Activity in The Warehouse following the Christmas holiday was immense, all the seasonal items not required any more were being stored away.

One moment we had been in The Showroom, the next The Warehouse, but not on the shelf where we had previously been kept. Instead, squashed in the corner of a very high storage unit, right under one of those roof lights, which was very dirty, but we could just see daylight. Indeed it was difficult to believe Christmas had only a few days before.

The staff had placed us into several large boxes onto a pallet, which had been lifted up by some sort of machine onto the shelf. Luckily the boxes had not been sealed, so it did not take long for us to open them and scramble from one to another. I soon found Woof, who was as usual already making plans.

Looks as if we are going to be here for months, she said, think we had better try and get in some supplies as quickly as possible in case we cannot get down from here in the future.

That evening we clambered carefully down the racking to The Warehouse floor, avoiding The Guards, had a good round to see what was going on, and managed to find some opened boxes of chocolate biscuits and fizzy drinks. Getting everything to the top of the racking took a lot of time and effort. Twice The Guards walked by, but luckily did not notice two bears sitting in the middle of a shelf of bake beans.

Keeping the bears occupied was going to be a big issue, months lay ahead of us, we would have to find something to do. I kept looking at the roof light and wondered if it would be possible to undo it.

As it happened, one of the other Big Bears was having similar thoughts, he in fact went to have a closer look, which woke up the idea in all the other bears!

We cannot just open the roof light and disappear said Woof, we have no idea what is outside.

All right said the Big Bear we called Arnold who had investigated the light and found it easy to open, I will climb outside and have a look round tonight.

Being so high up in The Warehouse we were not so worried about The Guards, they never seemed to bother looking up. Late that evening Arnold climbed out onto the roof, we could hear his footsteps as he moved along. He seemed to be gone for ages, when a horrendous racket started.

Gosh, shouted Woof above the noise, that sounds like a very large egg beater! At which moment Arnold reappeared, come on he shouted we are going on a trip.

What? I asked thinking I had miss heard him over the racket. What is that noise?

It is Santa Claus, shouted Arnold through the hole, well, errr no, not really, he has sent the Big Bear he found a home for to fetch us!

Fetch us? I queried.

Come on, hurry up all of you, came the voice of another Bear through the hole in the roof.

Somehow we all managed to get out and stood on the flat roof staring at the source of all the noise.

What on earth ….. ? It is a helicopter said the Big Bear, belongs to the father of my new owner ….. come on hurry up before someone comes along to see what is happening.

We all piled into the helicopter, which immediately took off, leaving the building behind in seconds.

How did you find us? I asked.

Very lucky, said Big Bear, I saw Arnold climb through the hole and come out onto the roof. I knew you were around here somewhere. Santa Claus said we would find you easily enough.

Where are we off to, inquired Woof?

A New Year’s Eve party at the Castle, came the reply, my new home!

The Castle seemed to loom out of nowhere after we had been flying for quite some time, I remembered it from Christmas night when we had watched Santa Claus disappear down one of the big chimneys with Big Bear. By no means a fairy tale castle, more like a very large house in an immense garden.

Landing close to the front steps, we were greeted and taken into the large hall, not only by Big Bear's owner and family, but all of the Little Bears who had been found homes by Santa Claus on Christmas Eve together with their owners!

Big Bear, whose owner insisted on calling him Claude, introduced everyone and the Little Bears ran around in wild excitement, hugging us all.

The hall was beautifully decorated with a large Christmas tree, swags of holly and ivy, bright red ribbons and bows. A real fire burned in a very large fireplace, it was wonderfully warm and cosy.

Someone brought in a large jug of very creamy hot chocolate, and passed round loads of scrumptious biscuits. We played games, were  given a tour of the house, shown where Claude lived with his owner, whose name just happened to be Claudette.

A very large room, full of toys and a number of other fury friends. Claudette had a four poster bed, a soft seating area, loads of shelves piled high with books. She even had her own television and computer. But in one corner was something which really appealed to us, a rocking horse! We had seen several in the showroom before Christmas, nothing though as grand the one we were now looking at.

Come on Claudette someone shouted from far away, super is ready, bring everyone with you.

Off we went through the big house, peeping at beautifully furnished rooms on our way, until Claudette showed us into the dining room. A buffet had been set out on a table along one wall. We had never seen so much food, not to mention choice! The meal was fantastic and we all enjoyed every mouthful. More hot chocolate and biscuits followed, then Claudette’s father suggested we went outside as it was nearly midnight.

Quite how they knew the correct time I simply have no idea, but suddenly people around started singing and we were all holding hands, or paws, when the fireworks began. What a beautiful display it was, wonderful patterns and colours filled the sky over head. Knowing that we do not like the bangs, we were all given very attractive ear muffs to wear.

All too soon it was all over and we found ourselves getting ready to leave, everyone was hugging and cuddling each other when to our great surprise the rocking horse appeared drawing behind it a carriage.

We said a final farewell to Claudette, her family and of course Claude who helped us all, including the Little Bears who and their owners, into the carriage.

Goodness, said Woof, how do we know where everyone goes …….

A shout woke me. There is rain dripping in from that roof light, better get up there and check it. The machine that had placed us on the racking came into life with someone standing on it. It is only open he shouted to his work mate below, as the roof light was firmly closed.

Woof moved next to me, waking from an apparently deep sleep. What happened, she asked. How did we get back here? Or did I dream we went to The Castle?

No, you didn’t imagine it,  I replied, looking up at the roof above, Santa Claus had forgotten to completely close the window!

Happy New Year Everyone!