Walls and Flowers

 Today's as it's a bit dull I'm looking at Walls,we all live near them and flora 

This is the wall of a impost impressive property with an extensive garden but this isn't just aesthetically pleasing, it also helps the insect population, not least the bee who can be spotted towards the very bottom of the picture.

This is just growing by the wall of my garden, it certainly wasn't planted.

I suspect its seeds from a nearby garden got scattered and having landed, it started to germinate in situ and as far as I'm concerned it can stay there.

This was planted by a neighbour adding much colour to the street scene and usually attracts much bee life. Presently the Bumble Bees are out in force around here

Finally something that was planted that unlike some hasn't gone off the boil but is in full bloom with a lovely smell.

Canada Day Edition

Seeing it is Dominion  or more recently known as Canada Day tomorrow, here's a vintage themed  post.

Pipe Major Bill McCurdy skirls his pipes in front of the Nova Scotia gateway at Connaught Ranges, Ottawa, during Canada’s first Boy Scout Jamboree. July 1949

Money Skills Activity Badge

As is my want in this blog we do look at things within the World of Scouting for children and young people today outside of things in my life and cub scouts of the past.

Most of us are familiar with Badges within Scouting and periodically they are changed to reflect new and in some ways more 'relevant' to todays world which is what the scouting programs at all levels are about equipping children and young people for.

It was announced 15 June that the first new badge for three years was to be introduced and this badge is the Money Skills Activity Badge for Beavers and Cubs.

This badge is supported by the HSBC banking group and aims to build young people’s confidence and understanding of money through creative, fun and hands-on activities.

The badge aims to build on the decision-making abilities young people already have to increase their confidence in choices around money.

In order to achieve it there are four requirements for Beavers and five for Cubs, with at least two new activities for each requirement that have been road tested with Beavers and Cubs. 

This is a subject close to my heart as a former Advisor for Citizen's Advice in England because we have seen many adults get into difficulties handling money matters and research has shown many of our clients lifetime habits around making decisions around money start to be developed from the age of seven.

The way in which modern families handle money, often not been seen by children as parents bank and pay online and with credit cards means too unlike the past they don't see saving or physically even saving up pocket money and decide what is the most important thing to keep money back doesn't directly show children how to.

My own generation did see having savings accounts at school which apart from talking about saving also developed ideas around the importance of saving but this has drifted away.

To me this Badge and the scheme around it is a great opportunity to put this aright.

Hold that pose!

It's been a damp couple of days here part from being very much out of commission with a migraine so I've been in bed with the curtains closed until this morning.

Here we are all at camp having our official picture taken complete with our Leader.
I feel subject to the consent of all, it is important for a troop to be engaged in the process of having a written and photographic record of its activity both as a record of its activity and also to by showing to later generations, inspire them.

More nature

A warm start to what is officially "Summer" a couple of days on from Summer Solstice which normally would be marked with thousands of people at Stonehenge, a big group of Celtic stones set in the form of a circle to be found in Wiltshire, England. 

Berries are a thing I have a soft spot for having grown up with them in the hedgerows where I lived until just after my eight birthday when we moved seeing them on a daily basis.

These are not far from where I live know growing out of a series of heads along the stems. 

Foliage is interesting although unless you're into still life pictures with leaves carefully set out against a background they don't always grew for the best aesthetic effects with this example being found near a wall.

The Nettle, bain of boyhood leading to stinging on bare legs  when playing can be seen at the bottom left.

These days' I'm a bit more careful not to walk into be close enough for one to be blown in strong winds into my legs!

When scouts get together...

.While the reasons why aspects of Scouting tend to be used in advertising or promoting brands can be widespread this one does remind us the scout does need liquid refreshment to avoid dehydration as well as it's role in keeping everyone happy as they all take part in the activities together. 

In the illustration they capture that spirit of being at camp very well and with any luck, that can return soon

On the water

Messing about on the water was always something I loved although I never captained a boat not just the tranquillity but also for the views. 

Fortunately there are a number of sailing clubs and centres within a half an hours drive of here that people can both hire a vessel and get expert tuition on.