Bart Bear's Blog

I guess that I don't have to say much about this picture. It shows a small bear just before his Mum finds him digging into the special choccies that have just been put out for visitors. The following few minutes don't need explaining as I know you wouldn't believe Mum could be so mean. After all, why should guests get the best of everything? In my opinion family, especially the small bear members, should get first go at goodies like this.

Labels: family, trouble

Milkshake and I had great fun the day we went to Whitehaven Beach from Hamilton Island. We built a couple of sandcastles, played pirates, tossed rocks at crabs and spelled words in the sand with sticks. Naturally we ended up getting sand in our fur. This is one thing that normally gets Mum cranky, but she must have been enjoying the beach as much as we were because this time she thought it was funny. Mind you, she still shook us hard and brushed us to get the sand off. Milky's fur is very short so she cleaned up pretty easily, but my fur is a much tougher proposition. How to get the sand out from way in? Normally it means trouble, involving a stiff brush and (horror of horrors), even a bath. Not this time. Guess what? The one who normally will not let me anywhere near water in its natural habitat actually took me down to the ocean and dipped me into the little waves. There is hope yet. Maybe someday I will even be allowed to go surfing and snorkelling!!

Labels: beach, Hamilton Is, Queensland, trouble

But not where we were. This photo was taken on Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. That day it was 12 degrees hotter than it was in Canberra, just right for a beach break. The beaches in north Queensland are not like the ones further south. I guess the sand is the same, but the ocean is very different. Instead of huge terrifying waves that scare Mum, let alone me, the waves up there are very small. That's because the Barrier Reef blocks the really big ones and the hundreds of islands take most of the roughness of the rest of them. So you would think that small bears might be allowed to learn to surf there. But you would be wrong; Mums don't like wet fur on bears. Whitehaven is a very pretty beach most of the time, miles and miles of white sand with only birds, lizards and trees living there. It is used in just about every advertisment for Australia that uses a beach scene. But it is in a bit of trouble at present. Too many people are going there, thousands of them every fine day, and some of them don't take their rubbish away. This day there were lolly wrappers and cigarette butts scattered all over the sand. The only clean sand was the stuff being uncovered as the tide went out. Some people are really stupid, rubbishing a beautiful beach like this one. Remember, when you go to the beach (or anywhere really) clean up after yourself and take your rubbish away with you.

Labels: Hamilton Is, Queensland, trouble

Mum was back in hospital two weeks ago and she came back with lots of sticky dressings covering the cuts that the surgeon had made in her. I was allowed to stay in hospital with her, but they wouldn't let me into the operating theatre. That's pretty mean of them because I could probably do a good job as a surgeon. After all, Dad lets me trim the pieces of our models with his craft knives, and scalpels aren't all that much different. And the nurses wouldn't give me any needles, or let me try giving them either. So this stay in hospital was a bit slow for a small bear, just watching Mum get all the attention. I really wanted to see how things are done because if I can't be a sniffer-bear for Customs or a helicopter pilot I wouldn't mind giving doctoring a go. Well, I figured there was one thing I could try. There is a medicine box at home and it has all sorts of medicines and bandages and things in it. So while Dad was busy changing some of Mum's sticky dressings I cut some bits of sticking plaster and put some on me, one to cover an imaginary cut tummy and one on the arm. I thought it looked good but the Oldies weren't happy about me getting into the medicine box. They say it is definitely not a thing for small bears. They weren't happy about the sticky plaster either. Mum said it might pull my fur out when I tried to get it off. Well, she was wrong. I didn't loose any fur but boy, that plaster really sticks. Of course it is hard to remove when you don't have fingers, but I figured it out. Borrow Mum's crimping pliers and tug gently. Plaster problem solved, but another one appeared immediately. That's right, sticky stuff on the jaws of the pliers. Unhappy Mum again. Sometimes small bears just can't win.

