tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85534268981059172022024-03-14T04:46:45.026+01:00KVA Guiding Life AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.comBlogger1599125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-25146981919318346032023-08-28T18:08:00.000+02:002023-08-28T18:08:10.194+02:00Guides in Paris 2023<p>It's been 8 years since I did an <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2015/09/disneyland-paris.html" target="_blank">international trip with Guiding</a> and this summer we went to Paris again. It was a county trip, on a similar format to the one I'd been on before and I was responsible for only a handful of Guides (of the 150 that we took), so apart from the obvious worries of responsibility it was really quite stress free. </p><p><br /><br /></p><p>It was a very early start on the first day and a full day's travelling, but it all went smoothly. </p><p><br /><br />The next morning we headed into Paris and climbed the stairs to the second level of the Eiffel tower. Security was much tighter than any time I'd been before and it actually made for a much more pleasant experience underneath the tower. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnfHiSrq62Lo_yHtoWN1M4mD0r0adw5Ks17rRGhLvdOx8D6cLNvggPtqfHOMH21iAYXl8FXIenzt-bOsspqI-f5Hr6DNfB2HBFVhMZYpz-YE1IxyrimDDXr-0yvM_GNBJ3N5YXWdwDnl2AIhh0m8lDCQDOpnPmuO1IYHyB5dWrsogP3ZbDN44Sqh11ICL/s4032/IMG_8454.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnfHiSrq62Lo_yHtoWN1M4mD0r0adw5Ks17rRGhLvdOx8D6cLNvggPtqfHOMH21iAYXl8FXIenzt-bOsspqI-f5Hr6DNfB2HBFVhMZYpz-YE1IxyrimDDXr-0yvM_GNBJ3N5YXWdwDnl2AIhh0m8lDCQDOpnPmuO1IYHyB5dWrsogP3ZbDN44Sqh11ICL/s320/IMG_8454.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">It was really lovely seeing guides every which way I turned, even these ones that were completely ignoring the view and concentrating on the best wi-fi spot. </p><p style="text-align: right;"></p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tGcuqnyOoE7mvIWCyAGN8CFTz8FCkpX8mjnQWjgM2IbwJmegQ-FBl5Y1AZdSkKqI8_cqijhFo8czwpRhdY5ty8RPQm0N3XWIujmAsrcQ_VWyWXsmG52MKGegbkq3Mrhju6HF8_Ao8UCAeHW2_SWbTH_m2iKAx-HLJml_-lMOQgL8LOML8DMtqbl8ZjnS/s3568/IMG_8447.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2987" data-original-width="3568" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tGcuqnyOoE7mvIWCyAGN8CFTz8FCkpX8mjnQWjgM2IbwJmegQ-FBl5Y1AZdSkKqI8_cqijhFo8czwpRhdY5ty8RPQm0N3XWIujmAsrcQ_VWyWXsmG52MKGegbkq3Mrhju6HF8_Ao8UCAeHW2_SWbTH_m2iKAx-HLJml_-lMOQgL8LOML8DMtqbl8ZjnS/s320/IMG_8447.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><br /><p></p><p>After we had a headcount (A very common happening!) and a picnic we headed to the river bank for a boat tour.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLpHz_6CdJggRP1HLZpcd6yDvxvcET0UcRp6RrNgBqmS9How98DtSkK-_WwnNl7m2OiGdt_avxmw0bOBodwtxDNiUJB0CO654iOBKKSXzd5tsS8QJC8zH_pDcA_8lmqIZoAYq2CQJSWOUBNZUYvLxnAm-VEAhNxOO9-E6IJTAzrkCv2CDVRBnOgngYvwd/s4032/IMG_8478.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLpHz_6CdJggRP1HLZpcd6yDvxvcET0UcRp6RrNgBqmS9How98DtSkK-_WwnNl7m2OiGdt_avxmw0bOBodwtxDNiUJB0CO654iOBKKSXzd5tsS8QJC8zH_pDcA_8lmqIZoAYq2CQJSWOUBNZUYvLxnAm-VEAhNxOO9-E6IJTAzrkCv2CDVRBnOgngYvwd/s320/IMG_8478.JPG" width="240" /></a> </p><p><br /></p><p>The Eiffel tower was in her glory, whilst poor Notre Dame is still looking rather sad for herself. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: right;"></p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9s3qe6M6q8BAS-N7IA80EfDFYuQJl7TmA9DC42f7i2EaaykBU8RdX0ws17tsNFh-Sa_wjaIrX1NH5fG0qA5BSc_phJftIQ8q5C60KpQzTM0fDUmkMOJSHH85UK5siGrw0h7ikTNjIM9xxxd5ZlMWhaur3g5mWwRds62NC0TLIq3K4UfhBDjyjFw_6MGr/s4032/IMG_8471.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9s3qe6M6q8BAS-N7IA80EfDFYuQJl7TmA9DC42f7i2EaaykBU8RdX0ws17tsNFh-Sa_wjaIrX1NH5fG0qA5BSc_phJftIQ8q5C60KpQzTM0fDUmkMOJSHH85UK5siGrw0h7ikTNjIM9xxxd5ZlMWhaur3g5mWwRds62NC0TLIq3K4UfhBDjyjFw_6MGr/w400-h300/IMG_8471.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the boat tour we had a coach tour and went around the Arc de Triompe a number of times!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">And Guides took over the supermarket on the way back to our base. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGCZzNXtWuiJsZMTKU6XSi88sU1z-6RmturBDZMDTijAeR4iKnuMSs2dWjkl2KCjGZK4q26fhJqi_JXZ6Z9d_1fTbQwET7_PQp2bCoUxM6YQHBeJDS4uoe-fvOtmvbzuGAjLS7h36ZhhHMWUrrBgXqE0inKe9ygl_Z9qqTnVT1Mjzn64j-yyoAEAN7OMd/s4032/IMG_8484.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGCZzNXtWuiJsZMTKU6XSi88sU1z-6RmturBDZMDTijAeR4iKnuMSs2dWjkl2KCjGZK4q26fhJqi_JXZ6Z9d_1fTbQwET7_PQp2bCoUxM6YQHBeJDS4uoe-fvOtmvbzuGAjLS7h36ZhhHMWUrrBgXqE0inKe9ygl_Z9qqTnVT1Mjzn64j-yyoAEAN7OMd/w400-h300/IMG_8484.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIj3CSEA1UAW4nEH2ZhmuGNWUG8e2gYJbr5g5wesO0UKBIjd_kjdXMJrNIF0PpZ8KFS6RoIj_gRs5GoqXwoYeA504q6SGeKlqKVAxsT4By7_26s8fEAWQVs-CEXnA3sEA4PkEHGPFWah6XF6F3CFxTtz2Oho5KE2it2ANPDLnK1Vq2WlKqfeGA4PQBn2L/s4032/IMG_8492.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIj3CSEA1UAW4nEH2ZhmuGNWUG8e2gYJbr5g5wesO0UKBIjd_kjdXMJrNIF0PpZ8KFS6RoIj_gRs5GoqXwoYeA504q6SGeKlqKVAxsT4By7_26s8fEAWQVs-CEXnA3sEA4PkEHGPFWah6XF6F3CFxTtz2Oho5KE2it2ANPDLnK1Vq2WlKqfeGA4PQBn2L/s320/IMG_8492.JPG" width="240" /></a></p><br /><p></p><p>After a pool swim and the campfire in the evening you'd have thought we were all rather exhausted but the guides still needed nagging to bed for the big day the next day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><br />Disney!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK93OFJH61xNfH8JHO2z2k6YYfGS8zdXHtFPKWl2htbo7RWD-P34eYWad5XPE1xCFDz00L8N3FkMpkydFLlZpC6VwAI81gh1IpieLlQY0aPnds4CKKPaab0WKzHNGMgIDyYwZPQ7YBxLgcyTFzaj898RqhKNARg8ffGRgZnG7gnyr6Afb08cVDdOtmRpB_/s4032/IMG_8503.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK93OFJH61xNfH8JHO2z2k6YYfGS8zdXHtFPKWl2htbo7RWD-P34eYWad5XPE1xCFDz00L8N3FkMpkydFLlZpC6VwAI81gh1IpieLlQY0aPnds4CKKPaab0WKzHNGMgIDyYwZPQ7YBxLgcyTFzaj898RqhKNARg8ffGRgZnG7gnyr6Afb08cVDdOtmRpB_/w300-h400/IMG_8503.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the girls I had this time were much younger than the ones I took last time and we weren't confident to leave them conmpletely to their own devices, this made for a different Disney experience to the time I brought Rangers, but I think it was actually more fun and I did more rides - including the Indianna Jones 360 loop! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTKbPPGkgCq1cmbk0FesEP3sfxRM3POITnxRT1Vxwut2HwrznrWxMZaqQKJNWOaUf3LRjdqsCOWv4keluNuyacv3EfZfGYOfybtUo7w5Tprkn3h74bvpBeAWwjPMq8wJB9Sk5a6FGenEGBDXsJVYWO74MNA-0NOXxK1AJxWyAU1r0b8c4NKM4HiJB2_K3/s4032/IMG_8504.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTKbPPGkgCq1cmbk0FesEP3sfxRM3POITnxRT1Vxwut2HwrznrWxMZaqQKJNWOaUf3LRjdqsCOWv4keluNuyacv3EfZfGYOfybtUo7w5Tprkn3h74bvpBeAWwjPMq8wJB9Sk5a6FGenEGBDXsJVYWO74MNA-0NOXxK1AJxWyAU1r0b8c4NKM4HiJB2_K3/w400-h300/IMG_8504.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The park was at capacity but the queues were considerably shorter than UK theme parks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4DatJW0J7rSKWtPtGKIp29CtijMTpJogJporRqmc4do4YJCcWkYZu0dHlY3_BAibA56XUujh4NIzRz5Ujj_oLjE8IAMtyy4oZrQl_rJ5KDOMgdZJlUGjf5zto7PEXK5oLvMp7mzmwhHAAq9n_t3E76oQPgOdSmU7OXROKuOVvQrGqVLX2hyl9URjiuvs/s4032/IMG_8508.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4DatJW0J7rSKWtPtGKIp29CtijMTpJogJporRqmc4do4YJCcWkYZu0dHlY3_BAibA56XUujh4NIzRz5Ujj_oLjE8IAMtyy4oZrQl_rJ5KDOMgdZJlUGjf5zto7PEXK5oLvMp7mzmwhHAAq9n_t3E76oQPgOdSmU7OXROKuOVvQrGqVLX2hyl9URjiuvs/w300-h400/IMG_8508.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whilst I was enjoying myself immensely, I still couldn't shake off the deep feelings of guilt that Disney is totally about excess, fun, and an awful lot of environmental damage whilst a huge proportion of the world doesn't even have access to clean water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were not feelings I shared with anyone, no one wants a Debbie-Downer when the parade of happiness is passing by!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1rMxRR6eb2WSOlHSJEpKz7P0oLBtTb4bx7q3TGqRcLAScD5dvb52dubgDI5m9z9Os4uD08tcketrD7aT73xX3ELdGzLWc8tw7CeZO4VO76-41vbFQrcJ_sBHMLR9025Y4LvhbswqhnJqm4cJ-CDJOvKQfQ9lM7jvG4ntwZnqGPPJXaRrhoyQQZWAdsU7/s2709/IMG_8571.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2547" data-original-width="2709" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1rMxRR6eb2WSOlHSJEpKz7P0oLBtTb4bx7q3TGqRcLAScD5dvb52dubgDI5m9z9Os4uD08tcketrD7aT73xX3ELdGzLWc8tw7CeZO4VO76-41vbFQrcJ_sBHMLR9025Y4LvhbswqhnJqm4cJ-CDJOvKQfQ9lM7jvG4ntwZnqGPPJXaRrhoyQQZWAdsU7/w400-h376/IMG_8571.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to base for the last night disco and packing ready for a long day of travelling again</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This was a great trip, well run by the main leader Guiders. <div><br /></div><div>These international trips, or any Guiding residentials, offer so many development opportunities for the girls - making new friends, independence, new cultures, and they usual come at must cheaper prices than anything schools offer because we are all volunteers that run them. I used my work holiday and paid the same as the girls to take them away - and I would do it all over again! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-14305209631383656552023-08-28T17:05:00.003+02:002023-08-28T18:08:21.736+02:00Maze 2023<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVBMKwnKnKM7tPGhzqj2LoK4xYQIQKxsN8cQ_F3okeMkZyCgRKVP8s0iwGhiNYDtuFCbwEKv2qcNsVNa9A3G4zXOaY9adGY8AmofUsq7bZWUV-xQ-zDdtMlFfpx7MKTuCGEuxQ4sENLEouMqnt5ZRDIPeL3K0QAL2W_TZseBqaNfQfejgetBUTGVMLllx/s3200/maze2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2738" data-original-width="3200" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVBMKwnKnKM7tPGhzqj2LoK4xYQIQKxsN8cQ_F3okeMkZyCgRKVP8s0iwGhiNYDtuFCbwEKv2qcNsVNa9A3G4zXOaY9adGY8AmofUsq7bZWUV-xQ-zDdtMlFfpx7MKTuCGEuxQ4sENLEouMqnt5ZRDIPeL3K0QAL2W_TZseBqaNfQfejgetBUTGVMLllx/s320/maze2023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We have visted the local maze every year since it opened, we always walk every inch of path, marking it off with a highlighter pen as we go. We use the 'hard' map without extra clues. The owner always recognises us, and this year refered to us as old timers - not sure how I felt about that!</div><div><br /></div><div>This year the theme was 'marine life at risk' and the maze was a giant turtle. The quiz boards were harder than normal and were also very informative. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Cog has her hands rather full this summer so it was HWMBO and myself alone again.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouZQUsWPnl7scRnrdret3dZty1JX2VWnTMTGDcSRJDDCUQyPvI5LmdWpmEoHOnIXpn758VDaQIemOQ7WnYO-4tZoiijt_dk-_Ml15a5nMe3wG7yMWag_HEfxkTJDvUshvINjidSs8nfRhD7kMOYjX4GEPvfFTfEd0LkchIku8fPS02w-HUvBYK7aEYI2k/s4032/maze1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouZQUsWPnl7scRnrdret3dZty1JX2VWnTMTGDcSRJDDCUQyPvI5LmdWpmEoHOnIXpn758VDaQIemOQ7WnYO-4tZoiijt_dk-_Ml15a5nMe3wG7yMWag_HEfxkTJDvUshvINjidSs8nfRhD7kMOYjX4GEPvfFTfEd0LkchIku8fPS02w-HUvBYK7aEYI2k/w400-h300/maze1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m4lK3JCO_9AKHaqIeUC908auDEq5OAQ_WMZaUfCVDO_l_6dW-NjxJTqesB-5rm6F276CXXJHvCg1be82Ab1ZCOsP3LC_7PStAsYhaQi6WLh9Qu2lkRW7clmj3z-OXQCwcdxmUhhwzrprIGqpif8tZ5Zv6ByW3uE3r_toZlvKpiODoLTNS1MJyPpZX0IK/s4032/maze3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m4lK3JCO_9AKHaqIeUC908auDEq5OAQ_WMZaUfCVDO_l_6dW-NjxJTqesB-5rm6F276CXXJHvCg1be82Ab1ZCOsP3LC_7PStAsYhaQi6WLh9Qu2lkRW7clmj3z-OXQCwcdxmUhhwzrprIGqpif8tZ5Zv6ByW3uE3r_toZlvKpiODoLTNS1MJyPpZX0IK/w300-h400/maze3.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="text-align: center;">We went end of season and despite the dreadful weather all summer it was at least 8ft in most places</span><span style="text-align: center;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">For the first time ever we had to queue to get in, I think this will be because it has been shut a lot of weekends because of rain and the kids go back to school around here next week. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSBYXFJuXl7E-Srgolhad9dRiMep6_rNUuIXozhNzNkYxx7IdWkPL5X_IjuLiLONLICqpzuKJaH5UPHBtXzi5pik90tyTAuVUDQmlUZxWxtvdF6p2Jc-WgKKfCDbnW9JX-dhSfIsdbVTZjtd69dEfMIwvpre_j9uaHUnH-U4oPolgy61He-seK7G0V83U/s4032/maze2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSBYXFJuXl7E-Srgolhad9dRiMep6_rNUuIXozhNzNkYxx7IdWkPL5X_IjuLiLONLICqpzuKJaH5UPHBtXzi5pik90tyTAuVUDQmlUZxWxtvdF6p2Jc-WgKKfCDbnW9JX-dhSfIsdbVTZjtd69dEfMIwvpre_j9uaHUnH-U4oPolgy61He-seK7G0V83U/w400-h300/maze2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div></div><br /><br />But the maze swallows people and it didn't feel over crowded, although we did bump into our next door neighbours twice! <br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">As always my tips for visiting a maize maze are:</span></div>
<br />
Call in advance, they will tell you how muddy (or not) the paths are and if you need wellies, trainers or sandals. And then stick all 3 in the boot anyway!<br />
<br />
Take a small backpack, with waterproofs, hats, and bottles of water.<br />
<br />
Take cash - ours now takes card payments by preference, but occassionally the wifi is not great so I still recommend taking cash or be prepared to drive a long way to find an ATM!<br />
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Take a couple of pens - they will charge you for a pen.<br />
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If you want to make it easier, take a highlighter pen and mark off the paths as you go round.<br />
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Ours is totally wheel chair and pushchair accessible unless it is really really muddy. They have lots of viewing platforms and helpers, you won't lose your children (for long) no matter how hard you try and they have quick exits so you can get out to the loos and then go back in again without having to walk a million miles.<br />
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At ours there are lots of other games and mini mazes to do as well, picnic tables and plenty of parking. It is an easy, fun day out and I thoroughly recommend it for a family few hours of togetherness and exercise....oh yes and yelling at each other debating about which way to go!<br />
<br /><br />As maze post tradition now dictates, here is my maze gallery:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWb4LolvhgzcZXpHmGVGWtLUMQVa2g3GyuTlB_Zg-bwE-UemVM1mbGdEuo1L47YtR2Sqim6AYsobVtkpXxsJGoqeaxsbq3qRzMoU6xas16pfoDvEQrLyQ7xFF2IQw5gWyRNrKQrY1Aw_uVYoihsLPlcTjA6dnzKnwsDx8PlTgeKMNoRcCTIUQkSxz1g/s4032/IMG_3260.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWb4LolvhgzcZXpHmGVGWtLUMQVa2g3GyuTlB_Zg-bwE-UemVM1mbGdEuo1L47YtR2Sqim6AYsobVtkpXxsJGoqeaxsbq3qRzMoU6xas16pfoDvEQrLyQ7xFF2IQw5gWyRNrKQrY1Aw_uVYoihsLPlcTjA6dnzKnwsDx8PlTgeKMNoRcCTIUQkSxz1g/s320/IMG_3260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2022/08/maze-2022.html" target="_blank">2022</a> Platinum Jubilee. A very hot day, 30C</div><div>Me and HWMBO (Cog was working)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtox79SKCUvJsSEGZIilI6raoIAYNKNaj7aBUwjgPsiJHyxgFbNSxM5TAWd4wGWsB57eOkPbz5Id3KGrpEUvqgihjUyAKzd2nNaJgX-daGyNUsdKTdpw0MM8eTltTZNs0rrsyNQJXtATTv37TLec48QNygddDzD-EsTiNs4FAd5_af73XqNzOep7HzQ/s2577/EVJYE1341.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1907" data-original-width="2577" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtox79SKCUvJsSEGZIilI6raoIAYNKNaj7aBUwjgPsiJHyxgFbNSxM5TAWd4wGWsB57eOkPbz5Id3KGrpEUvqgihjUyAKzd2nNaJgX-daGyNUsdKTdpw0MM8eTltTZNs0rrsyNQJXtATTv37TLec48QNygddDzD-EsTiNs4FAd5_af73XqNzOep7HzQ/s320/EVJYE1341.JPG" width="320" /></a><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN2I-VH4KEnTpwtzIqFl18gtJWq7-vlRK7YEBck4PEH5iyTj3BglHjHmXdyF2hcC0haFY25nKqw5naz49uBttJCFzt3NV1RnJLassvV8kFKJd97AAaqLDGaZFHs2VUe-Z1dza2bMtHzT6G6o2WBiUnXKkRuwg5FkJBGHktOtmfWSFtz-Sg5SsQmVO6g/s2498/IMG_0804.JPEG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="2215" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN2I-VH4KEnTpwtzIqFl18gtJWq7-vlRK7YEBck4PEH5iyTj3BglHjHmXdyF2hcC0haFY25nKqw5naz49uBttJCFzt3NV1RnJLassvV8kFKJd97AAaqLDGaZFHs2VUe-Z1dza2bMtHzT6G6o2WBiUnXKkRuwg5FkJBGHktOtmfWSFtz-Sg5SsQmVO6g/s320/IMG_0804.JPEG" width="284" /></a></div>2021 - the Phoenix rising from the Flames after Covid, Me and HWMBO</div><div><br /></div><div>End of season height, coats and lots of sunflowers<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw72q79l45HBxNMKHE45zUzKNv9gXbSNEpyZkX7HH8ndL91KzU0epPDBqKT6sjQrwjfmvhFH3n4QJl9x8CaJmBL4iTKjcjGPuciPxCW_eSFQYveYi2z8uFGo8MvkgIsI1KI4mNeD6o3BpFYmeCTUHkbaMhlcpLP_QZ5L_d-SI2fcQyYCt-JnzZi06K0g/s2048/IMG_0796.JPEG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw72q79l45HBxNMKHE45zUzKNv9gXbSNEpyZkX7HH8ndL91KzU0epPDBqKT6sjQrwjfmvhFH3n4QJl9x8CaJmBL4iTKjcjGPuciPxCW_eSFQYveYi2z8uFGo8MvkgIsI1KI4mNeD6o3BpFYmeCTUHkbaMhlcpLP_QZ5L_d-SI2fcQyYCt-JnzZi06K0g/s320/IMG_0796.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2020 - Not open because of Covid lockdowns.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S0Gy-86m-4/XWJxVIlImFI/AAAAAAAA7o8/Un0pnCx3b-QBAyoHpB3qUbeWK0v6hKEzgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8966.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S0Gy-86m-4/XWJxVIlImFI/AAAAAAAA7o8/Un0pnCx3b-QBAyoHpB3qUbeWK0v6hKEzgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_8966.JPG" width="300" /></a><div><a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2019/09/maze-2019.html" target="_blank">2019</a> - Astronaut to mark 50 years since the first man on the moon.<br /></div><div><br /></div>HWMBO & I went<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPTE5PZXXSY/W2YMXY7i9QI/AAAAAAAA4cw/316_ijim8e8T-w7RqSsI5b2wBFl7oH0XwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1314.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1275" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPTE5PZXXSY/W2YMXY7i9QI/AAAAAAAA4cw/316_ijim8e8T-w7RqSsI5b2wBFl7oH0XwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1314.JPG" width="317" /></a><div><br /></div><br />
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<a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2017/09/maze-2017.html" target="_blank">2017</a> - A hot year and a good crop<br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2016/09/maze-2016.html">2016</a> was a bad year all round but points to us for still making the effort to go.<br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2015/08/maze-time.html" target="_blank">2015</a></div>
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This was a good crop year and a fun afternoon with friends.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyLDVORKIn8/U_eqVj80f-I/AAAAAAAALdc/z9zn3O5FNRE/s1600/P1010231.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyLDVORKIn8/U_eqVj80f-I/AAAAAAAALdc/z9zn3O5FNRE/s320/P1010231.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2014/08/yet-more-maize-maze.html">2014</a><br />
