Taking a rest II

 

Well after all that activity you might feel like taking a rest at Cubs, or you may be a Cub at rest after undertaking a task or two outdoors either way it's good.

Sometimes I feel we forget we need to program in periods of rest to allow for both recovery from an exhausting task and also take stock of what we have done and need to do next rather than this "keep 'em moving, tire them out so they'll be no trouble" attitude we see.

A tired cub is more trouble than one who has undertaken a task with appropriate care and responsibility and who is given time to reflect on his achievements.

Taking a rest

As you can see the tree remains stark, devoid of any foilage while the subsidence issues mean it is appreciably higher than the foreground.

It is difficult to comprehend this area was very much a commercial area up to the 1930's with the premises now underground complete with a number of residential properties.

Rule breaking as I am a bit want to do when it comes to photography here's another "against the light" shot that shows the daffodils planted in this joint walking and cycling way where there are carefully placed seats for taking a rest and enjoying the relative tranquility

A grazing we will go...

It is most definately Spring, so while I was out I spotted near a stream these four grazing peacefully while trying to find somewhere to steady the camera  given I was using the telephoto section on its zoom lens given the area was fenced off.

Also out were these two fine horses, grazing contentedly on a sunny morning.

Piggin' great!

Following on a little from the last post, sometimes you see the more interesting appoaches to managing the countryside and farming on a smaller scale such as on smallholdings.

Here we have a mainly traditional wooden pig shed rather than brick or concrete that also looks as if it does belong in the countryside.

Here is one of the pigs out exercising although the going was rather soft as it rained heavily yesterday afternoon and overnight, being quite content and indeed trying to get close to me as I took his picture on a sunny morning.

Valuing our environment

 Increasing concerns about our environment not least major issues with litter have lead over the years to a number of litter picks being organized that have included scouts, involvement in wildlife initiatives such taking samples of water or counting types of species on an annual basis  and tree planting.

Responsible stewardship is an important value within scouting when it comes how we teach youngsters to care for the their world as they make their way towards having real influence in adulthood in how we care for what, sobreing as it is, we depend so much upon.

I ma sure he and others will take their litter home.

Spring is here

 

Weekend was suprisingly warm for time of year with Saturday seeing some 18 degrees out so need for jerseys or coats even as I went about, talking with people while looking at how much of the blossoms had come back and if there was much acitvity by say bees or butterflies as normally I'd expect to see some and indeed about a few weeks back I did see one bee resting on the pavement.

Gardening was a passion of my late grandad and Mum too so we had many in large and not so large pots on the front garden like this example.

Reflection on recent months

 

The week as readers of the other blog will note was obviously an emotional one and in dealing with that ensuring I took care to get out of those situations when it was not necessary has proved to be necessary.

Making time for scouting related activities proved to be invaluable not just so much as a distraction  but in terms of coming to terms with change, seeing how life is a circle that keeps on turning  and as an aid to resilence in dealing with such challenges as starting life anew

Despite very strong winds, snow and hailstorms, the other daffidols not just came out but withstood those challenges as I explored the fields, seeing horses, ponies, birds flocking and even a ginger cat.

Whatever challenges lie ahead, I am going forward, stronger for all of this.

Be out

 Now snow has gone, it's time for being out and exploring dressing taking into account terrain and conditions - March is a funny month being technically in Spring but not unknown for low temperatures - and you have all you need with you.

The other day I set off and saw lambs, ponies near a stable block trying to get friendly with a ginger cat and many blackbirds and even the odd half asleep bee!

Africa Scout Day

Africa Scout Day is celebrated annually on March 13. It was officially established by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity (replaced by the African Union in 2002) in 1995 to recognize the Scout movement in Africa.

The Scout movement was founded by British Army officer Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. Baden-Powell used his experience in military reconnaissance to create a program of informal education for boys with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities.

