Why So Serious?

So tonight is Halloween and since late this afternoon I’ve noticed a few people commenting on how they, “Seriously hate children.” and how Trick or Treat-er’s should, “GET. OFF. MY. DRIVEWAY.” Thankfully not everyone holds these same views, otherwise I’d be driven mental by the hatred of a festivity that doesn’t deserve it. I also remember this happening with Christmas, although to a lower degree.

I don’t understand why these people can’t just accept that this is going to happen and that children in particular, will want to make the most of this festive occasion.

I also wonder whether this line of thinking is a product of a need to rebel against a view held by most of society, or whether it’s just the beliefs they’ve established themselves. Because, from past experience, I know I have rejected a view outright- just to be different. Take ‘High School Musical’ for example. I have never seen it but to everyone who mentioned it I would add that I thought it was ‘rubbish’ and the music ‘terrible’. Just because I felt the need to dislike an idea that the majority of the rest of the female population of that age, loved.

For us, our doorbell hasn’t been heard tonight; just like last year and I find myself thinking that if you don’t want to give them treats, then there’s a perfectly willing house over here.

Our Great British Adventure!

So as the title may suggest, my Dad and I have been on quite a few adventures over the last month. We travelled far and wide in order to scout out possible institutions for my future, and I’m glad that we did, otherwise I still wouldn’t have a clue!

Even though he complained extensively, I’m sure that Dad enjoyed himself especially when we got to go first class, with a free ham croissant and brioche for breakfast! Yum! We even indulged in some high quality Costa coffee and crisps and shortbread biscuits from M&S. Double yum!

Most of all I think I’ve enjoyed visiting the various places that I have never been to before and enjoying home-made sandwiches with my Dad because it’s not often we get to have our own little adventures across the country.

I’ll leave you with a photo of a suspicios looking pigeon with, as Dad said, 'one foot!':

Hyper Little Children

Had Beavers again tonight and I’ve got to admit that they were pretty wound up!

So it started with them playing little games to themselves at the top of the room and we were pretty content just letting them have a little run around to hopefully get it out of their system. But noooooooo! Another leader decided to make them sit at the front in their dams, nicely and quietly.

The night continued as normal and I was surprised that their concentration actually stayed with us for most of it. Then before we sent them home we decided to play a few gamey songs.

Which ended up with us giving them back to their parents as hyper as they came in!

Oh, How Time Flies!

Wow, how quickly did that month go by? Everything has just seemed to have escalated since school started again and I haven’t even had time to think about what I could write all over this pretty page.

But now I’ve made time, just for you. I hope you appreciate it

So, tonight I’m going to be presenting a presentation (hah!) on how me and my team earned our Queens Scout Award, exciting stuff eh? We’ve been working towards it for a good few years (unknowingly for me this means ever since I started Scouts in the first place!). What makes this award even sweeter is the fact that this is the highest award you can achieve in youth scouting. Get in!

For this award, each of us had to complete 12 months worth of a skill and physical activity, and show improvement throughout. For me, this was playing piano and tai chi.

Also for an amount of time that I can’t remember but was still a very long time, we had to do an act of service. For most of the members in my group this was volunteering to help our younger scouts. As well as this we needed to complete what has always been referred to as a ‘Residential’. In saying this, I am showing that I actually have no idea what this bit of it’s called. All I know is that the training towards various events that we have took part in in the past – like the Jamboree, Tall Ships Race and trip to Uganda – counted towards it. Mainly because we had to work together with unfamiliar people over a series of weekends.

The last requirement that we had to complete was a whopping four day, three night hike that spanned about 40 miles. It was quite hard, but oh so worth the effort. The feeling of relief at the end was absolutely amazing! Over the four days we walked from Melrose Abbey to Lindisfarne and it was quite good at the end when we were slowly cut off from the rest of Great Britain.

So that’s really all that we’re covering tonight. But tonight I’m not just writing in the safety of my own bedroom, I’ve got to talk in front of quite important Scout Leaders who probably already know most of this anyways.
At least there’ll be nibbles going around..