chatlines - issue 10

8/8/2019 Chatlines - Issue 10

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Chatline - Issue 10 Page 1

New Year 2010EditorialAddress:Snail Mail To:Brenda Shaw30 Hood Lane SouthGreat SankeyWarrington, WA5 1EJ

Telephone: 01925 493 753Mobile: 07778 346 819

Email:[email protected]

Editorial: So another year has sped by and we are wondering where it all went to so

quickly! However. 2010 is now here, beckoning us to embark on a new range of adven-

tures, activities, experiences, friendships, and as much more excitement and new discov-

ery as we can manage to pack into it. Particularly as this is the year of Chamboree - our

own Cheshire International Experience.. To use a quote: Begin doing what you want to

do now. We are not living in enternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a starin our hand - and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late! (M.B. Ray)

I wish all of you a fantastic year ahead, full of health, happiness, friendship and good

scouting. Be kind to one another, as well as others.

See yall at Chambo - B-Ed

Other Notable Forthcoming Events

GS Rehearsal JAN 4

N.W. Face-Network 4GS Cub Rehearsal 6

ellowship 11

eaver SC 13ack SC 14

Network SC 15

roop SC 18C 19

ADC/GSL 20

Warr Camp Site Mtg 21xplorer SC 25

Appoint Board 26

hild Protect Trng FEB 3

ub Craft Comp 6

ub Silver Presentation 6GS Photo Call 7

ellowship 8

Gen Scouter Council 9DHQ Management 10

eaver CS Bronze 10

C 16xplorer Swim Gala 21

roop SC MAR 2

ellowship 8

C 9eaver SC 10

ack SC 11

GS All-day Rehearsal 14

Gang Show 16-20eaver County Quiz 20

After Show Party 22ADCs 23

ace the Dragon 28

xplorer SC 29

DCs BIT

May I wish everyone in our District a very happy and productive New Year. 2009 was a busy year

for you all and 2010 looks to be even more so with lots of Scouting to look forward to.

Gang Show rehearsals are underway and this years show is set to be a great experience both forthose taking part and for our audiences. Show week is 16th to 20th March with evening perform-

ances every night and the usual Saturday Matinee. Booking forms will be out this month so makesure you book early to get the seat you would like. With Graham Phillips now in office as ourCounty Commissioner we have had to look closely at our Gang Show team. I am pleased to say that

the response for new blood has been excellent. Add to this the retention of a nucleus of key experi-enced members and I can say we have a strong team in place for the future.

This years General Scouters Council will be on Tuesday 9th February, so leaders put this date inyour diaries. By now you all should have seen the District Diary for 2010 and can use this to en-

hance your own Group/Unit programme. I am sure the highlight of the year will be Chamboree.

Make sure you get your bookings in before the beginning of March to take advantage of the lowerfees on offer.

I look forward to working with you all gain over the next twelve months.

Tony


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OUR LATEST HONOUR AWARDIts so fantastic every time we hear about one of

our young people getting either their Queen

Scout Award, a Gold Award or an Explorer

Belt.

We delighted to announce that Chris Anwyl, a

Network member and Assistant Scout Leader

with the 15th Warrington West (St. Josephs)

Scout Troop attended a ceremony where he was

presented with his Queen Scout Award by

Wayne Bulpitt

Chris actually finished earning the award and

was presented with it in the latter part of 2009,

but unfortunately the notification and his picture

just missed publication of our Ed 9 issue.

Well done, Chris, and congratulations on a great

achievement


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Explorers Winter Camp was at Guys Farm this year near Garstang and the weather was typically wintery.

Darren Forster earned a signature for December camping for his Dragon Award. This award is offered by the

Welsh Scouts and is open to all including leaders. For Bronze you have to camp in every calendar month, togain Silver and Gold you do more challenging camps as listed on their website. Worth checking it out if you

like to camp.

36 intrepid explorers and leaders braved the cold and rain to have a festive weekend at Guys Farm. Christmas

dinner was cooked by Sue and Ken and was greatly appreciated by all. Harriet Moran celebrated her birthday

with two birthday cakes to share and we had fantastic team games organised by Brenda Shaw and ably run by

Tony Warburton and Ryan Harper, and scores kept by Jen Warburton. We had the chance to ride horses, race

grannies, score points and let off sky lamps at night to watch them float away. Many thanks to all who helped

to make this a good camp, Mike Organ, Benda Shaw, Sue and Ken Jeffries, Ryan Harper, Darren Forster, Han-

nah Berry and Jess Partington; couldnt have done it without you!

Karin, ESL Tsunami

Just bring on the food!

A study in concentration

Go, Granny,

Go, Go, Go!

The Giddy-up races were

hilarious but some riders didnt

treat their horses very kindly!!!

Up, up and awa-a-a-a-a-y!

Putting up the decs

Voted more fun than fireworks!

Lasts longer too.


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Some thoughts, ponderings, observations, and questions!

So, the carol-singing, nativity plays, turkey and mince pies are all only memories. Hopefullyfor you they were all happy ones, but did you spare a thoughts, an act, or a prayer for others

less fortunate?

