Sonning Bear
@sonningbear.bsky.social
Small Bear living in The Potteries, originally found beside the Thames in 2017.
Loves narrowboating and being kind.
.
Loves narrowboating and being kind.
.
February 14, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Hanley Bear and I had a marvellous day out yesterday with @tourguideted.bsky.social and @geckocomms.bsky.social and other Stuffie chums watching the Stoke City v West Brom game.
We had lovely noms first and met Baggie Bird the mascot. And the game was a draw so no-one was sad at the end.
We had lovely noms first and met Baggie Bird the mascot. And the game was a draw so no-one was sad at the end.
February 8, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Hanley Bear and I had a marvellous day out yesterday with @tourguideted.bsky.social and @geckocomms.bsky.social and other Stuffie chums watching the Stoke City v West Brom game.
We had lovely noms first and met Baggie Bird the mascot. And the game was a draw so no-one was sad at the end.
We had lovely noms first and met Baggie Bird the mascot. And the game was a draw so no-one was sad at the end.
Hanley Bear had a great evening with Polar on Tuesday seeing the "Light Up Hanley" (or "Light Up Me!" event, as he called it) put on by @appetitestoke.bsky.social
We are going to share a few more clips of film from the evening...
We are going to share a few more clips of film from the evening...
February 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Hanley Bear had a great evening with Polar on Tuesday seeing the "Light Up Hanley" (or "Light Up Me!" event, as he called it) put on by @appetitestoke.bsky.social
We are going to share a few more clips of film from the evening...
We are going to share a few more clips of film from the evening...
Hanley Bear's old "lucky jumper" stretched so much from being washed that it fits me now, so we both went to the match against Southampton yesterday.
Hanley was very sad, because Stoke lost by two goals to nil, but Grizzly's son Mr George was pleased, as "Saints" are his team.
Hanley was very sad, because Stoke lost by two goals to nil, but Grizzly's son Mr George was pleased, as "Saints" are his team.
February 1, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Hanley Bear's old "lucky jumper" stretched so much from being washed that it fits me now, so we both went to the match against Southampton yesterday.
Hanley was very sad, because Stoke lost by two goals to nil, but Grizzly's son Mr George was pleased, as "Saints" are his team.
Hanley was very sad, because Stoke lost by two goals to nil, but Grizzly's son Mr George was pleased, as "Saints" are his team.
Human guardians took us to see the local starling murmuration again yesterday.
I think there are even more of them now!
I think there are even more of them now!
January 30, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Human guardians took us to see the local starling murmuration again yesterday.
I think there are even more of them now!
I think there are even more of them now!
Aunty Tina brought two tiny Bears to live with us yesterday. They were living in her loft but didn't have any friends up there.
They seem to be tiny Paddingtons as they have a big jar of marmalade (although it's actually an old cotton reel) and a picture of Aunt Lucy!
They seem to be tiny Paddingtons as they have a big jar of marmalade (although it's actually an old cotton reel) and a picture of Aunt Lucy!
January 20, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Aunty Tina brought two tiny Bears to live with us yesterday. They were living in her loft but didn't have any friends up there.
They seem to be tiny Paddingtons as they have a big jar of marmalade (although it's actually an old cotton reel) and a picture of Aunt Lucy!
They seem to be tiny Paddingtons as they have a big jar of marmalade (although it's actually an old cotton reel) and a picture of Aunt Lucy!
Reposted by Sonning Bear
January can feel a bit...January. A quiet walk beside the water can help more than you think. These peaceful areas are vital, but they're at risk from chronic underfunding and a changing climate. Propel IWA action forward and join us for as little as £4.50 a month. waterways.org.uk/support/ways...
January 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
January can feel a bit...January. A quiet walk beside the water can help more than you think. These peaceful areas are vital, but they're at risk from chronic underfunding and a changing climate. Propel IWA action forward and join us for as little as £4.50 a month. waterways.org.uk/support/ways...
Have you seen this, @hattieotter.bsky.social ?
