The Bear is back!

I'm back!

I realise I've been fairly quiet the past, er, year or so, but I have been a busy little bear, filming, sleeping, eating biccies and suchlike!  But here I am, ready to tell the world about my day-to-day escapades and adventures!

Coming up soon....

* News on my new film

* Biccypedia

First let me share some piccies from our adventures in 2012:

Jubilee Tea Party

We had our very own Raggie Taggie Tea Party in honour of the Golden Jubilee.  Sandwiches, cake, flags...brilliant time was had by all as you can see in our photos: 

 
Filming

I did some more of my little films in 2012:

Love is in the Bear 

I really enjoyed filming this and going shopping in some lovely little shops in Norwich - SinSins, The Elm Hill Craft Shop, Pickalilly Flowers and Beautiful Bakes. Thank you everyone for welcoming me and my crew!

This has been screened at the Norwich Sound and Vision Festival 2012 and the East Anglian Film Network & Anteros Arts Foundation short film night.  I was very excited, I hoped for a red carpet, he he he!

 

The Bear Witch Project

There was some spooky goings on at HB Towers when we filmed this! Both Blue Bear and I admitted we got a little bit spooked as we filmed late into the night.  Some of our younger pals ended up hiding under the duvet, until we coaxed them out with some tea and biccies!

Santa Bear
 
I loved filming this.  One of my favourite times of the year and I get to play Santa in my very own film.  Thank you too of course to Jarrold store in Norwich for letting us take over the Santa grotto for a little while.  I didn't want to leave of course!

 

Twitter

If you're not already following me on Twitter, then come and join me and get weekly (sometimes daily!) updates on my general musings, biscuit eating and wonderings about the world - Honey Bear on Twitter 

Until next time,

HB

 

A Raggly Taggly New Year!

Happy New Year!

First couple of weeks into the new year and it's been a fairly restful one following festive season antics in Raggle Taggles!

December 22nd was the annual Raggle Taggle Christmas Fancy Dress Party.  It's one of those events in the year that everyone gets excited about and a few of the raggle taggles had been chatting about it for weeks.

What to wear was on everyone's minds, decisions were made and little outfits were being hastily sewn up for pirates, ghosts, .......  Little Fido got a bit confused and as it was a 'Fancy' dress party he thought they all had to come dressed as Fancy Pants the mouse.  He did see the funny side of him in his little mouse costume though and hilarity reigned supreme for a few hours.

Of course, me, Blue Bear and Eddie had our outfits all ready decided on.  I had my Santa Bear out, Blue Bear some Santa trousers and beard and Eddie as a Santa Elf!  Some of the younger raggles got rather excited and thought the real Santa had arrived early!

Following the party, Blue Bear, Eddie and I packed a few bags as we were off on our hols.  Well, Christmas Eve to our old stomping ground at Rachel's parents and then a brand new destination of the wilds of Sutton near Stalham!

I must say a great time was had by all and we celebrated the New Year in style with a party back home.

Onto plans for 2012.  Well once our DoP (Director of Photography) Rachel is feeling better we will be all go on production for my next film.  All under-wraps at the moment, however, I can say that I will be taking in some of the sights of Norwich! Watch this space!

Also new is the 'Honey Bear and the Raggle Taggles' calendar I had printed as a surprise for everyone, which went down rather well!  Anyone want a copy?  Also had a prototype t-shirt printed too, which I would love to go into mass production on but Blue Bear has calmed me down on that one at the moment!


I'm also going to be introducing some special mentions in my blogs for websites and shops I like, people I know and I'll start this month with a couple.  Firstly, Rachel now has her own website, which I rather like at Rachel Banham and the cafe where I filmed 'HB's Day Out' - Cherryleaf Coffee House and a brand new shop opened in Bridewell Alley U and Your Skin

So hopefully next time I'll have more exciting news on my new film.  In the meantime, please keep telling your friends about me and my films and my raggle taggle gang!  HB Productions on You Tube  HB Productions Website Honey Bear on Twitter Honey Bear on Facebook

Have fun.

HB hits the Big Screen!

Well it’s been a while since my last blog, completely unintentionally but it’s been an eventful couple of months in Raggle Taggle land!


It’s getting towards that time of the year when we all get very excited about the arrival of … Santa Bear ........anyway, more on that next time.

About a month or so ago, big news arrived at the Raggle Taggle newsdesk that my films were to be shown on the BBC Big Screen in Norwich! My little films on the Big Screen! Amazing. When I was told, I had to lay down in a dark room for half an hour and needed a large glass of squash to help revive me! I never imagined I’d reach such heights!

