Gabriel the one-eyed bear

One of our favourite places in Norfolk is the beautiful Georgian town of Holt, where we have a sweet little holiday cottage which we let out all year round.  Nutmeg Cottage is set in the heart of Holt, tucked away in a small quiet mews just off the High Street.  Next to us is the Antiques Emporium, an Aladdin’s Cave of labyrinthine rooms full of vintage treasures.  Of course, we just had to pop in for a browse when we went to check on the cottage earlier this week and look what, or rather who, we discovered waiting patiently for us to find and rescue him!

He is a Merrythought bear, still in excellent condition despite the tragic loss of one eye.  We have decided to call him Gabriel, and will be making him an eye-patch in due course to give him a bit of dignity and sartorial flair.  The choice is between a floral fabric or a more piratical red with white spots, which I think will suit him perfectly!  We will let you know what he decides and, once he has endured the quarantine procedure (one month in the freezer to make sure no moths survive to eat him, poor chap!), we will show you the result.