St Cuthbert’s Church, Crayke, North #Yorkshire
“St Cuthbert” window (2020)
#HelenWhittaker
The detail shows the Tale of the Affectionate Sea Otters who were reputed to have warmed & dried Cuthbert's feet after a night of him meditating & praying whilst standing in the sea.
#StainedGlassSunday
“St Cuthbert” window (2020)
#HelenWhittaker
The detail shows the Tale of the Affectionate Sea Otters who were reputed to have warmed & dried Cuthbert's feet after a night of him meditating & praying whilst standing in the sea.
#StainedGlassSunday
January 11, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Have you seen this, @hattieotter.bsky.social ?
My friend Hanley Bear has asked me to share this poem about his home city. He says it explains why he is sometimes a fierce Small Bear, but is very good at heart.
Mr Nick Degg was poet laureate for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary last year. We like his poems.
Mr Nick Degg was poet laureate for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary last year. We like his poems.
January 11, 2026 at 9:11 AM
My friend Hanley Bear has asked me to share this poem about his home city. He says it explains why he is sometimes a fierce Small Bear, but is very good at heart.
Mr Nick Degg was poet laureate for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary last year. We like his poems.
Mr Nick Degg was poet laureate for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary last year. We like his poems.
We Bears are thinking of using this as our main social media account this year, because X is being so horrible at the moment (not to us, but to some female humans and human cubs).
I am also going to write more for my blog and share some of Polar's pictures. This one is of the "Wolf Moon".
I am also going to write more for my blog and share some of Polar's pictures. This one is of the "Wolf Moon".
January 10, 2026 at 2:57 PM
We Bears are thinking of using this as our main social media account this year, because X is being so horrible at the moment (not to us, but to some female humans and human cubs).
I am also going to write more for my blog and share some of Polar's pictures. This one is of the "Wolf Moon".
I am also going to write more for my blog and share some of Polar's pictures. This one is of the "Wolf Moon".
I have been a very, very buy Small Bear today, and written another post for my blog.
This one also stars Hanley Bear, going to Parliament to seek #VotesForSmallBears.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/orde...
This one also stars Hanley Bear, going to Parliament to seek #VotesForSmallBears.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/orde...
"Order! Order!" - A Small Bear Goes to Parliament
A child-friendly blog about a small bear who lives on a narrowboat.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I have been a very, very buy Small Bear today, and written another post for my blog.
This one also stars Hanley Bear, going to Parliament to seek #VotesForSmallBears.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/orde...
This one also stars Hanley Bear, going to Parliament to seek #VotesForSmallBears.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/orde...
I have managed to get to Polar's laptop and do a little blog post about Hanley Bear's Stoke-on-Trent Centenary mission - to find all the Bottle Kilns in The Potteries and get a photograph of himself with them.
This is the first part of the mission...
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/hanl...
This is the first part of the mission...
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/hanl...
Hanley Bear's Centenary Adventures - Part 1: A View to a Kiln
A child-friendly blog about a small bear who lives on a narrowboat.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I have managed to get to Polar's laptop and do a little blog post about Hanley Bear's Stoke-on-Trent Centenary mission - to find all the Bottle Kilns in The Potteries and get a photograph of himself with them.
This is the first part of the mission...
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/hanl...
This is the first part of the mission...
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/10/hanl...
We had a lovely day at @nationaltrust.org.uk Quarry Bank Mill near Wilmslow yesterday.
We explored the grounds, visited one of the workers' cottages and saw the machines that made the cloth for my best boating shirt (and Endon's) which we were wearing.
We explored the grounds, visited one of the workers' cottages and saw the machines that made the cloth for my best boating shirt (and Endon's) which we were wearing.
September 26, 2025 at 8:39 AM
We had a lovely day at @nationaltrust.org.uk Quarry Bank Mill near Wilmslow yesterday.
We explored the grounds, visited one of the workers' cottages and saw the machines that made the cloth for my best boating shirt (and Endon's) which we were wearing.