The weather couldn't make up it's mind, warm, sunny and wet at different points of the walk.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gW4nDadiQg/UiZQq6ti8nI/AAAAAAAAJLY/BM1fEw_miCU/s1600/maze.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gW4nDadiQg/UiZQq6ti8nI/AAAAAAAAJLY/BM1fEw_miCU/s320/maze.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2013/09/more-maize-maze.html">2013</a><br />
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This was the best crop they'd had in a long time.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fSctC78mxc/UDFS5qOkjcI/AAAAAAAAF6A/jnCGyGncqV0/s1600/P1050985.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fSctC78mxc/UDFS5qOkjcI/AAAAAAAAF6A/jnCGyGncqV0/s320/P1050985.JPG" /></a><a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2012/08/a-family-day-out-at-maize-maze.html">2012</a><br />
Dreadful crop year. But the sunflowers meant it was still well worth seeing.<br />
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2011<br />
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The owners said it was a bad crop year. It seemed pretty tall to me, but maybe it's about the size and number of the maize itself, not just the height of the plant.<br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2010/08/maize-maze.html">2010</a><br />
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The height was there but the plants were rather lame<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bGaJk5PAXY/U_et2VEEzQI/AAAAAAAALdo/83OOvSMDApA/s1600/maze2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bGaJk5PAXY/U_et2VEEzQI/AAAAAAAALdo/83OOvSMDApA/s320/maze2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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2009<br />
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A wet year I think as we are wearing wellies.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lVJvx_FmGKQ/TF2-5kK7R1I/AAAAAAAADFg/uDW8lm9FTTk/s1600/2008.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lVJvx_FmGKQ/TF2-5kK7R1I/AAAAAAAADFg/uDW8lm9FTTk/s320/2008.JPG" width="240" /></a>2008 Again not too bad a height.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lVJvx_FmGKQ/TF2-o5aJpuI/AAAAAAAADFY/U3zNgYb1bPo/s1600/maze2007.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lVJvx_FmGKQ/TF2-o5aJpuI/AAAAAAAADFY/U3zNgYb1bPo/s400/maze2007.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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2007<br />
Looks like another bad year.<br />
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Cog always reminds me that 2006 was the 'alien' year and she went with her father, not me.<br />
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2005<br />
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<br /></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-32432690296341903212022-09-16T20:42:00.001+02:002022-09-16T20:42:45.322+02:00The Guiding Promise and Laws since the beginning<i><br /></i>
This is an extract from a Guiding training resource:<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"In 1908 Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting and Guiding, had strong beliefs and convictions including a strong sense of stewardship of the earth and all living things and the value of small groups working and playing together. Out of Baden-Powell’s convictions grew the Scout Promise and Law from which the Girl Guide Promise was slightly modified. The Promise and the Law gives a purpose and a new meaning to life. It provides members with a set of values such as honesty, responsibility, integrity, loyalty, respect, tolerance, self-awareness and a moral framework. </i><br />
<i><br />The guiding Promise has changed 13 times since the organisation was founded. With each change the Promise has remained true to the principles on which guiding was founded over 100 years ago"</i><br />
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<b>1910 </b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/about-us/our-history/original-promise-and-law/" target="_blank">The Original Promise and Law</a> </b><br />
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On my honour, I promise that I will do my best:<br />
To do my duty to God and the King (Or God and my country);<br />
To help other people at all times;<br />
To obey the Guide Law <br />
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Law <br />
<ol>
<li>A Guide’s honour is to be trusted</li>
<li>A Guide is loyal to the King and her Guiders, and to her parents, her country and her employers or employees.</li>
<li>A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.</li>
<li>A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide, no matter what social class the other belongs.</li>
<li>A Guide is courteous.</li>
<li>A Guide is a friend to animals.</li>
<li>A Guide obeys orders of her parents, patrol leader or</li>
<li>Captain, without question.</li>
<li>A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.</li>
<li>A Guide is thrifty.</li>
<li>A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYaCJsAW4uw/WLxz2TdO_vI/AAAAAAAAQCE/oymi3xyjvCwf__itNd-qvu99ahgK3OiEgCLcB/s1600/original%2BGuide%2Blaw.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYaCJsAW4uw/WLxz2TdO_vI/AAAAAAAAQCE/oymi3xyjvCwf__itNd-qvu99ahgK3OiEgCLcB/s400/original%2BGuide%2Blaw.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
Baden-Powel added<br />
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"......[This law is unwritten, but it is understood]"<br />
<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2013/04/the-original-guide-law.html" target="_blank">"A Guide is not a fool"</a></div>
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Moto: Be prepared <br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>1912</b><br />
<b>Guide Promise</b><br />
I promise, on my honour</div>
<div>
1 To be loyal to God & the King, </div>
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2 To try and do daily good turns to other people</div>
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3 To obey the law of the Guides<br />
<b>Guide Law</b><br />
1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted<br />
2. A Guide is loyal<br />
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.<br />
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide, no matter what social class the other belongs.<br />
5. A Guide is courteous.</div>
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6. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.<br />
7. A Guide is a friend to animals.<br />
8. A Guide obeys orders<br />
9. A Guide smiles and sings<br />
10. A Guide is thrifty.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>1914</b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
On my Honour I promise to do my best<br />
1 To do my duty to God and the King, and<br />
2 to do a good turn to somebody every day.<br />
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<b>1916 </b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
On my Honour I promise to do my best<br />
1 To be loyal to God and the King, and<br />
2 to to try to help other people, especially those at home.<br />
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<b>1918</b><br />
<b>Guide Promise</b><br />
I promise on my honour<br />
1 To be loyal to God and the King<br />
2 To try to help other people at all times<br />
3 To keep the Law of the Guides<br />
<div>
<b>Guide Law</b><br />
1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted<br />
2. A Guide is loyal<br />
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful<br />
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide<br />
5. A Guide is courteous.</div>
<div>
6. A Guide is a friend to animals.</div>
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7. A Guide obeys orders </div>
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8. A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties</div>
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9. A Guide is thrifty.</div>
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10.A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.<br />
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<b>1920</b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
I promise on my honour to do my best<br />
1 To do my duty to God and the King, and to be loyal to the Law of the Brownie Pack<br />
2 To help other people every day, especially those at home.<br />
<b>Brownie Law:</b><br />
The Law of The Brownie Pack is:<br />
1. The Brownie gives in to the older folk<br />
2. The Brownie does not give in to herself<br />
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<b>1921</b><br />
<b>Guide Promise</b><br />
On my honour I promise that I will do my best<br />
1 To do my duty to God and the King<br />
2 To help other people at all times<br />
3 To obey the Guide Law</div>
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<b>1926</b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
I promise to do my best<br />
1 To do my duty to God and the King, and to keep the Law of the Brownie Pack<br />
2 To help other people every day, especially those at home.<br />
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<b>1929</b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
I promise to do my best<br />
1 To do my duty to God and the King<br />
2. To help other people every day, especially those at home.<br />
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<b>1938</b><br />
<b>Brownie Law:</b><br />
The Law of The Brownie Pack is:<br />
1. A Brownie gives in to the older folk<br />
2. A Brownie does not give in to herself.<br />
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<b>1947</b><br />
<b>Guide Law</b><br />
1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted<br />
2. A Guide is loyal<br />
3. A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.<br />
4. A Guide is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Guide<br />
5. A Guide is courteous.<br />
6. A Guide is a friend to animals.<br />
7. A Guide obeys orders<br />
8. A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.<br />
9. A Guide is thrifty.<br />
10. A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.<br />
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<b>1950</b><br />
<b>Guide Promise</b><br />
I promise on my honour that I will do my best </div>
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1 To do my duty to God & the King (Queen from 1953)</div>
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2 To help other people at all times</div>
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3 To obey the Guide Law</div>
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<b>1952</b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
I promise to do my best<br />
1 To do my duty to God and the Queen<br />
2. To help other people every day, especially those at home.</div>
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<b>1957</b></div>
<div>
<b>Guide Promise</b></div>
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<div>
I promise on my honour that I will do my best </div>
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1 To do my duty to God & the Queen</div>
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2 To help other people at all times</div>
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3 And to obey the Guide Law</div>
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<b>1967 </b><br />
<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
I promise that I will do my best<br />
To do my duty to God, to serve the Queen<br />
and help other people, and<br />
To keep the Brownie Guide Law.<br />
<b>Brownie Law</b><br />
The Brownie Guide Law is:<br />
A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day.<br />
<b>Brownie Motto</b><br />
Lend A Hand<br />
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<b>Guide Promise</b><br />
I promise that I will do my best<br />
To do my duty to God<br />
To serve the Queen and help other people<br />
and to keep the Guide Law.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIgacAcFQy8/WLxz79sixhI/AAAAAAAAQCI/l40_HFQYnBQjebCSlW6_8r9dg0USH7ewACLcB/s1600/later%2BGuide%2BLaw.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIgacAcFQy8/WLxz79sixhI/AAAAAAAAQCI/l40_HFQYnBQjebCSlW6_8r9dg0USH7ewACLcB/s320/later%2BGuide%2BLaw.JPG" width="294" /></a><b>Guide Law:</b><br />
1. A Guide is loyal and can be trusted<br />
2. A Guide is helpful<br />
3. A Guide is polite and considerate<br />
4. A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides<br />
5. A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things<br />
6. Guide is obedient<br />
7. A Guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties<br />
8. A Guide makes good use of her time<br />
9. A Guide takes care of her possessions and those of others people<br />
10. A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks, says and does.<br />
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<b>Rangers </b><br />
I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen and help other people, and to keep the Guide Law with the further responsibility to be of service to the community.<br />
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<b>1969</b><br />
A recruit of foreign nationality wishing to be enrolled as a member of the association in the united kingdom makes a promise in one of the following ways:<br />
I promise that I will do my best<br />
To do my duty to God, to my country<br />
and to the country in which I am a guest<br />
to help other people<br />
and to keep the (Brownie) Guide Law.<br />
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or she may make the promise in the accepted form of words used in her own country and the addition "To do my duty the country in which I am a guest"<br />
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or a recruit unable to live in her own country and not wishing to promise loyalty to its government may use the following form of words<br />
"I promise that I will do my best<br />
To do my duty to God<br />
To serve the country in which I am a guest<br />
and help other people<br />
and to keep the (Brownie) Guide Law."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RB0EQc_kQI/WVZsZqpHP9I/AAAAAAAAqk8/FraDEy4_qt04VBwBuzf_UBvzY4DgaLPpACLcBGAs/s1600/rainbow%2Bpromise.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1263" height="205" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RB0EQc_kQI/WVZsZqpHP9I/AAAAAAAAqk8/FraDEy4_qt04VBwBuzf_UBvzY4DgaLPpACLcBGAs/s320/rainbow%2Bpromise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>1987</b><br />
<b>Rainbow Promise</b><br />
I will do my best to love God and to be kind and helpful.<br />
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<b>1990</b><br />
Alternative working for the "duty to God" clause<br />
"where in religion God has a name which is more commonly used, that name may be substituted, in order to make the promise more meaningful to each girl or woman"<br />
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<b>1994</b></div>
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<b>Brownie Promise</b><br />
I promise that I will do my best:<br />
To love my God,<br />
To serve the Queen and my Country,<br />
To help other people,<br />
and<br />
To keep the Brownie Guide Law<br />
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<b>Rainbow Promise</b><br />
I will do my best to love my God and to be kind and helpful.<br />
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<b>Guide Promise</b><br />
I promise that I will do my best:<br />
To love my God<br />
To serve the Queen and my Country,<br />
To help other people,<br />
and<br />
To keep the Guide Law<br />
(unofficially Rangers add: ‘and to be of service to the community’)<br />
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<b>1996</b><br />
<b>Guide Law</b><br />
1. A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.<br />
2. A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.<br />
3. A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.<br />
4. A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.<br />
5. A Guide is polite and considerate.<br />
6. A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.<br />
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<b>2013</b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/about-us/what-makes-guiding-special/the-promise/">The Current Promise and Law</a> </b><br />
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<b>Brownies, Guides, Senior Section (Rangers) and adults:</b><br />
I promise that I will do my best: To be true to myself and develop my beliefs, To serve the Queen and my community, To help other people and To keep the (Brownie) Guide Law.<br />
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<b>Rainbows</b><br />
I promise that I will do my best to think about my beliefs and to be kind and helpful.<br />
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<b>The Guide Law for Guides, Senior Section (Rangers) and adults:</b><br />
1. A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.<br />
2. A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.<br />
3. A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.<br />
4. A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.<br />
5. A Guide is polite and considerate.<br />
6. A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.<br />
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<b>Brownie Guide Law:</b><br />
A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a Good Turn every day.</div><div><br />
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<br /></div><div><b>2022 (20th September)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "trebuchet ms", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Rainbows</b></p>‘I promise that I will do my best to think about my beliefs and be kind and helpful.’<p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "trebuchet ms", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "trebuchet ms", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Brownies</b><br /><br />‘I promise that I will do my best, <br />to be true to myself and develop my beliefs, <br />to serve the King and my community, <br />to help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide Law.’</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "trebuchet ms", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "trebuchet ms", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Guides, Rangers, young leaders and adult volunteers</b></p><br />‘I promise that I will do my best, <br />to be true to myself and develop my beliefs, <br />to serve the King and my community, <br />to help other people and to keep the Guide Law.’</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>
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In the century since the founding of guiding, tens of millions of girls and women around the world have made the Promise, each in her own language. Tens of millions of girls and women all committed to a moral framework. It can only be a good thing.</div>
