Pastoral haunts

One area not that far away that I enjoy going to is Hassall Green just out of the sprawl of this area near Sandbach, Cheshire that you can access vis the Salt Line , a former railway line I did play along as a boy that transported Brine Extracted Salt towards Stoke and the major ports of the North West of England.

This intresting church is St. Phillips which is actually a corrigated tin structure famously painted pink, erected as the village population grew and the Church of England didn't wish to lose followers to the Methodists who were massive in our area.

When we talked about the former railway being a way of transporting salt, so was the Trent & Mersey Canal of which Lock 59,shown here is a good example of the locks you encounter along this stretch that runs very close to that of the M6 Motorway linking the Midlands with the North West so really the whole area is a transport hub with trains along the Stoke-Nottingham line and from Crewe to Manchester (plus loads of places) completing the picture.

Resting points

 

Getting toward the end of the month and the annual break around North Lancashire and Westmorland where lush grass meets stone paths and streams where picnics may be held.

Making posts

Today we'll be doing things a bit different having been out this morning as the computer that wasn't working properly has been replaced by something a bit better

Naturally being a Chromebook I have to set up my account again which is quite straightforward as you sort out your Wifi connection first and then enter your account details which having comfirmed it is really you puts everything in place.

Well almost as I have transfer over some of my vintage pictures by hand that I had backed up and any photos get transferred straight from camera to Chromebook as needed.

It's a Chromebook Plus 14 inch model which means it comes with A.I. theykeyboard is backlight and has more Ram to help with very busy websites that can "gum up" your machine as you try to read them.

The modern cub uses technology for projects and generally keeping in touch and having a great quick to get going  machine really would help.

Post heatwave update

 

Well it is thank goodness cooling down so we can get on with a bit work rather than just beng centred on staying cool and hydrated.

Indeed it's been so warm I've had to sleep with just my trusty Scout blanket downstairs on the couch with the fan running overnight just to keep cool.

One thing I have been working on is gathering up images here as a chromebook that I use to make posts on has having major connecting issues that weren't responding to resets and the like so I can see myself getting a new machine and I did find an older one whose technical bits and bods are way too out of date that needed scrubbing down electronically to remove anything I don't wish for others to access and desposing of.

2,000th post

When I started writing this piece temperatures had started to climb so we'll be keeping cool, drinking much and with the fans running but there is something really special about today that we're marking.

The blog started out of a tumblr during the period of great tumblr purges of 2018-20 when I discovered that I was increasing blogging around scouting and related topics and felt that really it needed a focus so a tumblr was launched with a blog elsewhere that would have more extended posts on as with tumblr you tend to eith make original posts or you reblog perhaps with a extra bit.

That went in suspicious circumstances in 2020 but that did leave a legacy issue of posts whose images were "hyperlinked" that either went or for various reasons blocked.

It was never just a blog about past scouting or heaven's above just uniforms although past connections to Scouts, knowing those who were in GirlGuiding too were a part of but about how we take that on be that formal involvement fundraising, helping your local group or perhaps doing more of those activities seeing yourself as that eternal scout.

We also look at interests such as hiking, camping, visiting places and places that I remember in that context as a young boy and what they mean to me, the things I learned.

Obviously things in my lifetime have changed, the rebranding of and creation of new scouts programs open to girls and boys, the changes in the programs and perodic changes in Guide uniforms which you, like me may have opinions on but nonetheless we must focus on what their achievements and the amount of effort they put in have done for them.

Scouting in its differing forms is above a program, a way of life that helps you be the best you learning things that will help you throughout your life it's the adventure of life we joined.

What I learned picking up from where things were parked have helped me immeasurably in recent years deal with many challenging situations. Being the eternal cub is good for me.

Here's to the next set of posts.

The visit

 

Visiting places is a part of what exploring is although by defination that will be man made settlements  be they castles, deserted villages or busy centres of which this is a scene of and a popular choice for a day out.

