So I’m in a podcast..

So it’s been a short while since I’ve last posted and I’ve been very busy. I am currently writing this blog from Switzerland after traveling back out here this summer for work. However that’s not what I am hear to blog about!

A few weeks ago I was interviewed on Tent Talks Podcast by my friend I met at Coronation Camp. We talked all things from my World Scout Jamboree experience to our Scouting experiences. If you would like to give it a listen it can be found on Spotify or on YouTube.

It’s insane to think that 4 years ago I was in attendance at the 24th World Scout Jamboree and how much the world has changed in these past 4 years. I am very thankful still for my Jamboree experience and I miss it everyday. For those who are out this summer, enjoy yourselves as it’s a once in a lifetime experience.

Pretzel Baking

This November, 84s Universities Scouts and Guide Group (BUSAG) are co-hosting Oktoberfest rally for SSAGO. As such she decided that at the upcoming summer rally she would do some fundraising.

For this 84, decided that to keep on brand they shall make and sell pretzels so this afternoon she tested a recipe. I could not let 84 have all the fun so I decided to help her.

We decided to use the following recipe which can be found here and below is me helping her make them.

They were very tasty and I give them 4 out of 5 stars. I can’t wait for 84 to make them again so I can steal them to eat.

Operation Golden Orb

Wow wow wow. What am amazing weekend I have just had celebrating the Kings Coronation with the Scouts. This blog is about my experience of the Coronation Camp.

sunset on Thursday night

After arriving on Thursday afternoon with lovely weather, we caught the shuttle bus to site. On route we stopped at a petrol station before continuing to head off to Gilwell. Once now at Gilwell, we registered in before putting up our tents and then going on a wonder. I helped with some cleaning before changing into my uniform for the briefing and uniform checks – as I did not have the Coronation badge, I asked the valet team for one. We then ate dinner before I headed off for an early night.

Briefing

Friday was a very chill day. I waited about in the breakfast queue talking to some Australians and Canadians before grabbing my breakfast. I then sewed my coronation badge onto my uniform before handing it to the valet team to iron and then headed to our safety briefing. Here we learnt some basic safety training on how to look out for “HOT bags”, the procession route and how many horse drew each carriage as well as the name of the operation… Golden Orb. We then headed out for a walk around site with our Team Leader, Larry, before playing a Scottish game of “run, haggis, run”. We then grabbed a warm lunch before afternoon activities.

Blue in ‘The Lid’

For the afternoon we could drop into varying activities, there was The Lid open with a climbing wall, ladders, a mini Jacobs ladder and other mini ropes courses. This was great fun as we queued and got to know one another more and played some cards. We then did some tomahawks before helping the valet team with sewing some badges.

Campfire!!

In the evening, there was a small campfire and Blue and I, with my new friends, got to learn some new international songs such as “Hello Mr Worm” and the German Bear Hunt. We then headed to Buffalo Bar to compete in the Quiz, where we got 10/10 on the cryptic TV shows round, before heading for an early night to wake up nice and early Saturday Morning.

Good Morning!!

Saturday consisted of an early start at 4am to have a quick shower before heading to meet the rest of my group and grab our breakfast. We then walked to Chingford train station to grab the first train into London. The early morning tiredness was real as we made our way into London and headed for Green Park Station.

We shortly arrived in St. James Park and set up our base. At first the weather was gorgeous however soon it started to rain and proceeded to not stop raining throughout the rest of the day. We soon saw the King’s Procession towards Westminster Abbey before watching the main coronation at Westminster on the big screen. It was amazing to watch in a crowd with others cheering when he was crowned and joining in singing the national anthem, a lovely atmosphere. Before the Coronation Procession left the Abby, we headed out towards The Mall to get a good spot to watch. We then saw the Coronation Procession including the Golden Carriage and once the procession had finished we queued patiently to walk towards Buckingham Palace to view the Balcony Wave and watch the Fly Byes. As the weather was still very much raining, we only got to see the Red Arrows and I saw two of the Royals, who weren’t obstructed by the Victoria Memorial.

Blue Watching the Coronation

After queueing for the longest of time to escape The Mall we travelled to Victoria station to head back to Gilwell. There underground was long with delayed signalling and silly people obstructing the doorways we eventually made it back to Chingford before slowly walking back to site. I swapped out of uniform and played some cards before a delicious meal of lamb stew and then headed back to the Buffalo Bar. We did the macarena, cha cha slide and listened to music before heading to sleep.

At the Scouts Own/Closing Ceremony

Sunday morning was more relaxed, I said goodbye to my Scottish friend before heading to the Scouts Own/Closing Ceremony. We reflected on our Scouts Promise and how we did our duty to our country and King over this weekend whether it be by Stewarding or just being a friendly face. After some reflection and thank you, it was time for goodbye’s and Operation Cornetto. I finished packing my kit away before catching the shuttle bus to Chingford to head home. As I was early to my train, Blue and I went via. Liverpool Street to catch the Elizabeth Line. We then made it back home to Sunny Brum.

