Archive for the 'SSAGO' Category

SCOGUI Annual Dinner 2011

Club News, Community and SSAGO, July 15, 2011. 0 Comments. Written by Vicki Tags: , , .

At the end of May, SCOGUI re-introduced the tradition of an annual dinner. There has not been one for many years, but as we head towards our 60th birthday in 2013, we thought it was about time the annual dinner was tradition once again.

In attendance, were current SCOGUI members, recent old gits, SSAGO members, the district commissioner and our most special guests, SCOGUI members from the 60s and 70s! It was such an amazing turn out, and we are so grateful for those who managed to come along.

The evening started with cocktail hour, then we moved onto the meal itself. The menu was as follows:

Homemade Ardennes pate with toasted bread, rocket, and red onion marmalade
or
Vegetable terrine with rocket salad and balsamic dressing
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Sliced shoulder of lamb, minted mashed potato and red currant sauce
or
Roasted vegetable lasagne, garlic bread and mixed salad
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Tart au citron with raspberry coulis and fresh raspberries
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Coffee and chocolates.

Following the dinner was plenty of time to catch up, share stories and have a bit of a dance, and several group photos were taken!


The above is a group photo of everyone who managed to make it.

The wonderful ScoGits!


The annual dinner would not have happened without Jamie, so a huge thank you to him for such a wonderful evening! If you didn’t manage to attend or didn’t sign up for the mailing list on the night, please email publicity @ scogui.org.uk with your name, email and/or address and you’ll receive periodic updates of what we get up to, including details of our upcoming diamond anniversary!!

Barn Dance Takeover at SSAGO Leeds Rally

Camps, Member Reports and SSAGO, November 7, 2005. 0 Comments. Written by admin Tags: , .

The 2005 autumn rally was held at Bradley Wood camp site near Huddersfield on bonfire weekend and 16 members of Scogui attended. The fun bus left about 6:30pm and we were all treated to firework displays all around on the journey and a game of text eye-spy between the minibus and Daz’s car. We arrived at a reasonable time, especially as people from other clubs were arriving up until 4am!

There was a small camp fire on the Friday evening (rumour was that there was no wood to burn!) and a sober Scogui started off the singing.

Despite the weather forecast, Saturday got off to a bright start. The camp site was woken up at 7:45 for breakfast and although the early birds had to wait a while before the food was served, we were glad we didn’t come down late and have to queue up for an hour! After breakfast the activities began and, unusual for me, there were two activities to choose for morning and afternoon. Scogui was well represented at the ‘Extreme Pub Quiz’ held in the afternoon in Brighouse (probably called extreme because the walking around was around 6km!). All of the pubs visited had character, be it the ‘Retro disco with Daz’, the Ukrainian satellite TV or the church organ in Weatherspoons and it was a really great afternoon out.

The evening meal and barn dance was held on site and members of staff from the camp site served us copious amounts of alcohol throughout the evening. The food was very nice: chicken of some sort followed by pie for desert. The barn dance band were good as always and the accordion players seemed to be enjoying themselves a lot. The highlight of the dance was when 3 members of Scogui started dancing Saturday Night to the barn dance music, only to find after a revolution that all 227 dancers had decided to copy them. Afterwards they proceeded to start a conga round the building which at one point emptied the dance floor.

Unfortunately the fancy dress competitons were not won by Scogui although many people commented that our miner’s strike costumes were excellent.

After the music stopped, everyone made their way down to an improved camp fire where much singing took place (often being run by Scogui and Medic Mike) and almost record breakingly long renditions of Chicago department store and a song about animals..

Sunday was showery which meant all our kit had to be packed away wet and covered in bits of forest. Many people did not make it to breakfast so everyone that did turn up got seconds, and thirds and the rest was served up as extra lunch. After an exciting EGM where the new SSAGO constitution was approved, silly games took place in which many people ended up getting very wet, very blue and very floury. The closing ceremony was held afterwards with many thankyous being said and modified mascots being returned before we all set off home. After an excellent weekend, it was nice to be able to have a nap on the bus home!