We explored the grounds, visited one of the workers' cottages and saw the machines that made the cloth for my best boating shirt (and Endon's) which we were wearing.
Hanley Bear helped Human Guardian Polar show human cubs how to make mini allotments for salad leaves in "Me Park" today, with the Friends of Hanley Park.
But it started to rain so hard that everyone had to pack up after about 90 minutes.
But it started to rain so hard that everyone had to pack up after about 90 minutes.
September 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Hanley Bear helped Human Guardian Polar show human cubs how to make mini allotments for salad leaves in "Me Park" today, with the Friends of Hanley Park.
But it started to rain so hard that everyone had to pack up after about 90 minutes.
But it started to rain so hard that everyone had to pack up after about 90 minutes.
I have (at last) written a blog post about our friend Tunstall and his journey around the world with little pal Amy.
*Biggest hugs* to @hattieotter.bsky.social @oliverbear.bsky.social @millymammoth.bsky.social and @bearspipe.bsky.social.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/09/tuns...
*Biggest hugs* to @hattieotter.bsky.social @oliverbear.bsky.social @millymammoth.bsky.social and @bearspipe.bsky.social.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/09/tuns...
Tunstall's Travels
A child-friendly blog about a small bear who lives on a narrowboat.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com
September 19, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I have (at last) written a blog post about our friend Tunstall and his journey around the world with little pal Amy.
*Biggest hugs* to @hattieotter.bsky.social @oliverbear.bsky.social @millymammoth.bsky.social and @bearspipe.bsky.social.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/09/tuns...
*Biggest hugs* to @hattieotter.bsky.social @oliverbear.bsky.social @millymammoth.bsky.social and @bearspipe.bsky.social.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/09/tuns...
Here's another one of my blog posts.
This is an article I wrote about boating in Stoke-on-Trent because so many boaters go straight through our city without stopping, when there is a lot to see and enjoy.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/08/boat...
This is an article I wrote about boating in Stoke-on-Trent because so many boaters go straight through our city without stopping, when there is a lot to see and enjoy.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/08/boat...
Boating Bear Adventures
A child-friendly blog about a small bear who lives on a narrowboat.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com
August 15, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Here's another one of my blog posts.
This is an article I wrote about boating in Stoke-on-Trent because so many boaters go straight through our city without stopping, when there is a lot to see and enjoy.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/08/boat...
This is an article I wrote about boating in Stoke-on-Trent because so many boaters go straight through our city without stopping, when there is a lot to see and enjoy.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/08/boat...
Hanley Bear says I need to get back into writing my blog and sharing it on Bluesky, as we are having lots of #SmallBearAdventures.
This post, which involves steam trains, is about how we celebrated Grizzly's birthday.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
This post, which involves steam trains, is about how we celebrated Grizzly's birthday.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
Writing Again!
A child-friendly blog about a small bear who lives on a narrowboat.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com
August 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Hanley Bear says I need to get back into writing my blog and sharing it on Bluesky, as we are having lots of #SmallBearAdventures.
This post, which involves steam trains, is about how we celebrated Grizzly's birthday.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
This post, which involves steam trains, is about how we celebrated Grizzly's birthday.
bearonaboat.blogspot.com/2025/07/writ...
Reposted by Sonning Bear
That this is presented by the media as “policy” is why we are in this mess.
These are not serious people. These are monkey tennis ideas, as divorced from the reality of criminal justice as you might expect from a company fronted by multi-millionaire simpletons.
These are not serious people. These are monkey tennis ideas, as divorced from the reality of criminal justice as you might expect from a company fronted by multi-millionaire simpletons.
🔺Nigel Farage speech: persistent offenders would face life sentences
The Reform UK leader pledged more prison spaces, deportation of criminals and zero-tolerance policing as part of a six-week Lawless Britain campaign drive
The Reform UK leader pledged more prison spaces, deportation of criminals and zero-tolerance policing as part of a six-week Lawless Britain campaign drive
Nigel Farage speech: persistent offenders face life sentences
Nigel Farage speech: persistent offenders would face life sentences
www.thetimes.com
July 21, 2025 at 12:48 PM
That this is presented by the media as “policy” is why we are in this mess.