Labels: family, trouble

Near the Barrack Jetty in Perf there is a nice park. It has the big sundial in it, a big bell tower, and this pool with fountains and pretty mosaic patches. Scruffy and I found the pool one morning while we were filling in time until our river cruise boat was ready to go. By carefully finding a mosaic where the wind was blowing spray from a fountain we managed to get wetter than Mum lets us. We had fun until she found us. Mind you, if she had been a few minutes later we would have been a lot wetter because we had figured out that we could lower one another over the edge and back again easily enough and were just about to play "dunk the bear". One day we will escape the Eagle-Eyed-Mum and get really wet. Anyhow, this time we stretched things a bit because the mosaics were soaked with spray and when she picked us up our posterior portions were soaked. She was not amused.

Labels: Perth, trouble, Western Australia

These old sheds are the gaol at Cook, out in the middle of the Nullarbor. They are not very big, but there weren't many people in Cook even when it was one of the important stations on the Trans-Australian railway, so there weren't many prisoners. Now it is still an important stop for the Indian-Pacific but the trains are much better now and only 4 people live there. The gaols aren't used now. I wondered what it would be like to be locked up in a small corrugated iron shed in 40 degree temperatures. Of course Dad was keen to help, sometimes I think he is bit too keen to put me into places like this. Well, it's not nice in there and I bet the prisoners were very happy to hear the train coming to haul them away to gaol in Adelaide. At least I was able to get out fairly easily. I bet no other "prisoner" has ever managed to climb up the back of the door and out through the little window hole. Can you see me making my escape? I enjoyed the adventure, Mum was not amused and Dad had the riot act read to him.

Labels: South Australia, train, trouble

One of the Prime Rules of the Universe. Never leave a bear to guard your drink. Honest, we just can't help it. Here's this nice, cool, tall drink of something with fruit and possibly unknown alcoholic stuff in it and no Oldie in sight. An open invitation to have a small sip, just to check out that it is OK, not been spiked or anything. Hmm, seems all right but you never know. Maybe another test. And before you know it the glass is empty. Note that Scruffy is on lookout duty. He gets his turn after I have finished testing. And you know what? Oldies do not believe that Aliens sneak into the room and take their drinks away for analysis. I need better excuses; do you have any that I could have?

Labels: trouble

Sometimes it seems like it is impossible to keep out of trouble. Yesterday I was poking around in the bedroom while the Oldies were out shopping and I found this drawer full of interesting sparkly, shiny things on rings and chains. Well, I mean, what would any small person do. Of course I had to try them all on. I really liked this one because it looks a bit like the things that soldiers wear in the movies. I didn't think Mum would mind if I borrowed it for a while. After all, it doesn't have any of those sparkly or coloured stones in it, and it isn't made out of gold. Besides, it is just the right size for a small bear's neck. Wrong again. It turns out that it is a prized Tiffany's silver thingy, her favourite bracelet. It reminds her of her favouritest-ever movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's". I knew about the movie because she has about five copies of it, but didn't make the connection with the bling. So I am in trouble again and on washing-up duty for a week. Serve her right if I fall into the sink and get all wet.

Labels: trouble

How embarrassing! This thing looked like it was put there just for small bears to climb on, but it turned out to be a trap. It is actually meant to be a sculpture thingy, full of meaning and artistic merit. It is in the main parking area at the Blue Lake in Mount Gambier. You can read more about the lake in some of my earlier postings. Anyhow, while the oldies and Scruffy were reading the signs at the lookout, I climbed up the sculpture. It has this interesting hole in the centre that goes right through the rock. I thought it would be great to climb through the hole and up the other side. Half-way through I got stuck. "No problems", I think, "I will just turn around and go back out". There were problems. I got well and truly wedged in the hole. The oldies and Scruff were no real help, they were too busy laughing their heads off. Dad got me unstuck by pushing my posterior with a thin log. He seemed to think that was funny. Some days not even a small bear can win.

