BLOGMAS (day 18)

aka BLUEMAS (day 1)

Howdy!

Welcome to the first ever edition of Bluemas. (Did you like what I did there?)

Anyone else getting excited for Christmas? I’m looking forward to spending it with 84 and her family.

I’ve already made friends with the elves – Eddie and Eira, they report back to the North Pole magically each night, so I’m being extra specially good. It’s quite easy really, all I have to do is do as I’m told and clean my teeth and claws at least twice a day. I did try flossing my claws but ended up getting all tangled, maybe I should have just stuck to flossing my teeth.

Blue’s Christmas cracker:

What do you call an old snowman?

Water

That’s it for the first edition of Bluemas.

Love Blue x

84’s Busy Weekend

Howdy readers, it’s me again. I’ve taken over the blog again! Which means that yes, I am now living with 84 permanently. I’m super excited as I know that we are going to get to go to the European Jamboree next year.

84 and I have had a fairly busy few days with Scouting activities – starting with the Remembrance parade on Sunday morning. 84 made paracord poppies and if I do say so myself they are marvellous. Not wishing to moan but she didn’t make any purple ones to remember all of the animals who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I think I’m going to have to raid the paracord stash and make one myself ready for next year.

The afternoon of Sunday was spent on the Young Leader’s module K first aid course. I stayed out of the way as I didn’t fancy being bandaged again.

On Monday evening 84 had an EJ2020 meet up, where they perfected their culinary skills and made meatballs and pasta. I feel a song coming on … On top of spaghetti all covered in there sat my poor meatball, until somebody sneezed. It rolled off the table and onto the floor and then my poor meatball it rolled out the door. (Note: no meatballs were harmed in the making of this blog post)

Last night 84 and I climbed a mountain at her Explorer meeting. It was a clear night so I got to see plenty of stars. I stayed warm in 84’s bag but did enjoy the sneaky burger she got on the way home. It made a nice change to chicken and rice!

Out and about

Hey Blue here again,


This past week 84 has been out and about sharing her Jamboree experience with a local Cub and Scout group and she also visited the little red ninja’s again.


I love going to see people, I especially like going to Rainbows as I get to hang out with Olivia. But boy were they noisy this week! They asked 84 lots of questions including asking, when shown any photo with boys in – “is that your boyfriend?”


Everyone really enjoyed watching the video and I think they’re leaders are going to have to do their best to make their meetings more adventurous.
84 has also been busy making and selling her crafts, I’m excited as 84 has been making Christmas things. Did you know that there are only 65 days until Christmas.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Post Jamboree Blue(s)

Howdy Blue here,

I’ve been hanging out with 84 since arriving back in the UK.

84’s been busy starting 6th form and has settled on A levels in Maths, Chemistry and Physics. Which FYI is apparently exactly what both Mum84 and Dad84 did.

She has a smart new uniform and even gets to wear a tie; it’s a bit like a Necker but without a woggle. 84 told me she use to wear one at junior school and has had to teach her friends how to tie one.

On Wednesday she headed to a careers fair and has been looking at universities already.

Last week she helped deliver a presentation about the Jamboree at the county AGM. The presentation included a video produced by unit 82.

84’s also been telling local scout groups all about the Jamboree experience and has been fundraising for her own scout group by manning a carpark.

She took me along to a preparation camp for the European Jamboree and we had a great time, 84 blogged about this herself, but I’m in the photos, I was a bit worried when they put me on the tomahawk targets but it was just so I could pose for a photo – maybe I should become a model.

In between all of this she has kept busy by sewing the enormous amount of badges onto her camp blanket. 84 has continued swapping since the Jamboree sending unit badges to South Korea, New Zealand and Croatia.

It seems like she’s been keeping busy to avoid any post Jamboree blues, even resorting to baking brownies, (no not those ones, the edible ones). I had a nibble and they tasted great. In fact there’s a few left so I’m going back to check that they are still edible.

Advice from Blue

Hi everyone

Blue here again – 84 has now been entrusted to make sure that I make it to the coach on Saturday when we all depart for the Jamboree. Mum84 is a bit worried that I’m going to be left behind and she’ll have to entertain me for the next three weeks or even worse be responsible for ‘shipping’ me!

One thing that 84 hasn’t mentioned is the American language, they might speak ‘English’ but the American version is very different.

I’ve decided to list the most important things to help 84 and anyone else venturing across the pond this summer.

EnglishAmerican
TapFaucet
TorchFlashlight
ToiletsRestroom
TrousersPants
WoggleSlide
PavementSidewalk
RoadPavement
UndergroundSubway
ChipsFries
CrispsChips
BiscuitCookie
Car parkParking Lot
TrainersSneakers
LegoLegos

Other things with no direct equivalent are proper ‘Full English’ bacon, squash (the drink) and Christmas crackers!

Another thing to remember is spelling, but that’s a whole other blog post …

The Great Blue Sewing Bee

Hi everyone, it’s Blue here again, 84s been really busy revising for her upcoming GCSEs so I’ve decided to step in and help her out. Hopefully 84 will be back soon – she needs to take a break from revision sometime?!

Before the London trip I treated myself to a new necker. Unfortunately normal size ones are way too big for me so I thought I would raid Mum84’s hoard extensive fabric supply and make my own.

I did find it a little bit hard to use the sewing machine, reaching the foot pedal and ensuring that the material was sewing straight proved rather difficult so I roped Mum84 in to help.

