Move over Bond, James Bond: Paddington Bear turns fifty today
There’s been a whole lot of noise lately about Bond, James Bond. A new movie coming out, a new Bond novel by Sebastian Faulks and numerous articles about the writer of the original novels, Ian Fleming.
Which must be very gratifying to all of those who are particular about their Martinis, but it left me rather cold, to be honest. I read the books when I was about thirteen years’ old and enjoyed them hugely at that time. The movies never did it for me but then I’ve never been much into movies. I will choose paper over celluloid every time.
Anyway, while all the hoopla over Bond left me slightly bemused and, after a while, mildly irritated, the following bit of news left brought a big smile to my face. So, move over Bond, James bloody Bond and make place for your betters:
Paddington Bear celebrates his 50th anniversary today. To mark the occasion, the author of his books, Michael Bond, 83, has written Paddington Here and Now, which will be published in June. This will be the first book about the marmalade-loving bear to be published since Paddington Takes the Test came out in 1979. His original book, A Bear Called Paddington, came out in 1958.
Mr Bond, who lives near Paddington, in central London, said: “Although the world has changed considerably over the past 30 years, he remains exactly the same - eternally optimistic and ever open to what life has to offer.
Admittedly, I read the Paddington books when I was even younger than when I read the usurper Bond books but I remember them with greater fondness and much more detail. Furthermore, I took one from the shelf earlier and when I’d read a bit I was feeling that big smile moving over my face again, like a randy old spy’s hands moving all over the body of this year’s starlet of choice - and no, I couldn’t do the same experiment with one of That Other Bond’s books, since I can’t even remember when I did away with those. Probably before I turned eighteen…
Anyway, happy birthday, Paddington - and yes, mister Bond, Michael Bond is absolutely right about Paddington’s character. Wish there were more people like him around.
Ah, to live in a world where an old spy walks in to a bar (wearing a mackintosh raincoat) and politely asks for a bit of marmalade - shaken, not stirred, of course. Now, wouldn’t that be something?
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