Home reflections

When we look at how people live we often do so from our own experiences as settled people in a society less nomadic than it was in past or how it may be elsewhere in the world.

Some people still live in caravans travelling along their way, finding work or other opportunities to earn some money.

There has been an increase in the numbers of people living on barges aka narrow boats in recent years which some families did at the height of the commercial usage of canals taking goods distances to market.

My mothers family did traversing North Worcestershire and the Black Country through this district in North Staffordshire to the Ports at Runcorn in Cheshire before settling "ashore" here

This group of houses were a part of those "homes ashore" built by the company that employed them as changes in society such as the impact on children's education and access to health care became more recognized and older workers needed to retire.

It seems history is repeating itself.

Taking a pause

Looking very much towards the link the neighbouring Macclesfield canal a few miles away, the barge is moored up in tranquil setting with blossoms out and beyond them the open fields with the odd duck about seeing it appears to be the duck season!

For me the reflections make this picture giving a more watercolour feel.

The wild flowers of the canal

Everything appears to be coming out and so around the canal it's like a colourful relaxing meadow so long as one doesn't encounter a wasp on a mission.

Everything is very much in situ as it were with no tidying up of the scene.

Similar with this canal side wall with weeds and wild flowers growing between it as I dodged a few bees on the great nectar hunt.

In recent years there has been an attempt to put dedicate paths in for people to walk rather than just walking along the actual canal tow paths that were wide enough for horse to help to tow the barges through.

This is one leading to a viewing spot with seats ideal for passing the time of day upon.

Founders Day reflections

Friday was a very important day for all in Scouting being the day we mark the birth of Robert Baden-Powell who founded Scouting in its differing forms and to whom we owe a good deal for pioneering a movement that raises the individual and contributes so much to society. 

Today I'm looking at a few quotes I feel are worth remembering.

Life is very much an adventure from our birth and adventure is very much a need of all of us as young boys and girls to adults too so much so that many put back much into scouting and the wider community through our work and community volunteering.

To me this this is very important because our world sadly is not perfect and if we waited for it to be so that would be a long time but one good deed at a time we can take it along in the right direction if we make every endeavour to leave it better than we found it.

The world of today is different from that Baden-Powell inhabited, people often suggest they know a persons capabilities and yet self improvement and making the most of your abilities whatever challenges we may face remain the best ways we can grow as people often surprising others.

The tendency to look very much at our own needs and desires rather than understand what we gain by helping and serving others is not new nor is at times an obsession with material things.

Human decency requires we look beyond ours own situation and instead focus on what we may do that would help others meeting their needs.

We have social and moral obligations to each other.

I am grateful for everything he has done and how it has helped me.

Ducks get everywhere

Continuing from where we were last Friday along that section of the canal you will often see Ducks, a good number of them who have been even known to explore the middle of this part of the era by the shops and major road to the consternation of many.

He was caught in the act of preening himself near a grassy bank but didn't wish to face me for some reason or other enjoying the relative peace and quiet.

Thankful dog owners were keeping their on leads and away from them.

This particular duck just would not go near a better backdrop probably because he was half expecting me to feed him from where the reeds were.

At one time bread tended to be used but that's really no good so corn if you honestly have to is a better idea.

At the moment the canal itself looks clear of plastic and aluminum. Let's hope it stays that way.

Scouting is Eggsellent!

 Well it's Easter Monday on here so just what would you expect to see on this blog?

Possibly some reference to the Great Easter Bunny who makes his appearance around this time and can be found in the form of a fun Cub Patch but just what is he clutching?

Many local Scout Groups (and Guides too) have easter events on which includes the evergreen,bags of fun Easter Egg Hunt, trying to spot them in the most oddest places they could of been left in.

That one's in this south of this area.

Well this little chap seems to be finding them. 

They don't grow underground surely?

That is this blog writers main egg which will be consumed no doubt today cos he's pretty kid like at heart loving this time of year.

Happy Easter!

Just passing through

Rather chilly but bright start to the day that sent my mind hurdling back toward Summer where I loved walking along the local Inland Waterway, taking in the scene and chatting away to people visitors and locals alike.

