Kelloggsville

Training is more than learning

2013-05-19T10:00:00.000+02:00

Our County have a weekend every year where we go away to one of of the training centres and train.

We do train, quite a lot actually. Reminders about the program, principles, paper work, planning, games, crafts. But as important as that is, it's not my main reason for going. It refreshes me, it remotivates me, it reminds me that there are lots of ladies, lovely ladies, doing the same things week in, week out. It reminds me of the fun parts, why we do it, how good it is for the girls, the community...oh heck, I'll say even the world.

On the way to Waddow we stopped off in Morecambe if you can work out how that is 'on the way' you are a better man than me to see Eric. That was enough to fill my tank for a while and that was before we even got there. In the car on the way up with the leaders from my district we discussed many things districty. Useful in it's self.

There was 64 leaders from my county gathering for the training, so district was left behind as soon as we arrived.

It seemed necessary to explore, find the dressing up cupboard and put on a rabbit head. Look, it seemed like a good idea at the time! What amused me more was the leader by the side just texting away Guide fashion totally ignoring the dancing rabbit. In Guiding it is rare to do something stupid that actually raises an eyebrow, there is usually a queue of others waiting to 'have a go' too.

Waddow was slightly over subscribed with not a bed left in the house (or the cottages) so the dining room was fairly packed in tight. I couldn't be bothered to keep asking people to move so I could get to the buffet table. I decided to stack my breakfast Guide style.

The training weekend also gives me the opportunity to experience what a residential might feel like for a Brownie, Guide or Ranger. Waiting for a gong for meals, setting places, fetching food, doing crafts whilst being shown how. As I watch the trainers it helps me think about how I might be perceived by my girls and how some of them might feel about being away with 'strangers' or at least, not close friends and family. How it feels to be a little out of water with the way things work like standing behind chairs for Grace or knowing the words to songs. It helps me think a little more about it.

I think you might be hearing a bit more about what I thought and what I learnt this time.

At the end we were given a plant to wrap up and chose a label for. I very carefully chose 'thank you for making Guiding a way of life'. It made me feel really good about myself. But then the trainer had one more surprise, she said 'now give your plant to some one else in the room to say thank you to them.' I didn't want to, I had treated the plant in my hand as the thank you to me and was feeling very good about it. I reluctantly swapped with the lady next to me saying 'but I really liked mine, can we swap back again' and kindly she did. But I wonder how I made her feel, did she feel unthanked? It worries me. I feel a little selfish, but I'm still looking at my little plant and little card and liking it very much.

Driving at the age of 200

2013-05-17T15:00:00.000+02:00

Recently HWMBO, after an abstinence of at least 6 years, has managed to pick up a speeding ticket. He has done well considering the miles he does on the road each year, the fact that he has a foot made of lead and once even managed to pick up 3 tickets in a 2 week holiday in Australia, 2 of which were in a double demerit period.

The British police are considerably more lenient than the Australian law enforcement officers.

Actually I'll bump a tangent here to tell you that I am convinced the first 6 weeks of Australian Police training is how to lose your sense of humour, common sense and be a total arsehole. We went through a speed trap once as we were accelerating on the slip road to join the freeway. The officer pulled us over on the slip road which left us about 10 yards to join the damn thing, with ticket in hand, when he'd finally finished lecturing us. Whenever we have been approached by the Police in Australia, which is more often than in the UK would ever be due to random breathalysing, road stops etc, HWMBO always says to me 'shut up, do NOT say a word, don't even breathe out loud'. Here, in the UK, you can successfully talk your way out of a red light hop and a rather dreadful road manoeuvre, both of which I put my sorry hands up to but the lovely, lovely police really don't like paper work if they can explain and educate. The Australians just want to see you squirm and pay.

It is also noted that Australian Police won't even smile at a child in an airport to put them at ease, even though a very little COG was clearly frightened by the 6 of them marching in with guns for nothing other than show. Whereas the British gun toting police at St Pancras say hello and will stand with tourists to have a photo taken. As we returned from Perth into Birmingham on the trip that the Aussies had scared the heck out of COG, I collared the first armed policeman I saw at the airport and asked him to have a chat with her to chill her back out again. He was totally lovely and after a smile, chat and a wink, she skipped back to me saying 'it's ok mum, they are nice here aren't they'. The British Police seem to have after school classes in being nice to general Joe Public and extra tuition in patience with utter idiots otherwise known as me.

Anyhoo, as I was saying, the British pole-eeece are more lenient and have offered HWMBO another speeding course. Brilliant news. I did one, it was really informative, not at all condescending and taught driving skills for sticking to the speed limits. That's a limit not a target!

