Friday 3 August 2012
Wednesday 7 April 2010
17 months on...
Wow, it's been almost a year and a half... where did that time go?
Well, the temporary 'two terms' in Eastbourne went very well, (more details on my primary school teacher blog), but to cut a long story short, I applied for, and was successful in achieving a permanant position in the school. From September, staff meetings have moved to a Thursday which meant I cannot physically get to the hall before 6.35 on a pack night, so Sarah has now officially taken on the role of CSL, and I am ACSL, helping when I can.
Camp this weekend! Reading about the last camp, having 30 Cubs, oh how times have changed. But in my 10 years of being in Cubs (almost 11 actually!!) I have seen peaks and troughs in terms of attendance etc. We currently have about 20ish on roll in the pack, but this camp sees 11 attending, which is slightly small, but will be nice, as hopefully we will get to know individuals much better. Although, with only 3 leaders, we're still going to be quite busy!!
What has the last year and a half seen happen? Well....
My first venture into Scoutdom in 2009 was a Cubly Bug Ball meeting in Hampden Park, but first meaningful one was at the end of Jan/early Feb at Scientist badge camp which two of my Cubs attended. It was a great weekend, with explosions, mess and lots of learning (from me especially). We also played UNO for Skittles (sweets) [and I lost], and I beat Penny yet again at Mega Rainbow dust. (Still undefeated but she's getting closer).
The end of the weekend brought a light snow shower which developed so much I couldn't get into school the following day.
In May, we had a weekend camp, memorable for RAIN, and wet tents. In half term, I cleaned all of the tents in my garden, which was memorable.
In June, we attended Cubly Bug Ball at Broadstone Warren. Chris picked me up from school at 5pm to take me from school to camp, I got home at 7pm Sunday - don't ask. It was a great weekend, despite a serious head injury to one of our cubs. A particular highlight for me was the duck game where children try and win a rubber duck, but it mostly involves them sitting in a paddling pool while us leaders pour buckets of freezing water over their heads. To win the duck, they had to get the 'lucky' ace which means a whole bucket of water is administered. Brilliant fun to do! It amazes me how children come back time and again to do this!!
As a result of this cruelty, the enthusiasm for a 'wet and muddy' evening at Parkwood a couple of Thursdays later was understandably strong especially as the children billed this as the chance for them to get revenge on me! I arrived, and had hardly stepped out of the car when water pistols were being fired directly at me. However, by the end of the evening, and further rounds of the duck game, the children were still a LOT wetter than I was!!
Summer Camp was good fun, with new leaders, a new location, but I fear in order for me to do it justice, it requires another blog at another time when I am fresher, and have actually done some of the planning I need to get done today. So my 2009 catch up will continue soon...
Well, the temporary 'two terms' in Eastbourne went very well, (more details on my primary school teacher blog), but to cut a long story short, I applied for, and was successful in achieving a permanant position in the school. From September, staff meetings have moved to a Thursday which meant I cannot physically get to the hall before 6.35 on a pack night, so Sarah has now officially taken on the role of CSL, and I am ACSL, helping when I can.
Camp this weekend! Reading about the last camp, having 30 Cubs, oh how times have changed. But in my 10 years of being in Cubs (almost 11 actually!!) I have seen peaks and troughs in terms of attendance etc. We currently have about 20ish on roll in the pack, but this camp sees 11 attending, which is slightly small, but will be nice, as hopefully we will get to know individuals much better. Although, with only 3 leaders, we're still going to be quite busy!!
What has the last year and a half seen happen? Well....
My first venture into Scoutdom in 2009 was a Cubly Bug Ball meeting in Hampden Park, but first meaningful one was at the end of Jan/early Feb at Scientist badge camp which two of my Cubs attended. It was a great weekend, with explosions, mess and lots of learning (from me especially). We also played UNO for Skittles (sweets) [and I lost], and I beat Penny yet again at Mega Rainbow dust. (Still undefeated but she's getting closer).
The end of the weekend brought a light snow shower which developed so much I couldn't get into school the following day.
In May, we had a weekend camp, memorable for RAIN, and wet tents. In half term, I cleaned all of the tents in my garden, which was memorable.
In June, we attended Cubly Bug Ball at Broadstone Warren. Chris picked me up from school at 5pm to take me from school to camp, I got home at 7pm Sunday - don't ask. It was a great weekend, despite a serious head injury to one of our cubs. A particular highlight for me was the duck game where children try and win a rubber duck, but it mostly involves them sitting in a paddling pool while us leaders pour buckets of freezing water over their heads. To win the duck, they had to get the 'lucky' ace which means a whole bucket of water is administered. Brilliant fun to do! It amazes me how children come back time and again to do this!!
As a result of this cruelty, the enthusiasm for a 'wet and muddy' evening at Parkwood a couple of Thursdays later was understandably strong especially as the children billed this as the chance for them to get revenge on me! I arrived, and had hardly stepped out of the car when water pistols were being fired directly at me. However, by the end of the evening, and further rounds of the duck game, the children were still a LOT wetter than I was!!
