My nephew, Mr Frimpong Bear, and I are living peacefully in our beloved Bearshire and, even though we don't receive many visits, we feel that someone didn't forget us yet.

I asked Frimpong if he misses his former life, when he was very busy with his official role of travelling bear, but he assured me that all changes in life are, in a way, a sort of trip and one should never remain stuck to the same situation forever. He didn't intend to quote a book of wisdom, but he stated that in life there is a time for everything and what really matters is being able to grasp when the time for a change's come and to find new motivation in everything one does.

Oh…I'm getting too serious in this reasoning. I don't intend to give you this impression at all. Frimpong and I still feel full of energy and interests and we enjoy every single minute of our daily life.

For example we have just come back from a bracing walk in the forest which ended with a very amusing snowball fight… Well, maybe amusing mostly for me.

Frimpong is complaining I exaggerated… Ah young generations are not what we used to be anymore.

We need to have a stock of delicious food and suitable drinks at home, in case all of us decided to pay us a visit.

It was a bit slippery, but luckly my dear nephew, Frimpong Bear, offered me his solid arm and his loving help. I'm really happy to have him at home with me.

I don't know if one day he will start travelling again all over the world, but for the time being he seems to be happy too, here in our wonderful Bearshire.

Our life is not monotonous at all, my nephew Frimpong will be always happy to meet again all the wonderful people who have been his hosts during his career of Travelling Bear.

As for me, I’m always delighted to welcome visitors as well.

I’m aware that it’s not that easy to get to Bearshire for many of you, but we hope that at least our British friends might manage to find their way to our door.

Robert White is a very pleasant gentleman who gave hospitality to Frimpong in Norwich. My nephew Frimpong and Bob both enjoy sharing a friendly conversation and some good pints.

I have prepared my special Christmas pudding, with the secret recipe of the Bear Family.

We are waiting for you, Bob. Surely you know where Bearshire is, don’t you?

When you arrive to Bearshire, take the first road to the left and follow it until you see the sign “Bearhampton” which is our village and then you’ll see our cottage.

No problems!

Our dear friend and lovely hostess Máire, from Dublin, Ireland, is always so thoughtful.

She sends me lots of present every year.

My dear nephew, Frimpong Bear, was delighted to spend some time in her company.

Now we have to take all the parcels inside.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to prevent my nephew Frimpong to open some of them ( or all) secretly before Christmas….

Thank you, Máire, we all miss you!

We don’t forget all our dear friends, who have followed our adventures and trips during so many years.

We are very touched by the affection you have given us.

It’s moving to keep on receiving many messages from visitors of our galleries even though Frimpong has decided to retire and he’s not a professional travelling bear anymore.

We are happy together here in our beloved Bearshire and we keep all of you in our heart.

Maybe one day we’ll come back to a more active life, with some surprises. For the time being we simply wish all of you happiness and serenity and don’t forget to pay us a visit, if you come to Bearshire. I’ll be happy to cook my special recipes for you and Frimpong will entertain you with various anecdote related with all his international trips and all the interesting people he has met.

We have always a huge stock of beer, you are welcome at any time.

Yours truly

Violet Bear

Paraphrasing one of my forefathers, the great writer Giuseppe Bearmasi di Lambearusa, I think that if we want to stay as we are, we have to change.

This is a very wise and fundamental principle I have decided to follow at this stage of my life.

I’d like thanking all the people who have paid attention to the adventures and vicissitudes of the only two living members of the Bears family, my dear nephew Frimpong the travelling Bear and myself, your devoted friend Violet Gwendolyn Bear.

It has been very rewarding for us to have this exchange with so many of you during several years. Now the time of a change has come, in order to allow us to stay the same.

It’s not any paradox. Let me take advantage of your patience and explain my idea.

My beloved nephew , Frimpong Bear, who has kept his professional engagement for many years, travelling all over the world, is at present in Denmark, early next year he will come back from his trip and he will join me , here in my cottage, in our so dear Bearshire.

We have to discuss about some important changes in our life, but I can already anticipate that it’s practically decided that Frimpong will hand in his resignation from the charge of only official travelling bear.

I’m getting older and older and also Frimpong is now a mature bear, so we think it’s a good decision to spend more time together at a more relaxed pace.

As for me, I have been offered to write a book and I have been working hard on this project for many months, this is the main reason for neglecting , only apparently, all of you and for not posting anything in my diary.

It doesn’t mean you won’t have any further news from the Bear family, on the opposite! But things will change, as it’s right they do.

This is the most suitable day to mark a difference between and old period and a new one.

I wish all of you a New Year full of enjoyable and constructive changes, which will allow you to remain the people you like to be.

Visit our pages here, every now and then, if you have nothing better to do.

It’s possible you’ll find news about the future projects of the Bear family members.

Yours devotedly

Violet Gwendolyn Bear