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AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-26557801755870431092022-08-27T12:21:00.002+02:002022-08-27T12:21:20.829+02:00Rangers on a Killer Trail in LondonMy last batch of Rangers are now all about to go to university, I'd been saying for a long time I would take them to London to get some experience of the transport systems and just to give them a confidence boost.<div><br /></div><div>Covid and life got in the way, so we were up to our final possible date we could all make it and the weather annouced 35C. I really wondered how sensible travelling would be and reconsidered my risk assessment a number of times, if these girls had been younger I would have cancelled but they are old enough and few enough that we could be very flexible with the plans. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had asked a couple of my now ex rangers that live and work around London what they thought might be good and cheap, these girls had done the <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2014/08/london-monopoly-challenge.html" target="_blank">monopoly challenge</a> with me years ago. They recommended a '<a href="https://killertrails.co.uk/product-category/regions/london/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">killer trail</a>'. </div><div><br /></div><div>So armed with laminated cards, a heavy duty <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2013/09/il-pleut.html" target="_blank">sun umbrella</a>, more water than I felt happy carrying and the refill app off we went. It was interesting that I was the only person I saw using an umbrella for sunshade - the one I use now is a silver reflective vented one. It's fantastic and created shade for the whole group at the right angle. </div><div><br /></div><div>Luck was on our side, the long hot summer meant a track fire which had upset all the trains, initially it was a worry we would be able to get there at all but our planned train started at our town rather than the big stations further up line so we got onto an on-time empty train and had a 'converted to standard' first class carriage - we played cards all the air conditioned way in.</div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlnxqaO0brV2rrz2Rp-1wtEfqM_QNwVHA1UXmrcWEYt_9cbC8Etg3xaRIKsoJZvWAwDih4KZg4lJLWMAhrvTdb9E-WObe467GgxVUWyQv9HjgbHyVqeafOb-nlv9vfxRGHRy-nDVHAGHNsbXMDmlUy_x3LM4cfBOFjyunEomth1D4hXiaRZTR5z2Ccg/s2048/mall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlnxqaO0brV2rrz2Rp-1wtEfqM_QNwVHA1UXmrcWEYt_9cbC8Etg3xaRIKsoJZvWAwDih4KZg4lJLWMAhrvTdb9E-WObe467GgxVUWyQv9HjgbHyVqeafOb-nlv9vfxRGHRy-nDVHAGHNsbXMDmlUy_x3LM4cfBOFjyunEomth1D4hXiaRZTR5z2Ccg/w300-h400/mall.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div>The tube was hot, but most people had decided to stay away I think and it was quieter than usual even at peak times.</div><div><br /></div><div>We did walked our way around the WestEnd killertrail (murdermystery type tour/quiz). I recommend them as a cheap way to fill a 3 hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>You are looking for clues on streets, statues etc to help you solve a mystery.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not particularly hard but it is a better focus than just walking around,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We stopped many times, just sitting in a shady area, we took advantage of different places to refill water bottles some were happy to do so, some took a little buttering up, but a uniform and a necker can take you a long way and with a lot of neck I even managed to get Greggs to fill our water bottles whilst we were stood next to a fridge of bottles selling water!</div><div><br /></div><div>We did also buy water on the south bank but also got Pret to turn on the refill tap so we could do a double top up, buy & fill. </div><div><br /></div><div>An ice-cream stop sat on the steps near the Duke of York statue lasted nearly an hour, just cooling, chilling, chatting, they even starting to sing some camp songs and tourist took photos of us!! That is the beauty of an itinary with no time pressures at all and the flexibility of rangers in small groups. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkHJDSW8JcLQdVFiDG7evJQJS4x6mPSifjNS2Wgn7JbPVqWHu5rs7zHfuY72S4gTy4mwaQRoPjmTt6Xl1OCaFysRqs6xLZWOmGJxDPf55qpQNhwYxLXGqts-XDjZ7eqdWbAC8ddrwSWCjeSsbCFUaluOY2duFClHVzh6eomcuJgbM6MIPmddKYyJAVg/s1813/icecream.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1813" data-original-width="1734" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkHJDSW8JcLQdVFiDG7evJQJS4x6mPSifjNS2Wgn7JbPVqWHu5rs7zHfuY72S4gTy4mwaQRoPjmTt6Xl1OCaFysRqs6xLZWOmGJxDPf55qpQNhwYxLXGqts-XDjZ7eqdWbAC8ddrwSWCjeSsbCFUaluOY2duFClHVzh6eomcuJgbM6MIPmddKYyJAVg/s320/icecream.JPEG" width="306" /></a></div>I’m pleased with how I led them, which was my usual style of from behind. I let them get off at the wrong tube station, work that out, all get back on and have another go, gives them confidence to know it doesn’t matter. Showed them that it’s normal to have 300+ people waiting for platform information before the barrier opens and those pushing through don’t know something you don’t! How to get water bottle refills without buying it! And how to manage ‘broken’ tickets (after one Ranger kept her ticket in her phone case). It was interesting watching what worried different girls at different times.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was a little worried about taking them on my own, I normally like to have a second leader around to bounce off. But actually it was a boost to my confidence in my leader skills too. Leading from behind is sometimes very swan like, you look calm and all knowing whilst your mind is constantly doing overtime! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We did the trail, we had a bit of fun in M&M world, we had a wander to Horseguards and Downing Street, passed Westminster, a sit on the Southbank soaking up the buskers and summer atmosphere.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before heading home in a non-airconditioned train. Which was an opportunity to show them how long a bottle of frozen water can stay frozen in an isulated cover, how putting it on the back of your neck is an instant cooler - we passed it around the group each having a go more than once!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLjwtIw9eVTY4UzobMXYp_bPBcYBoMifW2DXQ9k93hGzVlIOOu1NMplvqqZ5BApZKdHUlz-47ZKhFNwq_wEIAYuRkn0oRUY1Y9YoTbZi9KV0MPGkdTo0YjjLjA_pbQjXbXfsRozGAs18ndc9kQjRRNpBYHsTtFy6RHFtJogh3nk2dYTdCP_ac0cGokQ/s2048/lanterns.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLjwtIw9eVTY4UzobMXYp_bPBcYBoMifW2DXQ9k93hGzVlIOOu1NMplvqqZ5BApZKdHUlz-47ZKhFNwq_wEIAYuRkn0oRUY1Y9YoTbZi9KV0MPGkdTo0YjjLjA_pbQjXbXfsRozGAs18ndc9kQjRRNpBYHsTtFy6RHFtJogh3nk2dYTdCP_ac0cGokQ/w300-h400/lanterns.JPEG" width="300" /></a></div>Another grand day out.<br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-47989138515699945092022-08-17T18:30:00.005+02:002022-08-17T18:30:00.203+02:00Maze 2022This year's maze design was a crown to mark the platinum Jubilee.<br />
<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWb4LolvhgzcZXpHmGVGWtLUMQVa2g3GyuTlB_Zg-bwE-UemVM1mbGdEuo1L47YtR2Sqim6AYsobVtkpXxsJGoqeaxsbq3qRzMoU6xas16pfoDvEQrLyQ7xFF2IQw5gWyRNrKQrY1Aw_uVYoihsLPlcTjA6dnzKnwsDx8PlTgeKMNoRcCTIUQkSxz1g/s4032/IMG_3260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWb4LolvhgzcZXpHmGVGWtLUMQVa2g3GyuTlB_Zg-bwE-UemVM1mbGdEuo1L47YtR2Sqim6AYsobVtkpXxsJGoqeaxsbq3qRzMoU6xas16pfoDvEQrLyQ7xFF2IQw5gWyRNrKQrY1Aw_uVYoihsLPlcTjA6dnzKnwsDx8PlTgeKMNoRcCTIUQkSxz1g/s320/IMG_3260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Cog was working so it was just HWMBO and me again this year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtox79SKCUvJsSEGZIilI6raoIAYNKNaj7aBUwjgPsiJHyxgFbNSxM5TAWd4wGWsB57eOkPbz5Id3KGrpEUvqgihjUyAKzd2nNaJgX-daGyNUsdKTdpw0MM8eTltTZNs0rrsyNQJXtATTv37TLec48QNygddDzD-EsTiNs4FAd5_af73XqNzOep7HzQ/s2577/EVJYE1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1907" data-original-width="2577" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtox79SKCUvJsSEGZIilI6raoIAYNKNaj7aBUwjgPsiJHyxgFbNSxM5TAWd4wGWsB57eOkPbz5Id3KGrpEUvqgihjUyAKzd2nNaJgX-daGyNUsdKTdpw0MM8eTltTZNs0rrsyNQJXtATTv37TLec48QNygddDzD-EsTiNs4FAd5_af73XqNzOep7HzQ/s320/EVJYE1341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />We always walk every inch of path, marking it off with a highlighter pen as we go. We use the map without clues but that still has number baords shown, I've asked the owner if next year she will produce a completely unmarked map.<br />
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It was a very hot day, pushing 30C. I'm not as fit at the moment as I used to be and I found it hard going.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9UA5JziDtAHHH1JC3V4UbEpedqzJpQSZHOctLr0JDQD34uZkWGXo5okwJ4Nwc8YRyofrgEfgF2t7bMYw5gDMIQ24ifC7_b2e_KPkuQEfoEBNO1WsQXmjbg4H1mvdA6j1eCZVxlOmpP7Q06KsF0TQsmNYf1o8nLKxdcpMEBRLubcFzM7zPdumf2moQ/s4032/IMG_3264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9UA5JziDtAHHH1JC3V4UbEpedqzJpQSZHOctLr0JDQD34uZkWGXo5okwJ4Nwc8YRyofrgEfgF2t7bMYw5gDMIQ24ifC7_b2e_KPkuQEfoEBNO1WsQXmjbg4H1mvdA6j1eCZVxlOmpP7Q06KsF0TQsmNYf1o8nLKxdcpMEBRLubcFzM7zPdumf2moQ/s320/IMG_3264.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>We were a bit early in the season for an abundance of sunflowers but there were enough to keep the bees busy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioo0jhoQIK47pZmlzE66-B01lV4tH8WwTUdEK5S3KjoRXUIZUaGFK0KeG9keJc7CVRbG2HEEyAkdbYxyZELR4EitpqX_48-LLlzapMT6W6X9mfpWgmob8X0j_x1G8VDJit9HPvHJNIXXE_Jc3XXBpaDreYOz2EsZ08ritinCZKtgcrTsd6rXs-I-BwFw/s4032/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioo0jhoQIK47pZmlzE66-B01lV4tH8WwTUdEK5S3KjoRXUIZUaGFK0KeG9keJc7CVRbG2HEEyAkdbYxyZELR4EitpqX_48-LLlzapMT6W6X9mfpWgmob8X0j_x1G8VDJit9HPvHJNIXXE_Jc3XXBpaDreYOz2EsZ08ritinCZKtgcrTsd6rXs-I-BwFw/s320/IMG_3272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The great thing about mazes like this is that they really 'swallow' up crowds. The car park was rammed but you rarely get into crowds in the paths.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpD_zbCkNpTCUTt-FDaeEkyHBYl9lyAOryTHlp8dSC3FfsbJih8404YcOXOLDQK19jTJjX69d2KXHJcYNB-GYpcwO9SGEr7NtqWh_upicIJ_gl4X23Lt8VoOkbvDHKfzm1hrrpMY5nhjOhfk-iyXWK7U2EZnGjBmhRfE-fCEYyhCVhCpSmJdWrNT9ug/s4032/IMG_3278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpD_zbCkNpTCUTt-FDaeEkyHBYl9lyAOryTHlp8dSC3FfsbJih8404YcOXOLDQK19jTJjX69d2KXHJcYNB-GYpcwO9SGEr7NtqWh_upicIJ_gl4X23Lt8VoOkbvDHKfzm1hrrpMY5nhjOhfk-iyXWK7U2EZnGjBmhRfE-fCEYyhCVhCpSmJdWrNT9ug/s320/IMG_3278.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>There were many parts that were hardly walked at all. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">As always my tips for visiting a maize maze are:</span></div>
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Call in advance, they will tell you how muddy (or not) the paths are and if you need wellies, trainers or sandals. And then stick all 3 in the boot anyway!<br />
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Take a small backpack, with waterproofs, hats, and bottles of water.<br />
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Take cash - ours is on a farm and this year for the first time they accepted cards but I still recommend taking cash or be prepared to drive a long way to find an ATM!<br />
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Take a couple of pens - they will charge you for a pen.<br />
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If you want to make it easier, take a highlighter pen and mark off the paths as you go round.<br />
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Ours is totally wheel chair and pushchair accessible unless it was really really muddy. They have lots of viewing platforms and helpers, you won't lose your children (for long) no matter how hard you try and they have quick exits so you can get out to the loos and then go back in again without having to walk a million miles.<br />
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At ours there are lots of other games and mini mazes to do as well, picnic tables and plenty of parking. It is an easy, fun day out and I thoroughly recommend it for a family few hours of togetherness and exercise....oh yes and yelling at each other debating about which way to go!<br />
<br /><br />As maze post tradition now dictates, here is my maze gallery:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN2I-VH4KEnTpwtzIqFl18gtJWq7-vlRK7YEBck4PEH5iyTj3BglHjHmXdyF2hcC0haFY25nKqw5naz49uBttJCFzt3NV1RnJLassvV8kFKJd97AAaqLDGaZFHs2VUe-Z1dza2bMtHzT6G6o2WBiUnXKkRuwg5FkJBGHktOtmfWSFtz-Sg5SsQmVO6g/s2498/IMG_0804.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2498" data-original-width="2215" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN2I-VH4KEnTpwtzIqFl18gtJWq7-vlRK7YEBck4PEH5iyTj3BglHjHmXdyF2hcC0haFY25nKqw5naz49uBttJCFzt3NV1RnJLassvV8kFKJd97AAaqLDGaZFHs2VUe-Z1dza2bMtHzT6G6o2WBiUnXKkRuwg5FkJBGHktOtmfWSFtz-Sg5SsQmVO6g/s320/IMG_0804.JPEG" width="284" /></a></div>2021 - the Phoenix rising from the Flames after Covid, Me and HWMBO</div><div><br /></div><div>End of season height, coats and lots of sunflowers<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw72q79l45HBxNMKHE45zUzKNv9gXbSNEpyZkX7HH8ndL91KzU0epPDBqKT6sjQrwjfmvhFH3n4QJl9x8CaJmBL4iTKjcjGPuciPxCW_eSFQYveYi2z8uFGo8MvkgIsI1KI4mNeD6o3BpFYmeCTUHkbaMhlcpLP_QZ5L_d-SI2fcQyYCt-JnzZi06K0g/s2048/IMG_0796.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw72q79l45HBxNMKHE45zUzKNv9gXbSNEpyZkX7HH8ndL91KzU0epPDBqKT6sjQrwjfmvhFH3n4QJl9x8CaJmBL4iTKjcjGPuciPxCW_eSFQYveYi2z8uFGo8MvkgIsI1KI4mNeD6o3BpFYmeCTUHkbaMhlcpLP_QZ5L_d-SI2fcQyYCt-JnzZi06K0g/s320/IMG_0796.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2020 - Not open because of Covid lockdowns.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S0Gy-86m-4/XWJxVIlImFI/AAAAAAAA7o8/Un0pnCx3b-QBAyoHpB3qUbeWK0v6hKEzgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_8966.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S0Gy-86m-4/XWJxVIlImFI/AAAAAAAA7o8/Un0pnCx3b-QBAyoHpB3qUbeWK0v6hKEzgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_8966.JPG" width="300" /></a><div><a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2019/09/maze-2019.html" target="_blank">2019</a> - Astronaut to mark 50 years since the first man on the moon.<br /></div><div><br /></div>HWMBO & I went<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPTE5PZXXSY/W2YMXY7i9QI/AAAAAAAA4cw/316_ijim8e8T-w7RqSsI5b2wBFl7oH0XwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1314.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1275" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPTE5PZXXSY/W2YMXY7i9QI/AAAAAAAA4cw/316_ijim8e8T-w7RqSsI5b2wBFl7oH0XwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1314.JPG" width="317" /></a><div><br /></div><br />
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<a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2017/09/maze-2017.html" target="_blank">2017</a> - A hot year and a good crop<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2M3gLvTBWnI/V9xfoo529qI/AAAAAAAAPgc/JBJirUT3DFIlV7ZpQ9Ui4_7q0HvDHR1fACLcB/s1600/IMG_3999.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2M3gLvTBWnI/V9xfoo529qI/AAAAAAAAPgc/JBJirUT3DFIlV7ZpQ9Ui4_7q0HvDHR1fACLcB/s400/IMG_3999.JPG" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2016/09/maze-2016.html">2016</a> was a bad year all round but points to us for still making the effort to go.<br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2015/08/maze-time.html" target="_blank">2015</a></div>
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This was a good crop year and a fun afternoon with friends.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyLDVORKIn8/U_eqVj80f-I/AAAAAAAALdc/z9zn3O5FNRE/s1600/P1010231.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyLDVORKIn8/U_eqVj80f-I/AAAAAAAALdc/z9zn3O5FNRE/s320/P1010231.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2014/08/yet-more-maize-maze.html">2014</a><br />
The weather couldn't make up it's mind, warm, sunny and wet at different points of the walk.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gW4nDadiQg/UiZQq6ti8nI/AAAAAAAAJLY/BM1fEw_miCU/s1600/maze.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gW4nDadiQg/UiZQq6ti8nI/AAAAAAAAJLY/BM1fEw_miCU/s320/maze.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2013/09/more-maize-maze.html">2013</a><br />
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This was the best crop they'd had in a long time.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fSctC78mxc/UDFS5qOkjcI/AAAAAAAAF6A/jnCGyGncqV0/s1600/P1050985.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fSctC78mxc/UDFS5qOkjcI/AAAAAAAAF6A/jnCGyGncqV0/s320/P1050985.JPG" /></a><a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2012/08/a-family-day-out-at-maize-maze.html">2012</a><br />
Dreadful crop year. But the sunflowers meant it was still well worth seeing.<br />
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2011<br />
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The owners said it was a bad crop year. It seemed pretty tall to me, but maybe it's about the size and number of the maize itself, not just the height of the plant.<br />
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<a href="http://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2010/08/maize-maze.html">2010</a><br />
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The height was there but the plants were rather lame<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bGaJk5PAXY/U_et2VEEzQI/AAAAAAAALdo/83OOvSMDApA/s1600/maze2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bGaJk5PAXY/U_et2VEEzQI/AAAAAAAALdo/83OOvSMDApA/s320/maze2.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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2009<br />
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A wet year I think as we are wearing wellies.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lVJvx_FmGKQ/TF2-5kK7R1I/AAAAAAAADFg/uDW8lm9FTTk/s1600/2008.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lVJvx_FmGKQ/TF2-5kK7R1I/AAAAAAAADFg/uDW8lm9FTTk/s320/2008.JPG" width="240" /></a>2008 Again not too bad a height.<br />
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Cog always reminds me that 2006 was the 'alien' year and she went with her father, not me.<br />
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<br /></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-2652851016473280682022-08-10T10:53:00.013+02:002022-08-10T18:00:11.926+02:00Angel in Blue - Girlguiding reading for a funeral<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
ANGEL IN BLUE</span></h4><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Having left mortal earth, I passed through Heaven's Gate <br />
And while anxiously awaiting the outcome of my fate<br />
I walked among the Angels all robed in purest white<br />
Whereupon I saw one figure which cast a blue-ish light.<br /><br />
She sat upon a misty cloud, a harp held to her breast<br />
In a flowing, blowing gown of blue unlike all the rest;<br />
I asked what great deed she'd done to earn the special hue<br />
That gave her colour where others had none, or maybe just a few</span>.
