Film night

Tonight I went to Herons and  finish the term off with a night at the movies.

The Cubs watched the film Elf and were served home made popcorn made by myself and Bagheera's son who came down to help.

Everyone enjoyed the film and the tasty snack. Those Herons certain love their food.

Afterwards Rama came down and presented some Silver awards and we aid Godd bye to Tom and Greg who are leaving us to live in Scotland. The Herons gave them a copy of The Jungle book as a going away present.

Ware and District Centenary Party

I will tell you more about this in a short while, but for now I will soon publish a taster film of the District party and carol service, held today at Wodson park for all Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers (provided the nativity) and Leaders.

Many thanks to those who organised it and those who ran it today. We all had a great time!

Photos will be on the 3rd Ware website soon (ish) and if anyone who was there would like to write about it for the blog, please email Rama A.S.A.P!

Dinner dance

Gus and his guest

The adults at 3rd Ware enjoy having fun as much as the young people do. The highlight of the centenary year for some was a chance to dress up and act like grown ups!

On Saturday we held a Dinner dance at the Roebuck hotel. A local band provided the music (all have been involved in Scouting in Ware at some point either as Scouts or parents of Scouts, although not all at our Group).

The Guests were past and present members of the Group, parents of members and others asociated with 3rd Ware. They were welcomed by three of our Young Leaders. After being greeted by the GSL, they were invited to have their photograph taken and to then proceed to the bar area where a slide show of photos was taking place. Many took this chance to sip their drink and reminisce.

Once all were present, everyone moved to the formal dining room and enjoyed a delicious meal. The GSL made a speech, the master of ceremonies kept the proceedings going and the lucky ticket winners were announced.  

The meal consisted of soup, a chicken dinner and apple crumble and ice cream. Red and white wine was drunk, the commemorative scrolls were read and the formal meal came to an end. The GSL made a toast to Scouting.

Despite saying that he would keep the speeches and thanks you kept short, the GSL (and his first lady - she was unaware that she held this title!) were delighted, surprised and humbled to be thanked and then presented with a gift each. An engraved tankard for Gavin and an engraved wine glass for Jacqui.  They both expressed their thanks and said it was totally unexpected and totally unwarranted. 

Two present day leaders and their wives.

The evening finished with more dancing, more chatting, more photos in the bar and a chance to talk to many people and celebrate a special year for 3rd Ware. Everyone seemed to have a great time and even the band said it had been fun playing at this particular event.

Party, party , party

We started the year at a party...we can end the year at a party!

I have my invite. Do you?

See you there.

If you have not had an invite, please ask your section leader.

Peak Assault

One Friday evening a week or so ago I boarded a coach and set off for an unknown destination. No, it was not a mystery tour, but the Peak assault Competition!

Every year coach loads of Hertfordshire Scouting members, of Explorer age and above, get taken to “destination unknown”, set up camp and then spend the next couple of days yomping round "peaks" to gain as many points as possible in an orienteering event.

I joined them this year because we had two adult teams taking part and also an explorer team which was made up of six Scouts, three of which were 3rd Ware young leaders. There was also many other past and present members there as support teams or organisers.

Some of our Young leaders and Leaders

When we arrived we found out that, this year, we were in the Peak district. The teams camped in two different places with the adults returning to base on the first night and the young people staying at "high camp" overnight.

Which way next?

A great weekend was had by all, the weather held and the sun even came out. The two leader teams did well coming 5th and 6th in their class, and the Explorers exceptionally well coming 8th out of 24 in their class.

It is very popular event and I am glad I got a chance to experience it this year.

Messing around on the water

Last Sunday a group of past and present 3rd Ware members took to the water. This was actually the August centenary event (alongside a window display) however booking restrictions saw it take place in September. So what did they do….?

They went white water rafting at the new Olympic competition course!

The two rafts of our members thoroughly enjoyed the evening and thought the instruction was second to none. A training session on the lake and then several runs down the course saw an exhilarated bunch get very wet and happily tired. The rapids were amazing and no one wanted the evening to end.

The evening was judged to be a fantastic success and the most heard word was “Brilliant!”

The evening was rounded off with food and drink and everyone who participated declared they would do it again because it was “brilliant” and those who were still under 14 and so could only spectate can not wait until after the Olympics when they will be old enough to take part!

Campfires burning...

Badger starting off the campfire songs for the Beavers and Cubs...no need to say any more really.

School Family camp

Many of our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts attend the same school. This weekend the PSA held a family camp. Since 3rd Ware have quite a few leaders who are parents at the school, many young people at the school and even a couple of adults on staff at the school, we decided to offer our help.

The Group loaned kit and helped set up, take down and generally assisted as well as having lots of fun. It was a rather wet start but with the help of some Scout Leaders and a couple of Young Leaders all the families soon had their tents up and were ready to enjoy being together as a family.

