pretty much threadbare and looks a bit sorry for himself, particularly since DGS6 yanked out one of his glass eyes a few months ago and had to be stopped from eating it, narrowly avoiding a dash to A & E. Inspired by The Repair Shop, I've thought about having him restored to his former glory but decided he wouldn't be "him" then (after I'd found out how much it would cost ).

I do say good morning to him and pat him on the head whenever I'm passing.

I think it's lovely. Reminds me a bit of Teddy Edwards and his Travels.

This has been going on for a while. There was a child who lost his bear on a plane and the crew kept taking photos of teddy and what he was getting up to until he managed to get back to his small owner.

Then we had gnome napping. Gnome got stolen from gardens then he was photographed having a great time around the world until he was put back in owner's garden. With a tan.

I googled and there are many groups for this, I like it.

A Japanese travel company actually offered tours for teddy bears!

www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2892357/Japanese-company-offers-holidays-TEDDY-BEARS-complete-tours-Europe-souvenir-pictures-sent-owners.html

I like teddy bears. I didn't have one as a child and now have 5. Am I odd ?

Gyles Brandreth is an arctophile, the formal term for a person who collects, or is very fond of teddy bears, and he recently donated 1,000 of his bears to a museum in Yorkshire. I suppose GB could be considered odd and eccentric but it doesn't appear to have done him any harm and certainly isn't harming anyone else. Each to their own.......

It does sound a bit odd.

Assuming it's childless people who live alone is a bit insulting to that demographic though.