</span></h4><p style="text-align: left;"><br />
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
She said "On earth I sought no fame, fortune was not my goal,<br />
I shunned the power of politics and worked without a toll;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I spent my time with children, helping them to grow</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
For as you reap in life, so must you learn to sow."<br />
<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
"You see...", she said, "the dividends while growing up I'd share,<br />
I returned where many others were too self-involved to care.<br />
Girl Guiding was my choice of roads to follow in my quest<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
For among the girls I found a love deeper than the rest."<br />
<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
"A teacher was I, my work was hard, I had no diploma or pay</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
But where family and institutions failed, I help show them the way. <br />
The lessons I taught were obscure and difficult to see<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
For they didn't have names like 'spelling', 'maths' or 'geometry'."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />
"They were lessons in life delivered through guided experience</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
And they taught such things as character, spirit, and confidence. <br />
Though on earth my life was blessed, it's even more so today<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
For when I look down I see my work, as my girls show others the way."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
"On earth Girl Guiding taught me to leave things better than before<br />
And the same applies to that mortal place where life never was a bore. <br />
Now having lived by that Girl Guiding rule in every earthly endeavour</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I have become an Angel in Blue and shall be a Girl Guide forever."</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguABTrlE-GmUyuDE542nNalxL0R8K0-i-jKAFEdvCkIQpus0SKr2Mm5Bk6kPI6Qnm26kdTaYhjW36AZLNu-qLNQOUr5LHV-zHBYjO2-CYELN4szTUDa8LzbMIjyclEavfZkPJSncvwsBmXSQlSe_FkZHvt7qSmuso3h1ZBL3X1dRiDXpSkBGpV5IQ42A/s300/Gone%20Home.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguABTrlE-GmUyuDE542nNalxL0R8K0-i-jKAFEdvCkIQpus0SKr2Mm5Bk6kPI6Qnm26kdTaYhjW36AZLNu-qLNQOUr5LHV-zHBYjO2-CYELN4szTUDa8LzbMIjyclEavfZkPJSncvwsBmXSQlSe_FkZHvt7qSmuso3h1ZBL3X1dRiDXpSkBGpV5IQ42A/s1600/Gone%20Home.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-90414585084581858462022-03-05T17:10:00.002+01:002022-03-05T17:10:21.633+01:00Thinking Day Night Notes<p> The notes I used for Thinking Day Guides night taken from various resources:</p><div></div><p></p><span></span><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/" target="_blank">WAGGGS</a></h2><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKSQpGlKeVfsBqu0rKW_YK16pAPwPVjFcW950EwjlN6nuhMDf-FNRMvX0R0nqUA7ZVFf1MgqkvaGHFnyC0nmPGoLJRYaUmoRbjOTH-2b6m5Aj-0sLN3c-ibpuu5OZlVnFl7Iw7LiZUWctHYsK45SVU435YI8TGDnVHOi89ut3zCO3F4ZSNaVegOlrGTw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="174" data-original-width="498" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKSQpGlKeVfsBqu0rKW_YK16pAPwPVjFcW950EwjlN6nuhMDf-FNRMvX0R0nqUA7ZVFf1MgqkvaGHFnyC0nmPGoLJRYaUmoRbjOTH-2b6m5Aj-0sLN3c-ibpuu5OZlVnFl7Iw7LiZUWctHYsK45SVU435YI8TGDnVHOi89ut3zCO3F4ZSNaVegOlrGTw=w400-h140" width="400" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">OurMission is</a>…</b></div></b></div>To enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world<br /><b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Our Vision is…</b></div><div><div> All girls and young women are valued and take action to change the world <br /><br /> WAGGGS keeps the global Movement thriving, united and growing. We have Member Organisations in 152 countries worldwide. Between them, they have a combined membership of 10.2 million.<br /><br /><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2019/02/thinking-day-penny.html" target="_blank">Thinking Day Pennies</a></h2><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0VKmR6L_zDH8jlBF_CCfhyu_v0uceK2EvU8BtLrXGzc2UDK3BeNl51bytzVkUcAjzvlWQxBz_o985R8toLVatAxO5t4wg5cHXMIFtfDPV3GV_Z7wCeHdpdfuWdxILRVnFXKeWe9Rfy3MACqMz6tCotbId_aj_ZKS-1n5E5s2b4jPtrovOQmeI_Z8vlQ" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0VKmR6L_zDH8jlBF_CCfhyu_v0uceK2EvU8BtLrXGzc2UDK3BeNl51bytzVkUcAjzvlWQxBz_o985R8toLVatAxO5t4wg5cHXMIFtfDPV3GV_Z7wCeHdpdfuWdxILRVnFXKeWe9Rfy3MACqMz6tCotbId_aj_ZKS-1n5E5s2b4jPtrovOQmeI_Z8vlQ" width="339" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There are a million of us. I am not good at arithmetic and I will not make any calculations which may not come true. But a penny, or two cents, or four annas or enough centimes or groschen or Heller or Filler or ore to make the same value, is not an immense amount, especially when it is perhaps saved or earned and given with a willing hand.</p><br />Lady Olave Baden-Powell, 1 November 1932<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiucLieUv0tPvFrDDGVaM-YiCqx2TP5YsCHJFANYgqValnHVVj7nzziGHla9sVbrC-E6puPLoEpCJj5EaD57qymI0XB2_j9e4FpCk2F0xWJSndg00kHkvyWcG6qjHiQ5G8wThpvYstVRQLqsPcjT-vkkH7RNYTvs0nJw4kyC-B9deHk597Z4JVgZwz6fw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="752" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiucLieUv0tPvFrDDGVaM-YiCqx2TP5YsCHJFANYgqValnHVVj7nzziGHla9sVbrC-E6puPLoEpCJj5EaD57qymI0XB2_j9e4FpCk2F0xWJSndg00kHkvyWcG6qjHiQ5G8wThpvYstVRQLqsPcjT-vkkH7RNYTvs0nJw4kyC-B9deHk597Z4JVgZwz6fw=w361-h308" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="The Chief Guide Guiding was set up by Robert and his sister Agnes. In 1915 Olave began by organising Guiding in Sussex and her success there led to her becoming Chief Guide in 1918. She led the Guides for the next 40 years." target="_blank">The Chief Guide</a></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Guiding was set up by Robert and his sister Agnes. In 1915 Olave began by organising Guiding in Sussex and her success there led to her becoming Chief Guide in 1918. She led the Guides for the next 40 years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqdfFqyBY7roDAKv_MGogpYfAgdOZn5ajdsT6s9vT5izoJdIyBoSlKtyFo_xAYP4R5KegFGiy9caXwXgu9asLHuhFlJ1lfOJMiEEdHDf3Cg0zLDmqG120euG482d_5y2SwPaBcY6FzvRU3F1fV0CFYQ6mxkKbh_VTBBaxnLdVSzoahT7G7BYf2CShA1g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="758" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqdfFqyBY7roDAKv_MGogpYfAgdOZn5ajdsT6s9vT5izoJdIyBoSlKtyFo_xAYP4R5KegFGiy9caXwXgu9asLHuhFlJ1lfOJMiEEdHDf3Cg0zLDmqG120euG482d_5y2SwPaBcY6FzvRU3F1fV0CFYQ6mxkKbh_VTBBaxnLdVSzoahT7G7BYf2CShA1g" width="328" /></a></div><br />Amanda Medler is the current Chief Guide<br /><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><br /><a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2013/10/what-guiding-world-badge-represents.html" target="_blank">What The Guiding World Badge Represents</a></h2><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiApL5gQdNHuuOXB4MkyH2A7rVySdaL8pM8cL1mcbaeXXqnAY5lP3NzndlOqQOKS57w27XSgrjlgIWGjkxhi3Hfpnka4U31Xbqd9bnjlH3QiKzCTKbVGqPf8YbgF8fhGrUpVOsX7cUYhxjnkw9FMpELv4AjEbKnR4fqav7HPIdnJr1LYM7MZJgW2hxjUQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="156" data-original-width="156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiApL5gQdNHuuOXB4MkyH2A7rVySdaL8pM8cL1mcbaeXXqnAY5lP3NzndlOqQOKS57w27XSgrjlgIWGjkxhi3Hfpnka4U31Xbqd9bnjlH3QiKzCTKbVGqPf8YbgF8fhGrUpVOsX7cUYhxjnkw9FMpELv4AjEbKnR4fqav7HPIdnJr1LYM7MZJgW2hxjUQ" width="240" /></a></div>Every part of the World Badge has a meaning:<br /><br />The golden Trefoil on a bright blue background represents the sun shining over all the children of the world.<br /><br />The three leaves represent our three-fold Promise as originally laid down by the Founder.<br /><br />The base of the stalk represents the flame of the love of humanity.<br /><br />The vein pointing upwards through the centre of the Trefoil represents the compass needle pointing the way.<br /><br />The two stars represent the Promise and Law.<br /><br />Around the edge is the encircling ring of friendship symbolising the World Association - an open ring because the Association is still growing<br /><br />Anyone who has made their Girl Guide or Girl Scout Promise can wear the World Trefoil Badge. It can be worn both in and out of uniform<br /><br />The World Badge, a <a href="http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/about/guidingscouting/guidinghistory/symbols">WAGGGS symbol</a>, was first adopted at the 11th World Conference in Evian, France, in 1946. It's design changed in 1991. Whilst the badge looked different the symbolism stayed the same.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><u>Activity</u></h2><p>Clean pennies in brown sauce, form them into a large trefoil on the hall floor</p><p>Light 3 candles in the centre of the trefoil and say <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2017/03/the-guiding-promise-and-laws-since.html" target="_blank">our promise.</a></p><br /><blockquote>I promise that I will do my best:<br /><br />To be true to myself and develop my beliefs, <br /><br />To serve the Queen and my community, To help other people <br /><br />and To keep the Guide Law.</blockquote><br /> <br /> <br />And then read out the guide laws:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote> 1. A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.<br /> 2. A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.<br /> 3. A Guide faces challenge and learns from her experiences.<br /> 4. A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.<br /> 5. A Guide is polite and considerate.<br /> 6. A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.</blockquote><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span><p></p></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-297782875999707482021-08-01T21:00:00.008+02:002021-08-01T21:28:37.046+02:00Discovery Award Gold - Paddle Awards Discover and Explore<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N-kwIUIn1FU/YQbGF6QaHQI/AAAAAAAA9xU/SnVWeMLnn4E5JcOcQs_gr-pIxVoDc-CZACLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_0267.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N-kwIUIn1FU/YQbGF6QaHQI/AAAAAAAA9xU/SnVWeMLnn4E5JcOcQs_gr-pIxVoDc-CZACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0267.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Last November my passion for litter picking <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2020/11/" target="_blank">took to the water</a> and that led to a new interest - canoeing </p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>I decided I wanted to be able to go litter picking on the water in a proper canoe not just a bell boat for the unstable! I signed up for a beginners session at a water pursuits centre and I have to say, it did not come naturally. But I stuck at it. Week after week. Sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend - canoes are so much easier in pairs!</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>It was all well and good going up and down the river once a week but by May I decided I needed some proper training, and I do like an award, so I did my British Canoeing Discover Award. </p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>So now I could go in straight lines as a sole paddler - not as easy as it sounds! I could go backwards through cones and sideways. Get in and out without squeeling at the rocking but I still had not actually fallen in and I think this was a bit of a mental block for me, I was constantly worried about what would happen if I did.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>So now I took the bull by the horns and did my Explore award. This involves understanding more about the water, the environment, how the weather affects things, what to wear, what kit you need, how to throw safety lines to help others and most importantly for me what to do when you fall in and how to save yourself.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N8vNsaOtwkA/YQbfyW7efSI/AAAAAAAA9xc/jeUZhY7TPzcnhX1YI0ei0ou9_nOhVY2oQCLcBGAsYHQ/canoe%2Bcapsize.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="620" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N8vNsaOtwkA/YQbfyW7efSI/AAAAAAAA9xc/jeUZhY7TPzcnhX1YI0ei0ou9_nOhVY2oQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/canoe%2Bcapsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Obviously I didn't take a camera with me and no one was there snapping so this is a borrowed photo but it does show you the type of boat and the start of a roll. I kneel in a canoe and sort of perch my bottom on a wooden bar so your legs are tucked under, this has always bothered me about being trapped. It can often take me a while to get my crabby old knees to bend in and out. <p></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br />But I did rock my boat over, more than once, and get my head into the air pocket and my legs out. I swam pulling the boat , turned it and to get the water out of it. I learnt to empty it in and out of the water. I passed my Explore Award and am much, much less worried about falling in, I know what it feels like - cold and horrid mostly! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>I am immeasurably proud of myself. I have gone the extra mile for my Discovery Gold Award - it requires 60 hours over 26 weeks - it did not require throwing yourself into a muddy, flowing, cold, litter soup numerous times to see if you drown or not! </p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n-hUUPaRtvQ/YQbFbrODc0I/AAAAAAAA9xM/PG2OLDEm6qkR4R5Q7CYJR_nEPmdXGBBagCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_0263.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n-hUUPaRtvQ/YQbFbrODc0I/AAAAAAAA9xM/PG2OLDEm6qkR4R5Q7CYJR_nEPmdXGBBagCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0263.JPG" width="400" /></a></p>PS the water did not look like this the day of my course, it was not the day of glorious sunshine from the week before, it was the day after a day of massive storms. The water was up at least 3 more foot, running much faster, much colder and was totally churned up with silt and litter washing through- it was a truely gross day to fall in!!! I reckon it should have earnt double points.<p></p><p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I thought having to stop running because of injury would put an end to chasing the Discovery award for a while but as Maria Von Trapp says "When the Lord closes a door somewhere he opens a window" - it just turned out it was a soggy one.<div><br /></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-64706790393568716802021-07-21T13:09:00.030+02:002021-07-21T13:09:00.232+02:00Journey to the North - Part 4<p> Day 6 dawned bright and clear - my original intention had been to just head for home, but there were so many more stones to see, so we bought lunch from the supermarket (again) and headed up hill.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>At this point I had a message from the AirBnB host to say she couldn't find her house keys, one check pockets later and I headed back down hill to return them - told you I don't normally do the responsility part of going away! </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrRIVcEaRs8/YPQQDrIbZAI/AAAAAAAA9v8/NGLjtdC4_bQQ33BX58DRbEjT8KDI5pLDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrRIVcEaRs8/YPQQDrIbZAI/AAAAAAAA9v8/NGLjtdC4_bQQ33BX58DRbEjT8KDI5pLDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0181.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We headed up Heber's Ghyll which was a lovely walk, someone had taken the time to lay a dinosaur trail for children to follow too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uyEF6rOisU/YPQQBx1StAI/AAAAAAAA9v4/BI4gMdR4uqMv1CU3-6kN_gHKNENiaBE_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uyEF6rOisU/YPQQBx1StAI/AAAAAAAA9v4/BI4gMdR4uqMv1CU3-6kN_gHKNENiaBE_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0183.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And onto the Swastika stone, the original (very hard to see) and a Victorian copy are both protected behind a barred fence.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4AHpSbf8-s/YPQQEU1z8CI/AAAAAAAA9wA/NwPWY5TlE1U8EvwytyyhAwLVCxdAvqWiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j4AHpSbf8-s/YPQQEU1z8CI/AAAAAAAA9wA/NwPWY5TlE1U8EvwytyyhAwLVCxdAvqWiwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0184.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYCrY8-1Bps/YPQQF4FwYxI/AAAAAAAA9wE/_ytZ35R-dHAi4WIuEZcpa9_rK02BQT0tgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYCrY8-1Bps/YPQQF4FwYxI/AAAAAAAA9wE/_ytZ35R-dHAi4WIuEZcpa9_rK02BQT0tgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Sepulchre Stone <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oi1NWKSFQ4/YPQQJzOuKgI/AAAAAAAA9wI/CLm74oWyTxMA1oB9fYeCQKxG7vuFvUdqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oi1NWKSFQ4/YPQQJzOuKgI/AAAAAAAA9wI/CLm74oWyTxMA1oB9fYeCQKxG7vuFvUdqwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0193.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_xHO6RVfnE/YPQQKQkh8DI/AAAAAAAA9wM/4DbRaoKe_k8DCAnsm5aUPYY561CePwcXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_xHO6RVfnE/YPQQKQkh8DI/AAAAAAAA9wM/4DbRaoKe_k8DCAnsm5aUPYY561CePwcXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0200.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Modern Art<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7Jh5Wdg-wQ/YPQQK2iG1XI/AAAAAAAA9wQ/RKGdmO6Hus8FTcpei7O52b6tID-VUGZEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7Jh5Wdg-wQ/YPQQK2iG1XI/AAAAAAAA9wQ/RKGdmO6Hus8FTcpei7O52b6tID-VUGZEQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Neolithic 'art' at hanging stones.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UeBD-opkZVc/YPQQOh4GbDI/AAAAAAAA9wU/p5OZWIUfoPka59b7KDATdO8uHJoY-oPPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UeBD-opkZVc/YPQQOh4GbDI/AAAAAAAA9wU/p5OZWIUfoPka59b7KDATdO8uHJoY-oPPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0207.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Another <a href="http://www.stanzastones.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stanza Stone </a>- The Beck Stone, which was a challenge to find, made a lovely place to sit and eat lunch by a babbling brook.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uRe4afynko/YPQQOllppLI/AAAAAAAA9wY/u1DSCgmQQy0fuy4MnVXRuSyWNrxWGb_0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uRe4afynko/YPQQOllppLI/AAAAAAAA9wY/u1DSCgmQQy0fuy4MnVXRuSyWNrxWGb_0wCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0215.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I was now burning away beautifully and it turns out that suncream and night cream tubes can look remarkably similar without reading glasses so I was just gently frying my skin rather than protecting it! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0GGD9x911w/YPQQO_AYi-I/AAAAAAAA9wc/hoP_dzBbTaU_n0PskiQrYlmj0j6A5iJmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0GGD9x911w/YPQQO_AYi-I/AAAAAAAA9wc/hoP_dzBbTaU_n0PskiQrYlmj0j6A5iJmwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But we walked on until mid-afternoon stone to stone across 5 miles before we parted and headed our seperate ways home.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Bearing in mind the health issues I have had this year and the general covid anst, this was a challenging trip but one that helped me to push boundaries and still come home more mentally relaxed than when I left.</div><div><br /></div><div>So my Journey to the North for my Discovery Gold Award involved scrubbing toilets, sinks and showers, making tables, cleaning, laying out tents, making boxes. picking litter, walking up hills alone, and spending miles on the moor getting in touch with my neolithic roots.</div><div><br /></div><div>I made new guiding friends, I extended my love of the north and learnt more about my neolithic ancestors - although I do think some of the more educated expert's interpretations of the stones are a bit off the mark. I reckon a lot of these carvings are graffiti and nothing more, the drive of every person to leave some sort of mark on the world that means they are not forgotten. You heard it here first ;) </div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9-oQpbVd2o/YPQQPEu5LFI/AAAAAAAA9wg/Cx_G1nLMg3sCGw3JRI22Mez_Zap66GNkACLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/SNVU5510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9-oQpbVd2o/YPQQPEu5LFI/AAAAAAAA9wg/Cx_G1nLMg3sCGw3JRI22Mez_Zap66GNkACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/SNVU5510.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-52806770625704565032021-07-20T11:44:00.005+02:002021-07-25T23:11:48.317+02:00Journey to the North - Part 3<p>I don't normally 'do' bookings and arrangements, I tend to leave that up to my husband or walking partner. As this trip was for my Discovery Award Gold I'd done the <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2021/07/journey-to-north-part-1.html" target="_blank">Waddow part</a> all on my own and I also registered for airBnB and found what looked like a suitable place in Ilkley. Why Ilkley I hear you ask? Because the moor is teeming with Neolithic carved stones. Neolithic stones are incredibly interesting, <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2019/04/avebury-standing-stones.html" target="_blank">Avebury</a> is spiritual, <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2019/10/la-hougue-bie.html" target="_blank">La Hougue Bie</a> is one of the most fascinating places I have ever been to. So it made sense to me that my journey to the north should include the moor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kOaTPSurs1w/YPP3snT2DsI/AAAAAAAA9t4/qh6A62MS3RYrnG5byMSlMFNkasBb4eVpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0126.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kOaTPSurs1w/YPP3snT2DsI/AAAAAAAA9t4/qh6A62MS3RYrnG5byMSlMFNkasBb4eVpgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0126.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div>Ilkley itself is a nice town, it is a spa town and the money is obviously drawn here but it holds a northern feel. I liked it.<div><br /></div><div>My walking partner drove up to meet me there. We had planned at the start of the year to go up the Old Man of Conniston, but my injuries meant this was the compromise of some walking time together and interesting for him too, as it is a place he had never considered walking in before.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The AirBnB home I had chosen turned out to be better than suitable and was absolutely fantastic with 2 double bedrooms and bathroom completely seperate on a floor of their own and the family left a lovely breakfast each day. They also, because of Covid, stayed out of the way, so this was like being in a lovely house on our own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl9ensBC7XE/YPP3spZWTxI/AAAAAAAA9t0/tr-f-p5WXyo3H4K0RCSVIS-ySY5CrjrkACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0129.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl9ensBC7XE/YPP3spZWTxI/AAAAAAAA9t0/tr-f-p5WXyo3H4K0RCSVIS-ySY5CrjrkACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0129.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day 5 was a little drab but dry and after a nice breakfast we walked to the supermarket to buy lunch then walked up to the Cow and Calf to start our stone tour. The cow is the larger of the stone son the left and the calf the stand alone stone. I find looking at photos of rocks difficult to get a handle on size, but these are big (on day 6 we watched a clearly recreational walker in a skirt climb the calf, get stuck and have to be rescued by some climbers who harnessed and roped her up and slowly helped her back down - going up anything is much easier than coming back down!) </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pG2CP6V9Nsc/YPP3s2u9PxI/AAAAAAAA9t8/KOkgThfk6Fc6izcvkuOuYdwlHcS8F3lkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0133.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pG2CP6V9Nsc/YPP3s2u9PxI/AAAAAAAA9t8/KOkgThfk6Fc6izcvkuOuYdwlHcS8F3lkgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are lovely views once up on the moor (when I'm talking about the moor, this could be any part of Rombold's Moor of which Ilkey Moor is just one bit, different sections of Rombold's Moor have different names based on the locality to the towns)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vafqQuKTRlQ/YPP9VodudvI/AAAAAAAA9uI/4jl3Rr7UowsoTlD8G-RayT0ZWQdwAiG3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0135.