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.
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!
Recently 84 has got a new mascot (don’t worry, I am not being replaced yet!!) from BUSAG (Birmingham Universities Scout and Guides). It’s called Orinoco, after the Wombles and 84 has him due to being on the 2022-23 committee as publicity officer. I hope to become good friends with Orinoco and I am planning on interviewing him soon.
When 84 told me that we would soon be enjoying some Brownies I thought wow, Beavers and Scouts weren’t enough each week and that she was volunteering to do Brownies as well. Well that couldn’t have been further from the truth when I realised that she wasn’t taking about the ones who wear yellow and brown uniforms but the gooey yummy delicious ones baked by Sam at The Sugar Rose Kitchen.
Valentine Brownie Selection
My taste buds are now on high alert, I’ve had them before and they are the best brownies north of Brownsea Island.
The Christmas selection was divine with a true mixture of flavours – Mince Pie, Mint Chocolate and Cranberry and Orange Tiffin, my bear senses are now in overload at the thought of trying the valentine selection.
First up from 84 was the hot stuff chilli chocolate brownie, oh my that tangled my taste buds, a brownie that tasted of chilli con carne!
Next up was triple chocolate, a smooth tasting gooey delight which calmed my senses after the hot stuff one.
Following on from the first two 84 gave me the raspberry ripple blondie. Sweet sticky raspberry goodness in a light golden brownie.
After a brief break to enjoy a cuppa I settled down to try the rest, sweetheart rocky road – a rocky road with mini marshmallows and gummy hearts ❤️
Eating a Brownie (look how big it is!!)
Turkish delight came next a gooey brownie containing Turkish delight pieces and topped with edible flower petals.
Lastly was the Oreo brownie, two of my favourite things Oreos and brownies. Large pieces of crushed Oreos in gooey rich chocolate brownie, what’s not to like. This one sent my taste buds out of this world and I ended up sneaking most of the slice much to the disappointment of 84.
In conclusion (pulling out the big words now, go me) brownies from The Sugar Rose Kitchen are divine. I can’t wait to taste the next one’s or I might switch it up a bit and have cupcakes or cookie sandwiches.
Hi blog, it’s Blue here to let you know what 84 has been up to. Today is a very weird yet exciting day as Sis84 heads back to school for year 11! – I’m sure when I met her, she was only starting year 9. 84 has been telling me how scary it is that she has finished Sixth Form and will be heading off to university later this month to study Mathematics and Computer Science.
This summer has been very busy for 84 as she has slowly been packing for University, has started a new job over the summer and took a well earned break after there chaotic two years of Sixth Form during the pandemic. On the 10th of August she got her ALevel results and 84 was very pleased with them, she got into the university of her choice which is still fairly local to home but far enough away to live in university flats for her first year. I look forward to joining the SSAGOS unit and maybe even joining a local Beaver group as a leader (well 84 as the leader not me)!
84’s been a busy 🐝 recently, so I’ve takeover the reins again.
84 has told me that if I’m doing a take over I have to blog about something useful. Well I nearly said phhhh to that but then I had an idea – I’m going to share with you how I make the perfect cup of tea.
Apologies in advance if I miss a few steps but I’m only a little bear. 🐻
Step one: Fill the kettle with water and turn on the kettle.
Step two: While waiting for the water to boil, get a mug and place a tea bag in it.
Step three: Now here’s the shocker place your desired amount of milk into the mug.
Step four: When the water has boiled, pour it into the mug.
Step five: Leave the tea to brew for a few minutes
Step six: Stir the tea to see how strong it is – check the colour I like mine strong so leave the teabag in for a while.
Step seven: When the tea is the desired strength remove the teabag
Step eight: Leave to cool for a short time – nobody likes a burnt tongue.
I’ve been a bit quiet lately, I’ve taken to hiding in 84s room to avoid getting this nasty virus which is about. I don’t want to be remembered as the first bear to catch it.
This evening I came out of my hiding place to undertake a very important role – Mum84 needed an adjudicator for the Rainbows Cuddly Toy Show so I ventured out.
I was introduced to the Rainbows, there were lots of new faces this time. Each Rainbow took a turn to introduce their cuddly toy and tell us a little bit about it. The contest for the biggest was a closely fought race with entries from P with Sparkles the Unicorn and M with Peggy the Pegasus. I needed a bit of help from the Rainbows to decide and Peggy the Pegasus was declared the winner of the biggest cuddly toy.
Another close category was the cuddliest cuddly toy, entries from O with Bunny, I with Lion and P with Sparkles, being on zoom this was very hard to judge as I couldn’t personally snuggle up with them and had to rely on how much they were being cuddled by their owner, but I eventually decided on Bunny who has been cuddled by her owner since birth.
Other entries included Sequin, Penguin and Lily who won the sparkliest, smallest and prettiest eyes categories.
Each entrant will be awarded a certificate and a rosette.
Mum84 says that some of the parents came up with a few alternative categories – most chewed, most washed, most bald spots and the one where Mummy hasn’t sewn the arm back on yet!
Maybe it’s not just me who needs to get out more … Lockdown is getting to us all.