Llandudno has a number of advantages such as ease of access from much of Wales and the West Midlands of England, a fairly flat terrain which helps if you have a physical disability and a number of attractions that tie into say a school residential trip or a scout day out that might take in beach activities, museums, walking along the Great Orme, noting wild life and flora plus sailing opportunities.

Achievements

 

After a medical incident on Friday we're back with what might be seen as new-old Cubs look from a formal presentation so while the socks may be short and the necker plain, much of the spirit of the pre 1967 wolf Cub is here and by modern standards fairly smart.

Given the many award badges gained, he's on his way to not only being a great scout but a real asset to the community.

Baa II

Cattle walking down a country lane is not an uncommon appearence from Farmer Rowe's cows in the 90's nearby to sheep while holidaying in North Wales and this picture realy appeals giving some idea of scale in the hilly area and what looks like a semi deserted farm building.
 

Now that's better

 

While it was a bit hot, so hot I slept with the windows open, fan running with just my trusty scout blanket over me, I decided to enhance this classic 70's Cubs picture that was scanned in at a lowish resolution as it reminded me so much of my own era.

The country path

 I really enjoy going along country paths that I don't have to travel far to join and love how deliberately using a wide aperture to throw the background out focus lends a softer  dreamy feel to this scene rather than having front to back in sharp focus.

Baa

 

Looking ahead while the others enjoysa lie down in the sun surrounded by bluebells, what could be better for them or for that matter for you visiting enjoying the scene on your ramble.

Streams II

 Rich vegitation can often be observed around streams at this time of year, often posing challenges when it comes to the wide contrast compared to the sensors in modern cameras and especially film emulsions.

Guides uniform

 

We did look at Brownies uniforms over time and today we'll look at Guides, which started off as a two piece uniform rather tyhan the tunic of Brownies but got heavily made over in from the 1990's.

While I can see advantages to skorts or shorts for more physical activities like hiking over skirts I really don't see where 6/8ths length trousers fit in not least when on parade.

Money Skills

In scouts we don't just physical things but do exploring things connected with so-called life skills - what you need to get by in life - and this does include understanding and managing money.

There has been some changes to how and what we're teaching.

 The Money Skills Activity Badge will help build young people’s confidence and understanding of money through creative, fun and hands- on activities. There are 16 fantastic challenges for Scouts and 10 exciting ones for Explorers – each with lots of brand-new, hands-on activies.

These have devised and tested by scouts, volunterers and leaders to ensure children and young people get that as the modern world often amplifies a disconnect between buying and saving for things and doing it when often parents pay for everything directly in the way in the past you did it yourself with cash.

Structures

We're fortunate to have a few streams that are fairly accessible although one has subsidence issues you need to take some consideration of the way this tree structure looks just like a bridge over it is really impressive.

It's often intresting when you're about just what you may encounter.
 

Just a little respect...

 

While things gradually get back to normal here, with the likely increase in temperatures by the weekend a timeley reminder when it comes to camping out not least don't light fires on dry grass -it soon catches fire!

At ease

 

Real life issues do come into play not least in dealing with a hospitalized father so I've needed to act as an information exchange, errand running and looking after things at home ready for his return.

That and resilience from scouting has really helped.

Heads over time

 Time has a way of changing things that you may remember but today's generations would have no clue where places were even.

Styles have changed over the decades when it comes to Scout headgear but do you know all the countries represented?

Brownie Uniform over time

 Uniform changes over time, sometimes it reflects wider changes in fashion, sometimes more an attempt to match what various focus groups say youngsters feel more comfortable about being seen in, some times strait from the adults!

Brownie uniforms show this from the Edwardian sailor suit look though various dresses with necker changes throuhgh the controversial Jeff Banks active redesign to today where strangely enough girls felt what had been altered just a decade and bit before looked too boyish!

Will things go full circle in time?

