25.1.2024 by Mervi
It was exactly 16 years ago I started the Knutitours including Knuti’s Weekly Magazine. Unfortunately the magazine crashed in the Summer 2022 but within a couple of months it rose from the ashes as Knuti’s Magazine. I wanted to keep the titel in honour of our magic bear. I also want it to be a tribute to the friendship without borders which was and is the result of our love to Knut and all animals in this world!
It was, of course, very sad to loose the old magazine but I managed to save quite a lot of stuff anyway. To celebrate this anniversary I want to freshen up our memories with some of my favourite collages made during the 16 years.
Because I haven’t been able to publish so many own photos I’ve made collages instead – and there are hundreds of them by now! It was difficult to choose but here are some of them:
Knut and Thomas Dörflein were, naturally, my favourite ‘models’.
When our Knuipe opened we had a lovely waiter ….
…. who had a healthy appetite – to put it mildly ….
He also appreciated a magnum glass of good beer!
The yellow press wasn’t always so kind to Knut so we served Berliner Weisse mit ‘Tschüss’ instead of ‘Schuss’.
Flocke was, of course, a natural choice when we wanted to introduce a girl friend to Knut. Well, our wishes didn’t come true but there are many fictionary stories of the couple.
When the enclosures needed repairs Knut and Flocke thought the works are not proceeding quickly enough. They decided to fix everything themselves! 🙂 – In almost every collage I let Flocke have a pink handbag. If I sometimes forgot it everybody was asking ‘where’s Flocke’s handbag?’. 🙂
Raspi came along and ‘stole’ Flocke but there were no hard feelings.
The trojka inspired Teddybärenmutti and me write many stories of their adventures together.
The Royal Trojka – Knut, Flocke and Raspi – in Vienna
I can’t remember exactly when Uncle Sergej entered as the bartender in the Knuipe but he’s still there at everybody’s service. Mind you, his drinks are very strong!!
I have always thought the head quarters of Knutitours is in Berlin ….
Ich habe noch einen Koffer in Berlin!
Who said all the roads lead to Rome?
Let it snow – we’ll find the way to our favourite hangout!
If there are problems with the snow you can always call the ‘Snow Aid’!
There have been many ‘house bears’ in Knutitours. Some of them have sadly left us but there are so many lovely whities with us. I can’t name them all here but I’m sure you know all of them.
The beautiful bear angel is the guiding star in our sky giving us hope and consolation even when the times are rough.
Many readers have told me this magazine is a nice place where we can escape the cruel world at least for a moment. That’s exactly what I want so those words mean a lot to me.
Thank you all for the 16 years! The journey goes on – welcome to fly further with the Knutitours!
Dear Mervi!
15 years are a long time. We have many very nice memories on the happy times. Unfortunately we löst our beloved bears and our friends in these years.
Thank you for this wonderful place.
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Mervi,
Congratulations on reaching the 15th anniversary of ‘Knutitours’ and for sharing your wonderfully humorous collages of an amazing journey. It not only brings a smile to one’s face but a warmth inside that is especially needed in the grey times we are experiencing.
Hugs
Pat
Mervi
Thank you for this reminder that we have been 15 years together on the Knut trail. One little Polar Bear caused so many friendships. Your hard work in keeping this place open is really appreciated.
Dear Mervi!
Congratulations on 15 years of Knutitours!
You have created a beautiful little haven with your magazine where one can think or remember good times, special bears and other animals and old friends.
An old TV advert in Germany, promoting packet soups and the like, claimed: “Man needs something warm!” With you one gets something warm for the soul!
Your collages are once again “herzallerliebst”, to use Thomas Dörflein’s expression, and your texts are humorous and loving!
Thank you for all the effort and your imaginative creativity!
All the best, also to your gang
Hugs
Anke
Mervi,
Knuti and this group have been so much. Congratulations on 15 years
Love Christine
Dear Mervi,
this is an anniversary to celebrate, and rightly so! Regarding the celebrations, Uncle Sergej with his high-proof specialties is again 100% reliable, as your great collages also show in this post.
How many wonderful memories come back with your collages:
Flocke with her pink handbag, who was married to Raspi against our wishes and spent the money with full paws via credit card from who else?, the royal troika in Vienna, our fight against the Yellow Press with Berliner Weiße with Tschüss, the bus service to the bears in Orsa and of course your bright red suitcase in Berlin – simply magical and unforgettable.
Thank you for the memorylane for today’s anniversary and chapeau for your indestructible stamina even in sad and stormy times!
Big Hugs Britta-Gudrun & Django
Liebe Mervi,
das ist ein Jubiläum, das es zurecht zu feiern gibt! Bezüglich der Feiern ist auf Uncle Sergej mit seinen hochprozentigen Spezialitäten wieder 100%ig Verlass, wie deine großartigen Collagen auch in diesem Beitrag zeigen.
Wie viele wunderbare Erinnerungen Erinnerungen werden bei deinen Collagen wieder wach:
Flocke mit ihrer rosaroten Handtasche, die gegen unsere Wünsche mit Raspi verheiratet wurde und per Kreditkarte von wem noch? das Geld mit vollen Pfoten ausgab, die royale Troika in Vienna, unser Kampf gegen die Yellow Press mit Berlner Weiße mit Tschüss, der Busservice zu den Bären in Orsa und natürlich dein knallroter Koffer in Berlin – einfach zauberhaft und unvergesslich.