Although we were not running the event it was a very positive endorsement of Scouting that so many Group members were willing to lend a hand where it was needed. Thank you.

Family Hog Roast

Family Hog Roast

What a fantastic day! Around 150 people attended our Hog Roast event yesterday. The weather was beautiful and the sky a stunning blue and we were entertained by several light aircraft that buzzed overhead from time to time; always causing the adults and children alike to look up and exclaim. The chance to sit and chat was welcomed by all.

As the families arrived they registered, were given their food tickets and then chose whether to stay in the games field or go through the gate to the campfire area where they could enjoy stunning views across the countryside and even hear the thud of leather on willow.

The children ran around and explored the woods, played giant jenga, snakes and ladders and garden darts. Football, rounders and a simple game of catch entertained some, whilst the inevitable water fight caused many smiles and laughter. Most the adults preferred to sit and enjoy relaxing.

The roasted hog was delicious, with the crackling being much in demand and food was plentiful. Many coming back for seconds.

The Explorers and Scouts that were present, much to the horror of many squeamish adults (most of whom had just eaten their share of the hog in question!) took great delight in dissecting the head and eating the tender bits of meat from it and examining the teeth and jaw bones! They certainly learnt a lot about the make up of a pig and even tried to get me to take part, I prefer bananas and marshmallows myself!

Everyone loves a campfire.

The leaders enjoyed the opportunity to chat to parents for longer than is possible at the beginning and end of section meetings and also to catch up once again with past members of 3rd Ware who came back for a reunion.

Water fight

Once the family event was over and the happy but tired young people left, the leaders and their families stayed behind to clear up and were then joined by a few other leaders to stay over and have a leaders and family camp. A rare treat.

As the sun went down..

A very enjoyable evening was spent whiling away time in the setting sun and then around the renewed campfire. Food was plentiful with delicious chili or curry and the remainder of the Hog.

In my tent

It was after a spot of star gazing and idle chatter, all eventually retired, tired but happy, to their respective tents. I was pleased to be tucked up nice and warm in a fleece blanket with one of the Mums and her daughter. Much better than Friday night when I slept in the trailer when camping with the Scouts!

The wind and rain in the night did not wake many and when most emerged from their tents after a good nights sleep for a bacon roll and cup of tea, ready for the big job of taking down the tents, gazebos and shelters and clearing everything away before transporting it to the HQ, the sun was once again shining. 

I was looked after by two young ladies during this mammoth operation and they both said what a fantastic time they had.

Taking good care of me

Another successful weekend celebration of 100 years of Scouting at 3rd Ware!

Wales video

This is a taster video of our recent expedition to Wales. The long version will be following soon for those who want to see more.

So long, farewell...

Final flag down

Goodbye to Coetmor Mill

Off to the beach we go...

Rhos-on-Sea

We cleaned, we packed, we ate, we attended flag down, we packed the buses, we said goodbye to our home of the last few days, we clambered into our seat and we hit the beach!

Balancing the budget

I win £1m on Who wants to be a millionaire?

 with a little help from the leader team.

Oh wait...I think it was all a dream , well a computer game anyway!

The Jewel of the Ocean

Shere Khan and Badger look after me at our table.

Last night I joined Captain H Samuel aboard his ship for a very enjoyable dinner. The evening promised glamour and good food, but then disaster stuck. Whilst the lights were dimmed, and the singer was entertaining us, a murder was committed! The ship photographer met a very sudden and snappy end, killed with a steak knife!

The two undercover detectives who had been on board for a different reason  soon set about questioning everyone who was sat at the Captain's table. One of them had to be the villain, but which one?

As we tucked into our soup, chicken and then cheesecake the enquiries continued at the top table. The occupants tried to clear their names and give reasons as to why it might be their fellow guests. We listened to the interviews and then gave our own verdicts as a table.

This was followed by tea or coffee and an after dinner mint whilst the guilty party was led away and the rest of us could relax in the knowledge that a murderer was no longer at large.

We were fortunate that on our table one very clever chap had been paying close attention and was able to name the culprit.

Well done to all the Explorer Scouts and their Leaders. They played the parts of the cast very well and cooked and served a great meal. The behind the scenes guys also did a fantastic job with kitchen duty, the sound desk and general running around.

No, we were not really on a ship but in the school hall of The Chauncy school. The evening was a fund raiser to help the four members of our District, who have been selected to attend the Jamboree, raise some of the money needed.

I got to mix with many of the people associated with Scouting in our area. Leaders, parents, committee members etc and had a great evening. I also met "Alex". He is a kindred spirit. He is a bear that is the mascot for one of the (local) units attending the Jamboree and apparently has his own facebook page!