Written by Pete Everett

Fun and games at Warwick SSAGO’s challenge evening

Member Reports and SSAGO, November 25, 2004. 0 Comments. Written by admin Tags: .

Furthering the cause of inter-SSAGO relations SCOGUI and SLUGS headed off to Warwick for an evening of fun, games and ‘bonding’. After a slightly messy start with one of the SSAGO clubs not turning up things were in full swing with everyone wondering round trying to find people who could answer the age old question of what IS the name of STINGS mascot and trying to find anyone present who actually didn’t like marshmallows. With questions answered and new names learnt everyone split off into teams to prepare themselves for the nights challenges. In an interesting twist of making an activity of finding the activities all the teams headed off with campus maps in hand to find their first challenge. Once found, participants enjoyed such games as camp song charades, newspaper survival skills, the foil litter pick and my personal favourite, the m&m cocktail stick movey plate acrossy thing which culminated in me consuming the vast majority of the remaining m&m’s. With all the challenges complete and despite some quite obvious bribery the winning team was declared and rewarded in the traditional manner, receiving a box of miniature heroes. All in all a good night was had by all with new friends made and m&m’s eaten. And no doubt everyone concerned would once again thank Warwick for putting on a great challenge evening.

Written by Mark Perman

Warwick Rally

Camps, Member Reports and SSAGO, November 10, 2003. 0 Comments. Written by admin

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin

This rally was my 1st and defiantly not last sago Rally (also mine), Let’s see a few words to sum up the camp ummmmm here’s the report because a few words aren’t good enough.

For me the rally started a few weeks ago when we decided that rocky horror was our theme for the barn dance and subsequently ended up with my legs getting partially waxed the Tuesday before camp, but we shall get to that later on. (Having not seen rocky horror show, I happily agreed to it, finding out later how little people actually wore! No wonder the blokes were so keen on it, or did they just want to cross dress?)

Friday night
Arrived at the beam engine (I arrived at the other side of the car park, all alone! With piles of stuff) on time and had a bit of a wait while everyone arrived, but once we were all assembled we piled all the kit (except Andy’s Hike Boots) into the van on top of what looked like a model building site in the back of the van. Every one in the bus: exits here here and here in the event of a crash assume this position, that’s all I can remember from the journey as I caught up on sum sleep. (I talked allllll the way there to Ashleigh about nothing in particular) When we arrived at the site and we signed in and started pitching our tents rather randomly in the field. I was then introduced to a very good looking pink elephant who was later sum how entrusted to me (big mistake). (I will add here that Paul’s rather nice bunny rabbit teddy was abandoned and neglected whilst paul looked after then lost the elephant, poor bunny spent the entire weekend in my tent.) Well the bar was open so we started drinking in the hut while everyone else arrived, (with dodgy soup and cold hot dogs up for grabs camp was well into the swing of things) once everyone had signed in it was time to move to the campfire, which was nearly producing heat. Well scogui been scogui we took control of the proceedings around the fire and started singing and continued singing for most of the night apart from breaks to meet and greet people from other groups, (this was bitterly complained about by the Warwick mini bus drivers on the way back from pub crawl) time for bed and I took the elephant with me, who was to know that she wouldn’t be seen till Sunday afternoon. (Ashleigh and I retired to bed somewhat earlier, but the coldness prohibited our sleep)