On the march

 

While I'm not these days up to carrying a lot on my back, not being helped by it being somewhat curved and in pain most days, if say you off on an overnight hike that's very much the right way to go about the task of distributing the load so you're not in agony after a few miles on the go.

Team hunts

 

Although yesterday with its heavy showers wasn't really the weather for it  a dash hunting for things in teams was always fun whither or not you were in scouts, girl guiding or whatever which I loved at the time and still enjoy.

Just mind the brambles and tics!

Inspiration

 

If one ever really needed a simple summary of just what scouting does for YOU then this isn't a bad starting point and shows the difference it can make when you start that journey.

Delemere

 

One place I went to a lot in my early days was Delemere Forest near Tarporley, Cheshire where we did orienteering, and went on many a hike.

Understandablt it's a most popular choice for many Scout units in Cheshire to the point it has a camp centre where activities unto camping out are arranged and here the Tarvin cub packs are at Delemere's very own and convienent  railway station.

Intergration

 The way we include people is worth taking a moment to think about not least for those of us who recall how organized activities tended to be back in the day.

The presumption very was one that firstly everybody had to travel together and that everybody had to do the exact same things with little or no recognition of individual needs and skills, one had to "fit in" or stay out.

Now Scouting was a good deal better than most in that good scout leaders would look at the requirements for awards and where needed make reasonable adjustements, looking at similar tests standards that you could do so it wasn't that you had an easier ride but more one of showing a level of ability or skill similar but the the same as your mates.

They included you.

Today in scouting we try to consider the impact of a lot of noise and activity on those who find it gets a bit too much and work with parents and carers to meet everybodies needs autistic, physically or learning disabled within the whole pack.

Leave.No.Trace.

 

Seeing today is Whit Bank Holiday, here's a friendly reminder of what we need to do whilst Camping across the season.

Helping tune things in

In scouts we get involved in many things, community fundraising, keeping the environment tidy, providing first aid cover but one of the oddest things we did was to to with technological changes.

In radio, individual wavelengths are allocated to Countries which in turn decide what should go where based on reception issues and priorities, some of which are very localized.

Now a series of changes came about as the result of agreement in 1977 to deal with an increased number of stations that required a series of changes to the BBC's national radio on Long and Medium wave which was quite popular in the late 1970's because of big patches in VHF FM reception.

This all happened from November 23rd 1978, swopping Radio 2 and 4 over from their long and medium wave frequencies, moving Radio one from 247 metres (1215khz) to 275 and 285 metres and taking radio 3 from 464 metres to 247.

That was an era with no personal computing,no internet,  nearly all radios required manual tuning in even if they had presets and all people could have were instructions in the likes of the Radio Times or on air reminders.

Because older people in particular rely on radio and often find adapting to change difficult, Scouts were asked to help out to "tune in" radios and apply stickers to the dial to those that you just moved a knob to get to the station you wanted to help.

As can be seen in this screenshot Scouts did star in switch over public information programs too as this BBC one did with Sue Lawley from posh Stourbridge.

Scouts on the ward!

 

Imagine you were unwell, quite likely in hospital as a child or young person for a good period of time for operations ans rehabilitation.

You're away from Mum, dad and your family as much as they try to visit, your school friends are away as much as school may send on some work to help you keep on track for when you're able to resume school.

What might happen IF Scouts were running in their with an offering of arts, crafts perhaps explaining what you COULD do working towards a badge or award?

Do you think it might not just raise your spirits but actually aid your recovery, feeling more hopeful for the future?

You bet!

And it happens that a good number of Hospitals have scout units operating doing just that even if sometimes you might need to explain to some the difference you can make and how that has benefits to what a hospital is about.

Camp fun

Seeing we're just a week of Whit Bank Holiday and the summer, thought I'd share a few camp ideas that would be fun.

Make a tote bag from a t-shirt 

Turn an old t-shirt into a handy bag for carrying your gear around camp. No sewing required!  

