Dublin, March 2008

It all began one day Roger went into McBear's office. McBear was busy signing TARF reports.
"Where is Colorado?" Roger asked. "Didn't we pass Colorado when we went to America in 2002?"
"That's correct", McBear said. "Why do you ask?"
"Because ..." Roger could hardly wait to reveal the big news. "Because ...our owners are going to ... COLORADO!!!"
"WHAT? Wauvvv! WHEN?"
Roger changed the subject to tease McBear. "Are you happy with your new desk - the Eason model Diary 2008?"
"What? Oh, eh, well, yeah, the desk is fine, but tell me, Roger, when and who and how?"
"Ehmmmm.... well, if you really wanna know... you and I will be going! That left two vacancies, and it was decided that Barnaby and Lansdowne will be accompanying us...".

Click each photo to enlarge

"Maybe we should prepare and study Colorado before we go..."
"That's a very sensible thing to do," McBear agreed. "Could you fetch our new book, "the Earth"? I have difficulties reaching it."
Roger had to move a box, a ghetto-blaster and McBear's suitcase before he could finally reach the book.
"It's almost impossible to get things here..." Roger started teasing. "When are you going to tidy up your offic...?"
"THE BOOK!" McBear interrupted. "Just get the book!!!"

Dublin, March 2008

McBear and Roger had a look at the book. In Colorado, there are flat plains to the east and the tall Rocky Mountains to the west.
"I wonder where Colorado is. Do we have a map?" Roger asked.
"Well, we have a fine globe. Bring it over and let's have a look."
The bears studied the globe.
"It looks like Colorado is in the center, but slightly to the west. That means, we'll be in the wild west."

Before going to Colorado it was time for a new Travelling Bears Spring Campaign like the one in 2004. Olivia, Tom, Honeybear, Lansdowne and Chong helped setting up a studio.
Roger was to have his photo taken riding a horse in Momument Valley while playing on his western guitar. Now, a background of Momument Valley wasn't a problem: We used our owners dinner mats from Monument Valley. No, the issue was the horse. Roger went around asking all the toy animals, but we all refused to let Roger sit on our back.
"Bamse is excused," McBear said and added: "He's too old..."
So Roger had to sit on a cushion, but it turned out to be fine. Since his own cowboy hat from Nashville was too small, he borrowed McBear's hat - which was actually too big for McBear.

Dublin, March 2008

Roger was singing "I'm a poor lonesome cowbear a long way from Monument Valley". Now, the lyrics didn't really match the melody, but Roger was convinced it would make a hit.
The photo had to be edited to cut away all the surroundings, but after that was done it made fine wallpaper.

Then it was time for Bearlife to have their photo taken for a great wallpaper. From left to right it's Roger on lead guitar, McBear on drums, Bamse on a Fender bass and Tom as lead vocalist. Roger was wearing his new rock star shirt made from silk from our trip to China last year...

Dublin, March 2008

When Bearlife had finished and the band was discussing the outcome, the other bears rushed in to try out the instruments. Sam said he wanted to be Rock Roger.
"If you are Rock Roger, then I am McBear," Magnus said and sat down behind the drums. Kevin and Chong were discussing who would be Bamse on the bass.
"How can you be Bamse?" Kevin pointed out. "You don't look old!"

Before we left for Colorado we were busy packing loads of stuff like clothes, sun glasses and tooth paste. Representing Ireland, we brought bags with the Irish green colour. Roger tried to stuff McBear's hat into his back pack, but the hat was too big and Roger was frustrated.
"Maybe you are too big headed..." Bamse said.
"I BEG YOUR PARDON????" Roger yelled.
"Calm-calm!" McBear interrupted. "Bamse doesn't mean it that way, he's just not fully fluent in English..."
"Oh, okay then." Roger said. "Besides... my head is not too big... it's the hat that's too small!".
"Right, right", McBear said and put his sunglasses into his suitcase. "We'll have to put the hat in our owner's suitcase."
"But... they told us that we've used up our quota," Roger pointed out.
"I know, we'll have to sneak it in..."

Dublin, March 2008

McBear and Roger went up and checked the bedroom. No owners there, so they sneaked in.

Roger climbed the suitcase and put in the hat where it wouldn't be noticed.
"Okay," he said. "Now we are ready to leave for Colorado..."