Scout Returned

And she's back. Safe, sound and, as predicted, very tired.

Daughter#2 had a great time, mountain boarding, hiking and everything connected with camping. It rained but the first two days weren't too bad, getting very wet on the third. The tents are currently opened out in the scout hut drying off. No matter, scout's don't care about a little thing like rain, do they. I remember being worried about daughter#1 scout camping in the freezing cold but she enjoyed every minute of it, she told us when she returned.

D#2 wouldn't let me get a decent photo of her when she got back even though I'd been prepared to grab one when I could. Here those are

The other patrol leader who went with her, son of our good friends. They've known each other since birth.

The backpack she carried - my old one from over 20 years ago I travelled around Europe with, still in good nick, knew it was worth keeping.

Feeling Sad

I shouldn't be really. My little girl has gone on a scout camp and I miss her. Silly as she's been on a few already as has daughter # 1 as well as various sleepovers. I still miss them when they're gone. Daughter # 2 has been looking forward to going for ages and has had her backpack ready for weeks now, all packed very methodically, methodical is not a word usually associated with d#2, with each days outfit in a separate bag. 

It's a patrol leader camp and as she is one of the two patrol leaders this means she goes with two of the leaders meeting up with some other scout groups, doing exciting things such as mountain boarding. The patrol leaders have planned the meals, will set up their own tents and pretty much do it all themselves with the leaders supervising only.

She will be fine, I know that, and will return muddy and tired but happy. I'll be happy when she's back. Oh dear, what am I going to be like when my girls fly the nest...

Sadly I have no photos of d#2 on her way out so will leave you with this photograph taken the other day, she was wearing the same outfit with her scout shirt, neckerchief and woggle added.

And a back view, too.

Scouts AGM

Yesterday A (daughter n#2) and I went to her Scouts Annual General Meeting. Basically a lot of talk about finances, reports and people being elected to the Executive Committee. This can get a little boring and go on too long, though this year they did speed things up a bit.

There was an extra interesting bit yesterday, too. This year celebrates the 25th Anniversay of the Beavers being affiliated into the Scouting movement, so daughter #2's group showed their appreciation by burying a time capsule in the back garden of the scout hut. Luckily the chauffeur had already been in that day to do some gardening and tidying up so it all looked nice for the scout leaders, scouts, cubs and beavers as well as their parents who went out to watch it being buried.

The clear plastic box was presented and placed in the ground by the first ever beaver leader from this group, but before this could happen we all had our photo taken by a photographer for the local town newspaper. This took some time as he cajoled us to stand here, move in there, squeeze up there till we were precisely where he wanted us all, with a smile on our faces. The leader who had dug the hole had to hold up his spade for the photo and to hold it just so, the ex beaver leader had to hold the box up high and finally a few photos were taken by the photographer who was precariously standing at the top of some rickety step ladders. We are in the newspaper today.

A few words were spoken and the box containing some photos and other memorabilia of the last 25 years of the group's beavers was buried.

My favourite part of the evening was the scouts presentation which consisted of a little sketch they had made up between them. Daughter #2 and another scout made the introductions and narrated the events, and 3 other scouts stood in  line in front of the audience of leaders and parents, this went as follows:

D#2  "Good evening and welcome everyone, and today we are going to tell you a bit about Comedy Pie Throwing - The History. First - the pie in the face..."

One scout slapped a paper plate containing squirty cream into the face of the hapless scout in the middle of the other two, cream all over her face and hair

D#2 "Second - we have the pie on top of the head..."

3rd scout slaps paper plate of cream on top of poor middle scout, cream drips down her hair and she looks down with her hands spread

D#2 "Third - we have the double..."

Both scouts slap paper plates of cream on each side of poor middle scouts face at once

D#2 "Fourth - we have the head into pie..."

Head of middle scout gets pushed into a plate of cream

D#2 "And finally - we have the hit and miss..."

Middle scout gets pushed by one of the others, spins right round while the other scout tries to splat her in the face who misses the first time but gets her on the return. Cream all over head and shoulders.

D#2 "Thank you for watching our little sketch, hope you enjoyed it"

This last being said whilst trying not to laugh out loud but with a big grin on her face.

It was very funny and well done, and a big hit with all adults as well as the cubs and beavers who were literally holding their sides. I just wish I could show you all.

Afterwards I helped serve the tea and cream cakes which went into mouths not hair this time. Daughter#2 and her friends went running around, gossiping in the girls toilets and generally having a great time. A good AGM this year.