Play musical sleeping bags 

Just like musical chairs, but with sleeping bags! Set up one less sleeping bag than the number of players. Play some music, and when it stops, everyone must dive into a sleeping bag as fast as they can. The person left without one is out. Keep removing a sleeping bag each round until only one person remains! 

Have a tent building race

Practice putting up a tent before camp and see who can do it the fastest. This will help you be a pro when you get there!

How to mark a trail

 

Bushes

 

Although I don't like long thin insects with stripped behinds that bushes like this attract buzzing after me in this very hot sunny weather attract I do like how they can frame a well lit area of grassland so attractively as here.

Meadows

Been a pleasant weekend so tided the back garden up before venturing out.

Generally I like to keep a certain amount of wild garden here with more of the aim of having a pleasant meadowland to look out and for our birds together with the pollenaters just ensuring it doesn't quite get to a jungle rather than the heavily mowed lawn.

It also is a bit more resilent when it comes to very dry hot periods for having some natural shade beneath as it doesn't take much for a lawn to become more a shrivilled parched mass of ex vegetation otherwise.
 

VE Week

 

Pix credits: Routers Int.

Can't let this week end without something that really matters.

Scouts at Buckingham Palace, London  celebrating and helping out on V.E, Day where we marked the 80th Anniversary of the end of the War in Europe and for some of us we reflected and paid respect to all those in Scouting who gave so much helping out in so many ways back then, making a  huge difference.

On the move

 

Bank Holiday for  eightieth VE Day anniversary is over with and typically the weather here has improved as I strolled down the canal earlier on today with the ducks out navigating before the humans get going from mid morning onwards.

Summer haunts

 

A favourite haunt of mine growing up was the sandy beaches of Colwyn Bay, North Wales where I used to build sand castles and generally play in the summer months.

The pier remains although I feel it warrents some tlc.

Handling diversity

 While this blog doesn't go into gender identity issues notheless in scouting we do have to deal with them as they effect both children and young people apart from adults involved in delivering our programs so the recent Supreme Court ruling that Women are defined by their biological basis does have implications.

We are all working through what it means as at the sharp end it does very much into play such as providing appropriate provision in outdoor camps covering where you group transgender scouts and guides, changing and toilet provision.

Nobody wishes to exclude those who feel they are "different" than their biological basis and while it isn't unknown for youngsters to have a strong sense of conviction that they are (you often are searching in broad terms for your your own idenity at such ages) for some it is a passing phase and yet for others it leads to more permanent changes. Good luck to them.

We have that long running sore where Guiding is FOR and BY girls that transitioning male to females can join, Scouts is co-ed undermining B-P's original plans.

Current guidance is to carry on as we were while things are reviewed but only "safe spaces" really apply so I can't see major changes coming in beyond what we should be doing anyway keeping everbody safe having great experiences together.

The folage is back

 The allure of tree leaves in glistening sun is something else!

Coming out...

 

Spring is very much with us with much bee activity thank goodness and the bees love the bluebells thta have come out.

They were all over this on saturday morning too which was wonderful to se although a couple of wasps seemed to think I was worth exploring!

Leaves

 

Leaves are back and this trees are just devine!

St Georges

 Today is St Georges Day which in scouting we mark.

This is the current St George badge you can sow onto your scout blanket.

Lined up, looking the part 2020's style in Scouts

Eggcellent things

 

Easter in scouts means easter based activities such as variations on rolling eggs which may be played inside your scout hut or out of doors as with this group of American Scouts or making things like cards or Bunny Ears.

Easter for cubs

Cubs can celebrate Easter in various fun ways, including egg hunts, crafting, and engaging in Easter-themed activities. Egg hunts, especially those with a twist like glow-in-the-dark hunts, can be a thrilling adventure. Crafting activities like designing eggs or making Easter nests offer creative outlets. Relay races and games like "Pin the tail on the bunny" provide physical exercise and fun. 