Labels: climbing, Great Ocean Road, South Australia, trouble

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I HATE BATHS. Why do my oldies feel that they have to subject me to water torture just because I get a bit smelly. Active small bears get smelly, that's the way things are, so learn to live with it. Water is meant for drinking, swimming in, fishing in, travelling over in boats and watching when it makes waves and waterfalls. Maybe one day my oldies will accept this law of nature. Until then I will just have to try hiding whenever they mention the B word.

Labels: trouble

Disaster has struck! I can't go with the oldies on their big trip to the other side of the world! We did some checking and found that stuffed toys are high on the list of suspect ways to smuggle drugs into the European Union. There are horrific pictures on the web of bins full of ripped toys at Heathrow airport. After a long and emotional discussion with the oldies it has been decided that my young hide is too precious to be degutted just because the beans I am stuffed with might be something prohibited. So I have to stay behind! Now this might have been totally tragic if it wasn't for my uncles, Patrick and Grant. They have asked if I can stay with them during the time that my oldies are away. I like that idea, and we dropped me off there just a few hours ago. Unka Paddy had a whole lot of American animals there to welcome me, and I felt at home straight away. It will be fun teaching these guys to be Aussies. I think the chipmunk and squirrels will be handy partners-in-mischief. Particularly as Patrick and Grant are away for the weekend and we have the place to ourselves for the next day. I think it will be fun here until the oldies return. When they get back I will be a "Virtual Traveller" and tell you all about the places they have been. It is a bit sad that I won't be with them, but as my readers know I am all in favour of border security so am not too angry with the overseas customs and immigration people. Dad has promised to bring me back a camel.

Goodbye for now. I will be back online in early November with lots of pictures of the oldies in Singapore, Dubai, Britain, France and Egypt, and mischief and mayhem at Unka Paddy's place.

Labels: trips, trouble

Sometimes authorities are mean to small bears. They try and keep you out of interesting places by building fences that take so long to climb over that Mum or Dad always catch you and haul you back. This fence is around the pilot station at Port Adelaide. Now I really do want to be a pilot. I watched the pilots in the helicopters and it doesn't look too hard to fly them, but I don't get any chance to try for myself. But here is a building that is just for pilots. I wanted to get in there and offer my services. Dad caught me and told me that I would get into trouble for climbing over a fence with that sort of sign on it. I never read signs if they won't let me do what I want to. Anyway, it turns out that the pilots in there are for boats, not helicopters. I like boats too, so one way or another I will be a pilot someday.

Labels: Adelaide, boats, climbing, South Australia, trouble

One of the places we visited was Movie World. I wanted to go there because some of my favorite movie heroes live there and there are lots of shows and rides. These crazy vehicles were parked behind a fence to keep kids away from them. No problem for small bears, who can always climb over or through the fence. The old Batmobile was a great looking bit of machinery, but I prefer the new one that I saw later in the day. I really like the Batboat. I was able to clamber all over it and even get into the engine spaces when the oldies were distracted (can you see me in the photos?). I was just about to see if the engines would start when the owner turned up. Was he annoyed?!! Oh well, I always thought that Batman had turned into a bit of a grump. Just wait until you see the next heroes I met. One of them is my all-time favourite and another is a real cutie.
Remember that you can see the pictures bigger if you click on them, and do visit the archive to read about my earlier adventures.

Labels: climbing, Gold Coast, heroes, Queensland, trouble

Drat! Dad has found my latest hidey-hole. It is a beaut one too because it is so nice, warm and cozy. Mum bought herself this fluffy hat to wear when she is outside at the telescope. She hung it away in the hall cupboard between times she wants to use it. Now it's coming on for winter in Canberra. We have had our first frosts and a couple of days where the temperature barely made it into double figures. What do bears do when this happens? That's right, they look around for somewhere to hibernate. This hat looked just right to me so I clambered up into it and snuggled down. Just about the time the oldies missed me they also wanted to use the telescope. I was tipped out of the hat and told that the air-con would keep me warm just like it does everyone else in the house. There goes a beaut hidey-hole and my chance to see what hibernation is like.

