I’m going to write about Bernard because:

a. He is endearing and has a good story to tell
b. He is good at sitting still long enough to draw
c. It’s easier than writing about myself (and that’ll leak out in time)

We (I mean Malcolm) found Bernard in a box in a charity shop in Castle Douglas, a small town in South West Scotland, a few years ago now. Bernard didn’t belong in that box – it was a box of garish green and purple fluffy toys with googly eyes and fixed smiles (no offence).

Bernard was sat in the corner of the box looking… lost.

I have to admit, I wasn’t instantly charmed. I didn’t even look properly – I just thought ‘not another cuddly toy’ – we really didn’t need to add to the collection! But Malcolm took him out and held him, and I was gone!

Bernard is different. He’s unlike any bear we’d seen before and from that moment on, he was ‘ours’.

A happy ending for now.

I drew this picture of Bernard from the day we adopted him. We took him to the lovely ‘Designs’ café in Castle Douglas for a plate of soup and a roll.

Here he is sitting very politely, if still looking a little lost, waiting for his lunch.