Whizzz!

It's that time of year again when we go 'Karting with Kubs' (although no Kubs this year...)

We are doing it Friday 3 July in the evening rather than Sat morning (without the Kubs, we can fit it in) but it does mean a very early start - 5:30pm - 7:30pm.

There will be a Practice session for everybody, and qualifying for two individual races. There will be a bar-b-que as well (well - sossie and a roll so our usual 'bbq in a barrel') and all for £10 per person (!!!) inclusive of all racing, prizes and nosh, this is a special set cost whether you’re a scout or a parent. As we are doing this on a Friday, we are a bit limited on time/numbers so I need to know who is coming as soon as possible. We generally run this as a lads-n-dads event so the scouts can beat their dads (or mums - but mums being girly means they are usually rubbish at driving and wimp out...??? (although I hasten to add that of course all scouts are brill at everything so girl scouts are just as ace as the boys)) so let me know if you want to join your scout on the track (and even make me eat my words/drive me of the track etc if you are a mum). I hope we will be able to accomodate all scouts and parents, but if we are constrained, I will of course give priority to scouts racing. We will be finished by 7:30 prompt (as thats when they lock up the karts and the course! so we need to be ready to start at 5:30 to get the racing in - Aim to arrive by 5:15 if poss!

Parents, the consent form for the activity is a useful form which I will need to have before I allow them into a kart. I will have to sign their disclaimer to say that YOU accept all risk associated with the motor sport they are taking part in, and take your consent form as my authority to do so on your behalf (the venue and scout insurance policies will not apply). One year when we went, there was a crash and two of them (a scout and a cub) were thrown from their karts: no-one was seriously hurt, but it shows that motor sports are not without risk. This year, after the cub's event, one of the parents was sporting a cut above the eye where he got hit by part of the barriers... This all sounds very scary, but I am happy that the activity is run properly and Rick and I are both happy that it is safe to let our own kids take part. They have a great time!

The activity will be run by the Rednal Kart Centre who can be contacted on 07989 471307 or see http://www.rednalkarting.co.uk/home.php.

Hithaeglir

Thanks to all the leaders and parents who helped! You were all needed and much appreciated! When I put a soundtrack to the pics you get all grainy and low resolution, so for the more narcissistic amongst you here you all are in glorious full resolution!

fog of war - chinese whispers...

Sorry to all those parents left wondering what was happening when their scouts were very late back - the scout procedures have an efficient way to deal with this situation through the home contact. Whenever we are away from the scout hut, you get a one day activity form with a home contact point, and if we are running late, I tell them, and parents can get an update from the home contact instead of the leader in the field who is generally frantically trying to get everyone together and moving along... Sometimes, it doesn't quite work as smoothly as intended and with dodgy mobile signals and hastily delivered messages via other leaders who also need to be updated it goes like:-
"we're all safely off the hill and heading home now but runnning about an hour late - please tell the home contact and get the message to parents!"
"we're all safely off the hill and heading home now but running about an hour late - please tell the home contact!"
"we're all safely off the hill and heading home now - please tell the home contact!"
...
you can see how it can happen.... (also, I cannot hear my mobile phone whilst driving (not that I would be able to answer it!) - apols to those that tried to phone me whilst I was on the road).

So - sorry to those that were left worrying. The weather was OK in Church Stretton and at the hike drop offs, but got very misty in the valley to the east of Caer Caradoc and it slowed things up (we also had a near 100% turnout for the event which is great but slowed things down a bit with 25 kids to organise).

I would like to say that the scouts all did brilliantly and the new patrol leaders and APLs all got their patrols up to the meeting point in pretty good time given the less than ideal conditions. There are times when I think they haven't a clue about navigation - they all tell me they know where to go and then rush off in random directions - but when they know they are being given some responsibility they do generally seem to respond well and take it more seriously - well done to you all, especially new PLs and APLs!

formed at last

Nightmare with the computer but here eventually is the form for fridays hike!



...and a kit list...



EQUIPMENT: Hiking boots or walking shoes that support the ankle, Ruck Sack, Waterproof coat & Trousers, Hat that covers the ears & gloves (both optional at this time of day/year) , Small personal first aid kit, drink, snack, torch, whistle, compass if you have one and can use it, and it may be a good idea to have mossie spray too.

Hi scouts!

Last week we officially welcomed four new scouts into the troop

- well two scouts and two leaders!

Phil will be looking after records and badges, Peter will be helping look after our patrol structure (and of course all three of us will be looking after the scouts!)

After inducting our new scouts, we appointed new patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders as many of the older ones will be moving on to explorers after the summer. New patrol leaders then got to practice their leadership in team games - here they are getting their scouts to pull together!

High scouts!

Hmmm... bit slow getting this up, but we had a good day on the cliffs a week ago - only three Boreatton Scouts though - its a great opportunity so if you're 12 or older come along with the SSGMG. We have great days out climbing hiking caving... more adventurous than I can lead!

Attack on the Court of King Caratacus!

Now we're all sorted into patrols and working as a team, the challenge this week is to make an attack on the Court of King Caratacus at his fort, Caer Caradoc, near Church Stretton.
We'll meet at 6-30pm in the Admiral Duncan pub car park in Baschurch.
Afterwards we'll drop you home at around 10pm.
Alan will post the activity form and kit list in the useful forms area later this week.
We'll do some quick cooking at the top for about 30 minutes.
Each PL will need to bring something for their patrol to cook and eat on a Trangia stove. Someone suggested bacon but maybe you can be more creative?
It looks like the guards are really fearsome so you'd better make sure you learn the team chant before you go.



============================================
Rolf Harris - The Court of King Caractacus
============================================

Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
All together, now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
Now the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.

Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
All together, now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
Now the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.

Now the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
[Repeat 4 times]

Now the fascinating witches who put the scintilating stiches in the britches of the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus, were just passing by.
[Repeat 4 times]

Now if you want to take some pictures of the fascinating witches who put the scintilating stiches in the britches of the boys who put the powder on the noses on the faces of the ladies of the harem of the court of King Catactacus...

...you're too late! Because they've just... passed... by!

Splash!

It was all going so well.... but then one small splash...


...a perceived slight...
...a misunderstanding...
and it all started to degenerate....


and soon...


and from here there was only ever one way it would end....



!!!
Good fun!
Land based activities next week

Wet water rafting

Tonight's meeting is planned to be wet!

It's like white water rafting but on the PGL lake, so the colour is more mud-like, and instead of rushing uncontrolably down a river we kind of drift around in circles and sink...


This was last year's star picture, when the scouts decided to re-enact The Raft of the Medusa...(Theodore_Gericault 1818)

New Chief Scout on a Swing too!

Now you've all managed the BIG swings you're right up there with Bear Grylls who's just been appointed the new Chief Scout. (In fact I think our swing looks bigger).
What shall we copy from him next, how about a quick climb up Everest? Maybe the SSGMG climbing first though.

Swing low...

Here we are swinging last meeting - hard work hauling everyone up and very scary when you have to pull the release cable.... ulp! Good job I had a fearless scout alongside to pull the white cable for me or else I'd still be there...

Climbing at the end of the world

No-one has contacted me about the climbing! Have you all contacted Michael directly? Let me know asap if you want to come and have not signed up!!! Do not forget the SSGMG form!

It's always a great day on the rocks - it's the first time I've been to this site, but here's a couple of my favorite pics of other SSGMG climbing days near here ...

Spot the young looking Boreatton Scout?