Can I tell you about the most fantastic afternoon I had yesterday? Permission granted? Yes!! Okay I'll tell you all about it! I had a delightful visit from a great teddy friend of mine. His name is Cazna. It is a bit of an unusual name but then he had a very special role in his teddy life. He and his teddy friends went over with the very brave soldiers who served in World War 1 and 2 and the Korean and Vietnam wars! Everyone needs to have a little teddy bear to keep them company you know, and they felt very, very honoured to go over and be with these soldiers. They felt that it was their extra special duty to provide a bit of comfort and a reminder of home and a touch of cheer to these dutifully serving people. It wasn't a very nice place to be you know. Cazna doesn't talk very much about the sights that he saw, he just tells me about the brave soldiers that he was delighted to spend time with. Cazna and his teddy friends would often accompany those men to the medical tents, and just sit quietly by their sides as medical attention was applied to the soldier's wounds. Cazna is NOT afraid of the sight of blood.  He continually tells us of the care and concern and excellent job that the medical staff did over there to try to help these wounded soldiers.  Do you know what? Often Cazna and his friends would get a little bit sore…but in a very good way for a very good purpose. You see, these soldiers would often be in a HUGE amount of pain, and this was often helped when they clutched very, very firmly these teddies. Cazna didn't worry about getting squeezed so hard...although it did make him gasp for air on many occasions!! He is a very huggable bear and well, you just have to look at his enquiring and comforting eyes to feel a touch bit better!

Can I tell you a little secret? Don't tell anyone else but the teddies over there formed their own army teds band!! Yes, teddies love playing musical instruments, and they just were so excited to hear some of the soldiers playing their bugles and trumpets , that sometimes they would sneak out at night, and have a little blow of these instruments. Not very loudly though,  they didn't  want to cause any problems, just  a little  quiet "toot"  and a soft tune to bring back memories of home to these soldiers . Just familiar tunes that may help to soothe them as they slept.

And …the teddies were always on the lookout for more of their teddy friends that sometimes appeared,  jumping out of carefully tied up brown paper packages! These eagerly awaited packages would arrive, containing letters, "luxury" food items like cakes, biscuits, condensed milk, tobacco and sugar, hand knitted socks, and….sometimes a teddy would leap out!  There was always such great excitement when the teddies found out that another one of their friends had arrived to try to help and bring a touch of comfort and cheer to the soldiers!! They would be welcomed with arms/paws wide open by all the teddies!! ( And by the soldiers too!)

When Cazna drops by a visit, I always grab a packet of Anzac biscuits from off the Kiosk shelves and we sit down and have a good teddy chatter about just teddy life in general. He particularly likes these types of biscuits…I think it might have something to do with his name? He also likes doing backwards somersaults too! !

 Cazna and his teddy friends wanted to express how thankful everyone is to all who served in these wars, whether abroad or at home. Lest we forget.

Until next time,

                        Your friend, Mr. Kiosk-Ted Strath

                       Also simply known as 'Ted".!!