So it's even better news that the police are giving HWMBO another 183 years to make sure he completes the course. It's vital that he act immediately and book that course for the 28th Feb 2196. Wouldn't want to not get a place. Ah bless those programmers.

I wonder if it would stand up in court?!

New and Old Guiding Style

2013-05-15T07:00:00.000+02:00

This week's Gallery theme is 'new'.
I have been away this weekend training with lots of other Guiders from my County.

These trainings give me a chance to renew my enthusiasm and motivation levels.

And it gave me the opportunity to try to break in 2 new pairs of running shoes (at once).

Waddow seems to have new facilities every time I go. From new tents in the old style....

...to very new style. In fact, positively modern.

But no matter how new the 'tents', those Guides still built their washstand. Old traditions live on, even with a new plastic bowl on top of the old style gadget.

New and old in blissful harmony.

It is the essence of the individual

2013-05-12T10:00:00.000+02:00

I have often said that one of the reasons Guiding makes a great out of school activity is because of the lack of competition.

This can have parents raising eyebrows. Competition is a good thing right? Bring back a proper sports day and all that! Not always no.

"But you are always working towards badges, where is the difference between that and school or music exams or karate gradings?" It's different, there is no pass rate per se.

I've always struggled to explain why I know it is 'downtime' for the kids and yet still challenges and develops them. But I've found the best explanation I've ever heard. I've bought a number of very old books about the Chief Scout and Chief Guide written by people that worked with them for decades. This is a quote from "27 Years with Baden-Powell" by EK Wade. She quotes him, so I guess it is originally from one of his own books.

"There are nearly sixty different subjects among which every boy should be able to find one or more suited to him. Thus he is encouraged to take up a hobby, and a lad with hobbies will not as a rule waste his life.
Moreover there is only one standard by which a boy is judged as qualified for a badge, and that is the amount of effort he puts into his work. This gives direct encouragement to the dull or backward boy - the boy in whom the inferiority complex has been born through successive failures. If he is a trier, no matter how clumsy, his examiner can award him the badge and this generally inspires the boy to go on trying till he wins further badges and becomes normally capable."

He fought tooth and nail, against schemes for the standardisation of badges to the level of school examination or competitive tests. Scouting was a GAME.

"The great object and value of the badge system is that IF PROPERLY USED it will draw out the dull and backward and give him his chance with the more brilliant or better educated and so get him to have a try. It is the essence of the individual as opposed to mass training."

I know it isn't all written in today's more politically correct manner and we would never consider any of our girls dull or backward but there is still some relevance in there to the truth of today. Children are constantly aware of their grade, their standing on the rung. "She gets better grades them me, he plays football better than me." There are no grades in Guiding and yes, the best runners might get round the circle fastest but the girl in the wheel chair still managed to hear those keys being moved whilst blindfolded. There are rarely 'overall winners' in anything we do. Sometimes perhaps a group may score the most points on a pack holiday. Maybe a team will win in a game of ladders, but the teams are drawn so randomly that everyone will win or lose at some point and it is not dwelled on.

Guides do work in groups, large and small but the essense is in the individual. The focus is on helping her to achieve everything she is capable of for herself and achievement at every level is celebrated.

In our Brownies every girl gets a go at 'responsibility'. Not just sixers and seconders but also through the buddy system. It's easy to be a buddy, just showing a new starter where a coat hangs or where to stand but the buddy herself gets badge, is recognised and, for those few weeks, is an important part of helping another girl develop. It's a great way for everyone, no matter how timid or insecure, to achieve a level of responsibility. They always achieve at that. Badges are passed on mass quite often, the term's plan structured so if they turn up and participate they will get that badge.

Of course some girls just love to work for extra badges...dancer, pony lover, swimmer, writer. There are so many possible badges, but mostly they do it in the Brownie unit or in Guide Patrols. There is constant achievement.

Constant opportunity to throw off insecurity and self doubt.

I can't imagine why anyone would not want to offer this to their child, oh by the way the opportunity to develop and grow doesn't stop at 18. As an Adult the opportunities are much greater.

For Guiding you can register your interest to join (yourself or your daughter) a local unit here:

http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get_involved.aspx

The Scouts are happening here:

http://scouts.org.uk/get-involved/

The tennis season is upon us

2013-05-10T15:00:00.000+02:00

I mentioned before that tennis seems to be a sport for the richer people.

I've no idea why, it's not expensive for kids to play. COG is in a good club but it's only about £50 a year for her membership. She doesn't have to be a member, it just means she can play in tournaments. The group lessons are £5 a time with a small discount for members. Tournament matches cost between £1 and £12 to play. So far this isn't different to football or dancing and it is a lot cheaper than riding or karate. So why are 90% of the girls COG plays with at private school? Admittedly where I live there is an abundance of private schools but the tennis club is opposite a state school.