3rd Ware was well represented at the event, with members of the Group at two of the tables and plenty of the Explorers are past members.

It was very pleasing for their past Beaver, Cub and Scout Leaders to see them taking a full part in Explorers and supporting their friends by fundraising for an event they are unable to attend themselves. It is an event only a few are selected for, not because they did not want to go. They are a credit to themselves and the Explorer Sections. Well done all and thank you so much for a fun filled evening.

Kitchen hand - no I did not need a shower!

Who was the murder? Well that would be telling but let's just say they are pictured on this page.

Half term

Well I am not sure what you did with your half term, but mine was surprisingly quiet. Not so much so for the rest of the Group! One of our travel Bugs has moved on to Norfolk, taken by one of the Beaver Scouts, and a few planning meetings took place.

The Scout Troop Leaders had another social, but I declined my invite this time and stayed home, they tend to keep late hours and a monkey needs his beauty sleep, don't you know?

A cross selection of the Group Leaders met to discuss the plans for going to The Gambia next year. We are want to visit our twin Group and meet face to face.  I hope that they will take me even though it will no longer be the centenary year.

Plans are in place now for Wales, at Easter, with 20 young people signed up. These include our present day Scouts and a handful of Explorers who used to be at 3rd Ware and are accompanying the Group on this joint expedition.

The new newsletter has been written and will be out next week and the new displays are up at the HQ building; I gave a hand with this. I had a quick look at the centenary collage whilst I was there and really hope that next time I visit The HQ more people will have added their own photograph. Is yours on there? It is for adult and young people.

My last job was to water the flowers at the front of the HQ. We are taking part in Ware in Bloom and so it is important that we all lend a hand when we can. This is the beginning of our project, there is plenty more in the pipeline. Shere Khan and Badger did a stirling job tidying up the compound and pruning the trees and hedges.

Party, Party, Party!

Well, what a fab afternoon we had.

Those dudes at 3rd Ware really know how to party!

First of all we registered to say that we had arrived and were given a sticker with our name on it and then had to negotiate the slalom that was the registration tables. Young Leaders (and Bethany) took us from our parents and escorted us in to the hall where we put on party hats and found our first activity.

slowly does it.

Then the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts went around the room to do lots of different things. There was Giant Jenga, Giant Snakes & Ladders, Limbo, Hopscotch, Pick - a - stick, a Big Bouncy Castle, Pass the Parcel, Musical Chairs, a Giant Parachute and so much more. Yianni (Beaver) said: “I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game on the parachute and the bouncy castle.” and Elena (Cub) “I really enjoyed playing the limbo, hopscotch and snakes and ladder games.” She also liked the pass the parcel and musical chairs. Cameron (Cub) enjoyed the party, especially the bouncy castle because he was wrestling with his friends!  When we did Pass the Parcel he did the Macarena as a forfeit, which was really embarrassing - especially because it was his Mum that chose the forfiets!

Getting Dizzy

 Badger was a bit concerned about my safety, because some of the dudes thought I would enjoy being thrown up in the air on the parachute. I haven't mentioned it yet but I'm a bit afraid of heights. It was quite amazing though, getting a view of all those smiling faces as I whizzed through the air, I did, however, need a little rest before I moved on to my next activity.

That clever lady Dormouse baked a cake in the shape of 100; it got very hot when the candles were lit. I was a little worried that my fur would get scorched. Elena said she loved the candles and especially liked the sparklers and she and her friend Abigail said that the cake was yummy.

Rama presented Tiegan with a special framed badge. It was the one that she designed to celebrate the Groups 100 years. I wonder if I will get one sewn onto my scarf – when I get one!

Wow!

Dormouse and Shere Khan had prepared party food along with Kate and Jim; my bag included a drink, crisps, sausage rolls and jammy dodgers, yummy. I know the Young People enjoyed the food they got in their bags because there was very little left at the end and they were Very quiet whilst eating and drinking!

Our party bags

Then it was time to go home, and we got to take a special drawstring party bag with us which had some cake, sweets, a badge which can go the green and black scarf, a glo stick and lots of information about what's going on in 3rd Ware in 2011, including the 100 year challenge which will keep us all busy. The bag was an absolutely fantastic idea. I will have to put my name on mine so that it doesn't get mixed up with everyone else’s.  Several of them were spotted at schools around Ware today. Elena said the party bag was great, she loved all the things inside it and Yianni agreed that it was great along with the food and the scrummy cake.

 



Hanging with the girls.

I had an amazing afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed playing all the games and seeing the adults and young people enjoying each others company and mixing together to celebrate the start of our 100 years. All in all it was a fantastic 100 year party!!!!!! (to quote Elena)

 I can't wait to see what the Group is doing in February and thanks to Cameron, Shere Khan and Elana who helped me write this blog entry.