Happy Winnie the Pooh Day

Thanks for sharing this!!

Thank you, Allan. What a nice tribute to your mother.

I have made a point of introducing my grandchildren to the Winnie the Pooh books, as they do not seem to be a standard part of the school curriculum these days —- maybe Pooh is deemed irrelevant? But I feel these tales of kindness and gentle good humor are important for small children.

I also like the books about the real Winnie the Pooh, the little bear cub adopted in Canada by an army veterinarian and taken to England during WW1. There are two books, both with the story and copies of original photos of Harry Colebourn, little Winnie, and an older Winnie at the London Zoo with the real Christopher Robin.

https://www.amazon.com/Winnie-Story-Inspired-Winnie-Pooh/dp/0805097155

Condolences Allan, I wondered why you had not been on the forum lately.

Thanks, Allan. My favorite poems, ever. I particularly like "Half way up the stairs, is a stair where I sit. There isn't any other stair quite like it........"

A lovely tribute. Thanks for sharing.

I'm sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.

A lovely tribute and memory of your mom. Thank you for sharing Allan.

What a beautiful tribute to your Mom, as you are yourself.

I grew up in a “Pooh family” as the books were important to my sister and me- and our parents too! We always called elephants heffalumps which Pooh lovers would understand. They were among the first books I read to my children as well.

Condolences to you and your family, Allan. What a nice tribute to your mom, I am certain her spirit is smiling.

Here's my favorite Winnie the Pooh quote:

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh!" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”
― A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner

I am driving right by there in March. (going from London to Eastbourne). I have a car. What is there to do there? What did you enjoy about it? Thanks

I grew up reading A.A. Milne stories and poems. My favorite book as a child was "When We Were Very Young." I can still recite the poem "Rice Pudding" by heart. And I loved the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Those were the days..

Thank you, Allan, for bringing back that memory. And what a lovely tribute to your mother. That made me remember the poem called "Disobediance" that told of James Morrison Weatherby George Dupree.

James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James
Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he;
“You must never go down to the end of the town, if you don’t go down with me.”

There's more but I loved saying that poem out loud. At the end, you whisper it, and then shout the last line.

Condolences Allan, I wondered why you had not been on the forum
lately.

To get my travel fix the last few weeks we've been going through my Mom's photo albums. She loved to travel after retirement at age 60 in 1991 but was always cautious and not very adventurous. As a result she and her twin sister would usually take cruises or bus tours. I was going through her itinerary of a trip in 1997 with Trafalgar that covered England, Wales and Ireland in 14 days. It was a whirlwind, and not for me, but she loved it and it kept her in her comfort zone where she liked to be. It's a lesson I learned from her and an opinion I try to share on this Forum that travel is for everyone no matter the method.

Mardee, what is the matter with Mary Jane? She's perfectly well and she hasn't a pain.

Allan heartfelt condolences. No matter what age the death of a parent is painful.

Appreciate the Winnie the Pooh Day reminder and how you and your mother’s jaunt gave her pleasure.

EDIT: Mardee my recollection of Milne’s and his Disobedience poem was via The Chad Mitchell Trio At The Bitter End album. Was recorded live.

Still have the album.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=axPaGP1UEqc

Claudia, thanks. I, too, love that poem and had never heard the recording. I was singing along after the 1st verse.

What is there to do there? What did you enjoy about it? Thanks

It's far from a tourist hotspot. We stopped in a village where there is a small restaurant and shop selling Pooh paraphernalia. Apparently A.A. Milne visited it when it was a candy store. From there we went to the forest and just wandered some trails that had signage relating to the stories.

You may be hitting done of the spots we did on our trip which included Eastbourne. Here's a link to the original Trip Report if you're interested.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-the-south-of-england

Thank you Allan. Your trip report was very helpful. We are going to many of the same places. As I read through your subsequent posts, I was touched by how meaningful it was to visit Ashdown Forest and the memories of your mother reading to you. My daughter and I were just talking yesterday about how fun it is to see her daughter enjoying the same books that we both read as children. I read aloud to my kids even after they could read themselves. I'm glad your mom knew how much it meant to you. Happy travels. (And we may stop by and see Ashdown Forest ourselves)

Mardee, what is the matter with Mary Jane? She's perfectly well and she hasn't a pain.

Laurie Beth, yes! And those oh so gorgeous and cute illustrations! Mary Jane sitting there with her head slumped down and so sad...

Claudia, that's brilliant - I love it!! Thanks so much for sharing.

Allan, thanks for linking to your trip report. I'm bookmarking it for a future trip!

Condolences Allan. I remember what it was like.

20 years on and I still have never unpacked lots of my mother's stuff.

It was only Tuesday when I rewatched the episode of To The Manor Born where Audrey is playing Pooh Sticks by herself.

When I get to the Hundred Acre Wood in the spring I will chuck in a couple of Pooh sticks for you and your Mother.

Allan, my condolences to you and your family.
So very sorry to hear about the death of your mother.
Winnie The Pooh was something my mother shared with me, too.
My mother passed away at Christmastime also, 20 years ago.
May your wonderful memories of your mother sustain you in this time of great sorrow.

Allan, my condolences on your loss. After looking through your post and responses last night, I dreamed of my Mother. It was wonderful to see her again.

Allan, my condolences to you and your family. Your mom sounds like a very special person. It's very hard when they pass.

My best friend in college was a giant Pooh fan. We had lots of late-night chat sessions where someone would say something and he'd either spout long quotes or run to his bookshelf and dig out a specific reference from his A.A. Milne collection. So many life-appropriate snippets, and how great that they make us smile.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

When I get to the Hundred Acre Wood in the spring I will chuck in a
couple of Pooh sticks for you and your Mother.

That would be a nice tribute, thank you. If you have a pen, write the name "Winnie" on the stick, coincidentally, that was her name name too, when I was young I thought it was hilarious that my mom was named after a boy bear.

"If there comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever." Winnie the Pooh.

My sympathies too, Allan. I was also so lucky as to have a mother who read AA Milne to me, and we loved all the Winnie the Pooh books and the poetry. I continued to read the books for myself for years afterwards. And isn’t it amazing how so many of us remember James James Morrison Morrison all these years later? I wonder if it’s the rhythm that’s so memorable…

Thanks to whoever bumped this post; somehow I missed it in January. It brought tears to my eyes. I’m very sorry for your loss, Allan.

I have fond memories of my mom reading Winnie the Pooh to me too. James, James, Mary Jane, and all those other A A Milne poems are just wonderful. The illustrations are utterly charming.

My aunt gave me When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six for my sixth birthday. I loved them! I gave the books to my oldest granddaughter for her sixth birthday, but sadly, she never embraced them like I did. That’s the way it goes sometimes.