I suspect a lot of the eliteness is self perpetuating. Rich mums with big cars in designer shades all sit together on their designer throws being upper class polite.

I on the other hand am the parent of the state school child who arrived in a rush in my gardening clothes because I'd rather do gardening in the few hours prior to a match than put on Chanel.

As we ran out the door to go to the match, I grabbed some milk, tea, coffee etc just in case, like a good guider would.

'Wang that in the fridge for me' I said as I passed the milk over to Chanel Mummy who was stood near the fridge when I arrived. I could have been speaking Polish and obviously had crawled from under a stone given the way she looked at me!

The beautiful handbags were zipped up tight and pulled a little closer as I made a cup of tea and wandered outside to a corner of shame.

It is a shame, but I don't understand why it's so exclusive. Day to day the club is a lovely place to be, people are friendly, polite and welcoming but match day visiting mummys, well they turn me into a paranoid person feeling unworthy as I watch the tournament circuit parents help little darling Dylis carry 10 rackets to the court like it's bloody Wimbledon.

I feel my northern working class roots rise up from under the pretend middle class framework I've slowly built around me and I become an unworthy emotional wreck.

I wonder if it does the same to others and that's why so many state school kids stop going in the end.

COG? No she's never showed any signs that she feels uncomfortable. She's friends with all these girls. She doesn't have the concrete block of a working class struggle of a childhood tying her down. She is comfortable in her skin and her surroundings. Good for her. She is such a cool kid. But even with all my unworthy feelings, I'm taking the credit for my cool kid.

It takes a cool parent to recognise a cycle and break it.

They won't break me though, I decided to add a touch of common to the crockeried snacks by throwing down 2 packets of jaffa cake bars. The Chanel Mummy shudders were worth every penny of the £1 they cost!

Duelling Banjos

2013-05-08T07:00:00.000+02:00

The weekend started out quintessentially English at my favourite sweet shoppe.

The entire bank holiday was all sunshine and no showers, but the umbrolly was up for sunshade at a neighbouring village's fete.

The neighbouring village is significantly more up market than the one I live in.

As we walked past this on the way home I could hear the duelling banjos in my head.

I've told you before my village is known as the home of the curly toed people, Deliverance is us.

I relate, that's all I'm saying. Tractor racing starts here soon.

The importance of getting out

2013-05-05T10:00:00.001+02:00

I know we are lucky having a large open space at our Brownie meeting place but being close to the open countryside, we make a real effort to get out and about on these lovely light evenings.

Interestly lots of the girls were chattering about sledging and I think it's because, for many, the last time they came up this way was in the snow. I know it's not so very long ago really but this wood is one field away from where they live...one field. That's a 10 minute walk. Come on parents....they love being out, they can't help themselves but run and jump.

We did 'name that tree' from leaves that were collected in the wood last year and cling wrapped onto cards. They were surprisingly good at it.

But really they just want to explore.

Freedom in the late spring sunshine.

A chance to let off some steam, to gain a bit of confidence, to learn about our surroundings and have a bit of freedom in a safe environment.

A lovely night.

Interestingly, I've spent more nights at Brownies since I've given up being a leader than I did before I finished.....please explain this whole 'I'm not actually a Brownie leader' to me just one more time!!!

Ugly, Budding, Artist

2013-05-03T15:00:00.000+02:00

Well I went to vote, not the most inviting of places mind, it's absolutely fine once you are inside, but the outside doesn't give away it's soft centre.

Talking of soft centres, I wonder if this cat has one. It looked like the ugliest, grumpiest cat I have ever seen and whilst I was doing a web search for something in our area I found a similar picture of the same cat titled "is this the ugliest cat ever". I hope it doesn't get wind of it's on line slating and decide to sue.

The trees we planted at Brownies are not only surviving, they are positively budding.

A couple of years ago I came down to breakfast to find these on the table...

Recently these greeted me when I opened the fridge door. Watching HWMBO deciding whether he still wanted an omelet after seeing them was hilarious. Making screaming noises as he cracked the eggs was even better.......as usual, he failed to be impressed.

I made the big time!

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000+02:00

This week's Gallery is 'Self Portrait'. A hard one because I'm always behind the camera. But this blog is my self portrait, it comes from my heart and is always a reflection of what is important to me at the time and how I really feel inside about things. It is me, KV.

AGuidingLife that's KelloggsVille to you old timers was featured in the spring edition of Guiding, the magazine that is sent to all our volunteers.

This is a big deal to me, I have never told many people I write and now all of the people I do Guiding with have been told in one fell swoop. In fact the day after it came out I walked into my Ranger unit meeting to find them all looking at the blog online. I am half incredibly proud and half sightly embarassed. There is a lot laid open here in html land.

