Monthly Archive for March, 2004
Arriving in the early evening at Sutton Bonnington Scout HQ, Scogui began preparing busily for the Annual District Night Hike. Sutton Bonnington offered a Scout HQ, and sports field which doubled as a camping field for the evening.
By 6pm the Scouts and Guides started arriving, and Scogui got themselves organised. As the Scouts and Guides were arriving and getting set up, the heavens opened, and the wind got up causing some of the tents to journey to the other end of the field. Once the tents were replaced, the shadows and bases were briefed, and released.
From 7ish onwards groups of 4-7 were released at timed intervals, in both directions. The idea being that bases would recieve an initial rush, then have a couple of hours without any groups then the last few would come through on the way home at least that was the plan. Fortunately the weather improved as the the teams were leaving. By 8.30 all teams were realeased, so the remaining staff started getting themselves organised and the fully utilising my laptops music collection.
Me and Simon then started on the minibus, visiting each of the bases every 30 minutes or so, to monitor the progress of the teams. Unfortunately the navigation skills of the Scouts and Guides were not great, so some bases were missed and the route often ignored.
At each of the bases was an individual incident, or activity. For example, a Kims Game, or first aid simulation (which included interest from local motorists who thought it was actually a real accident – doh).
By midnight the first groups were coming in, but two groups needed picking up including one that was impressively 3 miles off the map in East Leake when found. By 2:30 all the groups were in, and Scogui did what they do best relax and argue that black is white.
In the morning it was an early start with the Guides woken up early, so the Scouts could come in. Food was courtesy of Ashleigh and Chappers, and sport provided by Barry. The morning was concluded with Ken Gee presenting the winning team (Castle Donnington, Sea Lions) with certificates, and the promise of a trophy to come.
Written by Martin Whelan
Friday
Well, Me, Edd, Mike, Jen, Em, Rich, Lindsey, Andy, Simon, Kate and Dr. Tom met at the Beam Engine and travelled all the way up one of the motorways (you may be able to work out which, I can’t) to Lancaster. We got there late-ish and got given badges with musical instruments on them. I was a ‘Bongo’ and we even got to colour them in. After kicking the snow off the grass we pitched temporary homes, me and Edd hoping the Scogui tent wasn’t the one with the hole in. And it wasn’t.
By this point, Yvette le Riche (v. posh) and Barry (not so posh) and Charlie and Steve had joined us and we all left the field and went to find the campfire. That was lots of fun; I was introduced to lots of SSAGO who I had heard of but hadn’t met, like (let’s see if I can remember the names) uh… Helmet and his girlfriend, she was very nice. In fact all of SSAGO I met were very nice, if a bit weird. All quite bizarre, although I think that makes them more interesting, and they’re all really friendly.
Charlie was being very generous with the vodka she’d brought with her, and I have no idea how much she put in my coke, but I think it was quite a lot. It felt that way anyway as I became nicely warmed up and found I could sing and talk very LOUDLY. I think Jen experienced it too. And I’ve not much idea about anyone else; all I know is that we sang a lot. Oh, and there was a lovely person from St. Andrews who’d come on her own and had a bottle of Aftershock. The guy we were talking to managed to hold it in his mouth for a staggering six minutes, beating Edd’s mates’ record. As the night wore on Steve, Edd and another bloke entertained us with all the campfire songs they knew.
Saturday
After most of us waking up late and nearly missing breaky we split into teams (musical instruments, cunning eh), and then proceeded to do an incident hike (whilst poor old Edd and a few others went to a lovely meeting). This involved face-painting, croquet with a football and two big sticks tied together, the ‘polo on a matchstick game’ and the ‘eat a whole packet of crackers as fast as you can game’ (the incident hike that is).
After lunch, we went on different activities including a brewery trip, a pub crawl (of course), a cave trip and a waterfall walk. The waterfall walk was excellent, if a little icy. Kate and some of the others were understandably a little worried about slipping and falling over the edge down the bank and into the torrent of waters below, so we waited for them. Lots of photographs were taken at opportune moments, i.e. the waterfalls, and we were very well looked after by the people from Lancaster.
After falling asleep on the coach, we arrived at Lancaster University and were taken to a large room which was rather similar to a school hall, where we were told we couldn’t come in until we had taken our boots off! This was of course a good idea, but from the groans around me, I got the idea that all everyone else wanted to do was sit down. On anything.
We were well catered for in a place that I, Edd, Jen, Mike, Kate and Yvette agreed resembled a 1980’s style leisure complex entertainment room. We were however, quite put out that there was no pud.
Anyway, the barn dance thing was great, loads of fun, most people getting very confused as is the way, providing lots of laughing and joking. How merry! I think we were all amused by watching Mike counting religiously the steps during every dance, bless. I must’ve looked funny myself though as I kept getting caught up in my furniture wire (thank you Amy!), that is, my net skirt with a hoop in the bottom.
I have to say that everyone looked amazing in their outfits- special commendation must go to Kate who stuck all of the sequins on her Dorothy shoes and looked fantastic. Also, I think I should take some of the credit for finding Edd his tale from the market. The judges were, of course suitably impressed when we paraded past them showing off our gorgeous costumes, while singing ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’. We were dressed up as the Wizard of Oz in case you didn’t already know, which seemed quite a popular choice as there were other SSAGO groups with who we shared the theme!
Sunday
Every one slept in on Sunday morning, most had breakfast and then it was the AGM. Not a huge amount to say about the AGM I think you’ll be pleased to know, except that it was very interesting and informative and the new committee were elected with Helmet as Chair- well done. Then we all went back to Loughborough having had a very enjoyable weekend!
Written by Lucy Giles