Here's a more detailed look at how Cubs can celebrate Easter:

Egg Hunts:

Traditional Egg Hunt: Hide eggs in the area and let Cubs search for them. 

Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt: Use glow-in-the-dark eggs and have a hunt in the dark, using flashlights or other light sources. 

Team Egg Hunt: Divide Cubs into teams and have them compete to find the most eggs or the most eggs of a certain type. 

Clue-Based Egg Hunt: Provide clues that lead Cubs to the eggs, making it a fun scavenger hunt. 

Crafting:

Design an Egg Competition:

Have Cubs decorate eggs with different methods like painting, decorating with beads, or using other creative materials.

Easter Nests:

Create chocolate nests using shredded wheat, Rice Krispies, or Cornflakes, topped with mini chocolate eggs.

Create Easter Themed Art:

Cubs can paint, draw, or sculpt Easter-themed art like bunnies, eggs, or spring scenes. 

Games and Activities:

Egg and Spoon Race:

A classic game where Cubs try to balance an egg on a spoon while running. 

Pin the Tail on the Bunny:

A fun game that requires Cubs to work together to correctly place the bunny's tail. 

Egg Relay Race:

Cubs can race to transfer eggs from one person's spoon to another or to a designated area. 

Easter-Themed Story Time:

Read stories about the Easter bunny, the Easter egg hunt, or other Easter-related themes. 

Other Easter Celebrations:

Easter-Themed Breakfast or Lunch:

Prepare a special Easter meal with themed food like decorated cookies, bunny-shaped sandwiches, or colorful fruit salad. 

Easter Bunny Visit:

Arrange for a visit from an Easter Bunny to add a special touch to the celebration. 

Easter-Themed Crafts:

Engage in activities like making Easter cards, decorating Easter eggs, or creating Easter-themed crafts. 

What kind of a scout are you anyway?

 

Lucy may scoff but Snoopy has the last laugh he runs a scout section in the end but as things were here pre 1967 he's doing his Tenderpaw first which always was the first stage.

Evolving times

Things you can be involved in scouts are immense and do alter a little as time goes buy and what is desirable or even practical changes for instance while learning about sending and recieving radio messages remains, we no longer do developing your own film nor using a telephone call box.

Those last two have gone mainly through changes in technologies we  use - most of us use digital fim cameras or our smart phones to take pictures which we share with friends and in most areas call boxes are no longer used as we use our mobile phones and are repurposed as either libraries or defilbrator centres.

One things Scouts is doing is working with a video production compan teaching modern day fim making, acting and presenting that can build both personal skills and help communte to the community the value of what we do and what we're about.

Off out

 

The Beagle Scouts on patrolling at camp, fully prepared, enjoying the sunny weather.

Magpies

 

While not my favourite bird species by a long shot but Eurasian Magpies were spotted yesterday around here together with a good number of bumble bees and faux wasp species going in trees and investigating hedge rows.

Life on the branches

 

It's that time of year where we see smaller birds emerging such as the Great Tit not just the Crow and ever present Pigeon who was on our washing line the other day and birds such as the Tit family hang around the trees and fences after a tasty meal.

The Oak

 

The mighty Oak out in its majesty as slowly but surely leaves and buds are all coming out as it warms up. We're fortunate to have a good number here.

Kite flying

 Flying a kite on a breezy day is lot of fun.

Ivanhoe Beacon

Ivanhoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire is a place I like to visit from time to time for just socializing to having fun with kites on.

Owned and managed by the National Trust, it is most popular recreational area especially in spring and summer.

Camp and picnic time

 

Camp and Picnics are very much on mind this morning as I'm going to one tomorrow and have my packaging to do where hopefully the catering will turn out better than it did for this group of lads where it appears to be a bit off as it were.

It's to be seen if anyone attempts a campfire as it may be a bit showery.