But still, lots of the ladies have already seen me greet firemen in a dressing gown, refuse to go across a field to the loo in the dark until someone comes with me and seen me 'bungalow' it's a Guide thing! So to be honest they already know I'm an utter idiot and always happy to prove it one more time.

Actually taking a photo of yourself and not looking like a fish face is very hard. Here's one I think I may have passed the grade in.

Why do Guiders look like Guiders?

2013-04-28T10:00:00.000+02:00

A group of us booked to go to Centre Parcs through Girlguiding Midlands. For varying reasons, lots dropped out and I decided to take the chalet and go with HWMBO and COG. I knew there would be lots of other Guiders there but I was the only one from my County.

On the first evening, sat alone in the jacuzzi I introduced myself to 2 Guiders also in there. They weren't talking, I didn't know them but I just knew they were Guiders. This carried on all weekend: a couple of women here, a group there. It's fair to say I knew there were Guiders there so I was looking out for them, but what is it that makes us so easy to spot?

Contrary to popular belief we don't all have big bottoms and horn rimmed glasses. It's not necessarily physical thing. There is something in the way the ladies look though. There is rarely a false tan or tattoo. Not unheard of, but uncommon.

Camp hands are common. No I don't mean the Graham Norton kind, I mean broken nails and burn marks! But I wasn't looking at anyone's hands.

The age range is wide but the more natural look seem more common. I need to meet a few leaders from Essex to see if this theory still holds true in fake it, bling it and enhance it land. But the Guider aura is bigger than the physical presence.

Interestingly, there was a group of 6 ladies sat round the pool side, they were all buxom, they all looked nice but I turned to HWMBO and said 'they aren't Guiders'. He agreed. How did we know? It's frustratingly intangible but we were right.

Perhaps it's in the way Guiders interact with each other. There is a a quiet confidence. Laughing. Smiles. Politeness. But many groups of friends are like that.

Maybe it's in my smile game. I love playing eye contact smile anywhere. It's so interesting to see who will allow you to catch their eye or smile back. The Guiders I guessed at Centre Parcs all smiled big smiles and 3 responded with a hello. I didn't look like I was on a Guiding weekend, I was with HWMBO and COG so they were saying hello to a stranger. Perhaps it's that caring attitude.

I'm sure that the group of non-guiding ladies were also caring but they just didn't fit that Guiding mold.

But do all of these? At least 50% of them are the cream of the crop, others just snuck in there for the ride!

Well yes, this is a fairly Guiderish look granted but it's never without a perfectly justifiable explanation!

Maybe we are just happy to be us, no pretence, no fakeness, just us in our mainly blue (and that's not just my skin on camp) glory.

It worries me

2013-04-26T15:30:00.000+02:00

Sarcasm and irony never travel well when departing my lips. Especially on twitter. I rarely say something without a grain of sarcasm - sometimes yes - but rarely. It often gets me into deep water, misunderstandings and generally ranty tweets that leaving me wondering yet again how the heck I got myself into it. But this, more than most of late, has worried me deeply.

I thought I was being funny, clearly not.

And my slightly ranty gene kicked in to absolutely no avail. I gave up.

It reminded me of one of the funniest email happenings I have ever read. Please go see it and lots others at source and buy his book so I don't get kicked for copyright.

Why are parents so damned embarrassing?

2013-04-24T07:00:00.000+02:00

So daughter and friend were booked into a Centre Parcs 90 minute cupcake decorating class.

If, as a parent of a toddler you think you get precious little time alone, wait until you have a teen and find out you get none unless you let them lie I'm bed all day and even then they will popup at precisely the wrong time. Sooooo 90 mins was ours, all ours.....or so we thought.

'Come back after an hour' said the master decorator who looked no older than many of my Rangers 'it's a small class, we may finish early'. I gave her the full force of my 'for God's sake relieve me of these teens for the full time look' to no avail. But heyho we don't do tantric so we cycled back to the chalet to find the maid in the process of changing the sofa covers and not looking like she was going anywhere else fast.

Giving up on the idea of sex what else is there to do but loaf around and cause a nuisance. I relate very well to teen culture.

It was (un)fortunate that the cupcake class was in a room with 2 glass walls. It was even more (un)fortunate that the master decorator had her back to the glass wall whilst COG and friend faced it.

It started with the simple wave and thumbs up but once you've had that first hit high you need more for the thrill. A few 'face pressed against the glass gurns' weren't enough. A shuffle past the class room. A fully fledged running race back and we were ready to sand dance. HWMBO and I were a coordinated dream....

....at which point I realised Starbucks also has an open wall and we were being watched from both sides.