Gangshow Week 2023

This Easter I helped with my districts Gangshow again, helping out all and about backstage. Unfortunately I was unable to help with Fridays get in, due to travelling down to the seaside to get my dad’s new car. However, I was back for Saturday!

Saturday consisted of finishing assembly of different sets and then setting each set. For each set we’d move the rostrum into place, add stationary scenery followed by the hanging scenery. I got to help with lifting and tightening clamps on the rostrum as well as the wire clamps. At lunch we got chilli before getting back to work before leaving.

Sunday and Monday were both dress rehearsals with the cast and music. This was exciting as it was the first few times the show was performed on stage with lighting, sound, props, set and cast. It was very fun and I got to be on curtains again!

Tuesday was crew only rehearsal and this meant we had no cast on stage. We got to practice setting each set and had a bit of fun dancing on stage. It was a great evening before the official shows started on the Wednesday.

On Friday evening, Blue came along to watch the show with Mum84 and Dad84. He has a great time watching sis84 in the show, laughing and having a sing song. On Saturday, Blue came along and helped us backstage. He had great fun messing about on stage and helping to move scenery.

A Scouty day out for 84 and Blue

We started out early on a train journey that would take us into the capital. Then we took the underground overground (a bit like the Wombles) and a short hike to our destination for our day out. (Hint: it’s a Scouting place but not Brownsea Island as our journey didn’t involve a boat.)

Where is 84 taking me?

Have you guessed it yet?

Skyline of London

It was Gilwell Park, the UKs Scouting HQ!

You may be wondering why was 84 heading to Gilwell Park? Well she has an interview for a UK Deputy Youth Commissioner Role. As part of this she was required at Gilwell for a small panel interview followed by a team project challenge of designing the new “Squirrel Youth Shaped Award”.

Inside the White House!!

It was a very relaxing interview process and she finished late afternoon. This left time for us to explore central London before catching our train back to University home. We even got a lift to the train station (due to my persuasion skills and adorable looks), became overground underground wombles again and eventually reached busy Oxford Street!

We headed through China Town to M&M world, followed by Piccadilly Circus, then Hamleys before a quick stop at Pret to grab some dinner (& coffee for me) before finally arriving back in Euston!

84 speed ran central to show me all the sights (as you can see below):

We finally got the train home and reflected on our Scouty Day by watching 84s current favourite tv show of Below Deck!

Oktoberfest Rally

Recently, me and some of my SSAGO friends have run a bid to host and run Oktoberfest rally next Autumn. As part of this we spoke in an EGM at Welsh Rally which I blogged about here!

Today we received the results and we won!!

The votes came down to 3 votes split between our winning bid and the following bid. I am looking forward to running this next year and will keep you updated with this event.

My First SSAGO Rally

After a kerfuffle with cancelled trains, I made it to Newport ready for my first ever national SSAGO camp. Luckily when I arrived on the campsite, our tents had been pre assembled due to the freshers arriving earlier with them. I unpacked before discovering dinner and then shortly the Quiz!!

En route to Rally ft. Blue the bear and Orinoco

Just as I settled into my tent, one of my tent buddies felt sick so we addressed this and got her to the first aid tent before heading to bed again. It was a very cold night and I was happy when I could wake up and grab a warm breakfast. However, luck was not on my side. When I reached the front of the queue, C and I got stopped as they needed to let those on the early coach through first (is it not there fault for waking up late?). When they finally let us go to the front of the queue they had ran out of beans and hashbrowns so we had a pity breakfast of bacon and eggs.

Saturday Morning Sunrise

After breakfast we grabbed our lunches before waiting for the coach. We nearly got a lift on a minibus to the coach however the minibuses clutch failed and we started rolling backwards. We then walked to the coaches to head into Cardiff.

During Saturday morning, I partook in the monopoly run. I was in a group with other SSAGO clubs and we ran around Cardiff. Cardiff was heaving with people due to the Tonga v. Wales rugby match happening later that day and we saw the Tonga coach arrive.

Orinoco in Cardiff

At lunch, we sat and I spoke to some of my Scouting friends from home which I did not know were in SSAGO. This was very nice to catch up with them and it included one of my Jamboree friends.

Amazing bread at St Fagans Outdoor Museum – 5/5 cheesy baps!!

After lunch, I booked onto the St Fagans Outdoor Museum. I fondly remember visiting here as a child and one of the houses had my nans old kitchen cupboards. I enjoyed exploring the museum and looking around the old buildings as well as hearing the stories behind them. As an afternoon snack, I bought a cheesy roll and it was gorgeous. I then visited a castle before catching the coach back to the campsite – I don’t remember this journey as I had a well deserved nap.

