Uniform from "Across the pond"

Don't normally look at American uniforms but this Wolf Cub one is interesting in a number of ways starting with the cap which is Baseball style and similar to current UK Cubs and the Lions shirt rather than the green jersey.

Unlike here where we have seen a dropping off of shorts, this uniform does feature them albeit in longer more Bermuda length and the socks a just a little below the knee but do have coloured strip.

It does look smart 
 

Hitching a free ride...

 

While out on Monday I was somewhat surprised to discover a Seven Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) had landed on my t shirt having walked past a hedgerow.

Ladybirds are actually a species of Beetle of around some 5 to 8 mm length and eat aphids which makes them the most useful friend of gardeners,often to found overwintering indoors or in dry, sheltered crevices such as beneath tree bark.

I carefully enticed it onto my find placing it on some nearby vegetation before moving on.

A place to stay

 

Staying in a Hostel has its surprises for some.

You will often have chores to undertake but the other thing is your sleeping accommodation which may vary from a single room to a room with bunk beds such as these and a shared table and wardrobe but as you won't have that much given how you got there, it isn't such a big deal.

Your Neckerchief

The original uniform for Scouts was very much practical with everything existing for reasons of health well being or even being able to be used in an emergency.

The Neckerchief isn't just some decorative uniform item, it can be used for first aid, its uses as a make do sling would of helped had I of fell outside of school as believe you me a fracture from that is extremely painful,

Learning to fasten yours and it's uses is a must in scouting.

The passing of the seasons

Although the last few days have featured much rain here, look about and you'll see signs we are moving into Autumn such as seeing the local squirrels at play, leaves starting to show signs that they aren't going to be about for much longer and so on.

We are quite fortunate beyond the wood to have a number of green spaces dotted across the locality in which you can not only play or relax in but see this all unfolding such as this bit of woodland left around a more recent estate development.
 

Home runs

 Finally we're making progress with this virus, I can now talk for some length without croaking or going into mega coughs that last for minutes at a time as much as I have been out very much taking ones time as my breathing wasn't good to get fresh air and keep my mind more on what's right with things and that sense of boyhood wonder.

It was just unfortunate I wasn't able to do much at the weekend.

Fundraising

 Fundraising did take a dive during the Covid restrictions era and many organizations scouts included are still struggling the effects of that notwithstanding our best efforts at bringing more funds in and trying different ideas.

In the past table top sales were popular where various items generally of at least good quality would be donated and you would sell them which is what we have going on here with the Cubs from the 1970's.

They of course aren't for sale!

There are on this bookstore a variety of boys and girls storybooks, annuals and even a Geometry textbook and recycled pots to keep the money including a "float" with change in between two boys who would be expected to calculate any change themselves mentally.

This was the kind of thing I also did.

By doing such things in the community, it keeps you very much in the public's eye and provides opportunities to spread the word about what you do.

Cub ready to go

I can't think of anything more appealing than a cub scout teddy bear in his uniform, ready for fun, adventure and action!

 The intricate shapes and detail of flowers such as these interests me a lot.

Season's end

 Perhaps rather more the image of Cubbery some of us recall or even feel in some form might be be better coming back, at least it will be easier to be out doing things safely as temperatures have dropped as the tail end of last week where we were around thirty degrees c was a bit much beyond first thing even if you did find a bit of shade.

Taking a more relaxed attitude towards uniform during such periods is I feel very desirable in looking after the welfare of a pack apart from ensuring they are well hydriated.

There are some signs that The Fall as it is known may come early for the earlier and more extreme start to summer we have had.

Restful views and coping

 The unusually warm weather continues as you explore before we move more into the colourful experience that is Fall.

Coping with the high temperatures is taking open windows and thin sleeping attire at night just to be cool enough to get a decent nights sleep in.

Making choices

 Standing you can enter the other field from where you are but will you explore it? Maybe make mental note to do so later or perhaps we are so risk averse we'd never entertain the idea of going off a public road?

While there is much to be said for doing some preparation before hand and certainly taking your own welfare seriously, there are times I do wonder if we over do the notion of managing risks to the point we are no longer prepared to do anything that might go wrong rather than teaching what to do if it does.

The onset of Autumn

 

So we are into September, where for many school resumes after the summer hols not that in the last few weeks I got terribly far with being quite unwell, requiring to get medication last week but it is the time harvest is gathered in.

I was reminded of that on Saturday when I went away for a day and upon our return I saw the must beautiful stack of bales of hay on a blue sky background by a local farm.

Exceptions in uniform?

 The link between uniform and practicality can be observed here where formal uniform takes second place to the requirements of the task such as helping out in the stables or open fields where for girls trousers my help more with getting the job done while preserving ones modesty.

There was parallel discussion running in occupations where women worked such as physiotherapy around uniform where traditional thin dresses were changed to trousers.

While normally being more traditionist in outlook, I feel it is important to respect such concerns as they apply in certain contexts.