Summer Camp was good fun, with new leaders, a new location, but I fear in order for me to do it justice, it requires another blog at another time when I am fresher, and have actually done some of the planning I need to get done today. So my 2009 catch up will continue soon...
Sunday 14 December 2008
Assembled musings...
Well, quickly... last weekend's day at Parkwood was good fun. 11 of my charges made it in the end, after 2 pulled out and 1 came unexpectedly. Anyway, they did various sports, and I was charged with 'discuss' as it was comically written on my scoresheet. But rather than engage them in deep coversation, I instead let them throw the discus which passed health and safety concerns by being made of the same material as a stress ball.
As I mentioned before, I won a chocolate coin gold medal for downing a tube of 'Mega Rainbow Dust' faster than ADC Cubs and one of my Cubs (who controversially nabbed the silver).
Anyway, last Thursday marked my final Cubs meeting for a few months. We have the Carol Service this coming week, where one of my top Cubs will be invested into Scouts and receive his 'Chief Scout Silver' award (highest award in Cubs). We will also be investing a leader, which is good.
Someone made the point yesterday that without me, our pack lacks male influence. A sad reality, but hopefully soon I will return and those taking it forward will do a great job. We had a planning meeting the other day and chose a local drinking hole as our location to do so. Very good.
So this blog may become more and more infrequent in the coming months, but keep looking out for more in the series of 'thoughts....' franchise.
As I mentioned before, I won a chocolate coin gold medal for downing a tube of 'Mega Rainbow Dust' faster than ADC Cubs and one of my Cubs (who controversially nabbed the silver).
Anyway, last Thursday marked my final Cubs meeting for a few months. We have the Carol Service this coming week, where one of my top Cubs will be invested into Scouts and receive his 'Chief Scout Silver' award (highest award in Cubs). We will also be investing a leader, which is good.
Someone made the point yesterday that without me, our pack lacks male influence. A sad reality, but hopefully soon I will return and those taking it forward will do a great job. We had a planning meeting the other day and chose a local drinking hole as our location to do so. Very good.
So this blog may become more and more infrequent in the coming months, but keep looking out for more in the series of 'thoughts....' franchise.
Saturday 6 December 2008
(Chocolate) Gold Medallist!
Today we had the 1st Parkwood Scout Group Cubs Day. It was a fitness challenge themed day and I won a gold medal... for rapid sherbet consumption! More details soon...
Friday 5 December 2008
A short announcement...
Well, tomorrow is the first Brighton Cubs only meeting of the 1st Parkwood Scout Group. I'm going, and so are at least a dozen of my charges. I have no idea what it will involve, will blog anything interesting.
However, on a sad note (for this blog at least), I have decided to temporarily step down as CSL at Christmas, as I have a job in Eastbourne teaching Year 5 for two terms, and I won't physically be able to get back on a Thursday.
So this will be my last event for a while, although I will still try and get to selected weekend events, and certainly camps, as I am the sole permit holder, but, rather usefully, my ACSL (soon to be temporary CSL) is doing her training and going for a camp permit next year, so she'll have to do the paperwork for camp, while I will just have to turn up and cook for everyone!
Which, erm.... well... the less said the better!!
However, on a sad note (for this blog at least), I have decided to temporarily step down as CSL at Christmas, as I have a job in Eastbourne teaching Year 5 for two terms, and I won't physically be able to get back on a Thursday.
So this will be my last event for a while, although I will still try and get to selected weekend events, and certainly camps, as I am the sole permit holder, but, rather usefully, my ACSL (soon to be temporary CSL) is doing her training and going for a camp permit next year, so she'll have to do the paperwork for camp, while I will just have to turn up and cook for everyone!
Which, erm.... well... the less said the better!!
Monday 1 December 2008
A couple of camp photos.
The 18 lb bird that was cooked for 6 hours and sliced until 2am.Tim: That's a massive bird
Sarah: 18lb!
Tim: Was it free range?
Sarah: Well, put it this way. I wouldn't have argued with it!
I meet Henry. A genuine honour.
Sunday 30 November 2008
Camp
Two weeks ago at this moment, we were locking up the indoor complex after another memorable weekend camp.
I arrived on Friday night and we enjoyed pizza and pie before children inevitably turned up early. As they slowly arrived, they were directed to their rooms (labelled up previously by me with pens on door whiteboards). After 'the rules' and a fire drill, they played, making an unholy noise in the Tidey Cabin and then we took them out for some wide games. Then it was soup or chocolate and bed!
That night was filled with Uno and lots of telling a certain room to shut it, but thankfully it provided us with some "washer-uppers" for the next day (as they tend to be known).
