A Guiding Life

Girlguiding at Birmingham Pride 2019

>> Thursday, May 30, 2019

It's been 2 years since I went to Birmingham Pride. I went in 2015 and 2016 and had an amazing time and was so proud to represent Girlguiding as the all inclusive organisation we are. And then I read something putting across a case that straight people shouldn't be there, that it infringes on the space set aside for the communities it represents. This worried me, I didn't want to make others feel uncomfortable in their own space and so I stayed away, but I missed it.

So this year I decided to go, I want to let all members of Guiding know that know matter who they are I will accept them and I will do everything I can to ensure they feel equal and welcome. I can do that by standing proud and letting everyone see that there are many (hopefully all) people in Girlguiding that feel this way.

Previously we met at the stall in the Village but this year we weren't having a stand as the layout has been changed, Pride is growing and changing. So we met at Trefoil House.

I set to with rolling neckers and glittering up.

But all the rainbows and glitter in the world would not stop me looking like a commissioner so I changed out of my uniform shirt and into the familiar 'Girls Can' t-shirt that has almost become pride uniform!

The Scouts were in the square when we got there ready to start the parade, with their usual balloons and stilt walkers

The Knife Angel Statue was in Victoria Square. The National Monument against Violence and Aggression.

Last minute touches were made to costumes.

Some were perfect for the occasion and the weather.

The effort people put in is amazing.

And the heels they walk such a long way in, I am always in awe of.

The time and effort people take is fantastic.

Perfect hair, perfect make-up.

We did not compare but we marched loud and proud.

I'm so pleased I went again.

I didn't go into the event itself this year. I would in a group of friends but alone in the past I did feel a bit out of place, I was watching rather than 'in the moment'. So this time I caught the train straight back home.

But bursting with the fun of it all and proud to be supporting such a great event.

Osborne House

>> Friday, May 24, 2019

Despite staying so very close to the Isle of Wight many times, this year was the first time we decided to go over and visit Osborne House. We got the ferry from Lymington, which was easier than I thought it would be.

The queues for tickets were long and depressing and initially flashed me back with a PTSD horror of the Versailles experience. But they cleared fairly quickly and I was amazed then at how the people dissipated and there was room to move around and see things properly.

The house was nice and plenty to see. Many state rooms but within them were one or 2 special paintings and pieces that made me go "ooooh that's the original"

I loved this.

I was taken by the mirrors that slide into the walls and across the windows, I guess for night time as the views from windows were amazing.

The children's dining furniture. Opulence in miniature.

3 cots, 2 replicas made up before the original was discovered in a store room.

The crib is the original used by Victoria and Albert.

And I was in awe of being 'allowed' to view items touched by Royal hands until I saw the internal gates (from the time when the house was used a naval convalescent home) and a little bit of republican in me started to pop out at the class divider.

All the same looking at her desk

and bath

and dressing table

was quite something.

But left me thinking she would be turning in her grave at the thought of the public trampling through her home.

The republican finally snapped at the celebration of the Empress of India and the display of it all as though it were something to be proud of still rather than the historical shame it should be.

We ate in an over priced and badly staffed 'restaurant' proving that English Heritage are still fail miserably at something the National Trust do incredibly well.

We had a wander around Swiss Cottage where the privileged children learnt to be more like 'normal' people and bake cakes and play war games in readiness for decimating the population of Europe under their leadership later.

And a potter around the museum of collectables

The plumbing hadn't changed!

John Brown got a mention which cheered me.

And we walked down to the sea

The bathing hut had been found being used as a chicken shed before it was restored.

I rather liked sitting where a Queen had sat.

Over all it was a good day out.

Helped by the fine weather. Not helped by poor eating, drinking and toilet facilities.

I'm pleased we went and I wouldn't go back.

And that is also exactly what COG said about it when she came back from a school trip there years ago.

So now I understand!

thou shalt do no murder

>> Saturday, May 18, 2019

There is very little left of the Netley Royal Victoria Military Hospital. It was a huge Victorian building. Beautiful to look at and a great disappointment to Florence Nightingale that it was so impractical and poorly designed as a hospital building, so no great loss to health that it is gone but a sorry day for architecture.

The chapel though is open and a beautiful building. We went up the tower being as it was such a clear day.

The chapel itself has been lovingly restored and the museum is very interesting.

But mostly I was took with this "Thou shalt commit no murder" and I was pulling my hair out trying to remember why this rang a bell.

HWMBO reminded me it was in Fremantle Prison. There the chapel also had this because they executed prisoners.

Here the hospital was for soldiers returning from war, initially the Crimean, recovering solders I guess would not be wanting to read "thou shalt not kill"

I think I was most intrigued that this was tucked away at the old chancel with the children's dressing up area in front of it. I thought it was rather interesting.