Saturday
Woke up rather cold due to the fact my sleeping bags zip broke, so what do you do when your cold in the morning? Put on shorts and a kilt. (My sleeping bag was not broke but I was still freezing, my reaction was to wear as many clothes as possible) Once breky was eaten (somewhat disappointing as we only got half a slice of eggy bread and the beans had run out) it was time for a huge wide game unlike anything that I have ever played before just by the scale of it, for the game you had collect items from people hiding in the wood then make a device to propel an egg as far as possible, well my team decided it would be best to just use items found around site i.e. three very long drain pipes hanging from a tree, unfortunately the egg broke in the middle of the pipe and the yoke dribbled out of the end, so surprisingly we didn’t win that game, I think the team who turned one person into a large bird was the best although they didn’t fly very well.(after I found, lost and found my team again we made a plane that looked very pretty but didn’t fly too well.) After lunch, it was time for the activities which for me, meant pub crawl, so time to go back to my tent and put on the shirt and tie along with Taz, Ed, Tom and James, we’re not alcoholics but we do go to meetings. Well it was a very fast pub crawl you only had time to get a drink before it was the five min warning that we would be moving to the next pub so that’s why I was on the doubles with mixer, I think it was a great pub crawl although Taz did win Horis when really the hippo should have been mine to go with the other two that I got. (I enjoyed the general warmth of the pub-crawl, and although my bag gained a few glasses it did mean James carried it for me) Well with the pub crawl over it was time to get back to the site. Well with dinner (very bad dinner which brought back horrible memories of school dinners, arghhhhh) over and done with it was time to get ready for the barn dance why oh why rocky horror. Well with a corset, wig and fishnets you can’t get anymore better looking can you. (I also had a corset and fishnets, but avoided the wig) With the barn dance in full swing it was time for the costume judging well scogui didn’t manage to win the group award but all hope wasn’t lost we did have a winner in the individual competion namely ME. The barn dance then continued with lots of dancing which was great fun especially when you are quite drunk well I had to be to wear what I did. (The barn dance was slightly dangerous, and as Ashleigh experienced dancing with edd was risking death) See the pictures if you don’t believe me. Well once again it was time to go to the campfire, there wasn’t much signing mainly due to the fact everyone was either to drunk or too tired. (Thankfully I rounded up two extra people for our tent to increase the warmth, which worked but not until morning)

Sunday
Woke up to the shout you have 5 minuets to get your breakfast so ran for it, although I actually got my breakfast an hour later. (I avoided breakfast and stayed in bed, as I was warm) The morning was full of silly games including England vs. Wales on radio, which was just silly. Well I did my best to do the silliest things in my team including untying a hanging doughnut with my teeth then eating the string and the doughnut at the same time, also the spider web which was broken so as the last person having a go my gap had disappeared which meant I had to do a half pike summersault through a tiny hole damn did that hurt. Well with other silly games involving rugby with balloons and picking up cardboard with your teeth from off the ground, all the games were not only silly but good fun but I didn’t know that the best way to win was to bribe officials what can I say I don’t cheat unlike some people. (I was generally horrified by the fact that cheating was encouraged, and the unfairness of the fact when we did cheat we got disqualified!) For lunch it was the gadaffy plate challenge set for us by Manchester, The scogui team mike on the beans with a cocktail stick challenge, Simon on the marshmallow challenge, jen smarties with chopsticks oh and also some drunk with a hangover eating cream crackers and getting very badly beaten. Well we lost the challenge and it was all due to the idiot with the cream crackers. Well with that over and done with it was time for the closing ceremony which means that Freda needed to be back in the care of James only problem she had been stolen from the inside of my tent after asking every one on camp where she was she was found kidnapped in the back off someone’s car and not a minuet too soon as I would have had to do a forfeit. Well the closing ceremony came thanks went to everyone who had had a part in making the camp the success that it was, I must say that ssago are a bit strange with all of there little customs and awards that’s why I think I fit in perfectly. Well with all that over and down with it was time for the goodbyes and the hugs and we were on our way, unlucky Taz having to leave your car down there. (Bless) Well camp finally finished in EHB later on with a couple of drinks before I started writing this, if you have got to the end of this then well done because its taken me three attempts.

The last thing I want to say about the camp is I can’t wait for the next. (Me neither!)

