Halloween 2023 edition

Time was when All Saint's Day was more what we marked with events but that almost seems like ages ago as Halloween has become the de facto for around October 30/31st.

Although this is American as is Trick And Treat, scouts can put on a short show with costumes and skits based around Halloween and ghoulish goings on and in places they do.

You may have arranged and event that incorporate taking part in games that count towards your badges, some arts and crafts halloween themed activities which is what I was up to this week and generally have a great time.

This was one for Beavers and Cubs.

One activity you can do easily is making face masks with a spooky theme which is what these  Beavers have done which is rather fun.

Scouting, whatever program you are is was always meant to be fun even as we learn new skills that will help us along the way in life so having fun together such as for halloween is such a great idea even if "Bobbing the Apple"  which we did for All Saint's no longer features.

Season's change

 

Winter is almost here now with just a few of summers flowers aroundand the leaves here with not long before they die back.

October has been a strange month for above seasonal temperatures at the start of the month and by months end we've had strong winds and heavy rain.

Autumn fruits

 

It may be late autumn but this tree has other ideas such as throwing out its apples resident in an era with plenty of water.

So much water that to deal with flooding and subsidence issues many trees were planted to suck the water up and add much needed fibreous roots to bind the soil.

 

These are the apples that have so far fell off the tree!

The classic Autumn.

 

As all of last weeks rain starts to receed with all the delays and closures to road and rail transportation at least we have the classic autumn copper leaves a;though shots like this require an increase in exposure to overcome the background lighting.

In the old days I'd typically set a +1.5 ev on the Minolta XD7 or X500 if I didn't use a seperate exposure meter and grey card to set it manually.

Keeping the rain off

 

Today is another one of those really wet days with torrential rain so I can't see myself going far today if at all however if you were at say Camp and it was the season it can rain a bit not least if you are in the Lake District from personal experience there is something lightweight that can help.

You have a cover over garment called a Poncho thatwill protect you top and upper part of your shorts or trousers which is waterproof it is easy to put on and is available for Beavers, Scouts and as pictured here Cubs from scoutshops.

Fun and games

 There's a very strong wind out today so I don't feel somehow I'll be out and about exploring today not least with either being literally blown off my feet  or possibly being struck by fallen tree branches and such like.

Beavers may be our second newest program but they are well established now for those from the age of around six to eight and a bit before they move up to cubs and if you were one, wouldn't you just want a teddy like this?

Actually I still like teddies!

On better days your leader might arranage for the most fantastic ginormous teddy bears picnic to happen with blankets and lots of food and drink apart from some games too cos they are so super fun to be  apart of.

You might even get a badge for it!

Winter is approaching

 I can quite assure you that had you been out this morning scouting you'd of been jolly grateful for lovely pot of hot tea being brought to you as I was out in my blue cord short trousers, grey socks with garters and a dufflecoat with temperatures here of some three degrees c out exploring.

I could use a hot snack too I might add!

That feeling of immersion

 

When you're out, well away from concrete pavements and tarmac you find yourself becoming more immersed in our surroundings noticing more what is going on, alert to the smallest of things unfolding before you.

Often there is much activity in the trees, at this time of year from various birds and the local squirrels way up in the branches having stoof still within a hands span of them.

It's where being scout and all that goes with comes over the strongest.

I'm reliably informed one S. Claus has a copy of this book for delivery on December 25th but given who Bear Grylls is is much looked forward to be read.

In the meantime Dyb dyb dyb.

Cubbing Autumn 2023 style

Around this time of year we have ever since 2018 or there abouts done a autumn special just because Autumn, the smell of leaves as we go through this part of the year always take me back to the days as a junior wanna be cub.

While being outdoors is a great part of it, learning takes place indoors by either formal instruction in the den or at home using tools such as books or today a tablet or laptop.

Sometimes it may be before you go out to do something or may be afterwards in which instance you make make a note or take a photo first to use while doing that research.

Make the most of that time taking it all in when you're out as it's not just what you learn it's the memories you're making and that between the showers is what I've been doing this year.

Fall is not just about the richness of the leaf colours as they turn it's about when trees lose their leaves or as here the thin branches break off aided by the strong winds from last week.

Here you can see how we go from a lime green to copper colour all on one set.

Fall is here!

Yes, it's finally come here even if the wind was making focusing a proverbal nightmare as I was over at one of our green spots where I spotted this contrast between different sets of leaves on the same tree.

It was surprisingly warm this weekend so I was out in ankle socks, t shirt and shorts taking in the best of this weather before we get to colder period with less sunlight.
 

Filling the larder...

 Autumn is making itself known much to the delight of the local grey squirrels with an abundance of acorns ready for being buried if only they can remember where!

I find it interesting that on the whole they tend to land in fairly neat bundles rather than being scattered around.

Trip essentials

 The check list for when you're doing a outdoor trail is a bit different than for camp in as much you're living off what's around supplemented by rations and extra clothing to cater for any rapid changes in weather.

These days I'd add a mobile phone for contact in case of emergency and organizers would have a system in place should you need assistance urgently.

The majestic trees

One the one hand we've been told temperatures are several degrees warmer than the seasonal norm and yet as I type this it is raining hard!

Autumn is very much in air - I can surprisingly enough smell it when I'm about - and no doubt seasonal fungi will be in evidence too when it's fit enough to resume taking photograghs rather than getting ones camera soaked.

This is more like what I'm expecting shot very much against the light rendering the foilage translucent in one of our green lungs in all its glory.