From around now to September it gets quite popular with a good number of narrow boats passing and mooring.

Although the area has become built up over the years, there remains a peaceful feel I find therapeutic especially along the areas adjoining farmland .

The Brownie Annual

It's rare for me to post much about "the other half" of the Scouting Movement for a host of reasons such as having very little to do with in any capacity but as you would expect their are parallels.

Rather like Wolf Cubs/Cubs, until more recent times there were annuals published that any Brownie would expect to get with the bindings being made easier to printed over time.

The start point of any annual is having an eye catching illustration for the front as this isn't an instruction manual and typically a Brownie annual would show brownies in uniform undertaking some task.

The back of this one features the faces of some, a number of which contributed to the contents.

This one is the 1962 edition and as was usual at the time has a formal introduction from the World Chief Guide addressed to the individual Brownie welcoming them to the publication which is official.

Here we have a contents page which is well indexed by makes, things of interest, about Brownie life such as pack holidays and the like.

Because rather like Cubs, you might of joined but not done everything yet, you'd have things about what you may get to do such as a pack holiday complete with pictures which are printed on glossy paper.

Very much with the whole Pixies and Elfs and so on, concept running in Brownies, there's a section with rhymes about them a brownie would no doubt love.

Something I don't think the Girl Guides Association then would of been unaware of is a copy about perhaps belonging to a friend or sister of another girl would act as a shop window to them to join up too, sharing the fun.

Annuals in general seem an endangered species, always out of date at the time of printing, lacking the interactivity some crave today and yet I know the Comic annual is still a popular thing as are tv and movie tie ins.

As children still love physical gifts they can treasure perhaps annuals connected with scouting can comeback.

Making contact

 Things change but the basics do not.

The way we contact others especially when away or out of doors has change very much beyond recognition from the days rather like at my boarding school we had payphones you could call your parents and the like from and if out you would use one which at the time they were common place.

Today though while many premises have phones you can use - a good back up in case the iniquitous mobile phone signal has issues - it that we normally use and children often have one with them when at scouts and leaders almost to a man or woman would too.

We would practising making calls - deciding the best person to contact and the most important information to give - back then.

That group looks jam packed around the telephone!

Along the canal

Over the last few days things have been rather wet and windy necessitating my duffle coat and a good rub down while I have been out.

 This was something taken seven years ago on my film camera which is on reason it does look a bit more natural with its fixed length 35mm lens focused by hand a third in and converted in lab to digital.

One thing people do need bear in mind who travel along is you cannot just moor anywhere such as outside of a person's garden as it is actually their property even if  Waterways Trust have rights to go across it in execution of their duties.

Recently the village stores and post office has had a makeover following a change of ownership and incorporation into a chain of independent convenience stores stocking rather more food stuffs and better layout for visitors as much as locals.

Practise makes perfect

It's blowing a gale out here as I type this.

Rather more rugged than I anticipated involving walking on rocks and across streams this is not by any means easy for some of us, being pushed to our limits and beyond it does show actually you can make it.

Working on your skills and reframing some of your long standing fears through what this blog is about does deliver results.

You have to find your spirit and the courage within.

Ready for the off

Going along a trip wire wasn't something I did although there are times today when with appropriate support I'd just love to give it a go because I love that acceleration and the adrenalin rush.

Part of that was down to "cottonwoolitus" by my folks who seemed to fear the worst even if I did stuff like climbing up and swinging on ropes and making my way along a climbing frame with structures to navigate around  holding on to bars to get across to the other side with other boys at school.

The other thing was were not so many outdoor ones back then which reduced opportunities so I'm more than happy to support today's boys (and girls) getting them and having a blast.

Keeping your eyes peeled

Weather's turned a bit colder and as I type this wetter too requiring more winter attire than I had on last week.

Fortunately there is much woodland around of here supporting birdlife so you see them all around from visiting your gardens, flying overhead which the ducks certainly do but none of that would be possible without one thing.

The Nest and here is a pretty big one I saw made of locally sourced twigs and mud.

One exercise I remember is rather like these cubs are doing which is spotting various features on an exploration in a group and ticking off those you found.

Each group would "feed back" to the organizer and you'd see what and how many you all found which was fun.