Dankeschön für die Memorylane zum heuten Jubiläum und Chapeau für dein unverwüstliches Stehvermögen auch in traurigen und stürmischen Zeiten!
Big Hugs Britta-Gudrun % Django
Dear Mervi, these collages are always a pleasure to see again. The often remind me of the “old” stories related to them. And you have been taking care of it for 15 years. Well, I am wishing all of us another 15 years of this delight.
Happy 15th birthday to your site and all the best for the future!
Like always/often, again I am late. . . Excuse me, dear Mervi.
But for sure again and again I am prepared to say THANK YOU for your considerable efforts in many ways to maintain your KNUT-meeting-points in form of ‘Die KNUIPE’, ‘KM’, and the ‘Back Room’.
May you be able and willing to continue with it as long as you own sufficiant physical and mental and creative power AND co-writers, reporters, photographers, readers, watchers, listeners . . .
GOOD LUCK!
Dear Mervi
I congratulate you on the 15th anniversary of Knutitours!
On the one hand I say to myself, bear, how time flies. On the other hand I say to myself, 15 years is quite a long time.
I find it very impressive to keep a forum going for so many years. No matter how many beautiful moments. Unfortunately, there have also been a few difficult moments. Fortunately, the positive ones outweigh the negative ones.
This page is one of them. After some very nasty trolls were at work here last year, Mervi didn’t give up. She has created a new “home” for us.
Dear Mervi, thank you for your perseverance, strength and skill in keeping this magazine alive.
Happy Anniversary!
Hugs,
Anita
Thank you very much dear Mervi.
We love Knutitours and Knutis Magazine. We would like to thank you for your amazing work. We really appreciate everything.
Dear Mervi
Congratulations! +
Thanks for the lovely collages as well!
– – –
I’v left a ‘little something’ in Knutitours/Die Knuipe 🙂
zurknuipe.com
dear Mervi,
16 years with Knutitours, what a wonderful time it was and I am so glad, the journey goes on, thank you so much for all your great work.
For me there is nearly no day without Knutitours or KM
dear greetings
Filomena
Dear Mervi!
Congratulations to 15 years Knutitours!
Thank you for all your Work!
Hugs and greetings
Yeo
16 years look back on a successful history, dear Mervi!!
There were so many beautiful experiences and unfortunately there were also not so beautiful events.
Thanks to Mervi’s commitment and dedication, we have had the opportunity to inform ourselves or enjoy wonderful reports and pictures for 16 years now.
The news and reports in Knuti’s Magazine are mostly positive.
It’s nice that this site exists here. Long may they continue to exist.
Hugs,
Anita
Liebe Mervi, auch wenn ich kein Mitglied Deiner KNUTITOURS gewesen bin, gratuliere ich Dir zu diesem WERK/ BLOG und wünsche Dir und uns allen, dass wiruns hier noch viele Jahre über die EISBÄREN austauschen können…🐻❄️💝👌🤗
Thank you, Mervi, for sprinkling magic dust on the polar bear community with your KNUTITOURS, a place for fun and friendship that just keeps going, and keeps Knut’s memory alive. Those happy days when Knut, Flocke and Raspi went on incredible adventures, we will always remember. The polar bear adventures often spill over into the real world, as we carry on Knut’s way of finding fun with other polar bear friends. Congratulations on the 15th anniversary, your magazine has new fans and more contributors, and I am sure will continue to bring us the magic that started with Knut.
Molly
Dear Mervi,
Thank you so much for this precious gift! It always cheers me up!
Christine
Dear Mervi!
16 years is a long time. We are still here.
Thank you for this wonderful place. We share many good and bad memories together.
Cheers on Knutitours!
Hugs
Ludmila
Dear Mervi,
Thank you for your 16 years of dedication, culminating in an amazing tribute magazine to Knuti, polar bears throughout the world and all other wildlife.
Your magazine make me smile, as does Dumba, who apologies for being late with his comments on January 26th 2023. I note he is the first to comment today 25th January 2024…….I think he must have been eagerly awaiting your blog with fingers on the keyboard!! 😂
Dear Mervi!
The journey continues and many of our loved ones who have left their earthly lives are still by our side and travelling with us thanks to you.
THANK YOU!
Hugs
Anke
Liebe Mervi,
Deine Collagen sind ein wunderbarer und witziger Querschnitt durch die schönen Jahre mit Knut!
Alle die schönen bebilderten Geschichten von dir und Teddybärenmutti sind unvergesslich !
Vielen lieben Dank für deine liebevolle Arbeit und diesen Ort, um uns zu erinnern an unbeschwerte und glückliche Tage mit Knut!
Herzliche Gratulation zu diesem tollen Jubiläum!
Britta-Gudrun
Auch von mir noch die besten Wünsche,liee Mervi! 👍😘💓
Liebe Grüße von Brigitte
Dankeschön für all die wunderbaren Berichte und alles Gute für die Zukunft.
Liebe Grüße Jens
Thanks for everything dear Mervi.
Happy birthday to Knutitours and Knuti’s Magazine. We love them.
Seltsam, ich hatte doch hier kommentiert – its gone.
Wahrscheinlich bei dem blog-mishap neulich… 🙁