Resting at base

Accommodation away can vary, many of us hold to the whole idea of sleeping under the stars in our tent we had to learn to erect properly with say just a shop and shower blocks on a site while for others it may include a hostel with either a dormitory or just shared with another in bunk beds.

I normally prefer a dormitory for the social side with great yarns told at night which was pretty similar to how life was at school being used to sharing spaces and keeping to rules.

These two I imagine are just taking a bit of a nap before evenings activity.

The Winter view

After yesterday's collecting in which I saw him with a red outfit and white beard today where I was jumping up an down waving and handed a donation over we're back taking a winter view across the canal where it is obvious the land has sunk dramatically thanks to subsidence which is endemic here looking across to next parished area.

It was a very storm day where ideally I could of used a tripod but it would of needed to be sturdy model as even I was being blown about  although there were a number of people about walking  at the time.

A few entries back I mentioned The Squirrel's, no not those crazy nut eating rodents but the newly formed unit for four to six year old scouts across the UK.

This is a key stage in their social and emotional development, when vital connections are being made in the brain. 

Since launch over 300 Squirrel Dreys have been set up in local communities and this year there is a Acorn Appeal to help set more units up with the priority being those in the more disadvantaged areas so no one gets left behind.

Please consider giving a donation to this appeal:

Scout Association Acorn Appeal 2021

Ho Ho Ho!

 

Poster source: Rode Heath (97th S-O-T) Scouts, Potteries North district, Staffordshire.

We are moving ever more into the Christmas season and apart from getting a community tree by public fundraising with lights on the Green on Sunday scouts in that district will be escorting  one Santa Claus on his visit around all the houses and raising funds.

Unlike last year where that couldn't happen so a JustGiving funding raiser was used instead for local fund raising this year they'll be back normal with buckets and real money.

Revisits

Today I'll be a bit busy but I thought given it is raining hard with the probity of snow later on to revisit those crisp golden leaves from a few days back.

One might as well take a pause before having a hot drink today!

That was the Scout of the early 1960's in his uniform and as then carrying his trusty penknife on him.

Sadly today we'd attract attraction for that.

Visits out

Rover Scouts on an official visit  posing for a photograph at Horse Guards Parade.

Horse Guards Parade is the ceremonial parade ground in St James's Park and is the scene of Trooping the Colour on the Queen's official birthday in June. Horse Guards is the building with a clock tower over an archway, and remains the official entrance to St James's and Buckingham Palace.

Horseguards wasn't somewhere I visited around that age but we did go to the Police Horse section in Liverpool, North-western England where you saw the stables, met the risers and stable staff which was very interesting so I can imagine how these scouts feel.

Apart from seeing the horses they'll learn about his history of horses in the ceremonial and military roles. 

Needless to say they look really smart in their uniform.

Support on the trek

This Scout shows a novel way of staying upright with a fair sized backpack and sleeping upon his back which I'm sure he can feel and the legs on it are fully adjustable on the tubular section so it can set for the exact height for him.

With the exception of his footwear and socks I do like how he has his uniform on.

Winter announces itself

The weekend was one of very low temperatures and considerable snowfall so much so that for the first time in ages I needed to wear my thick track pants and thickest gloves that is usually awkward for using the camera with not least the need to semi press the shutter release to engage the auto focussing.

I went out into the woods although getting about with my walking abilities was not easy due to the ice rather than the powdery snow which was fine.

Here the fallen branches got light coating even if everything else in wood has well covered.