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vafqQuKTRlQ/YPP9VodudvI/AAAAAAAA9uI/4jl3Rr7UowsoTlD8G-RayT0ZWQdwAiG3ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-os-hAA6lPrs/YPP9WbRS0VI/AAAAAAAA9uM/OOGZcZ-c4no2PBFu25FOgIZ32aNwHLJHACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0138.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-os-hAA6lPrs/YPP9WbRS0VI/AAAAAAAA9uM/OOGZcZ-c4no2PBFu25FOgIZ32aNwHLJHACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0138.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The neolithic markings tend to be ring and cup marks but the rocks are also covered in modern carvings. Some from the 18th century onwards from what I could see, right up to today. Mostly these are names, some are more modern art. In some cases they appear to have carved names across the the neolithic marks. I don't know how I feel about this. Time marches on, traditions hold fast. Is it just graffiti or is it a continuation of a culture?</div><div><br /></div><div>I genuinely felt in awe of JD Wrigglesworth who had the tenacity to carve their full name in large letters across a rock in 1904. </div><div><br /></div><div>We headed off from the cow and calf to pancake rock.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xzzjZGVJtHY/YPP9XQjSZ0I/AAAAAAAA9uQ/HluSG4KJTOcj5GD8T5nv_LfT2qZnq56cQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0145.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xzzjZGVJtHY/YPP9XQjSZ0I/AAAAAAAA9uQ/HluSG4KJTOcj5GD8T5nv_LfT2qZnq56cQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0145.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Many of the stones have cup marks. Lots are named and some were quite hard to find.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some we gave up trying to work out whether we had definitely found the correct stone and just renamed them ourselves, so the moor now includes picnic rock and crocodile rock!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBuvgBwKpv4/YPQBYxgJ_oI/AAAAAAAA9ug/V8AGR5KwEIgFUiP7VC75WJfQDLKxtyDUACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0151.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBuvgBwKpv4/YPQBYxgJ_oI/AAAAAAAA9ug/V8AGR5KwEIgFUiP7VC75WJfQDLKxtyDUACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Modern art, can you spot the goat's head?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4df_EAc2rhs/YPQBfKgW3TI/AAAAAAAA9uo/gD8oQdzO_E0PDq-TezI5QMbIdhuJBpFbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0157.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4df_EAc2rhs/YPQBfKgW3TI/AAAAAAAA9uo/gD8oQdzO_E0PDq-TezI5QMbIdhuJBpFbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0157.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Some parts of the moor had very easy paths<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GB0jQKM1Nc8/YPQBeew7I9I/AAAAAAAA9uk/YRVWk5EJQqYtLE-uCF7s78QWtvlPS9NHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0160.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GB0jQKM1Nc8/YPQBeew7I9I/AAAAAAAA9uk/YRVWk5EJQqYtLE-uCF7s78QWtvlPS9NHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0160.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Some rocks on the moor were very obviously identifiable, like the 12 apostles. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etBYQKoNyBg/YPQBgWqjU9I/AAAAAAAA9us/zph1J636cuAEDgLyTiU6HYrJAOnmjbF1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0161.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etBYQKoNyBg/YPQBgWqjU9I/AAAAAAAA9us/zph1J636cuAEDgLyTiU6HYrJAOnmjbF1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0161.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Some paths were new<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ecgR3xIr4/YPQBhXQn67I/AAAAAAAA9uw/Ezzt8jyV7dERuNwm0kRUbf43ergMTe0iACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0162.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ecgR3xIr4/YPQBhXQn67I/AAAAAAAA9uw/Ezzt8jyV7dERuNwm0kRUbf43ergMTe0iACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0162.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I am unable to wear walking boots because of my injury, so I was very grateful for some of the paths through bogs.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9EeipQDjGI/YPQBiWk9uUI/AAAAAAAA9u0/TySDevObZLA97bu22ubjda8fYFuaB29DgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0163.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9EeipQDjGI/YPQBiWk9uUI/AAAAAAAA9u0/TySDevObZLA97bu22ubjda8fYFuaB29DgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0163.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="http://www.stanzastones.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Stanza Stones</a> are part of an art project by Simon Armitage and are spread across 50 miles. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sV1buXBsZTM/YPQDL5RoZ4I/AAAAAAAA9vM/6YjOZphXjIkaLWhThW66gnt9oEpZQygQACLcBGAsYHQ/s300/IMG_0179.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sV1buXBsZTM/YPQDL5RoZ4I/AAAAAAAA9vM/6YjOZphXjIkaLWhThW66gnt9oEpZQygQACLcBGAsYHQ/w133-h200/IMG_0179.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>I was tripping along happily, whilstling 'On Ilkley Moor baht 'at' to myself when Chris Chittell, walking from the opposite direction, commented on my lovely whistling. Surreal moment!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also think I was possibly acting illegally as I was indeed wearing a hat that I had bought in Ilkley on Day 4!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0LH2LQOOK0/YPQEW_GxmCI/AAAAAAAA9vY/kp3xmMVolt0cjPqUryS1lfUztqP5nFz3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0164.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0LH2LQOOK0/YPQEW_GxmCI/AAAAAAAA9vY/kp3xmMVolt0cjPqUryS1lfUztqP5nFz3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0164.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="https://megalithix.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/cowpers-cross-ilkley-moor/" target="_blank">Cowper's Cross</a> was an unexpected find and has an interesting story, it is also evidence of Christianity trying to stamp out any pre-christian traditions and meeting places. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5vUSSFR_dg/YPQEXfsX7XI/AAAAAAAA9vc/tKVj7EViJsk_vkj-DOQI3VcDshOe0nHZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0166.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d5vUSSFR_dg/YPQEXfsX7XI/AAAAAAAA9vc/tKVj7EViJsk_vkj-DOQI3VcDshOe0nHZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://megalithix.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/badger-stone-ilkley-moor/" target="_blank">Badger stone</a> was the stone that initially set me to wanting to come to the moor. It is very likely that this was a meeting place or market place and it has some of the best markings on it.<br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dSXyR8PREWE/YPQEWw3cI9I/AAAAAAAA9vU/S5bljOQ6ResgWpfEFc68tn0cMNwkguEaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0168.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dSXyR8PREWE/YPQEWw3cI9I/AAAAAAAA9vU/S5bljOQ6ResgWpfEFc68tn0cMNwkguEaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0168.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Time has washed away our understanding of what these marks truly mean though and it had also washed away the land surrounding the bench nearby.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-70Gr-qfnqCk/YPQEZ-yur4I/AAAAAAAA9vg/gvPor5noK8Ud6AoUWGAPr9rc-SXX_bSjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0175.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-70Gr-qfnqCk/YPQEZ-yur4I/AAAAAAAA9vg/gvPor5noK8Ud6AoUWGAPr9rc-SXX_bSjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0175.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We wandered on, on and off path finding more stones - until we were also <a href="http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/stone/wearyhill.htm" target="_blank">weary </a></div><div><br /></div><div>And we headed down hill back into town for Fish and Chips sat on a wall.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>12 miles walking meant I had now covered 45 miles across 5 days and I was starting to get beyond weary myself!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewd3qif6Zds/YPQJ9b7cjPI/AAAAAAAA9vw/oOu8rilbQ8wkTzocitKc7a6Yr-mOeasuACLcBGAsYHQ/s3649/IMG_0153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="3649" height="151" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewd3qif6Zds/YPQJ9b7cjPI/AAAAAAAA9vw/oOu8rilbQ8wkTzocitKc7a6Yr-mOeasuACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h151/IMG_0153.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div></div></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-73971314259927681002021-07-19T00:07:00.002+02:002021-07-19T00:07:00.224+02:00Journey to the North - Part 2<p>Day 4 of my Journey up North and the weather was pretty shabby.</p><div style="text-align: left;">It is time I mentioned that my achilles finally gave up the ghost about April this year and I had to stop all running, any long walks and I'd rather lost a lot of my fitness. I also decided it best not to mention to my physio that I had plans for a rather active excursion! These plans had not included Pendle Hill but it was there at my feet, well I was at its foot, so it would have been rude not to go.</div><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHdNaIEfEHI/YPNWDMb8H0I/AAAAAAAA9rI/dJkmoPaZ75kqMVatuwg2zBrpulVOCSHCACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHdNaIEfEHI/YPNWDMb8H0I/AAAAAAAA9rI/dJkmoPaZ75kqMVatuwg2zBrpulVOCSHCACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0093.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Pendle is a hill but it's about as high as a hill gets before it becomes a mountain, being just shy of 2000ft.<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Given my injury and my propensity for falling on these kind of walks, having gone down hard on both Snowdon and Ben-Nevis, I wondered how sensible it was my going up alone. But there one or two walkers around so I set off</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I was rather banking on a cup of tea before I got going but the couldron said no.</p><p><br /></p><p>Historically, the Pendle witch trials are important and interesting. The trials were well documented, the accused were not allowed to defend themselves, although some pleaded guilty and admitted they were witches, 10 were hanged. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AccEeZTvxnw/YPNWZQQEHgI/AAAAAAAA9rU/DMBSjoGrt24LIbPNl-QXFV6b2x1V1MeyACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AccEeZTvxnw/YPNWZQQEHgI/AAAAAAAA9rU/DMBSjoGrt24LIbPNl-QXFV6b2x1V1MeyACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-cpLReCjWQ/YPNYPoiUvxI/AAAAAAAA9rk/Nkpp5hZ30U4wof6DGoY0JcWP6-8UoMGZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-cpLReCjWQ/YPNYPoiUvxI/AAAAAAAA9rk/Nkpp5hZ30U4wof6DGoY0JcWP6-8UoMGZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_0119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I decided to go up the challenging steps and come down the less challenging sloped path. I usually am good at up, it's down that is my slippery down fall - literally.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iga9tOWowh4/YPNWZpzdXNI/AAAAAAAA9rY/KTqNtLG5DisRJUTFGxIMhLOurzq_fkaXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iga9tOWowh4/YPNWZpzdXNI/AAAAAAAA9rY/KTqNtLG5DisRJUTFGxIMhLOurzq_fkaXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0096.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYYdD1CEIMA/YPNWZEmkPII/AAAAAAAA9rQ/qsrzFccutz8TBRnCrLDCJzvwokG_bi-qACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYYdD1CEIMA/YPNWZEmkPII/AAAAAAAA9rQ/qsrzFccutz8TBRnCrLDCJzvwokG_bi-qACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I have a feeling this cairn, part way up, is something to do with the scouts.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfxmlNCY29k/YPNY6P3sM2I/AAAAAAAA9rs/6Y1s9vc6Qzo8pdqqT7aXFbVvtDbm1WmvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfxmlNCY29k/YPNY6P3sM2I/AAAAAAAA9rs/6Y1s9vc6Qzo8pdqqT7aXFbVvtDbm1WmvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Despite the mizzle, the views weren't bad.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMH-shJooWc/YPNY6joqO-I/AAAAAAAA9rw/_JELGmn3sbAesV0p5TSX7-UyMUtLX4SXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yMH-shJooWc/YPNY6joqO-I/AAAAAAAA9rw/_JELGmn3sbAesV0p5TSX7-UyMUtLX4SXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I made it to the top<div><br /></div><div>stood for a ponder<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSdRAjZuiM4/YPNY62N_wKI/AAAAAAAA9r0/wOnXmCkPYk0pml_AdUl--p0SB26uN6-WACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sSdRAjZuiM4/YPNY62N_wKI/AAAAAAAA9r0/wOnXmCkPYk0pml_AdUl--p0SB26uN6-WACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0117.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>And then down.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-vai36H01w/YPNZesCvoaI/AAAAAAAA9sI/C-hjOLrtGiICi5OEzw9K2UEAaHiL0dJ2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-vai36H01w/YPNZesCvoaI/AAAAAAAA9sI/C-hjOLrtGiICi5OEzw9K2UEAaHiL0dJ2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I was rather pleased with myself, then I looked at the wall than runs bottom to top and had a bit of a think about the person that built that. Imagine going to work at the top and realising you'd left your flask at the bottom, my mind wandered...I needed a cup of tea.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uM2W9RoEHfg/YPNZeSZnChI/AAAAAAAA9sE/0Cfl-CALTT4HIJcTrtbBfUI-EGioVRh5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_0124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uM2W9RoEHfg/YPNZeSZnChI/AAAAAAAA9sE/0Cfl-CALTT4HIJcTrtbBfUI-EGioVRh5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_0124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And part way to Ilkey I found it.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-49535708974182442902021-07-17T23:55:00.008+02:002021-07-18T13:08:02.207+02:00Journey to the North - Part 1It's been a while - sorry! <div><br /></div><div>You might remember I did my <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2020/01/discovery-award-bronze.html" target="_blank">Discovery Award Bronze</a>, I'm not sure I told you I'd finished and received my Discovery Award Silver, although I did write up in 3 parts a <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2021/01/journey-to-sea-part-2.html" target="_blank">Journey to the Sea</a> which was a project I did for it. I have started on my Gold and this also needs to include a Journey. With a window of opportunity of an easing of restrictions and a double vaccinated self I decided to do this in the real world!</div><div><br /></div><div>My family roots are in Lancashire and it is an area that I always feel a sense of coming home in, so I contacted the Guiding Activity Centre in Lancashire and asked if I could spend some time volunteering there. With all large events cancelled, their need for volunteers is much dimished but after explaining I was needing a journey for my award they agreed to have me. And with this in mind, I was determined to give them every inch I could, to prove my worth.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRDtbe2U7_w/YPNEIFbiRTI/AAAAAAAA9oo/tpQR3XI4A3YZFmccfYsBDfuLVblrWllsACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1-Waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRDtbe2U7_w/YPNEIFbiRTI/AAAAAAAA9oo/tpQR3XI4A3YZFmccfYsBDfuLVblrWllsACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/1-Waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> I travelled up alone on the Friday, it's a long drive. I was rather proud of myself and I didn't even get in a fluster as I found myself on the Manchester ring rather than the expected M6!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I immediately set to with some litter picking. </p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEKsu4p36wI/YPNEIQ3bKnI/AAAAAAAA9ow/mfmQqEBCobUHSF471pxkfWdxpXekqVYtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEKsu4p36wI/YPNEIQ3bKnI/AAAAAAAA9ow/mfmQqEBCobUHSF471pxkfWdxpXekqVYtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/2-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfKBZ_GvF4Q/YPNEIEs1U1I/AAAAAAAA9os/YASbkSlkalga6wiW2AGWee8CcbTEv6BQACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfKBZ_GvF4Q/YPNEIEs1U1I/AAAAAAAA9os/YASbkSlkalga6wiW2AGWee8CcbTEv6BQACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/3-waddow.jpg" /></a></div>I filled a bag and some of it was old enough to make me feel it was worth the walk around the rather hilly campsites.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKyRIJ5Nyjg/YPNEJXAl4SI/AAAAAAAA9o0/SfUY9uJtGmoBVo1yrOR_DqWqb-Ew9IZggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/4-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKyRIJ5Nyjg/YPNEJXAl4SI/AAAAAAAA9o0/SfUY9uJtGmoBVo1yrOR_DqWqb-Ew9IZggCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/4-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I met other fellow volunteers over our evening meal. This was the first time I had eaten inside (not at home) with anyone for well over 18 months. Just the covid fears, let alone the general new people social angst was rather challenging.</div><div><br /></div><div>The view from my room window was wonderfully calming and I was taken by the hill to the left of the picture.</div><div><br /></div><div>I fell asleep listening to the river running.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLIJ_PPCmvY/YPNIzotYKOI/AAAAAAAA9pE/HVCfqwLYcxo18sHnhWqWPuPjH1cCT5KwACLcBGAsYHQ/s2959/5-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="2959" height="144" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QLIJ_PPCmvY/YPNIzotYKOI/AAAAAAAA9pE/HVCfqwLYcxo18sHnhWqWPuPjH1cCT5KwACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h144/5-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Day 2 dawned bright and the mood was good. But I can't imagine not being in a good frame of mind here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was happy to volunteer for toilet duty and after having some training in covid protocols, I set to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaatClVQbW8/YPNIzo-8alI/AAAAAAAA9pI/DHVbIhmwPoA-VZ1Fj67LiJuPK39NrKKTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaatClVQbW8/YPNIzo-8alI/AAAAAAAA9pI/DHVbIhmwPoA-VZ1Fj67LiJuPK39NrKKTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/6-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>They have a lot of loos!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWpmzNtm-kY/YPNJJmiJr_I/AAAAAAAA9po/B9r2_7ozFDAiMLjOLmkUFfxC4cQeLeYxACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/7-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uWpmzNtm-kY/YPNJJmiJr_I/AAAAAAAA9po/B9r2_7ozFDAiMLjOLmkUFfxC4cQeLeYxACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/7-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Job 2 was finding these boxes in different dry stores and putting together what was inside them</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was an interesting challenge and I admit to making a call home to talk about washers and their purpose, so I could work out which screws to use them with, being as there was no instructions whatsoever in the box!</div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVEp0fD2Vwg/YPNI2Mx8sAI/AAAAAAAA9pU/Bx9jqTu3q94s2gQOCX2perwfhoKBtgF1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xVEp0fD2Vwg/YPNI2Mx8sAI/AAAAAAAA9pU/Bx9jqTu3q94s2gQOCX2perwfhoKBtgF1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/8-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxrBfUt9wYQ/YPNI0GqB8oI/AAAAAAAA9pM/-uJ1lpF6C4QSpwxGLaM2FW9HqeC5r88PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/10-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxrBfUt9wYQ/YPNI0GqB8oI/AAAAAAAA9pM/-uJ1lpF6C4QSpwxGLaM2FW9HqeC5r88PgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/10-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br />I did 2 on my own and then 2 more with another volunteer.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l18XmSTiHKc/YPNLWUxcP1I/AAAAAAAA9pw/BlDGDNMHvukhD3153pd5d2obYCN2_bSmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/13-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l18XmSTiHKc/YPNLWUxcP1I/AAAAAAAA9pw/BlDGDNMHvukhD3153pd5d2obYCN2_bSmwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/13-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There was also dry shelters to clean, the cafe to clear up once it had closed, washing up and other jobs but in the evning I managed to squeeze in a quiet walk down by the weir for a bit of R&R. My watch told me I'd walked about 10 miles from breakfast to bed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Day 3 also dawned bright and fair and it looked like it would be a busy day for the cafe, we helped to set up and then I pootled off to one of the campsites with my buckets to clean more loos</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gv90armpIQY/YPNMcB5Uh2I/AAAAAAAA9qI/2ft65674aJwdMmzMbsF0lBm8RzlfOa5zACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/14-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gv90armpIQY/YPNMcB5Uh2I/AAAAAAAA9qI/2ft65674aJwdMmzMbsF0lBm8RzlfOa5zACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/14-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>A DofE group had stayed overnight and I had to give the blocks they'd used a thorough scrub. I took the opportunity of there only being 2 blocks to clean to bring down the cobwebs, wipes dusty sills and doors and clean windows too. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx0sdyp2tME/YPNL4syagmI/AAAAAAAA9p8/_RKOymtDOVwGzW98f0KI-aL2GsoaxuLJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/11-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lx0sdyp2tME/YPNL4syagmI/AAAAAAAA9p8/_RKOymtDOVwGzW98f0KI-aL2GsoaxuLJwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/11-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I went back down the hill to help two other volunteers check the poles and joints for 2 very large gazebos that were going to the county show.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKj5ngC3Pt4/YPNL3mngerI/AAAAAAAA9p4/kRdFh2pzYAMsUpmLn04io8ZMYfTRiIvOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/12-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKj5ngC3Pt4/YPNL3mngerI/AAAAAAAA9p4/kRdFh2pzYAMsUpmLn04io8ZMYfTRiIvOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/12-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Unfortunately they both had to leave, leaving me to finish up and I think it was the dust in the store but I was hit with the worst Asthma attack I've had in quite some time. It was not much fun trying to come back to good.<div><br /></div><div>I sat for a while with another volunteer making boxes for the sovenier mugs for the shop.</div><div><br /></div><div> But it wasn't long before I was ready to rock and roll again.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3bbWSgNy24/YPNOFHhCEtI/AAAAAAAA9qU/SVgg6lOv9jwdiVZhJfF13aPFa8aZQaWxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/15-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3bbWSgNy24/YPNOFHhCEtI/AAAAAAAA9qU/SVgg6lOv9jwdiVZhJfF13aPFa8aZQaWxQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/15-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Back up the hill to clear up the dry shelter that had been used by the DofE group, I watched the teachers (not kids, they had been gone since the morning) faff around for far too long and then tell me they had finished cleaning up. It was an interesting definition of clean! I then cleaned up and sanitised.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VslrXUtMMtk/YPNOEzIm-fI/AAAAAAAA9qQ/QZ8OzyVHYW4CQkYYhXjhNcLEyo13v28rACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/16-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VslrXUtMMtk/YPNOEzIm-fI/AAAAAAAA9qQ/QZ8OzyVHYW4CQkYYhXjhNcLEyo13v28rACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/16-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Followed by a field pick of what the kids had left behind - at least 5 socks and a lot of bottles and wrappers!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUAYZLo_mTU/YPNOFegCogI/AAAAAAAA9qY/dvvoEUmaie0Yt2ekOSHLAMgxSlYJk9WEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/17-waddow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uUAYZLo_mTU/YPNOFegCogI/AAAAAAAA9qY/dvvoEUmaie0Yt2ekOSHLAMgxSlYJk9WEwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/17-waddow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I headed back down the hill thinking that there was only the cafe to help clear up and be done for the day but it turns out there had been a birthday party in one of the huts and that needed clearing up too - little boys, never knowingly not peed on the floor!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But with a bit of team work from a few volunteers it was finally done.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBtsGYYTp7M/YPNPy-z6I-I/AAAAAAAA9q0/o26y48zuHQIC8PSzoy-r4CXPLcUeWUxdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/18-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBtsGYYTp7M/YPNPy-z6I-I/AAAAAAAA9q0/o26y48zuHQIC8PSzoy-r4CXPLcUeWUxdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/18-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>All of the volunteers except me left and after the evening meal I decided to go for a walk to a nearby village to see if there were any men in top hats and strange moustaches.</div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of the country watched a football match.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5564M2SLYnc/YPNPwR6NgkI/AAAAAAAA9qo/IV1mJFbcFFIeFhkk-z7KosB00cp_tdZbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/19-waddow.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5564M2SLYnc/YPNPwR6NgkI/AAAAAAAA9qo/IV1mJFbcFFIeFhkk-z7KosB00cp_tdZbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/19-waddow.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And it rained.</div><div><br /></div><div>Very very very hard!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2LXA5UzCEo/YPNPxsC4dvI/AAAAAAAA9qs/aFUOGeWXW0Yqj4gR7AdlnKDvqbmP45lUgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20-waddow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l2LXA5UzCEo/YPNPxsC4dvI/AAAAAAAA9qs/aFUOGeWXW0Yqj4gR7AdlnKDvqbmP45lUgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/20-waddow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A sopping wet me stood and looked again at that hill. It really was calling.</div><div><br /></div><div>13 miles said the watch!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Day 4 dawned rather damp and dismal. I helped with breakfast service and cleared up, sanitised the dining tables and chairs and then relaid for lunch service.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then it was time for me to leave. Nearly one hundred years worth of Guides have been going to Waddow Hall for fun, friendship, to learn about themselves, to develop skills and I was one of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, about that hill.......</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zip1jwSC310/YPNPyljTufI/AAAAAAAA9qw/D6ubAhDNKlUOQu5a-Tv7JX_sLOtBYinegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/21-waddow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zip1jwSC310/YPNPyljTufI/AAAAAAAA9qw/D6ubAhDNKlUOQu5a-Tv7JX_sLOtBYinegCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/21-waddow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-14520338557700845372021-02-22T08:22:00.001+01:002021-02-22T08:22:04.667+01:00Guiding isn't something I do it is something I amI was feeling sad and alone and caught a glimpse of my reflection.<br />
