Last week, two lovely boxes arrived at my cozy Manhattan apartment. Loved Before had packed them beautifully, and the Royal Mail had efficiently coordinated their delivery with USPS.

One of the boxes opened. Two mischievous faces peered out. With earnestness and a mite of anxiety, Ted & Edith inquired if this was their new home.

Wearing matching shirts from the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (where they used to run exit drills), they were eager to stretch their legs. But they weren’t alone. Another friend had traveled with them: Barnaby!

I’m grateful to Loved Before for letting Barnaby travel with Ted & Edith. He’d been rescued from a loft space, you see, where he’d been gathering dust for many years. Barnaby is a quiet gentleman who doesn’t like to make a fuss, but I can tell he’s worried about being left alone again. Ted & Edith had kept him company on their transatlantic journey.

There was still the second box. Ted pried it open, and they all looked inside with great curiosity. Who could it be? Edith opened the drawstring bag to find…

Dudley’s smiling face. He yawned and stretched. The journey had been a kind of mini-hibernation for him. Now he was ready to get to know his new friends.

Dudley is very cuddly. Before long, there were congratulatory hugs all around, mixed with tears of relief.

Their new life is just beginning.

Dudley, who worked at a small bookshop before he came to Loved Before, loves to read. Imagine his delight to find that there are so many books here!

We all ate pineapple and coconut ice cream together. Very decadent!

Then, we snuggled up together and watched a mystery program on TV.

Thanks to Loved Before, these sweet teddies get to be Loved Again! I can't imagine my home without them now. <3