COG was mortified.

This is her best 'why can't you just behave or be like normal parents' look. Perfect for this week's Gallery 'expressions'.

Well firstly I don't do normal, never have. Normal makes me feel caged. But my desire to be spotty car'd, all dancing in the supermarket, singing at the bus stop, talking on the tube blimey rebellious or what mortifies COG more and more every year. I've explained over and over that all parents are embarrassing and at least I give her good reason instead of just bog standard teen self consciousness but its still not cutting the mustard.

She really should have had me adopted.

The Original Guide Law

2013-04-21T15:00:00.000+02:00

I have recently done an evening with our Ranger unit about our promise and it inevitably led to discussions about the Guide Law. I read out to them the original Guide Laws or at least the 1926 version from a picture hanging in Foxlease written by Baden-Powell:

A Guide’s honour is to be trusted
A Guide is loyal to the King and her
Guiders, and to her parents, her country and her employers or employees.
A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
A Guide is a friend to all,
and a sister to every other Guide, no matter what social
class the other belongs.
A Guide is courteous.
A Guide is a friend to animals.
A Guide obeys orders of her parents, patrol leader or
Captain, without question.
A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.
A Guide is thrifty.
A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.
"......[This law is unwritten, but it is understood]"

"A Guide is not a fool"

I'm not sure I understand the unwritten law. There is a mention of the unwritten but understood laws in the First Edition of the Boy Scouts Handbook in 1911:

"There have always been certain written and unwritten laws regulating the conduct and directing the activities of men. We have such unwritten laws coming down from past ages. In Japan, the Japanese have their Bushido or laws of the old Samurai warriors. During the Middle Ages, the chivalry and rules of the Knights of King Arthur, the Knights Templar and the Crusaders were in force. In aboriginal America, the Red Indians had their laws of honor: likewise the Zulus, Hindus, and the later European nations have their ancient codes. "

I have been pondering what the unwritten law for Guides is for many years. For sometime I wondered if it was an addition about purity but surely not something that had to be said out loud in 1926. Or maybe it is about the common sense that we must apply in order to live successfully and in peace. Or perhaps it is about the bond that we all share. I think I am that Fool for not clearly understanding.

The Guide Law now is :

A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.

A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.

A Guide faces challenges and learns from her experience.

A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.

A Guide is polite and considerate.

A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world
around her.

The Rangers were happy with the current laws but their laughter at the original "A Guide obeys orders of her parents, patrol leader or Captain, without question." shows how much the world we live in has changed.

A change for the better I think, a Guide meeting 'without question' would be a very sad place indeed. The Rangers need to question, they need to discuss and they must have the space to speak their minds without fear of derision or chastisement. I can't imagine the meetings would be half so much fun without it.

Circular tube map

2013-04-19T15:00:00.000+02:00

Both HWMBO and I love transport systems. I am always happy to pick him up from the airport just to hang out there for a while. We will spend an entire day riding the trams at Critch but more than anything I love trains. The tube is a natural hop from a train.

HWMBO gave me this for Christmas. A tube map of our area. I love it.

I was intrigued by the new tube map design: circles within circles by Jonathon Fisher. I think it looks beautiful even if it in practical terms it has some major flaws.

Whilst having a poke around I stumbled on this body map, I like it too.

My all time geeket for the trains is still this, I just love watching those pins move :
http://traintimes.org.uk/map/#stp

But this Oyster card touch in and out 24 hour display is pretty cool too:

Youths being Youths

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000+02:00

This week's Gallery is 'Youth'.

The word youth has bad connotations when used to describe our young adults. It drives me nuts how many people look at the teenagers today like they are all about to rob their houses. Yes, they may be a bit brash, sulky, hang aroundy but so many of them are great kids and they deserve to be treated with respect before you judge them just because of their age.

These thoughts reminded me of a set of pictures I posted many years ago. I'm going to share them again, I know most of you are old enough to have poor memories or polite enough not to moan about repetition!

Robbin' the fish

Playing on roof tops

Walking the streets

Fighting the locals

Breaking

Hanging around.

One of my friends fostered 'youths' for many years. COG was so lucky to have the opportunity to go on a holiday with her family, friends and numerous foster family members.

She brought a lot away from that stay and none of it bad. Great kids.

Past but not forgotten

2013-04-16T15:30:00.000+02:00

Let us never forget it was a dreadful time, dreadful.

I have no other words to add.

Maybe I do : avarice, greed, break down of society, champagne charlie, bonuses, north south divide, broken men, broken familes, broken dreams.

She may be laid to rest tomorrow but my scars from the Thatcher years seem permanently ingrained. Regardless of any good, the bad is a black cloud that never had lifted.