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In strong bold writing down my arm was 'our chalet' and I immediately smiled.<br />
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I wasn't alone. I have a huge blue family.<br />
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Happy Thinking Day<br />
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<br />AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-44037408812670997072021-01-28T22:22:00.004+01:002021-01-28T22:51:51.524+01:00Journey to the sea - part 3 Animals alive and dead<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Animals are a large incentive for me and the reason I go litter picking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqZYPhtkOxY/YBMjZFwe0tI/AAAAAAAA9VE/Y7V3l_6UmJ0meKUgM0gjihZQ3rw0wouQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1633/calf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1633" height="391" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqZYPhtkOxY/YBMjZFwe0tI/AAAAAAAA9VE/Y7V3l_6UmJ0meKUgM0gjihZQ3rw0wouQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h391/calf.JPG" width="400" /></a>There's nothing like a calf to stir your heart and make you see all that is good in the world. (Provided you don't think too hard about where it will most likely end up!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TCTEscvbkY/YBMjaX9KarI/AAAAAAAA9VI/Kvo-dVMR_Aow1Istpzs-ECmrELF25WY1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4TCTEscvbkY/YBMjaX9KarI/AAAAAAAA9VI/Kvo-dVMR_Aow1Istpzs-ECmrELF25WY1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/fly.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>Although with the cows come the flies, I fished this one out of my eye after a litter picking walk.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lExH5C5Uusg/YBMjY8zrNPI/AAAAAAAA9VA/0sMhhyfS0osf9-cpmFHPJrbfFs43UDH4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/bat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1076" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lExH5C5Uusg/YBMjY8zrNPI/AAAAAAAA9VA/0sMhhyfS0osf9-cpmFHPJrbfFs43UDH4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w299-h400/bat.JPG" width="299" /></a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But it's not just the flies that suffer, please cut the ear loops on your disposable masks.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And please dispose of your masks properly.</p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvFq5VLjqhE/YBMjRRPd5TI/AAAAAAAA9UQ/nsP_17PpHDkIubkBjYVm8puurfzOMH4bgCLcBGAsYHQ/s532/IMG9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="485" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvFq5VLjqhE/YBMjRRPd5TI/AAAAAAAA9UQ/nsP_17PpHDkIubkBjYVm8puurfzOMH4bgCLcBGAsYHQ/w365-h400/IMG9.JPG" width="365" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTYxCtnHXc0/YBMjRkLG8bI/AAAAAAAA9UY/aW8sc2UJgp80R7spkIBoacmkT1XgFltJACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vTYxCtnHXc0/YBMjRkLG8bI/AAAAAAAA9UY/aW8sc2UJgp80R7spkIBoacmkT1XgFltJACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_0925.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>It is not unusal to find dead rodents in cans.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tt_gBjHTwBc/YBMjRaU_BKI/AAAAAAAA9UU/hwERjKddxMgc2SwMznRW6rAbdVADGVfHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_4951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tt_gBjHTwBc/YBMjRaU_BKI/AAAAAAAA9UU/hwERjKddxMgc2SwMznRW6rAbdVADGVfHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_4951.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>And bottles<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-dIG-GNbHE/YBMjSKgmQQI/AAAAAAAA9Uc/vlDYGN1uvEkalDSHyH7Kib1ZeDZE5-ktQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_4952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-dIG-GNbHE/YBMjSKgmQQI/AAAAAAAA9Uc/vlDYGN1uvEkalDSHyH7Kib1ZeDZE5-ktQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_4952.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>They can't get out after they get in.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hXhZDBmp6w8/YBMjSIqOP5I/AAAAAAAA9Ug/XsI5b98KHRwa9BtrpiOyNetgOc6fMPCPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_4954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hXhZDBmp6w8/YBMjSIqOP5I/AAAAAAAA9Ug/XsI5b98KHRwa9BtrpiOyNetgOc6fMPCPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_4954.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>and another<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0euAe4BIW7M/YBMjYaYTLEI/AAAAAAAA9U8/A5oU4jVfHOEAfnu8ywTbtl77xXa4Q8G7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0euAe4BIW7M/YBMjYaYTLEI/AAAAAAAA9U8/A5oU4jVfHOEAfnu8ywTbtl77xXa4Q8G7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w220-h400/IMG_7632.JPG" width="220" /></a></div><br /></div><div>It's so sad.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZg8yFo5xdk/YBMjaROCK-I/AAAAAAAA9VM/CUEgA8XpMlMTn7tIAqJVPoSHlOGM7FMNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_7774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZg8yFo5xdk/YBMjaROCK-I/AAAAAAAA9VM/CUEgA8XpMlMTn7tIAqJVPoSHlOGM7FMNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_7774.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This poor little thing was inside a crisp packet. I threw him to the kites.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1Cf5tJRRnE/YBMjV9507yI/AAAAAAAA9Us/QgS-hlUHQf4ByIfDHw6k1TPX-8s09ttCACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5040-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1Cf5tJRRnE/YBMjV9507yI/AAAAAAAA9Us/QgS-hlUHQf4ByIfDHw6k1TPX-8s09ttCACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5040-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anyway talking of food! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gs8mx8Xf8o8/YBMjXkEeJvI/AAAAAAAA9U0/II7W3-KouUsXVfz1NIf_lgxdq5TlNN-nACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gs8mx8Xf8o8/YBMjXkEeJvI/AAAAAAAA9U0/II7W3-KouUsXVfz1NIf_lgxdq5TlNN-nACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5170.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But look at this little fella, he followed me all round the field, I rang mulitiple farmers before finding the one that owned his mum and they came to fetch him!<br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu-A0gsKL58/YBMjUR8-C2I/AAAAAAAA9Uo/n4qwAP3DxR0fE6h5z90oHTEAfahhwv1IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gu-A0gsKL58/YBMjUR8-C2I/AAAAAAAA9Uo/n4qwAP3DxR0fE6h5z90oHTEAfahhwv1IgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5220.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love this horse, it always comes to see me as I walk past. I found a horse wandering down a path one day, I'd just started to ring the stable to send some of the girls down to collect it (I could hear them up on the hill!) when they spotted it and came wellie charging down to collect it!</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLQZDgN8KkM/YBMjXhzes3I/AAAAAAAA9Uw/28JK3_dkREgI8l4UBml7QzPNKLQ1RmTWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLQZDgN8KkM/YBMjXhzes3I/AAAAAAAA9Uw/28JK3_dkREgI8l4UBml7QzPNKLQ1RmTWwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_6746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Need a hair cut mate? Lockdown is getting to us all!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2SYn4bmqca8/YBMjXxWXZfI/AAAAAAAA9U4/cowC9d_UrT8wZWro-C2vZ010eKCZ_z5oACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6997-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2SYn4bmqca8/YBMjXxWXZfI/AAAAAAAA9U4/cowC9d_UrT8wZWro-C2vZ010eKCZ_z5oACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_6997-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Another one of my walk buddies that always comes to see me. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucG8NCO0z3s/YBMjbEnl7WI/AAAAAAAA9VQ/FWkGVNwbpa4y4OwGqRvDcB2q869hL0fTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucG8NCO0z3s/YBMjbEnl7WI/AAAAAAAA9VQ/FWkGVNwbpa4y4OwGqRvDcB2q869hL0fTwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/swan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">But I do love to take time to watch the birds.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, yeah, please take your litter home with you. It's not that it looks unsightly, we can all cope with ugly, it's that it KILLS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYcHhewcrzg/YBMjSQIjKAI/AAAAAAAA9Uk/DZGosYysOiQqGAvgVoUqLPgrWHEsbIY0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s808/IMG_4955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYcHhewcrzg/YBMjSQIjKAI/AAAAAAAA9Uk/DZGosYysOiQqGAvgVoUqLPgrWHEsbIY0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w380-h640/IMG_4955.JPG" width="380" /></a></div><br /> <p></p></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-76314150806987420182021-01-27T21:53:00.001+01:002021-01-28T22:58:07.951+01:00Journey to the sea - part 2I told you about how the <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2021/01/journey-to-sea-part-1.html" target="_blank">rubbish got to my local area of water</a> This problem had me thinking about the straws that end up in turtles noses, or the plastic micro beads in fish that we eat. Could any of the rubbish left about as far away from the sea as you can get in the UK get to the sea?<div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FnZk8-ohlo/YA3ZTxMbyoI/AAAAAAAA9SA/I5Y2-4srIB81z9_gxlu2zQ377aVw36MlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s987/img1.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="987" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FnZk8-ohlo/YA3ZTxMbyoI/AAAAAAAA9SA/I5Y2-4srIB81z9_gxlu2zQ377aVw36MlgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h265/img1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Well it turns out it wasn't that difficult to <a href="https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network" target="_blank">work out the answer</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOQjLHPBTMU/YA3ZYJsrioI/AAAAAAAA9Sk/nHl5rh85yvcL0J_j11QkVPpIDVl2QSfigCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img1a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOQjLHPBTMU/YA3ZYJsrioI/AAAAAAAA9Sk/nHl5rh85yvcL0J_j11QkVPpIDVl2QSfigCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A plastic bottle left floating here, or even just sitting on the dried up shore in the summer.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYfNHb6tiPA/YA3ZXxn9XNI/AAAAAAAA9Sg/z8FkwSLOh-AztxgIOpemyqzWZjQq1uJDACLcBGAsYHQ/s582/img2.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYfNHb6tiPA/YA3ZXxn9XNI/AAAAAAAA9Sg/z8FkwSLOh-AztxgIOpemyqzWZjQq1uJDACLcBGAsYHQ/w290-h400/img2.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Can get to the canal next work very quickly.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2IRmKxiuNA/YA3ZY7UqOBI/AAAAAAAA9So/R7m4LvCrCP0RPhvGX6irLoU5Mb83kcF0wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img3.HEIC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2IRmKxiuNA/YA3ZY7UqOBI/AAAAAAAA9So/R7m4LvCrCP0RPhvGX6irLoU5Mb83kcF0wCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/img3.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>In the summer the over flow is dry.<div><br /></div><div>In fact I've been up the tunnels that go under the road and stood under this grill - probably incredibly stupid, but there you go, I didn't think too hard about it at the time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EomDkleLHcI/YA3ZZJvbFsI/AAAAAAAA9Ss/K_oUZJ25Awkhrb7KVxrHjVUF3I7EH2HrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img4.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EomDkleLHcI/YA3ZZJvbFsI/AAAAAAAA9Ss/K_oUZJ25Awkhrb7KVxrHjVUF3I7EH2HrwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/img4.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>But once the water fills back up, it water pours down the overflow.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was incredibly proud when I saw this first spill over of Winter 2020, there was no rubbish at the grid - I feel that has a lot to do with the 300+ bags of rubbish I removed from the area.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfBXjb_ggro/YA3ZZho5UuI/AAAAAAAA9Sw/clSdOj3r4XQwcK8EN726AECyuPUplzeuACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img5.HEIC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfBXjb_ggro/YA3ZZho5UuI/AAAAAAAA9Sw/clSdOj3r4XQwcK8EN726AECyuPUplzeuACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/img5.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I had been in this, when it was dry. many times over the summer, clearing it of rubbish.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The water shoots down here,<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2rqfAqYgyM/YA3ZePAmRyI/AAAAAAAA9S8/6HHOTWpMWlA5Gfpqnq0VdZxAdjenICFdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t2rqfAqYgyM/YA3ZePAmRyI/AAAAAAAA9S8/6HHOTWpMWlA5Gfpqnq0VdZxAdjenICFdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/img6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and comes out here.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is some grilling but not much.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfNcGLXfsxg/YA3ZdQjDOoI/AAAAAAAA9S0/hdERN363D30cO3uMii5qMQbOEICrEv2fACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img6a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GfNcGLXfsxg/YA3ZdQjDOoI/AAAAAAAA9S0/hdERN363D30cO3uMii5qMQbOEICrEv2fACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img6a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And off it goes, Tampax tree (remember that?!) is the dark trunk top right! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JivwFOXNnFI/YA3Zdw60NeI/AAAAAAAA9S4/xoqkkoyKTbkR1DGvxBN_rUPk26UGOA96wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JivwFOXNnFI/YA3Zdw60NeI/AAAAAAAA9S4/xoqkkoyKTbkR1DGvxBN_rUPk26UGOA96wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The water that flows past 'tampax tree' mostly drains off to the fields unless it is incredibly wet then it joins a water course that heads under the canal, but we will follow the wider stretch of water that flows to the right.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zx65QBFJR8/YA3ZflmcESI/AAAAAAAA9TA/o7EkBYtRQqoSWZwCAQAOGQ8KipRoYj2PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img9.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zx65QBFJR8/YA3ZflmcESI/AAAAAAAA9TA/o7EkBYtRQqoSWZwCAQAOGQ8KipRoYj2PgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There's been a heron down here for as long as I can remember, huge beast of a bird. It flies low along the water and then over the fields to the canal. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are a pair of great white egrets on the main body of water, but the grey heron that lives down here is my favourite.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ex225zBAJCg/YA3ZXLEiLyI/AAAAAAAA9SY/RQ_d7Yrp-K8qkyPnmIgkg5Za8eiqLk9xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img10.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ex225zBAJCg/YA3ZXLEiLyI/AAAAAAAA9SY/RQ_d7Yrp-K8qkyPnmIgkg5Za8eiqLk9xwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I've also seen kingfishers down this way too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMtf1AMzPZo/YA3ZT9KIxNI/AAAAAAAA9R8/ofplDVnlz0Q-OzArwj5xzfAz4igVe_-6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s747/img11.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="747" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EMtf1AMzPZo/YA3ZT9KIxNI/AAAAAAAA9R8/ofplDVnlz0Q-OzArwj5xzfAz4igVe_-6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h217/img11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>and the water meets the canal, the heron often sits here.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvyr-YlAamE/YA3ZWmBQI_I/AAAAAAAA9SQ/VaSBYHvnL0M3iCWJ4UTdaEGySEPofsRFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img12.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvyr-YlAamE/YA3ZWmBQI_I/AAAAAAAA9SQ/VaSBYHvnL0M3iCWJ4UTdaEGySEPofsRFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And so now the litter flows with the pull of the boats and the water movement as the lock gates open and close.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NkXSun_dE8/YA3ZU0TIrjI/AAAAAAAA9SE/J4mOZgQoYkEfCq9nz0v1WXMw1ENalexSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1432/img13%2Bnorthampton%2Barm.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1432" height="161" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NkXSun_dE8/YA3ZU0TIrjI/AAAAAAAA9SE/J4mOZgQoYkEfCq9nz0v1WXMw1ENalexSACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h161/img13%2Bnorthampton%2Barm.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>At the Northampton Arm the water meets the River Nene.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NG6ZNxnOqiM/YA3ZVaoBFsI/AAAAAAAA9SI/J3mq0kJFHIMf5NBrK1hCrmRb6M-8vTn3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1310/img14%2B-%2Bnene%2Bpeterborough.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1310" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NG6ZNxnOqiM/YA3ZVaoBFsI/AAAAAAAA9SI/J3mq0kJFHIMf5NBrK1hCrmRb6M-8vTn3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h179/img14%2B-%2Bnene%2Bpeterborough.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Heading on towards Peterborough<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nc_SLZ_yIEs/YA3ZWBxkoNI/AAAAAAAA9SM/RAThLV1746gv3uBvqAP0cINOpZWFgAVpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1246/img15%2Bnene%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bwash.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1246" height="140" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nc_SLZ_yIEs/YA3ZWBxkoNI/AAAAAAAA9SM/RAThLV1746gv3uBvqAP0cINOpZWFgAVpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h140/img15%2Bnene%2Bto%2Bthe%2Bwash.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Until meeting the Norfolk marshes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ysLBOJtX34/YA3ZWnWtP5I/AAAAAAAA9SU/g_2VH2C24wswIREoPppBZ34hMqDaovQ6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1347/img16%2Bthe%2Bwash.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1347" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ysLBOJtX34/YA3ZWnWtP5I/AAAAAAAA9SU/g_2VH2C24wswIREoPppBZ34hMqDaovQ6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h249/img16%2Bthe%2Bwash.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Maybe my plastic bottle will sink into the mud with King John's treasure<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71X5KOqm2Cw/YA3ZXEA2CGI/AAAAAAAA9Sc/i9BHke8HVIsIpt3yW_QSGRvf7_Oy1UO6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/img17.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71X5KOqm2Cw/YA3ZXEA2CGI/AAAAAAAA9Sc/i9BHke8HVIsIpt3yW_QSGRvf7_Oy1UO6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/img17.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Or maybe it will make it all the way and flow out into The Wash to meet the North Sea. <p></p></div><div><br /></div><div>A journey of about 150 miles.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nkiinp0qgJ8/YA3l-LauLsI/AAAAAAAA9Tc/lUcG5U6Q03kBuK4F8ppPjut-PM675yaIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0916.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nkiinp0qgJ8/YA3l-LauLsI/AAAAAAAA9Tc/lUcG5U6Q03kBuK4F8ppPjut-PM675yaIQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_0916.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-21238704655108007572021-01-24T21:18:00.005+01:002021-01-27T20:27:37.420+01:00Journey to the Sea - part 1<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fl59Mc7t2ks/YA3Kz5wQ7sI/AAAAAAAA9RU/alhGUaDE9VEBN42Ry7MhdmkU7XmXTw4fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Img1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fl59Mc7t2ks/YA3Kz5wQ7sI/AAAAAAAA9RU/alhGUaDE9VEBN42Ry7MhdmkU7XmXTw4fwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/Img1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Late spring we had a lovely warm spell and national lockdown 1 combined. People had a lot of time on their hands to go sit in areas other than their gardens. But no time to bag their litter up and take it home.<p></p><p>We bordered a town where the lockdown continued even after the national lockdown had ended, so the visitors continued to come.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocVrSFE6ibY/YA3Kd1SYn0I/AAAAAAAA9QE/_WJRWxk-4UcfPan1AmRm39Wb4cirx7f_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocVrSFE6ibY/YA3Kd1SYn0I/AAAAAAAA9QE/_WJRWxk-4UcfPan1AmRm39Wb4cirx7f_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It became a bit bothersome (understatement), people were travelling here from miles away and the locals were very vocal about it on social media.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Unfortunately the locals were inclined only to moan about it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FVkO849VXk4/YA3KnQpNf6I/AAAAAAAA9Qg/MjNEq-eHNOEkUd9tBcBJRgu18-NyB2vwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FVkO849VXk4/YA3KnQpNf6I/AAAAAAAA9Qg/MjNEq-eHNOEkUd9tBcBJRgu18-NyB2vwwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>So I went out and bought myself a litter picker and a roll of bin bags and started to go down there a few times a week and pick up the mess.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>So much mess!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svHcoL-vwwc/YA3KkaJsLCI/AAAAAAAA9Qc/MZyp3NRvx50_NrTnB9kxeoHHi2OWXJgiACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svHcoL-vwwc/YA3KkaJsLCI/AAAAAAAA9Qc/MZyp3NRvx50_NrTnB9kxeoHHi2OWXJgiACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h295/IMG4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bottles floating.