Written by Paul Thompson (comments by Seb)

Oxford Rally

Camps, Member Reports, SSAGO and Uncategorized, July 7, 2003. 0 Comments. Written by admin

The summer rally is always a different occasion with the weather warm, the campfire not needed for the maintanence of body temperature and the atmosphere relaxed. For my third summer rally, Youlbury near Oxford was the venue which as it was slightly further than the previous two years involved a train journey as opposed to driving. After leaving work at 2, I began my journey from Lincoln at three via Nottingham, Birmingham and Banbury getting there at some point in the early evening.

The rally organisers had thought ahead so the booking in building included a bouncy castle right aside (not advised after more than one Dutch shandy), so after testing the strength of various bones and my stomach I retired for the camp fire. Like all summer rallies it turned into a long night, with singing a major part. Having previously distinguished myself by introducing Charlie had a mongoose, and forgetting the second line of Ogi I once again did so by forgetting the words to “Ilkely Moor” as I was singing them. As the hours progressed more people appeared, and gradually people disappeared off to bed. At 5am the hardcore were still up, so as the sun rose I disappeared off to bed.

In the space of two hours with the colour of my tent magnifying the light I was awake, and I decided to get up. After a relaxing wonder, I located breakfast and got fed. The morning was an exploration of Oxford, based loosely on Monopoly. Each base could be visited multiple times, and the idea was to collect as many cards as possible or something like that. By the end of the morning the evening before was catching up, so the lunch break at one of the colleges was much appreciated.

The afternoon was as usual spent on activities, having changed at the last minute to the canoneing I was regretting that when I realised I could not actually get into one due to my large bum. Fortunately one of the Bangor girls had the same problem so were given a Canadian canoe, and after finding a helmet that fitted we took to the water. After viewing from a distance whilst the kayakers chased around, we got involved big style when we got to the weir. Having been instructed to go at 45 degrees, we went at gusto to find out when we hit the weir we were supposed to have gone straight. I hurtled out one way, and she went the other way and the canoe followed. After a couple of more close encounters with the Thames, we returned to the base to find that there were no showers so smelling slightly we disappeared back to site – only to find someone was hogging the shower. After a shower, tea there was yet another GP challenge with team Scogui beating Leicester 4-1 in a football match. Prior to the barn dance I disappeared off to the reps meeting now as SAGGA liaison, before getting on the minibus.

A nearby village hall was the venue for the barn dance, and the return of Rannygazoo. The theme for the evening was board games, and we had just played football Subbeuteo was the obvious answer. As a referee in real life, I became the referee for the night. In an exceptionally warm building, with usual playground annex the barn dance progressed in usual fashion with Warwick and Leicester winning fancy dress awards. At 10.30 Auld Lands Syne rang out and the return to the campsite began. As the previous night the expedition to the far side of the site, and the fire began albeit with fewer people for singing. In the early hours I disappeared off to bed.

Sunday followed the usual pattern for silly games (and some frankly strange ones), and a lot of water. With a long train journey awaiting I left prior to the closing ceremony, but this was the best rally that I’ve ever been on was absolutely superb food.

Written by Martin Whelan

The Bear Rally – Union Award Certificate

Camps, Club News and SSAGO, February 18, 2003. 0 Comments. Written by admin

Click to enlarge

The Bear Rally

Camps, Member Reports and SSAGO, February 17, 2003. 0 Comments. Written by admin

Friday
We all arrived at the Oaks campsite on a cold Friday night to be hosts of the bear Rally chaired by Simon with a committee of Cat, Zoe, Brewer, Chappers and Martin oh and not forgetting Scogui bear the font of all knowledge. First job was to put up our tents and unload all of the food from the van (I have never seen so much bread in my life). Then to prepare for the arrivals, my job for the evening was first stint in the car park, where everyone got parked on the now frozen grass with no accidents, whilst this was going on the rest of Scogui were directing from the top of the drive, booking people in and making soup and coffee (a very important job). After booking in it was time for the campfire, which included the full version of the Scogui/ yogi bear song then time for bed in the now frozen tents.