May God forgive her, I wish I could.

Will you let your child get ill?

2013-04-14T10:00:00.000+02:00

In June 2011 I wrote this post about the measles rates increasing in Europe, how the link to Autism and Crohn's disease had been discredited and that it was time to get children vaccinated.

I'm a bit bemused that all the people of Swansea did not immediately heed my wise words and now the epidemic has moved into the UK.

There is now blame being pointed all over: the report writer, the supporters, the parents, the dog. The mail are printing idiot statements like 'it's poor nutrition and housing that caused children to die from it, now they will be nursed and they will be fine, stop panicking.' By that logic we may as well stop our children having any vaccines at all - hey, let them suffer, they'll get over it. Bloody idiots.

Each of these virus reduces the immune system and increases the risk of contracting viral meningitis - but again hey, people get better these days.

I've even read comments and quotes from people saying "I had measles in the 1950s and it did us no harm". Hmmmmm, not sure it enhanced their cognitive intelligence gene.

Vaccination isn't just about you and your healthy 'they'll no doubt get over a good bout of measles' child. What about the child with cancer that can't have vaccine or the child with aids. Vaccination is about herd immunisation. Some children can't have the vaccine for medical reasons but the protection for these children comes from the herd control of the overwhelming majority of children having been vaccinated, preventing mass outbreak and lowering the likely hood that they will come into contact with the virus.

I had measles as a child and despite being very young I have never forgotten how dreadful it was.
Through out her life I have made sure that COG has had her vaccinations. I was always completely bemused by the mothers who proudly and loudly announced in the playground that Darling Dilis had not had her jabs because Mummy cared so much about her. My attitude was the complete opposite, I just didn't want COG to suffer from the illnesses.

WHO says "Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available."

Measles is a horrid disease and the infection rates are still rising in Europe and in the UK. We seem to have all forgotten how dreadful the disease is, the devastating affects it can have.

You are never too old to be vaccinated. This is from the NHS website:

The vaccine can also be given on the NHS to certain adults who may need it including:

women planning pregnancy

people born between 1970 and 1979 and between 1980 and 1990

If you are a woman thinking about getting pregnant you may need to be vaccinated if you have low levels of rubella antibodies or you haven't had a rubella or MMR vaccination before.

People born between 1970 and 1979 who may have only been vaccinated against measles also need the MMR vaccine, as well as those born between 1980 and 1990 who may not be protected against mumps.

Check with your GP if you're not sure whether you've had rubella or MMR.

Natural Living History

2013-04-12T15:00:00.000+02:00

I happened to be flicking through the local paper a year ago and a very small article said there were 2000 trees being given away in our county and if you wanted some then ring a number. I did.

Where our Brownie unit meets we are really lucky to have a huge private outdoor space. A lovely lady looks after the area, there are lots of conker trees on the land but we agreed that it would be good to have some trees that gave produce.

We went for an eating apple, a cooking apple and a sweet chestnut.

Hard digging requires a Guider's other half and they dug admirably whilst our lovely lady sat at the back of the car and told us some of the history of the land. It had been part of a factory sports and social club back in the 1800s. The band who's hall we meet in had been part of that but for a while it had to stop playing after so many of it's members had been killed in the 1st World War. She told us about how the land had been tennis courts, a bowling green and even a car park at one point. The house to the side was lived in by the foreman and one had been a keen bandsman who reformed the band. It's now 120 years old.

She told us about these trees which were planted in 1953 for the Coronation. They were chopped right back a few years ago but were now looking good again.

So we added our trees to the community history.

The Brownies all had a go at filling in. Stomping down the ground.

At hammering and watering.

The chestnut will grow very big. I mentioned to the Brownies that in 25 years time it could be fully grown. They couldn't imagine being that old and it seems a life time away to them.

*blink* and they will be there.

Out of Brownie earshot a few of us wondered if we would still be around to see it fully grown.

I hope we can look after all of them well enough to at least taste their wares.

Living the dream in a field

2013-04-10T07:00:00.000+02:00

I may not actually be jumping for joy but this weekend I was in my happy zone.

We are Girlguiding. We are the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. We build girls’ confidence and raise their aspirations. We give them the chance to discover their full potential and encourage them to be a powerful force for good. We give them a space to have fun.

Actually, you can say a lot about Girlguiding in just a few words:

This week's Gallery theme is "Happy"

Spring Camp

2013-04-08T10:00:00.000+02:00

Finally I managed to take 'my back' on a camp.

HWMBO came to help carry my stuff and pitch tents. The Rangers and CGIC clever Guider in charge could/would/did do it too but he knows me well enough to know he needed to be there to say 'no, stop it' to me as I am no good at watching others do work.