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-li-zNJSAgJc/YA3Kn3UlHoI/AAAAAAAA9Qk/_40ahtVixvsi9yqX36vf_VFQgQZvSMOawCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-li-zNJSAgJc/YA3Kn3UlHoI/AAAAAAAA9Qk/_40ahtVixvsi9yqX36vf_VFQgQZvSMOawCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Smashed bottles<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhCRCSPgXgM/YA3Ko69ETAI/AAAAAAAA9Qo/LeWPmKsCqSkP1PmQY-pmyl8WyOy1vROzACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG6.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhCRCSPgXgM/YA3Ko69ETAI/AAAAAAAA9Qo/LeWPmKsCqSkP1PmQY-pmyl8WyOy1vROzACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Masks, so many masks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ek1CJc_QOPY/YA3Ks16LLJI/AAAAAAAA9Qw/qg92X9h6vDwiUQen1QEnCz7I-LDvIGt5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG7.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ek1CJc_QOPY/YA3Ks16LLJI/AAAAAAAA9Qw/qg92X9h6vDwiUQen1QEnCz7I-LDvIGt5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG7.jpg" /></a></div>Socks<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-uGjntNXqs/YA3KtCRF_DI/AAAAAAAA9Q0/DHjFwJxRAPAdcYVq1vp8pz-dmD5FnwAuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG8.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-uGjntNXqs/YA3KtCRF_DI/AAAAAAAA9Q0/DHjFwJxRAPAdcYVq1vp8pz-dmD5FnwAuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Pants.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>So many socks, pants, flip flops, t-shirts, shorts I could have opened a clothes shop.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Clq79D5KBM/YA3KpvtKWYI/AAAAAAAA9Qs/gqOd4s62si44V5b82-dsjIlNUbjUbZrTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s532/IMG9.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="485" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Clq79D5KBM/YA3KpvtKWYI/AAAAAAAA9Qs/gqOd4s62si44V5b82-dsjIlNUbjUbZrTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w365-h400/IMG9.JPG" width="365" /></a></div>My main motivation for wanting to pick up the mess was the birds. This is not my photo, but it is what spurred me on.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>The area I was clearing is a local area of special interest. There are lots of migrating and nesting birds here.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP5r-9LCyks/YA3KQxlYf8I/AAAAAAAA9Pc/ORl5SEHABi00UBNPtINE-nohZd0VdtBEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG10.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HP5r-9LCyks/YA3KQxlYf8I/AAAAAAAA9Pc/ORl5SEHABi00UBNPtINE-nohZd0VdtBEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The activity of 100s and 100s of people coming to the water every day started to affect the fish. <p></p><p>The rats in the area increased because of the amount of food waste.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It was a never ending mess.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Bottles, food packets, tins, clothes, masks, condoms, pregnancy tests, cigarette ends, BBQs, float aids, hats, baby bottles, used nappies, used sanatary items (don't ask me about the tampax tree - all the girls went there!) - if a human could leave it, it was left.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUcszhPVNy4/YA3KRBUnW6I/AAAAAAAA9Pg/HN-nnllncooHjeeW7zWOWCkE532oyznZACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG11.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kUcszhPVNy4/YA3KRBUnW6I/AAAAAAAA9Pg/HN-nnllncooHjeeW7zWOWCkE532oyznZACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Bear in mind this is a private water, with no public access to the shore line, not safe for swimming and no boating allowed. And yet they brought their boats. <p></p><p><br /></p><p>And quite often left them behind too.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>One day I was picking litter and a mini drove past me and parked up. They put the box of a blow up boat on the roof of the car as I walked past. When I came back the car was gone, the box and popped boat were in its place.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLJEe3VlZz8/YA3KRp0UFNI/AAAAAAAA9Pk/Jax_CzP4eKctKUdqQm4YcziCIuszfwZ3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG12.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLJEe3VlZz8/YA3KRp0UFNI/AAAAAAAA9Pk/Jax_CzP4eKctKUdqQm4YcziCIuszfwZ3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>They came, they drank, they ate, they swam, they left....their rubbish behind.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8l9P-O3LJVc/YA3KV9-6FGI/AAAAAAAA9Pw/NCnQ3Nf_lP4uZa6gnlWYdyfVnKxTutD6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG13.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8l9P-O3LJVc/YA3KV9-6FGI/AAAAAAAA9Pw/NCnQ3Nf_lP4uZa6gnlWYdyfVnKxTutD6gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I was going to the water day after day<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bacP6e0prPc/YA3KTD1DaWI/AAAAAAAA9Po/c02rQ9z5ZmQZQ9sRccC-VjAPurwn5forwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG14.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bacP6e0prPc/YA3KTD1DaWI/AAAAAAAA9Po/c02rQ9z5ZmQZQ9sRccC-VjAPurwn5forwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/IMG14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>getting very frustrated with the rubbish I couldn't reach.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6awS8kifn8/YA3KUJpNHJI/AAAAAAAA9Ps/tY_We9NPzmcLp9WbHqglwUUieh6hSmbHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG15.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2048" height="231" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6awS8kifn8/YA3KUJpNHJI/AAAAAAAA9Ps/tY_We9NPzmcLp9WbHqglwUUieh6hSmbHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h231/IMG15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>occassionally I'd shout to the young adults in the water to throw the rubbish up to me so I could bag it.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>I gave them bags to put their rubbish in.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQEvvZaWpzw/YA3KvKXGbhI/AAAAAAAA9Q8/ntfR95MaNtEe35bskXd7x94B7IH27tZ4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMg16.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQEvvZaWpzw/YA3KvKXGbhI/AAAAAAAA9Q8/ntfR95MaNtEe35bskXd7x94B7IH27tZ4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMg16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But still they left it behind.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2qu5Q-S_sv0/YA3KX8SspDI/AAAAAAAA9P0/HZDTV9gQmXEDCT0JcGlo8iPmMnqXIQkwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG17.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2qu5Q-S_sv0/YA3KX8SspDI/AAAAAAAA9P0/HZDTV9gQmXEDCT0JcGlo8iPmMnqXIQkwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG17.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>They left it in interesting places.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEYD6PzfoZU/YA3KYeRieOI/AAAAAAAA9P4/5FZEMBBlV0k8Li90OLo1QEzsCf70Hu7FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG18.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEYD6PzfoZU/YA3KYeRieOI/AAAAAAAA9P4/5FZEMBBlV0k8Li90OLo1QEzsCf70Hu7FwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG18.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>They left it without consuming it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePP9Zkebfmk/YA3KbaCm8nI/AAAAAAAA9P8/CTTG3xajk5k2A8-n1BQjUUjOIUVGC6DrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePP9Zkebfmk/YA3KbaCm8nI/AAAAAAAA9P8/CTTG3xajk5k2A8-n1BQjUUjOIUVGC6DrQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The summer evenings were long and warm.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1igVm4Ve4U/YA3K1n5V-1I/AAAAAAAA9Rc/DXCLfdDk6EYRyD7tD6btlKzDSYjrYrtJACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img20.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1igVm4Ve4U/YA3K1n5V-1I/AAAAAAAA9Rc/DXCLfdDk6EYRyD7tD6btlKzDSYjrYrtJACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/img20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The McDonalds wrappers were free flowing.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I'd leave the water at half eight or nine at night having picked litter after work. I'd go back by 10am the next day and they would be a whole new batch to be picked.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQd4Gw8CA1E/YA3Kdev4vLI/AAAAAAAA9QA/4HaKOuFH8b8wGDVQt9_8nVtoATYROx0igCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG21.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rQd4Gw8CA1E/YA3Kdev4vLI/AAAAAAAA9QA/4HaKOuFH8b8wGDVQt9_8nVtoATYROx0igCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG21.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>It felt endless, but I knew why I was doing it.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaFwBt3x90M/YA3KgMDWuBI/AAAAAAAA9QI/gdtyHHdIh3MpP874YBIfVwU1lF71QPS6gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG22.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UaFwBt3x90M/YA3KgMDWuBI/AAAAAAAA9QI/gdtyHHdIh3MpP874YBIfVwU1lF71QPS6gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG22.jpg" width="400" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">In the summer the water has large shore lines, the litter was strewn all over it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But in the winter there is no shore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The water is high, laps the road and overflows to the river.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRtQsshN2rI/YA3KiVtdaQI/AAAAAAAA9QQ/gNf2q72QCz8D0UCohoV7t1FVa9rTrFfXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG23.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRtQsshN2rI/YA3KiVtdaQI/AAAAAAAA9QQ/gNf2q72QCz8D0UCohoV7t1FVa9rTrFfXwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So I carried on picking.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Over 300 bags by the time autumn came around and the visitors slowly petered out into odd cars of KFC throwers and cannabis smokers.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IvZIjSy4Lc/YA3KyebhnkI/AAAAAAAA9RM/Q6Ghj5cUrtEN2uCMeU1vFa2WQffmKJUowCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMg24.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IvZIjSy4Lc/YA3KyebhnkI/AAAAAAAA9RM/Q6Ghj5cUrtEN2uCMeU1vFa2WQffmKJUowCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMg24.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I carried on walking the shore line, still picking the remnents of the summer fun. As the undergrowth died back, more and more litter continued to be exposed. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPLMk3tmK6o/YA3KiuBBotI/AAAAAAAA9QU/OfvM7SJiYJoTA9GS7j5Fb5usY5wr3-eegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG25.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPLMk3tmK6o/YA3KiuBBotI/AAAAAAAA9QU/OfvM7SJiYJoTA9GS7j5Fb5usY5wr3-eegCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Once the visitors quietened down, the fly-tippers could give it a go.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvr7HH4jIeY/YA3K2eCEj0I/AAAAAAAA9Rg/XfJcCMmkvH0VKnrApcl7vIqX7Gbkimw1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/img27.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cvr7HH4jIeY/YA3K2eCEj0I/AAAAAAAA9Rg/XfJcCMmkvH0VKnrApcl7vIqX7Gbkimw1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/img27.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I tried to pull some of it out.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlkqQjONVzo/YA3KyKSNI8I/AAAAAAAA9RI/LAgk8JKQaQoyeLKb2zbQer3D4tCHRRI_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMg26.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PlkqQjONVzo/YA3KyKSNI8I/AAAAAAAA9RI/LAgk8JKQaQoyeLKb2zbQer3D4tCHRRI_wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMg26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But sadly the rain started before I could finish it and off floating it went.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But for all the hard work, of the months of spring, summer and autumn it was worth it. It was good exercise, I made new friends of the fishermen and the guy currently renting the old boat house (all of whom were also clearing up the mess.)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>But mostly I have an overriding memory of spending a lot of time enjoying and helping nature.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iOXLcCBu70/YA3Ki_uZjBI/AAAAAAAA9QY/IbJILUWmAmIDyapLJS1h3-RmUQxzORwQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG28.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iOXLcCBu70/YA3Ki_uZjBI/AAAAAAAA9QY/IbJILUWmAmIDyapLJS1h3-RmUQxzORwQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbyHOCqda80/YA3mbHZ92EI/AAAAAAAA9Tk/fkhsxs70f2MMJHjN-lavd00rEKT9v1GngCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbyHOCqda80/YA3mbHZ92EI/AAAAAAAA9Tk/fkhsxs70f2MMJHjN-lavd00rEKT9v1GngCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/IMG_0915.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><br /> <p></p>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-79483232766331671112021-01-09T18:45:00.004+01:002021-01-09T18:45:53.803+01:00I would run 1000 miles, I would walk 472 more.
I've been chasing down a 1000 running miles in a year for a few years. In 2019 I got close but not quite. I think that’s because I walked so many and walking takes so much longer but this year I got a treadmill for lockdown 1 and set to it.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwiCnl6P7vc/X_nn11_SZ6I/AAAAAAAA9OI/gphPNQYr0EY22onVQI16rhO2sfDAtWkdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0C015FF6-EE44-49C0-9966-16CF556B660C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwiCnl6P7vc/X_nn11_SZ6I/AAAAAAAA9OI/gphPNQYr0EY22onVQI16rhO2sfDAtWkdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/0C015FF6-EE44-49C0-9966-16CF556B660C.jpeg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I set to it so keenly I over ran, increasing my mileage massively and ending up injured, so the summer months were light on running miles but I took the opportunity to walk. I started couch to 5k in September and came back gently. Couch to 10K in November and December and found the same injury starting to niggle again.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jojtnrW_3-o/X_nn1-EqXSI/AAAAAAAA9OM/zMOhh7-s3JsUCZBB1bgPBy5WnQF-DKMrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/25AA5AC3-A3FE-4696-A743-15BA5D8F9100.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jojtnrW_3-o/X_nn1-EqXSI/AAAAAAAA9OM/zMOhh7-s3JsUCZBB1bgPBy5WnQF-DKMrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/25AA5AC3-A3FE-4696-A743-15BA5D8F9100.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I’m not likely to run anywhere near as far in 2021, but all the same, I’m incredibly proud of my effort in 2020. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7o1lfYN2WI/X_nn15Ep-RI/AAAAAAAA9OQ/dxnhtcj3vrMg_6lJ7Swtaook5ML7Yc1UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/84CE1C28-C3C8-40B2-BAAF-29C62A845D01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b7o1lfYN2WI/X_nn15Ep-RI/AAAAAAAA9OQ/dxnhtcj3vrMg_6lJ7Swtaook5ML7Yc1UwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/84CE1C28-C3C8-40B2-BAAF-29C62A845D01.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used a site that does monthly medals to motivate me all year, when you’ve paid for 12 medals in advance there’s no way I wasn’t going to earn them. I’ve worked hard for them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Imagine stepping out of your door now and saying “right I’m going to go 1472 miles, see you later” well I very much did that in chunks! Adds up doesn’t it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-61458853373302856192020-12-31T19:00:00.000+01:002020-12-31T19:00:03.553+01:00Take time to give - it is too short a day to be selfishTake time to think - it is the source of power<br />
Take time to play - it is the secret of perpetual youth<br />
Take time to read - it is the fountain of wisdom<br />
Take time to pray - it is the greatest power on earth<br />
Take time to love and be loved - it is God given privilege<br />
Take time to be friendly - it is the road to happiness<br />
Take time to laugh - it is the music of the soul<br />
Take time to give - it is too short a day to be selfish<br />
Take time to work - it is the price of success<br />
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It is a while since I read this in a book at Our Chalet. It was written by the ladies of the Juliette Low session of 1959.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abJYSEGTGqE/U3KCdO9q-jI/AAAAAAAAKqg/MNzWrkHmIRQ/s1600/IMG_2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abJYSEGTGqE/U3KCdO9q-jI/AAAAAAAAKqg/MNzWrkHmIRQ/s1600/IMG_2505.JPG" width="400" /></a>I sat here, alone with a cup of tea just watching the sun go down over the mountains, not thinking too hard, just gently pondering life, the universe and everything. It all seemed so clear, so reasonable.<br />
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Serenity.<br />
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I was only sat there because I took the time to volunteer.<br />
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Sometimes it seems like a treadmill of effort, constantly draining time but should I choose to reclaim that time, would I use it more wisely? I doubt it, what time is better spent than investing it in the world's future. And that is exactly what volunteer youth worth is. <br />
<br />AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-74658430220108231242020-12-14T23:36:00.001+01:002020-12-14T23:36:43.343+01:00A Guiding Thought<div><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc e5nlhep0 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_1wb" style="padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had an end of year reflection email from the Chief Guide Amanda Medler this week. It struck a deep chord with me as it finished off with:</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I want to thank you personally, for all you do for Girlguiding. Girlguiding continues to transform the lives of girls and young women through what has been one of the toughest years for the movement. Even if you’ve been unable to join in this year, please know you have a home in guiding and will be welcome back as soon as you are able." </span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I just sent a note to my Rangers:</span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc e5nlhep0 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" style="padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">"We have some Rangers that haven't been able to join us this year since March, but I have had an email today from the Chief Guide that has reminded me of them and has made me think a bit. She finished with: "Even if you’ve been unable to join in this year, please know you have a home in Guiding and will be welcome back as soon as you are able." </span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc e5nlhep0 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" style="padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc e5nlhep0 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" style="padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">This has reminded me to tell you: No matter where you go in the world, no matter what you do in life, no matter whether you stay in Guiding from now on, or take a break of 30 years, Guiding is a family which will always be there for you. My friend (a leader in Rugby) was stranded in Canada when all the planes grounded in 2001, she was picked up from the airport by a local guider and stayed with her for a week. If you ever feel alone, find your local guiding branch and I guarantee they will find you a place to find friends. As your leader now I will always be here to help you, no matter how many years pass after you leave. It's something I didn't really truly understand until I sat reading an old visitors book at the world guiding centre Our Chalet in Switzerland."</span></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div dir="auto"><div class="ecm0bbzt hv4rvrfc e5nlhep0 dati1w0a" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" style="padding: 4px 16px;"><div class="j83agx80 cbu4d94t ew0dbk1b irj2b8pg" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="qzhwtbm6 knvmm38d" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe a bit heavy but sometimes I really feel it. I've been ready to give up so many times this year, but the friendships I find through Guiding sustain me much longer than the pain of the {insert all the things I have a good moan about here}. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f4f2f1; color: #322e29; font-size: 12.8px; line-height: 20.48px; text-align: justify;">"take time to give - it is too short a day to be selfish"</span></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="stjgntxs ni8dbmo4 l82x9zwi uo3d90p7 h905i5nu monazrh9" data-visualcompletion="ignore-dynamic" style="border-radius: 0px 0px 8px 8px; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="l9j0dhe7" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><div class="bp9cbjyn m9osqain j83agx80 jq4qci2q bkfpd7mw a3bd9o3v kvgmc6g5 wkznzc2l oygrvhab dhix69tm jktsbyx5 rz4wbd8a osnr6wyh a8nywdso s1tcr66n" style="align-items: center; background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--divider); color: var(--secondary-text); display: flex; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.9375rem; justify-content: flex-end; line-height: 1.3333; margin: 0px 16px; padding: 10px 0px;"><div class="bp9cbjyn j83agx80 pfnyh3mw p1ueia1e" style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-shrink: 0; font-family: inherit; height: 22px;"><div class="gtad4xkn" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 7px;"><div class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl l9j0dhe7 abiwlrkh gpro0wi8 dwo3fsh8 ow4ym5g4 auili1gw du4w35lb gmql0nx0" id="jsc_c_1wd" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; appearance: none; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: inherit; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Va5-QvLzNw0" width="560"></iframe>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-38408084208459348292020-11-15T23:01:00.050+01:002020-11-15T23:01:01.570+01:00Wombling about on the WaterI haven't been writing a lot this year. So many reasons but one of them is I have been busy! At the start of June the townies discovered our local reservior and decided whilst the pubs and clubs were shut it would be an excellent place to go and party, and leave huge amounts of litter behind. This annoyed the nellies off the locals obviously and most decided to moan about it on social media. I decided to go and pick the damn litter up. I'd been an inactive member of the South Leicestershire Wombles for a while and this turned me into a very active member. And to date I have picked 310 dust-bin sized bags of rubbish plus a huge number of periphal things like traffic cones, car parts etc. I will get around to sharing photos of it with you at some point. But for most of the summer I was out and about picking litter and mostly at my local reservoir.<div><br /></div><div>But recently I got an opportunity to go litter picking on the river soar in a canoe. I was rather excited.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekXpt1PcuBU/X6hqv6KHbWI/AAAAAAAA9JI/-doExd-STRYey3RVyM7pxEQYVVt8dGP2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6766.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ekXpt1PcuBU/X6hqv6KHbWI/AAAAAAAA9JI/-doExd-STRYey3RVyM7pxEQYVVt8dGP2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_6766.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Being as I'd never been in a canoe before ever (although the friends I was going with are old hands) the safety team decided we should go in the stablist thing they had. I wasn't unhappy about that!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1X4YMzeM5U/X6hqxI6xZ6I/AAAAAAAA9JM/6lbj2dYh3xEsM0HbNN3UfeCWUfoD7mBGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6784.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R1X4YMzeM5U/X6hqxI6xZ6I/AAAAAAAA9JM/6lbj2dYh3xEsM0HbNN3UfeCWUfoD7mBGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_6784.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I had a ball. Paddling up stream towards the National Space Centre until we got to the weir where we attacked the litter.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTxwCEIi-TE/X6hqxaA8BgI/AAAAAAAA9JQ/UjFHtuzqADsGjdyxMIE9eO6ievdEhVN6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6789.