Saturday
Everyone dragged themselves out of their frozen tents some in time for breakfast some not, then got ready for a day of fun. First to happen was the morning incident hike, though I got the nice easy job of sitting on a base in a warm car with Antz for the morning. After the hike onto Nanpantan Scout hut for hotdogs and organising for the afternoons activities. After lunch people left on a variety of activities including, the hike, skittles in the swan, a trip on the steam railway and many more. I went off to the Space centre in Leicester and had a great afternoon exploring and playing on the kiddie activities with Barry. When back in Loughborough we met up in the Union and all headed up to Cayley Hall for tea and the barn dance. Food was enough to revive some of the now very tired Scogui members but it took me a trip home to my nice warm shower to be awake enough to participate in some of the barn dancing and looking at people’s insane costumes. Then back to site to light the fire for the evening and await the return of the rest of SSAGO! After which more singing followed and lots of sleeping on my part.

Sunday
Everyone was up for breakfast again and then most of the morning was spent having a SSAGO AGM followed by the closing ceremony attended by the Mayor of Loughborough at which Simon was presented with a bear factory bear!!!! After lunch came the job of taking down all the tents and clearing everything up ready to go home, though some clubs were delayed due to the kidnapping of various mascots. Then we all departed the campsite after a fun rally and met up later in EHB for tea and the wide-awake people even stayed for the quiz.

Written by Jen-E

The Bear Rally Website can be found >> Here

Leeds/Leicester Rally: Ulala

Camps, Member Reports and SSAGO, November 18, 2002. 0 Comments. Written by admin

The Leeds and Leicester rally was my first rally…quite a daunting prospect! I arrived just about on time to the beam engine on the Friday night, and carried my bags to the minibus. Then came the challenge of getting all of the items safely on the minibus! Stupidly I volunteered to help! Any way…that is not the point! After the tedious process of loading up minibuses we eventually departed from Loughborough! The bus journey was not too bad! No one was sick or started crying – so I suppose you could say it was great!

After a small round the block detour (thanks to Amy who pointed us in the right direction!) we arrived at Bramhope Campsite – up in Leeds! After registering, unpacking the minibus and pitching tents it was time to head to the bar, and for rally veterans to catch up with old mates from rallies. The new people were introduced to friends of friends! After a campfire of singing songs people drifted off to their tents (or other peoples – no…not scogui people…!). We were awakened to the sound of pots being banged and shouts of BREAKFAST! Most of us managed to get up for breakfast, then head off on the scavenger hunt in our groups.

Arriving back to the campsite more people were out of bed (lazy people! Tut tut!). A sandwich lunch was enjoyed by everyone. The afternoon was spent taking part in a variety of different events – ones we had chosen to take part in. A small group of us spent the afternoon watching a bar in Leeds Student Union watching the rugby! After a short detour to Morrisons supermarket (you don’t have those down south!) we arrived at the bus pick up point to meet an excited bunch of people who had been around the armouries museum – most armed with plastic swords! We were then taken to an old scout hut. It was cold and the ceiling dripped – which provided cooling refreshment when the barn dancing started. There was an interesting dinner after which all dignity was lost in changing into costumes (scogui went as Asterix) in the cold hall! The barn dance got off to a great start, with lots of enthusiasm! Later on we were all boarded onto the busses to be taken back to the campsite. A campfire followed and people began to drift to tents.

Sunday morning…it felt so early! Could the weekend be almost over! Not before there were all of the silly games. Lunch soon came, then it was time for the presentation ceremonies. Simon armed all of scogui with leaflets about the Loughborough rally to distribute to everyone. Helmet challenged Cardiff (for them to keep their mascot) to a garlic eating competition – Helmet won! But…somehow Cardiff got their mascot back! Then, the weekend was over, all that was left to do was to strike tents, and say good bye to new friends. Helmet was almost stolen by Cardiff – until he burped a big garlic burp…they decided they couldn’t put up with the smell all of the way back to Wales!

