How does it help?

Seeing it is New Year and I'm wrapped up by the gas fire we might look really what this thing really is about beyond it's history and founder.

That is a simple summary of what it can do not least for those in their teens who often are bewildered by a seemingly endless set of choices, potential distractions and where peer pressure can replace careful thought and reflection in these matters.

Any notion of children being "chattle" has long gone socially and legally so you cannot "make" any child take any path be it to follow a cause, get involved in a specific interest or just do whatever as a parent or aunt or uncle you did.

Providing an opportunity to explore options, come up with a workable plan with support while they learn to take more responsibility for directing their own progress working towards achievements, badges and above all the confidence to take on challenges is what in scouting we can offer.

It's certainly possible to progress to poistions of real leadership in scouts but so much of what you do does translate well into things like seeing a course of academic or vocational training through or showing the kind of interest that helps secure a job.

That's why Scouts matters.

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Memories

 

There may be different ways of entering the New Year but something very much in it's past, over one hundred and ten years old with that sepia, beloved at the time but today often in black and white greyscales.

Uniform reflected the Edwardian era of Scouting in its infancy and not how the neckerchief is fastened too.

Sending wishes, the old school way by Postcard, in Twenty Twenty Six and endangered species and yet the fact we can see it is something that with current trends in 2126 we may not as sd's cards fail and file formats drift.

We can read a lot too into how it is written by the handwriting.

There is something to be said for us sending a Postcard even if we post updates  from our tablets and smartphones while we are visiting places: A truely permanent memory.

New Year edition

 

As we enter a New Year we look forward to new opportunities and embracing change as we learn new skills while expanding old aquired ones.

Happy 2026!

2025 Blog review

 

Twenty Twenty Five saw a good number of challenges from caring for a frail parent to coping for a period with a damaged wrist following a fall in circumstances that really warrented a health and safety review at one place I stayed at as full of character as it was.

Numbers created challenges so I was only able to get to a full residential time away although that was quite interesting going some arts and crafts, exploring a Castle in an area I'd never been before and getting familar with welsh speaking trains!

I did get around to some local exploration and photography during the year enjoyed a few weekends away doing things I hadn't done before which was good.

We looked a bit more at girls in scouting on the blog, historically under represented and scouting traditions outside the U.K and Ireland.

I helped local scouts raise over £250 for the local group helping meet day to day expenses, continuing its vital role in preparing youngsters for life.

I feel the year certain was worthwhile and look forward to setting new objectives.

Times past

 

Celebratories sometimes are connected with Scouts and from 1977 when I was assisting my oler brother in Scouts, here's a pictore of the legendary George Best, Manchester United footballer, and cubs and scouts from Portadown, Northern Ireland paying a visit.

The Christmas pause

 

Tis the time this eternal Scout needs to pause the blog as we have lots of things to do at home as well as helping others make their Christmas so I'm wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2025.

Christmas activities

 

Around Christmas, many Scout and GirlGuiding groups devote time to seasonal arts and crafts such as making Christmas cards and decorations that having been drawn can be coloured in or take part in community events such as singing Carols.