Whilst it earned us our 'spring camp' badge, it was bloomin' cold. Mostly I wore underwear, a thermal vest, t-shirt, mountain hike jumper, hoodie 1 and larger hoodie 2 with leggings, craghoppers and 2 pairs of socks, hat, buff and gloves. With that I was comfortable walking, never overly warm mind!

Once the girls got the fire going it stayed lit, even overnight, we may have burnt a forest in wood but it was lovely.

We went for an evening walk to to chip shop for tea.

It was a lovely sunset.

We took a detour.

The birds flying in low over the water was beautiful to see and listen to.

But it meant the last mile or so was rather dark!

But the fire was soon roaring and marshmallows toasting to CGIC's singing

It was very cold overnight. I slept in leggings, pyjama bottoms, thermal vest, t-shirt, mountain jumper, 2 pairs of socks, hat, gloves and buff. Had 3 blankets in different places underbed, overbed and over me, an arctic sleeping bag, double duvet folded around sleeping bag, large blow up bed and a hot water bottle. I survived! CGIC's blow up bed did not, I slumbered to the hiss of her air escaping.

Fire, fire...pour on ice, pour on ice! The kettle was also full of ice in the morning.

Nothing like a lazy Ranger breakfast eaten Scout style.

Whilst watching the frost thaw back.

There was a big hare watching us, pheasants and a very loud woodpecker amongst a throng of woodland birds.

It was cold but good to be outside again.

I've got my back iced up tonight and it's struggling a bit but hopefully a good rest tonight will sort it.

Bring on Wellies and Wristbands.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

2013-04-06T10:00:00.000+02:00

We decided to give the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery a try this holiday. Some parts of Birmingham are surprisingly nice, I don't know why it always takes me by surprise, they've been investing in smartening it up for a while.

The main hassle I find in Birmingham is how busy it is. I have never been there when the station, Bull-Ring and shopping lanes aren't absolutely heaving.

But with this ongoing streak of 'avoiding the crowds' luck we've been having, hardly anyone had chosen to go to the museum.

The building is a glorious piece of Victorian architecture. In my usual style I enjoyed the roof structures much more than anything else. Sitting in the large Edwardian cafe was a dream for the ornate metal lover.

There were many modern exhibits, I loved this entire wall of film. Just the building as you see it, but every so often a window would break. It was quite mesmerising.

I was not so enthralled by the display of turds. I use the term as used by the artist. In fairness the alter table of turds is supported by a wall of shocking paintings so overall the piece has an artistic purpose. But I would put it in my 'Snot Art' category.

Most of the interactive exhibits were 'under maintenance' but the chalk wall had remained intact despite Bin Laden being there to sign it.

But this is the best thing in the whole place. It's so clever. It's not even an exhibit! It's a donation collection box.

source

I've no idea why I didn't take a photo of the box from a distance. Actually, I hardly took any photos all day. I was enjoying myself too much with my friends to think about it really. So I've borrowed one from Google images to give you an idea of what it looked like.

If you would like more information about the Museum go here, but I would say it's a 5 minute walk from New Street Station, there's a good cafe for snacks and full meals, you can eat a pack up at proper tables in the learning zone and there are plenty of clean toilets.

For us, train tickets to Birmingham are cheap and the museum is free. With a pack-up this is a good cheap day out for families in good weather or bad.

And COG is also aware that the museum is a stone's throw from Hollister, Jack Wills and Super-Dry but I still made it out Birmingham without spending a penny!

Living History and Forgetting the Past

2013-04-04T10:00:00.000+02:00

Easter happened in a swirl of snow, wind chill factors that made it intolerably cold and a teen Cog who seems to be becoming more confident to acknowledge that it's ok to enjoy what you want to regardless of what others might think, including boiled egg and soldiers.

I love it when we get out of the car and see people dressed up, I just know it's going to mean added fun. Remember Hampton Court? Bosworth always do the pre-battle camp on the Easter weekend, even though the battle re-enactment isn't until August.

The Battle of Bosworth was a big turning point in English history. We said goodbye to the Plantagenets and hello to the Tudors.

We've been to the Bosworth visitors centre many times across the years with Cog and we've watched it grow. I suspect the recent discovery of Richard III under a car park in Leicester will give it another boost of life. There were lots of people reading books about him in the cafe there.

Despite having visited here many times across the years, Cog hardly remembers any of it. Just the odd snippet here and there and even then nothing I would like to think of her remembering. She recalls long drives or cold days, not fun in the stocks or marching with pikes and dressing as soldiers.

About the time she turned 9ish we seemed to stop going out so often as a family at weekends. I guess it's when she got 'busy' with friends or realised she enjoyed staying in bed later. But in some ways it's a shame because I have great memories of many places we went to, fun we've had and she recalls so little of it.