How does Santa get in your house now that we have lots of apartments and homes with cen-

tral heating and no fireplaces?

Is Santa guilty of discrimination because he only employs elves (vertically challenged per-

sons); and is he a bad influence because hes so fat after all those mince pies? Maybe we

need yet another keep fit video challenge which requires Santa to slim down to size small/

medium.

Does commercial pressure force people with reduced circumstances to get into serious debt

because of childrens Christmas expectations?

Santa Christmas stories are part of our folklore and fairy tales, and children as they grow appreciateand understand that, just as they do Toad living in Toad Hall, a talking Thomas the Tank Engine,etc. However, maybe we are losing sight of the true meaning and purpose of Christmas, it got lostamongst the wrapping paper. Its about thinking of and caring for other people, not ensuring thatJunior gets more pressies than any other kid on the block.

A lot more folk acting like, instead of singing about, Good King Wenceslas might make the world ahappier place to live in.

Recent weather been great for kids, with

tobogganing, snowboarding, skiing,snowman building etc. , but has been kind

of hazardous and limiting to the elderly

and infirm. However, it has also engendered

reports of community esprit and good nature -

where others have gone out of their way to ensure beleaguered pensioners have received meals,

shopping, paths cleared, etc., drivers assisting with trapped vehicles, children putting out food for

the birds, and numerous other instances of generosity of spirit and human kindness.

New bringsNew Year Resolutions, most of which dont last until February. Maybe the secret is to

only promise something you know you can accomplish and put all the rest on an Ill try my best

footing.

Look forward, plan ahead, waste not one experience or adventure or you may never get the chance

again and, although you dont think so when you are young - life is so very short of only one thing

- TIME! Use it wisely.

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Baby JesusRemember -

A baby is for life - not just for Christmas!

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a

magical event. You go to bed in one kind of worldand wake up in another quite different, and if this is

not enchantment, then where is it to be found?J.B Priestly

The only bad thing

about a holiday is thatit is followed by a non-

holiday.


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Provided temperatures remain below 32 degrees F constructing snow shelters is relatively easy. Sheltering from the wind is

the first priority, since the wind can drastically decrease the air temperature. Temperatures below 14 degrees F become in-creasingly unpleasant, so that it becomes necessary to construct shelters in which heat can be retained extremely well. These

can range from a simple hollowed-out heap of snow to an igloo, which can take a few hours to construct. In a long-term shel-

ter, such as an igloo, heavy, cold air can be diverted away from the occupants by digging a cold sink to channel the air down

and away from the shelter. It is important to allow for adequate ventilation in all snow shelters in order to prevent suffocation.

Building an Igloo

1. Cut blocks from dry, hard, hard snow, using a snow saw or large knife.

Each block should be about 3ft (1m) long, 15in (40cm) high and 8in (20cm)

deep.

3. Build up walls, overlapping the blocks and shaping them so that they

lean inward. Cut a hole under the wall for the cold sink and entrance. Put

several blocks along one wall as a sleeping platform.

2. Form a circle with blocks around

the hole created where you cut the

blocks. Cut the circle in a spiral from

the top of the last block. This will

make it easy to construct a dome.

4. The last block must initially belarger than the hole. Place the block

on top of the igloo, then, from in-

side, shape and wiggle it to slot ex-

actly into the hole.

5. Hot air from your body and stove rises and is trapped inside the

dome. Cold air falls into the sink and flows away to the outside. It is

essential to cut ventilation holes in the walls with an ice axe.


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Presidents Patch:

It has been a while since we enjoyed reading

the Presidents Patch from George Carmen

due to a period of ill health. We all look for-

ward to his recovery and wish him and his

lovely wife, Dorothy, the best of health for the

new year. We also look forward to readingPresidents Patch again as soon as he feels

up to it.

INVITATION FROM GERMANY

We have received an invitation from the German

Scouts of VCP Wuppertal to attend their national

camp in 2010 at a site near Wolfsburg in Lower

Saxony. Unfortunately for us, their dates, 29

July - 11 Aug clash with our own Chamboree.

However, if anyone would like further informa-

tion about the camp, its theme, cost, etc., pleasecontact ADC (International) - Brenda Shaw for a

full copy of the details.

ChamboreeX, destined to become our Chambo performance group to spearhead the en-

tertainment programme for our 4,000 visitors. Your talent, whatever it is, is needed;especially if you are a Leader, Network or Explorer Scout. Have you signed up yet?

CHESHIRE CHAMBO needs YOU!

As most you you know, your B-Ed has had problems during the

last 6 months, mostly connected to lack of wheels and mobility. I

would like to take this opportunity to thank most sincerely those ofyou who have offered and/or supplied transport, shopping, meals;

visited and provided welcome company or called for telephone

chats. Together you have proved a life-line and stopped me from

going completely stir-crazy bonkers. I have appreciated it and

thank you very much.

I am happy to announce that I now have a temporary set of wheels

on the road so at least I am mobile again, except during hours of

darkness.

I wish you one and all a very good and scoutingful New Year with

opportunities galore and a terrific summer for loads of camping

and outdoor activities - although, as Scouts, we can cope and have

fun in all weathers. B-Ed

chatlines - issue 10

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