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DTxwCEIi-TE/X6hqxaA8BgI/AAAAAAAA9JQ/UjFHtuzqADsGjdyxMIE9eO6ievdEhVN6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_6789.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We filled our boat with 5 full bin bags, a childs bed mattress, a baby bath, a traffic cone, and lots of other sundry rubbish.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTCHaBi8N-c/X6hqyH-hBvI/AAAAAAAA9JY/JDXrbC7Ph30eNPPeuNgDrgsnmtvTuTtWgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6792.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTCHaBi8N-c/X6hqyH-hBvI/AAAAAAAA9JY/JDXrbC7Ph30eNPPeuNgDrgsnmtvTuTtWgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_6792.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Did I mention how much fun it was, despite the pouring rain!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E5KH5SzQRUI/X6hqxwR0v4I/AAAAAAAA9JU/nsV5S2aSwlstbDtPYbjprbmExfAqQXFLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/IMG_6828-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E5KH5SzQRUI/X6hqxwR0v4I/AAAAAAAA9JU/nsV5S2aSwlstbDtPYbjprbmExfAqQXFLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_6828-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And this is the rubbish the team picked that day.</div><div><br /></div><div>They do it once a month and I would love to go again.</div><div><br /></div><div> <br /> <p></p></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-8329919770543515652020-11-08T22:39:00.001+01:002020-11-08T22:40:32.523+01:00Remembrance 2020<p> It's been a year of differences and Remembrance was not going to be an exception.</p><p>Each year I do 2 parades as the unit I run straddles 2 villages. This year the village with the morning parade did their service by prerecorded video. So earlier in the week I went down to the memorial and was filmed laying a wreath.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnmnlBK9U_0/X6hf-IcoH9I/AAAAAAAA9Is/VayS8lrm0b85556YEj5Ba7YFl9lqz_gKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6894.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnmnlBK9U_0/X6hf-IcoH9I/AAAAAAAA9Is/VayS8lrm0b85556YEj5Ba7YFl9lqz_gKgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_6894.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div>The 'afternoon village' still held an outdoor service but only with about 20 people attending. Those laying wreaths, the priests, the cornet player and 2 of us with flags.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>I've never been a flag bearer before, obviously the girls would normally do it, so it was a first for me.</p><p>It all felt very respectful and appropriate.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c8-Z_BAsjnw/X6hf-72xzOI/AAAAAAAA9I0/vlWrOixHrDYLRf3lc_mt85T6FMURL7ligCLcBGAsYHQ/s848/Snapshot_7.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c8-Z_BAsjnw/X6hf-72xzOI/AAAAAAAA9I0/vlWrOixHrDYLRf3lc_mt85T6FMURL7ligCLcBGAsYHQ/w226-h400/Snapshot_7.png" width="226" /></a></div><p></p><p>I also had to write on the wreath which is something I've also never done before.</p><p>I chose "They hover as a cloud of witnesses over the nation" which is from a sermon by Henry Ward Beecher. It felt relevent to both Remembrance and the current time with Black Lives matter and the American elections hanging so heavy in the news.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1rqkL4PhaY/X6hf-bDWchI/AAAAAAAA9Iw/PfhlC1t5hkYFlquTwrFHDp6JO7nt0MLegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6906.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1rqkL4PhaY/X6hf-bDWchI/AAAAAAAA9Iw/PfhlC1t5hkYFlquTwrFHDp6JO7nt0MLegCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_6906.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p>We Will Remember Them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-85661472958428137302020-09-21T22:31:00.001+02:002020-09-21T22:31:17.733+02:00Rangers do Playdough - again <p>Years ago I used to <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2010/10/homemade-play-dough.html" target="_blank">make Playdough</a> all the time with Cog, buying it is expensive and with youngster having a tendency to eat it, I wanted to be sure I knew what she was eating!</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>I think knowing how to make it is a life skill, to be honest! I have done <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2014/10/Home-made-play-dough.html" target="_blank">playdough making before with Rangers</a> but recently in an online forum I spotted an activity that a leader said worked really well over zoom. I can't find the entry now to credit the leader with so if you recognise yourself leave me a comment and I can thank you, as it was a really relaxing, fun night that came in just when they were doing their back to school exams and needed something easy to take their mind off it all. </p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Here is my well tried recipe for playdough:</p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">1 cup plain flour (100grams)<br />1/2 cup salt (150 grams)<br />1 tablespoon cream of tartar (cooking aisle near bicarb!)<br />1 tablespoon cooking oil<br />1 cup hot water (200 ml) from kettle with a splash of food colouring<br /><br />Just put them into a bowl (it helps if the hot coloured water goes in last) and mix well, when it comes together just kneed it a bit and you have play dough as good as the bought stuff.</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">I always forget the 'use warm water bit' and put all the cold 'ingredients' into a pan on the stove and stir it until it's mixed and comes together to form a ball, let it cool a little and kneed it a bit. Either the hot water 'just mix' method or the cold water 'cook it on the stove top' method is just fine. And neither will take you longer than 10 minutes.</blockquote><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align: left;">Once they'd made the dough, they had a few minutes to
each model an animal. One point for it to be original (i.e. none of the other
members of the group had done the same animal) and a bonus point if it was
recognisable as the animal you said it was!<o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoPlainText">Then each of them took it in turns to give instructions to model an
animal and the others made it without knowing what it was. They really liked that part. (The one that started, split your dough into 24 equal parts was interesting!)</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">They then had a race to see how quickly they could form
the word, Rangers from the dough.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p>Fina</o:p><o:p>lly they </o:p>had to use just the R from Rangers and model
something that represented themselves. We got peace signs, sunglasses, microphones and one poor ranger splatted her dough and said the mess represented her life right now. It is amazing how simple activities bring out those opportunities for them to express deep feelings.</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoPlainText">It was a good Ranger zoom night and I really recommend it.</p><p class="MsoPlainText"><o:p></o:p></p></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-62381816684048255692020-08-14T22:45:00.001+02:002020-08-14T22:47:46.202+02:00The Van Gogh Immersive ExperienceI was a little nervous about getting out, Leicester still has an infection rate higher than most of the country, but I found the small church at the back of the huge shopping centre car park. And the alley to the side of it felt rather Dickensian. Some parts of Leicester have not changed (or been cleaned) in a very long time! <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7evMK_NKKo/XzbtKbGq-jI/AAAAAAAA8-k/JsdSLb7SN9gWlsKoqtGWEogACNYahD9ggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5329.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7evMK_NKKo/XzbtKbGq-jI/AAAAAAAA8-k/JsdSLb7SN9gWlsKoqtGWEogACNYahD9ggCLcBGAsYHQ/w410-h307/IMG_5329.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qSDuabOaMY/Xzbu5OrJXyI/AAAAAAAA8-s/Y27Q9xb4EzQC6JZ6dkDuyEIvPjM4ldPegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5270.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7qSDuabOaMY/Xzbu5OrJXyI/AAAAAAAA8-s/Y27Q9xb4EzQC6JZ6dkDuyEIvPjM4ldPegCLcBGAsYHQ/w246-h328/IMG_5270.jpg" width="246" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Going in I was slightly concerned that the corridor was small and there was a lot of of reading. I shouldn't have worried it was very quiet and this was the most reading of the whole thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGm4mboeBtQ/Xzbu5ZMBH8I/AAAAAAAA8-0/Dz97rPuHPTAcvfVYdX1BLklCCUhAGExhACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5273.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGm4mboeBtQ/Xzbu5ZMBH8I/AAAAAAAA8-0/Dz97rPuHPTAcvfVYdX1BLklCCUhAGExhACLcBGAsYHQ/w410-h308/IMG_5273.jpg" width="410" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">There was a brief and interesting documentary to watch, I had no idea Van Gogh was most likely colour blind.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then to the full scale bedroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XrEdccgZXI/Xzbu5Ah9cTI/AAAAAAAA8-w/zGgI2Zvku0IKgJWC9AjLWimOs_nz-0AgACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5274.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="513" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5XrEdccgZXI/Xzbu5Ah9cTI/AAAAAAAA8-w/zGgI2Zvku0IKgJWC9AjLWimOs_nz-0AgACLcBGAsYHQ/w385-h513/IMG_5274.jpg" width="385" /></a>And the huge vase which was a constantly fluid changing painting of many of his vases and flowers.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFN58GKQB5U/Xzbu7265SvI/AAAAAAAA8-4/4jjRr1sSR1U9oYHvcM2ikU7Hg3FDfmRggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5309.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFN58GKQB5U/Xzbu7265SvI/AAAAAAAA8-4/4jjRr1sSR1U9oYHvcM2ikU7Hg3FDfmRggCLcBGAsYHQ/w308-h410/IMG_5309.jpg" width="308" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">The immersive experience was truly that and I actually found it moving in places.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Partly because I know <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2017/06/my-favourite-excuse-for-euphemism.html" rel="nofollow">my favourite excuse for a euphemism</a> would have enjoyed it as much as I did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The church was a perfect setting for it, everything was constantly moving and changing, every picture, every wall, the light, the floor, the sky and yet it did it with a smoothness embraced by the music and occasional narration.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1a45r_c94A4/Xzbu8ZMXeiI/AAAAAAAA8-8/YKfU-3CZt1kKQY2H37A_VkLhItFL9_k0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5310.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1a45r_c94A4/Xzbu8ZMXeiI/AAAAAAAA8-8/YKfU-3CZt1kKQY2H37A_VkLhItFL9_k0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w308-h410/IMG_5310.jpg" width="308" /></a>I think I could have sat there a very long time, and I did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hyISYlXE_rk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tFve45qoLE/Xzbu_5FqbaI/AAAAAAAA8_E/Lg63a8bdwiAbZEl0daqH9PPRev36tq0IACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5315.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5tFve45qoLE/Xzbu_5FqbaI/AAAAAAAA8_E/Lg63a8bdwiAbZEl0daqH9PPRev36tq0IACLcBGAsYHQ/w308-h410/IMG_5315.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I enjoyed it so much I would like to go back and do it again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MC0luInTx7A/XzbvBKZbmhI/AAAAAAAA8_M/NFZS3PKh1JEBLN5Eb96YV2HZ0J0kagBvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5323.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="308" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MC0luInTx7A/XzbvBKZbmhI/AAAAAAAA8_M/NFZS3PKh1JEBLN5Eb96YV2HZ0J0kagBvwCLcBGAsYHQ/w410-h308/IMG_5323.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yf8Nu_1WAJc/Xzbu_IBXu-I/AAAAAAAA8_A/rMb98JLKp8YaqBfUr1VDWRhvMs1pN66mACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5314.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="513" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yf8Nu_1WAJc/Xzbu_IBXu-I/AAAAAAAA8_A/rMb98JLKp8YaqBfUr1VDWRhvMs1pN66mACLcBGAsYHQ/w385-h513/IMG_5314.jpg" width="385" /></a></div>"‘<a href="https://www.vangoghexpo.co.uk/about-the-exhibition/" target="_blank">Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience</a>’ is a travelling exhibition intended for a wide audience including families and visitors of all ages. It is a beautiful exhibition around Van Gogh that combines his life story with an in-depth immersion into the heart of his art."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The virtual reality journey, a day in Arles, was like being completely absorbed in a huge 360 painting, travelling from painting to painting through the landscape. It was incredible. I wore a mask the whole time I was in there (as did everyone) and for the VR you put on more PPE over your own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The <a href="https://www.vangoghexpo.co.uk/" target="_blank">'experience' </a>is a travelling one and is in Leicester (and York) until the 31st December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1AEeCRAIM4/Xzb1No2_peI/AAAAAAAA8_w/0vJJgzLwPOwNmPxV40aXGWgb9miRIL0qACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5269.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--1AEeCRAIM4/Xzb1No2_peI/AAAAAAAA8_w/0vJJgzLwPOwNmPxV40aXGWgb9miRIL0qACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5269.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-11608052574352637822020-07-29T23:02:00.004+02:002020-07-29T23:06:39.876+02:00Rangers Back in the WildSo Girlguiding finally decided that 'face to face' meetings could be allowed. But there were so many rules about how many, where, how and a bookcase worth of paperwork and risk assessments to do that, they insisted, needed to be submitted two weeks prior to the event date.<div><br /></div><div>So to be frank, they were playing lip service to 'we care about girl's mental health' and had shoved common sense into a dark corner.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I managed to get my commissioner to agree to a no-brainer night and with a risk assessment as long as my arm and carrying more PPE than a surgeon on call, we set off over the socially distancing fields.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-diwl5Li6jUM/XyHdNqRAc4I/AAAAAAAA86s/oYRwXDLZD504EcxcconB-sHx2JPhJWluwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4838.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-diwl5Li6jUM/XyHdNqRAc4I/AAAAAAAA86s/oYRwXDLZD504EcxcconB-sHx2JPhJWluwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4838.jpg" width="400" /></a>And what a night for it</div><div><br /></div><div>The girls kept their distance naturally, but these large sweeping fields just lend themselves to that.</div><div> </div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sL_NsqNMWvk/XyHdN9jvKnI/AAAAAAAA86w/qAUha2y-14EWZtqRBXcyjYr8s4wjlTQkACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4844.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sL_NsqNMWvk/XyHdN9jvKnI/AAAAAAAA86w/qAUha2y-14EWZtqRBXcyjYr8s4wjlTQkACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4844.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0t7Mh0zNfPI/XyHdN_DbBjI/AAAAAAAA860/bUvRjbBuXs4H4lDfk-Z0ot04xH3XsuEqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4846.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0t7Mh0zNfPI/XyHdN_DbBjI/AAAAAAAA860/bUvRjbBuXs4H4lDfk-Z0ot04xH3XsuEqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>You can't kick up the sweet smelling hay with people too close, they just get in the way.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NshsTkPAM1E/XyHdPiSYA1I/AAAAAAAA864/X0ryoMTdaVMyvIl_-F1pZrMrQgIlZNcDACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4848.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NshsTkPAM1E/XyHdPiSYA1I/AAAAAAAA864/X0ryoMTdaVMyvIl_-F1pZrMrQgIlZNcDACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4848.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A gentle warm breeze carried the beautiful smell of a summer evening.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maT7PoV2khk/XyHdRFyykuI/AAAAAAAA868/zh3jLkzksIwrFCXT2kmudIdHNDtFpLc-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4849.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maT7PoV2khk/XyHdRFyykuI/AAAAAAAA868/zh3jLkzksIwrFCXT2kmudIdHNDtFpLc-wCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4849.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The sun started to set<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_86qS_4icE/XyHdRfKYMFI/AAAAAAAA87A/69QcZvR22MA1Aw7U5VJVHOPDvBxfBeWWQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4858.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_86qS_4icE/XyHdRfKYMFI/AAAAAAAA87A/69QcZvR22MA1Aw7U5VJVHOPDvBxfBeWWQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/IMG_4858.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We were headed towards home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chattering brightly.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmhraeQF2YI/XyHdULZ_rEI/AAAAAAAA87I/cdThFemMt0Upm6OPBAIuTgU012BgDzVJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4860.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmhraeQF2YI/XyHdULZ_rEI/AAAAAAAA87I/cdThFemMt0Upm6OPBAIuTgU012BgDzVJwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4860.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We are so lucky to live here<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN-DopgsZsY/XyHdUDFNJkI/AAAAAAAA87M/OSmuaVvDqn0o9UYEEuRbFh4_Co6Ank65gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4861.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN-DopgsZsY/XyHdUDFNJkI/AAAAAAAA87M/OSmuaVvDqn0o9UYEEuRbFh4_Co6Ank65gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4861.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As the sun went down the damp chill immediately set over the hay fields.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As we got to the meeting point and the more distant girls were picked up by parents, the closer to home girls started to text parents to say "don't pick up us, it's too lovely to get in a car, we want to walk the rest of the way home."</div><div><br /></div><div>I rang all the parents to check they were happy and off the girls set again. I watched them disappear down the road, no longer my responsibility but still they socially distanced, chattering and ambling along just the same.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I stood and watched the sun go down fully before heading the final mile home in the twilight.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvrBy_kF7Zo/XyHdTh_Nj8I/AAAAAAAA87E/M84xJ2PukJIftzOBOmhQJnvd5zPQvRw7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4865.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvrBy_kF7Zo/XyHdTh_Nj8I/AAAAAAAA87E/M84xJ2PukJIftzOBOmhQJnvd5zPQvRw7ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4865.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And I thought 'we got this' but as it turns out we 'didn't got this' because I'm now struggling to come up with another 'face to face' night at a place we are allowed to meet with a covid safe activity etc</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't walk them around fields forever but we all need to be together. Virtual is great but what people really need is people. And some of my Rangers need to be with their safe space peer group so badly.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not feeling the love for Girlguiding and its seemingly endless ways to say 'computer ses no' </div><div><br /></div><div>But I am feeling the love for the Rangers and their needs and we will get through this.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553426898105917202.post-375435242002680522020-07-17T21:27:00.000+02:002020-07-17T21:27:04.863+02:00Rangers Mission to Moth - online meeting<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xT8Z-iwbqnE/XwImZ67zbjI/AAAAAAAA84w/gj6pvPYlDyY5zyExqnUHVWIX14kBcdAawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xT8Z-iwbqnE/XwImZ67zbjI/AAAAAAAA84w/gj6pvPYlDyY5zyExqnUHVWIX14kBcdAawCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_4377.jpg" width="300" /></a>Leicester went into stricter lock-down just as the rest of the country was starting to party in the pubs and get out and about. A number of my Rangers were really upset about it. They'd played by the rules and felt they were now being punished for something they didn't do. To cheer them up I offered an extra meeting that week on the Saturday night. We'd been saying for a while we wanted to do 'Mission to Moth' so it was declared the thing to do.<br />
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It needs a dark night - so that was school boy error number 1. It was not going to be early to bed!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ94IlljeMc/XwIlPiQH8uI/AAAAAAAA838/CUUebNEvcXc6Bh2exFawNa2qiPj_oRWTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJ94IlljeMc/XwIlPiQH8uI/AAAAAAAA838/CUUebNEvcXc6Bh2exFawNa2qiPj_oRWTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_4427.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
The kit was sorted and the messages started to come in like "I've not got a banana" and "we haven't got beer" - they'd had 5 days to think about it! I gave them the best advice I could "Google it for a substitute then" !<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0qjYHbUjTs/XwIlPZjHriI/AAAAAAAA834/h34kbTKqD5s2F7bDLAtHzOkNcHKFD4rpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0qjYHbUjTs/XwIlPZjHriI/AAAAAAAA834/h34kbTKqD5s2F7bDLAtHzOkNcHKFD4rpACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_4393.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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I was not totally surprised to see that <a href="https://www.aguidinglife.co.uk/2019/08/charnwood-2019-mud-edition.html" target="_blank">Charnmud</a> was still making an appearance on my kit. That damned stuff will go to the grave with me!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1dsmjslLQA/XwIlRS4UnGI/AAAAAAAA84E/NqCt0KlR8JQD-clAZe5GfnfbCGVGbPv-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mix.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e1dsmjslLQA/XwIlRS4UnGI/AAAAAAAA84E/NqCt0KlR8JQD-clAZe5GfnfbCGVGbPv-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mix.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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We all got on with the prep whilst it was still light.</div>
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School boy error number 2! When you want to show your bowl contents to the camera - don't tip it up over the keyboard of your daughter's laptop. Brown sugar mixed in cola with smashed banana seeping under the keys - suspect that will turn out to be an expensive mistake.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBemN2__kuQ/XwIlSfsA5oI/AAAAAAAA84U/vjQ15XvtgZggrRaAexYHXGyhf0EYEDHBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/zoom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="994" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBemN2__kuQ/XwIlSfsA5oI/AAAAAAAA84U/vjQ15XvtgZggrRaAexYHXGyhf0EYEDHBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/zoom.jpeg" width="380" /></a>The rangers got on with the task in hand whilst I mopped and prayed.<br />
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And chattered whilst it got dark.<br />
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It was a pleasant evening spent but unfortunately cold and windy...<br />
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...which was probably school boy error number 3.<br />
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So between 6 of us we managed to attract 1 moth - yes one! I have more than that in my bedroom some nights!<br />
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But what matters was at least two Rangers said "I've really enjoyed tonight, I found it really relaxing, it was so good to get away from everything and just watch and chat"<br />
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So in my eyes that's mission accomplished, happy girls, that's all I ever want to see.<br />
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<br />AGuidingLifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05823333742737762759noreply@blogger.com0