Blue Bear decided we needed to plan an announcement to the Raggles properly and they all shortly received an invitation to an event announcing the good news! Everyone turned up wondering what was happening, was the fish and chip budget being reduced, had the sweetie jar run dry...rumours were rife.

Blue Bear called for quiet and asked for attention. The Raggle Taggles hushed. Blue Bear asked what the BBC Big Screen in Norwich and Honey Bear had in common. A few confused Raggles came up with suggestions that it was being moved to the lounge, a couple thought they were having an outing to watch a new film. Finally Blue Bear made the announcement that the first three of HB's films were to be shown on the big screen. Well, pandemonium erupted. Fancy, Snowy and Moppy started running around yelling and wooping, Fido passed out and Albee and Eddie just stood in stunned silence. I called for champagne – though it suspiciously tasted like lemonade and the celebrations went on into the evening.

A few days later Blue Bear and I prepared for a trek over to the BBC Big Screen to see our hard work being shown to the good citizens of Norwich! We made some sandwiches and a flask of tea and took up our positions. We didn't have to wait long and we were rewarded with a brilliant showing of my films.

I was so excited Blue Bear had to tell me to calm down and we got some very strange looks!

It was a very exciting moment for us and I need to thank Becky Betts at the BBC for helping. It has since also been announced that my films are being shown at Big Screens across the country – so watch out for them in a city near you!

Next film? Well, watch this space in the next couple of weeks, we might have something very special just in time for Christmas! Look out for …. Santa Bear!

In the meantime, have a look at my films at HB Productions

Until next time, take care and keep warm.

Blue Bear takes the helm!

Hello, I’m Blue Bear and I’m taking the helm of the blog this month whilst HB has a rest after finishing his latest film.  I might even let you into a few secrets on daily life with HB! 

I know I’ve been mentioned before, but let me introduce myself properly.  My name is Blue Bear and my official title is ‘Director of Raggling’ for the Raggle Taggles.  I like reading The Times on a Sunday, I’m a bit of a sci-fi fan and love Torchwood and Dr Who, am partial to tea and scones and love rock n’roll.  My daily job means looking after finances, managing the fish and chip budget and the weekly order, delegating jobs, making bookings, organising events and generally making sure everyone is a happy raggle taggle.  Also introducing new member’s and buddying them with someone else to make them feel welcome in their new home.  And of course, dealing with any incidents.  You’ve already heard about Fancy getting stuck on top of the wardrobe of course, but there is often something going on.

Like a few days ago when HB was determined that Eddie needed an eye test.  We’re not sure where he concocted this idea, but think he dreamt it. He wouldn’t let it go however and in the end we set up a mini opticians in the lounge just to placate him! Sometimes that’s all it takes!

So, do you really want to know what it’s like living with HB?  Only if you can keep a secret?!

Being honest, it is mostly smooth running, fun and a very happy house and a very happy bunch of raggle taggles.  HB does have his quirks though.

He has recently taken to making somewhat outlandish claims!  These claims are getting more and more ridiculous by the week, however, usually the best policy is to just let him carry on, smile and he soon finds a new subject to talk about!

 

For example, some of his amazing claims have been:

He was the first bear on the moon apparently.  Before Armstrong, HB bounced out in his little spacebear suit. He then regaled us with tales of how it was fun to start with and he enjoyed having a bounce about but then realised he was a bit sleepy and could do with some tea and cake and a bit of a snooze.  According to HB that is.

How he wowed the audience at the RSC in Stratford with his award-winning, critically acclaimed performance in ‘The Merry Bears of Windsor’.

How he apparently turned down the lead role in ‘Bear without a cause’. The role then went to James Dean and the title changed...

And the other night whilst watching ‘ET’, he claimed that although it’s one of his favourite films, the ending isn’t strictly true as apparently ET lives round the corner in a mansion and is one of HB’s best mates.

To be honest there is rather a lot of this, but it’s what we love about him and why he makes the raggle taggles such a fun gang to be part of!

Anyway, that’s enough from me this month.  I’ve got to get on with some planning for the coming week, but first, while HB is still snoozing I think I’ve time to rest my paws, read the papers and enjoy a big mug of tea!

Remember though, next time you’re watching your favourite film.  If you think you see a little brown bear in the background or think the title of the film has changed, then perhaps HB’s outlandish claims aren’t so outlandish after all...!

