Scout Camp

Before we came overseas I became a member of the Grafton scout group. So when we decided to go on our big trip I had the opportunity to go world scouting. I made sure my insurance was up to date and packed my scout uniform, record book and some badges to swap.

As soon as we got to London I did some research and tracked down the numbers we would need to call to get permission to visit a scout group in England. Then I found the web site for the 19th Wimbledon scout group and very soon I was able to go along to one of their meetings.

Because their scout hut is being rebuilt we did other activities at the local school, but it was still great to be with kids my own age. I was  very impressed with their uniform, which was a long sleeve green shirt with a red and green scarf, long navy blue trousers and a polished leather belt (which I thought looked very smart with the rest of their uniform).

 I was warmly welcomed into their ranks and was soon invited on their summer camp. I was only at the summer camp for 5 days because we were in France at the start of the camp, which went for 11 days. I made some great friends, and we had heaps of fun. The camp was a lot tougher than our camps in Australia because we had had to cook all our meals and have regular inspections but the toughest thing we did was a night hike, we left at roughly 9 at night and got back at 7 in the morning!  But overall I enjoyed it tremendously.

And to my amazement and delight on the last day of camp I was invested which means that I am now part of two scout groups! 

The tent we slept in.

Us washing up after we had made and eaten our dinner.

My patrol lighting the fire to cook breakfast on.

Day 10 eating the bacon and eggs we made.

Shawn wearing the sunglasses of shame.

Me and a few new friends

I had a great time and have lots of good ideas to improve our scouts.

Busy London

Hi blog Followers,

Horse Guards Parade

Sorry I haven't been blogging lately, but it's been really busy.

London is an amazing place there is no room wasted anywhere! And the traffic is just chaotic, it takes a long
time to get anywhere. But it's worth it when you get there.

Mounted Police Woman

In this blog I'm going to tell you a bit about the Horse Guard Parade and Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. But before I begin I would like to say thanks to my grandparents. Kevin, for showing us around London and generally being an excellent guide, and Isobel, for making us at home and looking after us.
Without them most of what we have done would not
have been possible.

The Horse Guard Parade had to be moved to a small court yard because the usual parade ground had been used for an event that weekend so it was all being packed up, but I enjoyed it anyway. They had a troop of blacks and a troop of bays, the blacks had been on guard and the bays were coming to takeover the job. I was surprised that they looked so young and most of them were woman. It was really great and we got lots of pics. There were four mounted police controlling the crowds and I thought that they used their large horses very effectively. I want to be a mounted  police women.

Then Grandpa Kevin led us through the park to Buckingham Place were the changing of the guards was happening. the square was packed and we didn't get a good look but dad gave me a shoulder ride. The band played Happy by Pharrel Williams and a couple of

Irish Guards (you can tell by the blue plume in their bearskin cap)

other songs and then marched out.

It was a great day.

Haystacks

Buttermere Valley

On the 5th of July, Dad and I went for a day walk on Haystacks. Haystacks is a mountain in the Lake District, it's in the south-eastern end of the Buttermere Valley. It has an elevation of 597m.

We walked about 9km and met a four nice tourists. Two were German sisters, one was a Greek girl and the other was a Scottish man. We chatted and I really enjoyed walking with them.


The views were great. Buttermere Valley is a u-shaped valley. When rivers grind away at the soft rock under them they form v-shaped valleys. A u-shaped valley is caused by erosion by ice. Unlike rivers that just flow at the very bottom of the valley a glacial erodes the land around it too.

The friends we made

The way we are about to walk

The path was was graveled in some places and less worn in others. The hills were quite steep but when we were on ridges the walking was nice.

By the time we got back to the bike I had blisters but I had still enjoyed it.