VickyVickster is Victoria Blisse, published author. victoriablisse.co.uk for details. Now in Print-b...
VickyVickster is Victoria Blisse, published author. victoriablisse.co.uk for details. Now in Print-buy Curvaceous @Amazon.
Member since:03.09.2002
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My name is VickyVickster and I am addicted to Bear in the big blue house.
Don't laugh, it's true! I blame it all on my sister! Ok i'll explain. Are you sitting comfortably? This could take me a while.
Whilst staying back at my parents house at Easter earlier this year, I sat and watched Playhouse Disney with my sister (who is 19 yeares old by the way) and although she does this on a regular basis anyway, my excuse was my little baby girl Bethanny (then around 5 months old)
Anyway we got hooked. I found out it was on channel 5 at 8 am in the morning so it soon became a morning ritual, we'd watch "Bear" before we'd eat breakfast.
So that leads us to now and here I stand before you a confessed "Bear" addict. I shall tell you all about my addiction, which of course I promise not to enjoy and use as a cathartic part of my Bear recovery therapy.
Bear in the big blue house is a Jim Hensen production. Those of you wh have watched the Muppet shows or movies or Sesame Street will be able to see typical "muppet" character traits in many of the "Bear" characters. It is shown on Playhouse Disney several times a day but you can also find it on channel 5 at 8 am on week day mornings.
Bear starts with a really snappy theme tune which has my daughter glued to the telly the minute she hears it . (oh and yes
I am the same, I admit it!) We both sit transfixed as the camera brings us through the bushes and garden right up to the door of the big blue house where Bear, who is big , browny orangy and furry and very huggable looking opens the door and welcomes us in picking up any mail that might be in his letter box on the way. Then it is one of the best bits, both Bethanny and I love it when bear sniffs us.
yes sniffs us...he comes right up close and sniffs us. "mmm have you just had pancakes" he asks "cos you smell all pancakey" "or do you smell this good All the time?" Each day he smells something different, be it blueberry muffins or fresh mown grass he always smiles and says "maybe you smell this good ALL the time" Hes a very Polite and friendly Bear. After the sniffing we get to the bit where Bear introduce the shows theme. These are varied and are always age appropriate and well covered. Episodes I have seen have included themes like potty training, keeping healthy, opposites, dancing and pretending. These are all things that are relevent and important to the children this programme is aimed at (4 years and under I'd say) and as sad as it may be I find myself gripped too; though I have always said I have a mental age of around 4 so that might explain it.
Everytime you visit the big blue house you meet up with the same few playmates and as time passes you get to know these characters and learn all about them and learn to anticipate how they will act and react to each new theme.
My favourite is Tutter. He's a little blue mouse with big ears, tons of energy and a very independant streak. No wonder really he does live on his own in a little mousehole in Bears Kitchen. Tutter loves cheese and goes to bed with a blanket and a teddy bear.
Treelo is my sisters favourite, he is a crazy acid green lemur with blue ears and red nose and a long fluffy blue and white tail. Treelo is mad and speaks so fast and mumbly that no one can understand a word he says. Treelo is often seen swinging around and generally being over excited and rhythmic! He loves to dance and his best friend is Ojo.
Ojo is a little girl bear and alot of the themes centre around her. I get the feeling shes the oldest of the group and is a very intelligent and inquisitive little bear cub. She has her own teddy bear too called snow bear and she is often found playing "pretend" games, like she was dancing the "flamingo" once (sort of like the Flemenco I guess) and another time she was hosting a dinosaur tea party and also I've seen her pretending that snow bear was her baby. Ojo asks questions Like "whats a vaccination?" and "What should you do if you're in a strange place and you need the potty?" Of course Bear always has the answers to these big important questions, he's never patronising and he never talks down to any of his friends. He is just about the nicest bear you're ever likely to meet.
Pip and pop are two purple otters who live down at the pond (the pond pond pond pppppp pond) they eat clams and play with a ball and only pop into the blue house now and again. They call each other "piperino" and "poporoni" and they are as close as twin purple otters can be.
At some point during our fun at the big blue house Bear will think he spots shadow then he sings the "where is shadow?" song and what do you know she pops up! She's the shadow of a little girl "muppet" and she tells stories that com are illustrated like shadow puppets. These are usually well known nursery rhymes with a bit of a modern twist; very amusing for the parent (ie me) and fascinating visually for the child (ie Bethanny)
There is always alot of singing in the big blue house, Bear cha cha cha's alot and Treelo is dance crazy! They sing songs about potties , songs about friends, and cleaning up the house, (a personal favourite of mine) songs about your name and songs about being special. You name it and Bear probably knows a song about it. This is one of the big plus points about "Bear" you find yourself humming these songs to yourself or even singing catches of them as you go about your daily business. I even sing my own version of "where is shadow?" when I am playing peep po with Bethanny. It is good, entertaining catchy music and I guarantee everyone in your family will end up knowing and singing i at least one of these catchy little ditties. Even my sisters long suffering boyfriend now knows all the words to the goodbye song.
Aahh the goodbye song, it is so bitter sweet! It is by far the bestest (sorry but I'm in my child like mode) song but it means it is the end of the show.
Bear sings this song with another regular visitor to the big blue house,Luna. She's the moon and she is just as nice and polite as Bear is they have been friends for ages. They discuss whats gone on in the big blue house then sing their song together. Bethanny loves the goodbye song and even smiles at my pathetic attempts to sing it to her too!
After the singing Bear disappears back into the attic, says goodbye and then switches off the light.
No its not the end silly! He always forgets something and turns the light back on, turning to the camera he adds a different phrase each time like :
"This Bear loves spending time with you" or "Remeber to keep healthy and get your rest" or even "come back and visit again real soon."
Then it IS over. Really. It's the end.
Ok I will try not to cry, but I miss Bear until I can see him again the next day. But now I don't have to wait! I have discovered Bear in the big blue house Videos and DVD's. I have 4 different ones. They cost £8:99 each though i was lucky enough to get mine at Woolworths on a "buy one get one free" offer. They are all themed and I think well worth the money. It means you can watch "Bear" whenever you like!
I am addicted to Bear in the big blue house. Go on watch and episode I'll bet you'll be hooked. Go on I dare ya!
Meanwhile I am going to go and watch more Bear! I will start the cold turkey tommorrow. I promise!
goodbye now.......
oh and remember Bear will always be there waiting for you in his big blue house.
Goodbye!
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