Labels: astronomy, climbing, trouble

Here I am, way out near the edge of the safe area at Cape Schanck lighthouse. I am actually closer to the cliff edge than the lighthouse is. It was good weather the day we were there and the sea was lots calmer than it was later in our trip. Lots of ships have been wrecked on the reef that runs out to sea from this point. Mum went orbital when she saw me balancing on the railing. I tried to point out that I didn't actually climb up there and had some help. So Dad got the riot act read to him as well. There are signs all around places like this that say "Beware Cliff Edge". I keep a sharp lookout for Cliff Edge, who is evidently a real trouble-maker, but he never turns up at any of the places while I am there.

Labels: climbing, Great Ocean Road, lighthouse, trips, trouble, Victoria

I found this interesting thing at Robe in South Australia. It is the Cape Dombey Obelisk, and it has sat on this crumbling rock spur since 1855. Obelisks are sort of like lighthouses without the light. This one can be seen from 20 km away at sea and helps boats find the way into Robe harbour. For a long time it used to be the storage area for rockets. When boats were in trouble the rockets were fired out across the boat, dragging a line that could be tied to the boat and the shore so that sailors could climb to safety. The cliffs are really dangerous and there are signs up telling people to keep off them. They don't say anything about small bears. I had to climb up the fence to read this sign. Mum was not impressed, particularly when she found me on the wrong side of the safety fence. Sometimes I don't understand mothers.

Labels: climbing, Great Ocean Road, lighthouse, South Australia, trouble

It is really a great shame. All of the interesting places have locks on them. We walked for ages to get to this lighthouse at Fingal Head. At least the oldies walked for ages, I rode in Dad's backpack. The lighthouse is one of the tiny northern NSW ones. It is in a very interesting place where the rocks at the edge of the ocean are smaller versions of the big basalt collumns that you see in Ireland and Tassie. I figured a small lighthouse would welcome small visitors, but when I climbed up to open the door it had a big padlock and a "Keep Off" sign on it. And of course Mum read the riot act about sneaking off and climbing yet again.

Labels: climbing, lighthouse, New South Wales, trouble

I have just learned something interesting about paint. It can get into lots more places than you intend it to! Mum was painting this box thing and I was trying to help. I also wanted to show my new friend Tiko the pufferfish how paint worked. Mum had to leave the job for a bit to answer the phone, so there was my chance. By the time she got back I had finished the painting and had the brush ready for cleaning. Mum went ballistic! I can't really see why. Sure the paint dribbled a bit, but it was acrylic and washes off in water provided you don't let it dry first. Anyhow, I think I look good in blue camouflage. Dad has been a bit harsh with me. He says if I ever do this with his oil paint it will be a turps bath for me, and that stuff stings if it gets into your eyes and nether regions.

Labels: craft, trouble

Last weekend we went to the Canberra Show. We go every year because Mum has this thing about cows. So Dad and I get dragged all over the place and have to listen to her gushing about the different breeds. These cows were parked in a holding area and were catching up on their eating (cows eat most of the time). Since Mum was concentrating on the cows I took the chance to do some serious climbing in the big pine trees there. Easy climbing because the cracks in the bark are just right for hand and foot holds for small bears. Of course I got hauled back as soon as the photo was taken, and had the usual riot act read to me again......

Labels: Canberra, climbing, trouble

I'm in trouble again. Once again it is curiosity and climbing that got me into it. Mum bought this speccy-looking thing at the Egyptian Antiquities exhibition. She put it up on the top of the entertainment unit where it is fine for big people to look at but way above a small bear's head. Obviously there was only one thing to do. Climb up and check it out. Guess what, the opening in it is just right for a small bear to hide in. I was happily playing bear-in-the-box when Mum came home from work. You can guess the rest. Riot act read again and a ban on climbing on furniture. Oh well, the oldies are away a lot and what they don't see won't hurt them, will it?

Labels: climbing, Egypt, trouble