We arrived back to Loughborough having stopped at a service station once. The roof racks were unpacked, and people dropped home. Then the sociable ones popped to the EHB for some dinner, and to enter the quiz.

What a great weekend

Written by Em Cowell

Nottingham Rally

Camps, Member Reports and SSAGO, August 4, 2002. 0 Comments. Written by admin

Leaving the Police Station about 5 (as an employee rather than a customer), I set out to drive from Lincoln to Nottingham only impeded by the heavy traffic on the A52. Rather than a campsite the venue was the Nottingham university rugby pitches, with the pavilion providing the base. Despite a crisis with Legionairres two before the start, it started well.

Friday evening was spent around the campfire (aka fine leg of the cricket field) burning pallets (aka seats). After a long days work, and not drinking I disappeared off to bed just after midnight only to be waken about 4 am by over eager campers going to bed. As I could not get back to sleep I went for a walk in Beeston, would have driven but the gates were locked. After returning and sitting in the car for a hour or so listening to the radio, the breakfast crew were appearing.

Saturday morning was spent chairing the SSAGO reps meeting in the home team dressing room, which was not really designed for a meeting. After about an hour the meeting ended the next hour was spent waiting for the rest to return from the Treasure hunt around the campus. As usual the afternoon was spent going around Nottingham with various activities, I choose rowing on the lake. After perfecting my frizebeeing and knbckering my knee, we worked over to the on campus lake for an row on the lake, followed by a swift ice cream before returning to the site and a quick drink in the Sticky Pitcher.

After negioating the security fence we returned to the site, before going to meet everyone else at the union for the evening meal. The Student Union was used for the meal, and the barn dance with Gold being the theme as it was the 50th anniversary of Snogs (Nottingham). After a long session, including the SSAGO Exec doing a karoke version of “America Pie” – don’t ask the campers returned to the site for the camp fire.

On Sunday morning I had another early start with a drive to buy papers, then realising I did not actually know where the site was relative to the rest of Nottingham. As is the custom with summer rallies, much water was involved with the silly games. After the closing ceremony most people disappeared home.

Written by Martin Whelan

Birmingham Rally 2002

Camps, Member Reports and SSAGO, February 2, 2002. 0 Comments. Written by admin

With a Mafia themed event, Scogui headed down the M42 to Blackwell Court for the 2002 spring rally. With Ali being the driver for the event, we got to Brum by 10pm and sent Andy out for chips. As per usual the campfire got going, with many beverages consumed. With it being cold and wet I disappeared off to bed early.

Saturday morning was spent on site with various games and challenges, such as a blind trial, but the sillier games were saved for Sunday morning. After lunch everyone except the walkers headed for Barnt Green station, and the metropolis of Birmingham.

With the reps meeting being in the early evening I choose not to go on the Pub crawl, choosing the Sea Life Centre. Despite being built on a former industrial canal basin, the Centre was very interesting. After a couple of hours exploring Birmingham, I returned to Brum New Street for the train back to Barnt Green. As the train progressed south different activities were gradually picked up, including the pub crawlers. On return to site, the reps were quickly fed and one of the shortest meetings on record followed (as the Chairs bladder capacity was severely limited).

The barn dance was on site, with Rannygazoo appearing once again. Scogui had gone as Cops and Robbers but the competition was strong so we did not win. After a couple of hours we move back to the campfire, and ultimately bed.

Sunday morning was the SSAGO AGM, and despite dissent I was elected as SSAGO chairperson for 2002-03 along with the rest of the team, and the selection of Loughborough for the venue of the next spring rally. After some silly games (including Custard eating) we cleared off home.

Written by Martin Whelan

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