She's also forgotten all the stories of old, like having to make a hole in the left over egg shell so the witches can't use them as a boat.

Yes, she rolls her eyes at me as I tell her but I'm enjoying reliving it all!

In the All Together

2013-04-03T07:00:00.000+02:00

This week's Gallery is 'together'.

Another bag packing day for our International Jailbreak Team but this time my replacement leader was home from university and could join in with the team. I know some of the girls have been worried about meeting her and a couple have said 'I wish you were coming'. As ego plumping as it is to hear, it's not good, the girls need to be confident and happy and now they have had a first meeting they will all feel more settled about it. I purposely stayed away until the end, part of me wanted to be there but the rest of me knows they need to be left to 'get on with it'.

The girls are doing exactly that, they are now bag packers extraordinaire. Matching uniforms and neckers, big smiles and chatting away with the customers about the trip and the difference in confidence not only shows in them but also in the buckets with many people giving note size donations.

This is one of the reasons why the fund raising is almost as important as the trip itself. The journey of growth and development starts right from the selection weekend.

I have had the earworm "the king is in his all together" since reading Tara's theme for the gallery this week. I steam cleaned the bathroom just before getting into the shower at the weekend, and being as I was still whistling my earworm it was too good a steamy opportunity to miss. So for one day only, KV is in her all-together!!

Volunteering: paying for the privilege

2013-03-30T10:00:00.000+01:00

Part way through the recent 'getting to know you weekend' the Guider in Charge asked me if I was paying the £25 fee for the weekend. She picked a bad time to ask. During a discussion over receipts on the Saturday night I had just worked out the Jailbreak account owed me over £200.
I had taken a day off work prior to the weekend to rest my back and do the final part of the shopping. That's a contradiction if ever there was one.

As always I had 'donated' an amount of my own stuff to keep costs down. This time it was 13 candles, a roll of tartan ribbon, a pot of marmite, a pot of honey, packet of cleaning wipes, 50 freezer bags (for craft), a roll of flip chart paper, 2 shopping trips, fuel, I had to buy a quality blow up bed because of my back and I'm sure if I spend long enough thinking about it, I'll come up with more.

There's the time spent agreeing and planning a menu for the weekend, putting together a shopping list, looking for the bargains so you pick up what you can cheapest.

There's washing and drying the tea towels afterwards.

It all takes time and money.

And it makes me tired. Now I have to say, that weekend for 6 Rangers/Guides and 2 Guiders didn't touch the hassle of a full on pack holiday for 16 brownies and 4 leaders...there was no cooking craft to contend with for a start and no 7 year olds to teach how to butter bread. None of the manicness of 20 people all washing up at once. If you don't know how it's done, I could write an entire post about the logistics of that one!

So my response to the Guider in Charge on that Saturday night was "You probably should have asked me before I was part way through the weekend and totally knackered but if you want me to pay £25, I'll find you £25 worth of receipts." In fairness, she was cool with that and we let it lie. I came in well under budget so it was no great stress.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't expect a free fun ride in Guiding. I know I need to pay for big camp fees. Those kinds of camp don't pay for themselves and the cost is often too great to be passed onto the girls. I wouldn't dream of expecting the Guides to cover my Big Gig ticket- hell no. I'm sure I paid my train fare to London, although we always use our personal family travel cards to get cheaper tickets for the Brownies. I have already fund raised the full amount of the cost of my travel on Jailbreak, that money will be passed onto my replacement leader.

I don't expect a free ride but I also don't expect to have the word mug tattooed about my person. So please when I'm part way through what feels like a time of 'whoa, I'm giving a lot of me here' don't ask me to pay for the privilege. I may be a volunteer but I am not an angel and the swear box would take one hell of a caning with my reply.

The most awesome walk

2013-03-26T21:42:00.001+01:00

This week's Gallery is walk. This is an interesting topic for me because I write up my walks regularly. So many of my pictures are from my local walks. How do I pick any of those out?

I've decided to pick my most memorable rather than the best photography:

Of course it is the walk down the Mall with the Brownies, at the front of 250,000 people on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

As we got to the Victoria Memorial the crowds in the stands roared, clapped and waved, it was the most incredible thing.

As the police lines broke, the crowd behind us surged and we hung onto our little Brownies for dear life, but we were well briefed by the police, well prepared and all was well. We saw the Royal family as close as close can be.

Even the walk back to the station in the rain, as we all chattered about how exciting it had been, holds moving memories for me. Of course I have no decent photos, I was too busy counting heads all the time to even think about pulling out the camera. We were all in the moment.

Isn't that just the way moments should be sometimes.