After a long afternoon working together I finally had my new necker.

Here are the photos of my progress:

Leading Questions with Blue.

Hey everyone, guest blogger Blue here again!

I got to spend a few days with 84 again after meeting back up at one of her county’s events. Since she interviewed me last time I thought I’d do the same.

So 84, you’re looking a lot better by the way, what was the day about?

This day got together the patrol leaders in my county who were leading a patrol on the 24th World Scout Jamboree. We took in a range of activities to learn different leadership skills and techniques.

That sounds good. So what sort of things did you talk about?

We talked about different personality traits – drivers, thinkers, feelers and entertainers. They told us how each different section are motivated as well as push and pull factors.

We briefly talked about what makes a good leader as well as the characteristics they should have; they should be allowing everyone to have equal responsibility, able to handle all situations as well as giving credit where it is deserved.

On top of this we learnt about how to delegate well and the ladder of unconsciously incompetent to unconsciously competent.

Did anything in particular surprise you or make you think “oh yeah”?

I learnt about the ladder of unconsciously incompetent to unconsciously competent.

At the bottom of the ladder you have those who are unconsciously incompetent.

These are the people who have seen a new skill and believe thoroughly that they are able to do this without even asking for help the very first time. They are usually very happy and excited to give a new skill ago; this is until they give the skill ago and become consciously incompetent.

They now have tried the new skill and are unhappy as they are not able to do it; as time progresses they will become consciously competent.

This is where they are still a bit worried about the activity but are able to now take part with very little assistance; this is until they become unconsciously competent.

They now are able to do the skill without really thinking about what they are doing such as tying a reef knot. This is a good place to be in but sometimes they can forget the specific steps in the task and forget exactly what they are doing.

So what would be your top tips for other patrols going out to the Jamboree?

My top tip would be to learn about the different personalities in your patrol. to learn what motivates each individual and the main category of people they fall into.

Are they a “Thinker” who like to work out the problem step by step or are they a “Feeler” who cares about how the rest of the patrol are feeling and doesn’t think about themselves as much?

Are they a “Driver” who drives to make sure that everything has been done on time and to task or are they even an “Entertainer” where they have the most fun with others joking and laughing around?

The more you know your patrol the easier it will be in the long run to delegate specific tasks to and help them to drive towards their target all whilst having fun and enjoying them whilst doing even some of the more boring tasks.

Finally, tell me one thing you learnt about yourself.

I learnt that I am partly a thinker and a feeler; I like to plan ahead of time to make sure that everything will get done whilst checking that everyone is happy; I need to be able to be a bit more firm with others when they are not listening and to also make sure that I not only play to the strengths within my patrol but also can teach them new skills.

Finally I have learnt how the patrol leaders team has been arranged. Personally in my patrol leadership team we have an entertainer (who can also be partly a driver) with me being a thinker and a feeler – everyone has all characteristics which work well together within a team.

Thanks 84, sounds like it was a really good day. Can’t wait to see you again!

Blue on Tour

Hello!

Guest blogger Blue here. I’m Blue the Bear and I’m the official mascot of Unit 82. At our last unit meet-up I got the chance to hit the road with one of our more distant members and I was shocked to find out they were the secret blogger! I though I’d hijack their blog and tell you a bit about what I’ve been up to.

I got to visit the Beaver Colony that 84 helps out with and see some of the fun and games they get up to. I met their own mascot Barry the Beaver. We were taught about some of the things to take on a camp and the following weekend I went along to their winter camp.  I wonder if any of the beavers I met will be a participant at a future World Scout Jamboree.

I’ve been to visit a museum all about the history of jet planes. It was interesting getting close to the planes. I can’t wait until we fly out for the Jamboree although I imagine the plane will be a lot bigger than the ones I saw. Talking about flying I was really excited when 84 told me about the travel details that had been released.

With Christmas coming up 84 has been out fundraising at Christmas Fayres. I’ve been along to some of these where I was on guard duty looking after the collection pot and keeping an eye on everyone looking at the things she had been making to sell. Fortunately no one tried to buy me because I’m sure I overheard her discussing with her sister how much she could charge for me.

You may have noticed in some of these pictures I’ve been sporting a Double Blue Bow-tie. While I’ve been staying with 84 there was a winter ball for the Explorers and Network members in her county. She went to this with some of her Explorer Group friends, but there were also quite a lot of other Jamboree participants as well and there are some nice pictures taken of them all. 84 made me a bow tie so I could dress the part as well.

As well as all things Scouting, 84 also took me along to a Rainbow meeting. There I met Olivia, the Rainbow mascot. The Rainbows were doing a craft activity with lots of glitter. I think we need more glitter at Double Blue unit meetings. The Rainbows taught me a new song while I was there, a Christmas Nativity song to the tune of the classic campfire “Pizza Hut” song.

This week 84 has been poorly and so been off school and at home during the day. It was nice to get the extra time with her although I am also a bit sad that she is unwell.  I hope she recovers quickly in time for Christmas!

Sadly my time with 84 had to come to an end. Today we went to a meetup of all her county’s Jamboree members where we learnt more about what to expect. At the end of this I hitched a ride back up North.

While I’ve been staying with 84 we’ve written some other blogs together to publish in the future so I’m sure this won’t be the last you hear from me.

Yours in Scouting,

Blue