These are not serious people. These are monkey tennis ideas, as divorced from the reality of criminal justice as you might expect from a company fronted by multi-millionaire simpletons.
These are not serious people. These are monkey tennis ideas, as divorced from the reality of criminal justice as you might expect from a company fronted by multi-millionaire simpletons.
Reposted by Sonning Bear
There are no words to convey the horror of 21 children in Gaza starving to death in the last 72 hours. There are no words to convey the horror of nearly a million more children being at risk of the same fate.
The UK cannot stay complicit in this atrocity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...
The UK cannot stay complicit in this atrocity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...
Gaza hospital says 21 children dead from malnutrition in 72 hours as UN warns 'last lifelines collapsing'
The UN says Israel must allow aid into Gaza, as a hospital director says 900,000 children in Gaza are suffering from hunger.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
There are no words to convey the horror of 21 children in Gaza starving to death in the last 72 hours. There are no words to convey the horror of nearly a million more children being at risk of the same fate.
The UK cannot stay complicit in this atrocity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...
The UK cannot stay complicit in this atrocity.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...
Reposted by Sonning Bear
“We are modernising our approach to international development” claims Govt. No, you’re eviscerating it, with your own impact assessment showing most vulnerable communities hit hardest, increasing suffering & driving global insecurity. Ministers should hang their heads in shame @oxfamgb.bsky.social
UK’s aid cuts ‘will hit children’s education and raise risk of death’
Cutting aid budget to 0.3% of national income will hurt many African countries, says FCDO impact assessment
www.theguardian.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
“We are modernising our approach to international development” claims Govt. No, you’re eviscerating it, with your own impact assessment showing most vulnerable communities hit hardest, increasing suffering & driving global insecurity. Ministers should hang their heads in shame @oxfamgb.bsky.social
Reposted by Sonning Bear
"Disabled people are not feeling secure and supported..."
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social brings the voice of a carer to the House of Lords on the government's cruel proposed benefit cuts.
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social brings the voice of a carer to the House of Lords on the government's cruel proposed benefit cuts.
July 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"Disabled people are not feeling secure and supported..."
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social brings the voice of a carer to the House of Lords on the government's cruel proposed benefit cuts.
@nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social brings the voice of a carer to the House of Lords on the government's cruel proposed benefit cuts.
Reposted by Sonning Bear
“Just outside Gaza, tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items & fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them," write 109 aid agencies today.
Israel is committing Palestinian genocide and it is monstrous.
Credit: Anatolu/Getty Images
Israel is committing Palestinian genocide and it is monstrous.
Credit: Anatolu/Getty Images
July 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
“Just outside Gaza, tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items & fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them," write 109 aid agencies today.
Israel is committing Palestinian genocide and it is monstrous.
Credit: Anatolu/Getty Images
Israel is committing Palestinian genocide and it is monstrous.
Credit: Anatolu/Getty Images
So we're now at the point where Amnesty International are calling out the UK's social security system for its cruelties and inadequacy...
www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2025-0...
www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2025-0...
www.amnesty.org.uk
April 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
So we're now at the point where Amnesty International are calling out the UK's social security system for its cruelties and inadequacy...
www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2025-0...
www.amnesty.org.uk/files/2025-0...
showyourstripes.info/l/europe/uni...
Perhaps if more people were aware of this, certain cynical political parties wouldn't think arguing against Net Zero was a winning strategy?
Perhaps if more people were aware of this, certain cynical political parties wouldn't think arguing against Net Zero was a winning strategy?
Show Your Stripes
Visualising how the climate has changed for every country across the globe
showyourstripes.info
April 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM
showyourstripes.info/l/europe/uni...
Perhaps if more people were aware of this, certain cynical political parties wouldn't think arguing against Net Zero was a winning strategy?
Perhaps if more people were aware of this, certain cynical political parties wouldn't think arguing against Net Zero was a winning strategy?