Outside the United Kingdom, the movement was quickly established in several colonies of the British Empire, including South Africa. The first Scout troops were created in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Natal in 1908. Due to the segregation policy, there were separate Scout groups for black and white boys.

From South Africa, Scouting began to spread throughout the continent. On March 13, 1963, Scout leaders from around sub-Saharan Africa gathered in the Nigerian capital of Lagos to discuss the formation of the organization that would unite African Scouts. Today, the anniversary of this meeting is celebrated as the birthday of the Africa Scout Region and as Africa Scout Day.

The Africa Scout Region supports and coordinates National Scout Organizations (NSOs) in sub-Saharan Africa. It has 40 member NSOs and seven potential members. Its members include NSOs from Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland (eSwatini), Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The potential members are the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Djibouti, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, and Somali.

Stopping in Friday

It's supposed to be spring and indeed it had been mild last month sufficient I was out in my shorts but when I typed this a couple of days ago it was only two degrees c which with wind chill I could feel keenly and what is more, snowing.

That means rather than being out, I'm checking on the neighbours and making sure all my clothes are put away straight before reading a bit from my vintage cubs annuals.

There's certainly no chance of me going out dressed as he is today as much as I love to throw away the layers not least for it being more healthy to let your skin breathe when you can.

That uniform is most practical I feel.
 

Moving on and stepping up

Things are going through "adapt and change" here starting of course with my birthday earlier in the week where one card and present was now just from Dad who was as I think I had said a Scout for quite a long time, often thinking nothing of cycling some fifty miles per day before stopping at a Youth Hostel for a meal and a bed for the night.

Routines do change of course and so you get very much with how things are going to be from doing your chores and generally helping out like yesterday when he hadn't been well overnight I needed to get some things from the local store that normally he'd get.

It's where the values we learn come in as you step up and be the best you can, not for you but for others, without being asked.

Given some past issues, just getting to that point has been an achievement.
 

Restful views

 

Exploring the lanes is a great opportunity to leave things that may be on your mind behind and so it was a few days ago I took off one morning, well wrapped up coming by these two trees while the sun was out with a large farmhouse immediately in the background.

It was a lovely sight.

The Kings Scout Award

As we lost our beloved Queen and gained a King, awards in Scouting, much supported by the Royal Family change as so in january it was announced the Kings Scout Award would be instituted.

The King’s Scout Award is the top achievement for Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members and comprises of a variety of activities to complete and is closly aligned to the Duke of Edinbugh award and indeed you can do both.

To be awarded this need to complete the tasks before reaching your twenty-fifth birthday and meet certain criteria:

Be aged 16 or older to start the award and complete the award before your 25th birthday 

Be a member of either Explorer Scouts or Scout Network (or a combination of both) for at least 18 months to complete the award

Be a member of Explorer Scouts or Scout Network at the time you complete the award.

Complete 18 nights away as an Explorer Scout or Scout Network member, of which at least 12 must be camping.You’ll need to do six activities from the list, two from each section. You can include activities that you completed as part of the International, Communities and Values list for the Chief Scout’s Platinum or Chief Scout’s Diamond Award. 

Make a presentation covering all elements of your award to a suitable audience, with the aim of inspiring and motivating others to achieve the award. The presentation should be the final activity that person completes.

Each  requirement  needs  to  be  signed  off  by  an  assessor,  this  is   someone  who  can vouch  for  the  activities  they  have undertaken and provide some basic evidence (a short statement) about their participation.

This is a terrific award for young people to work towards.

 

They're out!

A bit of patience paid off given that cultivated flowers were to be seen in peoples gardens, things in community spaces such as the woods and green spaces did not although it does seem one part of the area is apprecably cooler than the other.

The daffodils have started to shoot out in a few spots even if the main planted strip along the principal road are still coming up, yet to bud.

Seeing today is St. David's day this seems apt to me as together with Leeks and Dragon's daffodils are a thing associated strongly with Wales.