Today’s blog is going to be Blue interviewing Brian Florence Mount-Battenberg Winsor II.
Hi, Brian let us start with an easy question. Is it true you were stolen on the Jamboree? At first, yes. I was just chilling with my pal Nick when these British girls came to speak to him and kidnapped me in the process. It turned out to be quite fun anyway since I was gifted a bowtie and they put me on a pole so I could look out upon the jamboree site and say hello to everyone who passed by. It was not a very long kidnapping either since I returned to my fellow Americans later that evening. The fact I remain with my British family now was all a completely legal adoption.
I see, what is your favourite food? An easy win for vegan shrimp. It has been my favourite for as long as I can remember. Being vegan does limit my options and it is not the cheapest thing for mum to keep buying but man does it taste good. Thankfully, it does not seem to be top of many other people’s list so there is always a stack in the supermarkets.
Speaking of food, do your prefer double Gloucester cheese or Shropshire Blue cheese? Hmm, being vegan I have never tasted either so that is a limitation. Equally, one of my parents is from Shropshire and the other is from Gloucestershire so that does not help either. I do live in Shropshire though and it is a great place so for that I will say Shropshire Blue cheese. The colour blue reminds me of the sea as well so that is a bonus.
If you could have a superpower what would you choose? I can already fly, and I am convinced I am psychic so that would be pointless to have again. Maybe teleportation though? I know I can fly but it is a long way to Florida when I want to see my old family so that would definitely be helpful. Also seeing my British family would be easier as well but the world is scary without mum with me so it would have to be the kind of teleportation where I can bring people with me.
What is your favourite campfire song? Oh, you will never get to Heaven definitely. I have only sung it once, but it was a lot of fun. It makes fun of all my British family since they are scouts but not flamingos, so it is a lot of fun. I do like most campfire songs since they are a time that everyone comes together with smiling faces. One of the best parts about camping is the campfire to me.
Brian you sound like a brave flamingo so, do you have any fears? Well, I know I don’t like flying but I think that’s more because I have to do it with my legs in luggage below so that’s not fear so to speak. We did have a few lightning storms at jamboree which was very scary, and I had to go curl up with someone each time so that is probably my biggest fear. Second would definitely be supermarkets stopping selling vegan shrimp.
A controversial question, who is your favourite from Double Blue? This is hard! They are all this one big family who I all love. I mean my parents, Leanne, and Hannah, they give me food and are always there for hugs if I am scared. My godparents, Frankie, and Liv, they are awesome and are always fun to be around. Jess and Jess are great people too who always sneak my extra food when my parents say I have had enough already. One of the leaders, Justin, is pretty cool as well. Oh, and there is also Jacob who is the reason I have my fabulous bow tie. Yet, I do not think I can actually choose a single person from the unit.
Finally, to conclude this interview, do you prefer England or Florida? This one is hard, they are both so different. I love British accents so being in England helps with that. The weather in Florida is a lot warmer which I am used to and even when its sunny in Britain they seem to complain about it which is annoying. Vegan shrimp is easier to find in England as well which is important. So, I guess my answer is England, but I love both places dearly!
Thank so much Brian, go and eat some vegan shrimp.
84’s been a busy 🐝 recently, so I’ve taken over the reins again.
84 has told me that if I’m doing a take over I have to blog about something useful. Well I nearly said phnh to that but then I had an idea – I’m going to share with you how I make the perfect cup of tea.
Apologies in advance if I miss a few steps but I’m only a little bear. 🐻
Step one:
Fill the kettle with water and turn on the kettle.
Step two:
While waiting for the water to boil, get a mug and place a tea bag in it.
Step three:
Now here’s the shocker place your desired amount of milk into the mug.
Step four:
When the water has boiled, pour it into the mug.
Step five:
Leave the tea to brew for a few minutes
Step six:
Stir the tea to see how strong it is – check the colour I like mine strong so leave the teabag in for a while.
Step seven:
When the tea is the desired strength remove the teabag
Step eight:
Leave to cool for a short time – nobody likes a burnt tongue. Finally enjoy the perfect cup of tea.
Shh Howdy 84’s asleep ready for a busy weekend ahead of her. Today I’m with Sis84 doing a Q and A.
Lets start with some simple questions:
What section of Scouting are you in? I’m a Scout who goes to 84’s old Scout group.
What it like having 84 always going off fundraising every weekend? You would think it is great, but actually I’m usually dragged along with her to all the events she does.
Rumour has it you like to watch Christmas movies, which one would you recommend to all my fans? I do love all Christmas movies and it would be so hard to pick just one. Some of my favorites are Elf, The Grinch and The Christmas Prince Trilogy.
Blue what is your favourite Christmas movie?
Well Sis84, I have always loved the Home Alone movies, Kevin gets up to so much fun! But I digress we need to get on with this interview.
Just out of curiosity how well do you get on with 84? We go together like chalk and cheese.
We have time for one last question so, What’s it like having a world renowned blogger as a sister? Honestly, I’m not very sure as I don’t have a sister who is a good blogger. Don’t tell 84 but I think she’s kind of terrible.