The next day I woke early and beat a certain leader to the shower (not easy), and the Cubs started Kit layouts. After training another leader how to inspect them, it was quite easy. The only thing of note was the discovery of crumbs in a new Cub's bed. Apparently his parents had supplied him with Jaffa Cakes for 'the midnight feast'. Thankfully the risk of choking in his bed had not come about. After breakfast, I ran my activity, which despite me having forgotten to bring some items (it was a manic 2 weeks or so), went well. Children had to risk assess, do compass work, travel round the assault course with balloons and crack lots of anagrams and codes.
Oh yes, by the way, as well as the 30 Cubs and 13 Scouts present, we were joined by 9 Beavers for the day, and with adults this meant over 60 mouths to feed at lunchtime with the biggest Turkey ('Chicken' officially as children wouldn't eat Turkey) you ever did see.
After lunch was tuck shop and the biggest queue, even the people running it were exhausted afterwards (they were quite old though).
In the afternoon, 2 scary clowns came and did magic and made animal balloons. Then we were given the honour of a visit by Henry Allingham, the oldest man in Europe and one of 3 remaining World War One veterans. He was invested into our group, had lots of photos taken and told us all how he had always wanted to be a Scout, but his parents couldn't afford the Uniform.
Then he joined us for our campfire, during which it was exposed that I couldn't count, missing out 4 and 6 in the pirate ship song.
After this, he went, and so did the beavers. Then we had a disco, including a violent hokey cokey in which several cildren were injured and an out of control conga into all parts of the building. Two runs of 'Big Fish Little Fish' made the night complete.
Utterly shattered, the Cubs went to bed more quietly, and we stayed up until 1 playing Uno, and then 3 of us stayed up til 4am chatting about the meaning of life, laughing joking and posing for amusing photos with Henry the Hoover. I woke my room mate up as I dropped my UNO tin upon entering the room, then I lay down for 3 and a half hours sleep.
Next day we packed, had scoutsown and then played apple bobbing with sweets in the flour. It never ceases to amaze me how children LOVE to get wet and messy, even on a field on a freezing cold morning. Particular sympathies to those boys with long hair who came off rather wetter and messier than most. Thankfully, the parents saw the funny side later on when they collected them.
Free Time and an Iffits lunch was followed by packing, cleaning and leaving. A great weekend, very tiring but lots of fun!
I arrived on Friday night and we enjoyed pizza and pie before children inevitably turned up early. As they slowly arrived, they were directed to their rooms (labelled up previously by me with pens on door whiteboards). After 'the rules' and a fire drill, they played, making an unholy noise in the Tidey Cabin and then we took them out for some wide games. Then it was soup or chocolate and bed!
That night was filled with Uno and lots of telling a certain room to shut it, but thankfully it provided us with some "washer-uppers" for the next day (as they tend to be known).
The next day I woke early and beat a certain leader to the shower (not easy), and the Cubs started Kit layouts. After training another leader how to inspect them, it was quite easy. The only thing of note was the discovery of crumbs in a new Cub's bed. Apparently his parents had supplied him with Jaffa Cakes for 'the midnight feast'. Thankfully the risk of choking in his bed had not come about. After breakfast, I ran my activity, which despite me having forgotten to bring some items (it was a manic 2 weeks or so), went well. Children had to risk assess, do compass work, travel round the assault course with balloons and crack lots of anagrams and codes.
Oh yes, by the way, as well as the 30 Cubs and 13 Scouts present, we were joined by 9 Beavers for the day, and with adults this meant over 60 mouths to feed at lunchtime with the biggest Turkey ('Chicken' officially as children wouldn't eat Turkey) you ever did see.
After lunch was tuck shop and the biggest queue, even the people running it were exhausted afterwards (they were quite old though).
In the afternoon, 2 scary clowns came and did magic and made animal balloons. Then we were given the honour of a visit by Henry Allingham, the oldest man in Europe and one of 3 remaining World War One veterans. He was invested into our group, had lots of photos taken and told us all how he had always wanted to be a Scout, but his parents couldn't afford the Uniform.
Then he joined us for our campfire, during which it was exposed that I couldn't count, missing out 4 and 6 in the pirate ship song.
After this, he went, and so did the beavers. Then we had a disco, including a violent hokey cokey in which several cildren were injured and an out of control conga into all parts of the building. Two runs of 'Big Fish Little Fish' made the night complete.
Utterly shattered, the Cubs went to bed more quietly, and we stayed up until 1 playing Uno, and then 3 of us stayed up til 4am chatting about the meaning of life, laughing joking and posing for amusing photos with Henry the Hoover. I woke my room mate up as I dropped my UNO tin upon entering the room, then I lay down for 3 and a half hours sleep.
Next day we packed, had scoutsown and then played apple bobbing with sweets in the flour. It never ceases to amaze me how children LOVE to get wet and messy, even on a field on a freezing cold morning. Particular sympathies to those boys with long hair who came off rather wetter and messier than most. Thankfully, the parents saw the funny side later on when they collected them.
Free Time and an Iffits lunch was followed by packing, cleaning and leaving. A great weekend, very tiring but lots of fun!
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