Have fun and take care.

Blue Bear

DoR

There's no business like show business....

Following last month's high adventure with little Fancy getting stuck on top of the wardrobe, this month has been less adventurous but still very busy in the world of Honey Bear and the Raggle Taggles.

Recently a rumour swept through the raggles that two theatre roles would be up for grabs shortly.  Suddenly aspiring thespians emerged from the raggles, demonstrating their many talents at any given opportunity.

In fact it was the shyest Raggle Taggles which emerged as naturals.  Little Fido was the first to make an appearance.

Fido is one of the original members of the Raggle Taggles and was even in the gang before HB!  He's a shy little white dog who keeps a watchful eye over his section of the RT's - Moppy, Albee, Errol and Snowy.  He usually keeps a low profile but loves surfing the net and relaxing listening to music - he's very much a jazz fan.  He loves any documentaries on space and his favourite food is houmous.

Anyway, little Fido appeared and we thought he was going to introduce another raggle.  Instead he produced a cape and a wand and proceeded to dazzle the Raggle Taggles with amazing magic tricks.  Fido received rapturous applause and announced his show is to be known as 'The Amazing Fido & his Box of Tricks'.

Next up came Hedgie.  Hedgie is a little brown hedgehog.  He is a firm favourite amongst the raggles and loves a good sing song on a Friday night.  He often marches everyone into the lounge and puts a record on.  In fact once he even entered everyone into a singing competition!  Hedgie loves hanging out with Albee and causing mischief, in fact if there any socks missing, Hedgie usually has a guilty grin on his face.  After a bit of a chase he'll give in and reveal where he's hidden them!  Everyone thought Hedgie was going to do a few of his favourite songs as an audition but instead he did a soliloquy from Hamlet and had the raggles on their feet at the end!

This was now turning into their own raggly variety show instead of just a few auditions and next came Fancy, recovered from his wardrobe adventure last month, together with Owly, Albee and Moppy they performed a well-rehearsed street dance routine which had everyone dancing in the aisles!

After many curtain calls, Blue Bear called for quiet and announced that as everyone was so good he was tasking the whole RT's to put together their own play to be performed and filmed later in the year.  Meanwhile Blue Bear and HB would visit the theatre and report back.

More theatre news next time from the showbiz Raggle Taggles!  In the meantime remember to have a look at my first two films - HB's Day Out and The All Bear Tennis Club.  See you next time.

Drama in the Raggle Taggles

Drama in the Raggle Taggles

Today was unlike any other in the Raggle Taggle household.

The gang was awoken by a frantic squeaking in the early hours.  A quick survey revealed that one Raggle was AWOL!  The troops were deployed and within a few minutes a scared, shaking Fancy was found atop the wardrobe.

Let me pause the action for one minute to introduce Fancy – or Fancy Pants to give him his full title.  He’s a little blue mouse named Fancy due to the colourful ‘fancy’ badges adorning his ears.  He’s a bit more rough and tumble than some of the Raggles, though with a heart of gold and epitomises the gang’s title ‘Raggle Taggle’.  He’s been with the gang for many years and everyone always loves it when fancy does a turn – he’s a mouse who is rather fond of the stage.

Anyway, back to the action – Fancy is squeaking on top of the wardrobe, Blue Bear is trying to find out why and a solution to bring him back down, I’m trying to keep him calm, the other Raggles are in various stages of panic, unrolling pillow cases, trying to scale the wardrobe or hiding under the bed! 

Suddenly, Blue Bear, Director of Raggling, calls for quiet and manages to coax out of Fancy the reason for all the commotion. Apparently, poor Fancy awoke to find a rather large spider crawling across his nose, startled, he jumped up and scurried straight up the nearest object, the wardrobe, but then was unable to navigate his way down.

After a short deliberation in the corner and calming of the other Raggles, we devised a plan.  Eddie was sent to raid the fridge for cheese, whilst Blue Bear, myself and the others fashioned together a number of hankies.  After a little persuading and an encouraging “1, 2, 3”, little Fancy took a leap and landed safely with the Raggles in the make-shift sheet.

The relieved Raggle Taggles pampered a shaken but happy Fancy.   As a special treat he got to watch TV all evening and relax with a large bar of chocolate on the sofa.

Blue Bear now makes sure a spider check is carried out before bedtime every evening, so a little Fancy Pants can have sweet dreams!

Let’s hope my next blog is not so eventful!  In the meantime please have a look at our latest film  - The All Bear Tennis Club New film in production soon!