Blue the Bear in my Nans old kitchen

After arriving back at the campsite, we grabbed dinner before getting ready for the ceilidh (a highlight of any SSAGO camp). This was so so fun and the caller had been on Stacey and Gavin and worked with many cool clients. After the ceilidh, it was time for the silent disco before heading to bed after a midnight Welsh cake!

Sunday morning was a much better breakfast as I woke up early to head off to reps. Reps was full of all the SSAGO gossip news and election details. Following this was an EGM and I was running on behalf of the Oktoberfest rally committee. This would be held in Autumn 2023 and I had to speak and answer questions (see photo below of confident 84 in front of over 100 people!!).

Speaking in front of over 100 people (I am the one in grey!)

After EGM it was time to pack away before we caught the last minibus (due to 3 minibuses breaking down over the weekend) and headed back to Newport. Here we headed to spoons before catching the train back to Uni.

It was a really enjoyable first rally and I am already looking forward to Centenarally in March next year (hopefully we will have received our Rali Cymru merch before then though – edit 12.3.23 ‘we still have not received our Rali Cymru merch’).

I’m a SSAGOer get me out of here

This month, I have helped to plan and organise the Midlands Freshers Camp for SSAGO. On our small committee, I took on the role of being logistics and as such, I ensured we had enough equipment, helped here and there as well as create a timetable and ensured we kept to timings.

Friday evening rolled around and first I had to catch a train to Tile Hill with other BUSAG members – as I had a Friday late lecture 🙁 and would not be able to arrive early. As soon as we arrived, I got straight into helping, from annoying the kitchen staff to pitching tents to attending the quiz late to washing up. There was a small campfire before I headed to bed, ready for a long Saturday ahead + an early morning as I agreed to help make breakfast.

Sunrise on Saturday Morning

Saturday morning was an early rise, waking up at 6am, prepped to cook breakfast. After a well deserved cuppa (and watching the stunning sunrise), I started cracking eggs for eggy bread. Shortly, the campers started waking and breakfast was a go! It was one of the best camp breakfasts I have had in a long while.

After breakfast, I ran capture the flag. With a little bit of cheating here and there (I never said in the rules that I could not tell the opposing team where the other teams flag was hidden), we then stopped briefly for elevenses. Then, we had a mini firebuilding workshop before lunch.

Afternoon activities consisted of backwoods cooking or a rotation of an “eating challenge”, guess the object, free time and my base of the “elephant/monkey game”. It was a very fun afternoon before the rain came in. I then went on a campsite explore before heading back for a gorgeous dinner of dhal, rice and naan.

Dinner + Orinoco

After dinner, we had a campfire. Due to it raining, it started off quite small as we created two smaller fires before combining them together once more of the wood had dried. We sung songs before many retired to bed. I agreed to stay up and watch the campfire die out (which meant I did not have to be on breakfast cooking duty Sunday morning). A few other SSAGO member stayed with me watching the fire and it was nice chatting and making new friends. We talked into the early hours of Sunday morning before deciding that we would head off (as the campfire was just now embers and ensured they were cooler). As soon as we reached back to camp, it started raining again which was typical.

Saturday Evening Campfire

Sunday morning was a later start where I ate breakfast before, visiting the amazing campsite shop. It was then time to dismantle camp and tidy the hut we had been using. We had a lovely leftovers lunch before walking back to the train station to return back to Uni.

It was a very rewarding camp, and I thoroughly enjoyed being behind the scenes this one time.

Honouring the Queen

Ove the past 72 hours I have been in London visiting a school friend. It has been very surreal being in the city during the mourning of late Queen Elizabeth II. I have been honoured to visit the memorials in Green Park watching citizen laying flowers to honour her and remembering the good she has provided for our country.

On the Wednesday, I was fortunate to watch the procession from Buckingham palace towards Westminster as they moved the Queens coffin. Whilst waiting for 14:22 to appear, I got talking to some of those around me. One lady, had stood in the position many years ago for the VE day celebration “hanging from a branch in the tree”, another had travelled from Dorset to be here. We shared some lovely memories over the years waiting to catch a glimpse of the King.

I followed the Scouting motto, being prepared, by bringing many snacks, my chair and even my full waterproofs (on a very sunny day). Even with height not to my advantage, I was still able to see the road to view the Royals and the parade. How powerful it was just to be stood in the crowd waiting.

At 14:22 the procession began and we were first greeted with police horses who were followed by the marching band. Shortly, we saw the Queens coffin followed with the Royal Family walking behind. We all paid our respects towards the longest raining monarch in British history and for me as the Patron Saint of Scouting.

I then returned back home fortunate to have witnessed history.

On the 19th of September, I watched her funeral with the rest of the nation and was very moved. I look forward to the King’s coronation for the UK to celebrate together again.