OMG I have been ignoring this blog! Well, here’s a brief update of the last4 months, so sorry …

July – job hunting was the main focus of this month, applied back at Thameside as well as ALLLLL over Grays and Lakeside, didn’t hear anything though … stupid credit crunch. Only major event this month was Alex’s Grandad Wally’s 80^th birthday party, was a good night.

Alex and Wally

August –well August was as good as always Playscheme took up the first week (building an activity site for Scouts and Guides to come and enjoy for 4 days), I helped the tower crew as always, being the brave and daring girl I am. But I managed to get out of taking it all down again, as Alex and I had a wedding party to go to for one of Alex’s friends … and then we had one the next night too. The first one we shall say nothing about except to say I have not drunk since … Later in August Alex and I went up to London to see the Bodyworlds exhibition. I saw it when I was younger and LOVED it, so it was great to go back and see it again.

Alex and I at the Bassett Wedding

London Bridge from our mini cruis down the Thames

Me outside Coutts bamk … enough said

September – Started off with the launch of the centenary year of Girlguiding UK, yays! Go girls! Then I went camping without any Scouts and Guides. Alex and I carried our gear down to the Isle of Wight for a week of sun, sea and sights. It was a great week! We stayed on a campsite in East Cowes and visited everywhere. I especially liked Alum Bay and Blackgang Chine. The end of September brought with it university … yep, I am now back doing my final year and boy is it busy.

100 years of Guiding

Salli, me and Jen on our London day

My birthday meal at Bella Italia

October – Another month filled with uni work and deadlines … fun. But in amongst this Yaz came back from Germany with her fiancée, so we paid a visit to Colors (local gay club) and did the pub quiz at the Wharf for old times sake. Party wise Alex and I went to Doreen’s 80^th (Ralph’s mum) and Katie’s 21^st, so it’s been a busy month. To end October I was at Waddow, a Guiding Training Centre in Lancashire for the media team training weekend. It was soooo fun. For Halloween I was a 50s jive girl doing rock and roll dancing, country dancing, cheer leading and Spanish dancing. It was a great evening with my fellow media team peeps.

Yaz, Shaun and Maddy at Colors

Wadow Hall … where I stayed! AMAZING!

The newspaper team

It is now November … wow the year goes fast! I was referred to the hospital to have a camera put down my throat to find out what’s wrong with my stomach, as tests came back negative for anything (a good sign in a way). It’s been playing up really bad since August and I’m on tablets that reduce the acid by a large amount, so it’ll be good to find out what’s going on in there.

I also start work tonight, yes, I managed to find a job. I’m back at Thameside Theatre as an usher, permanently, this usher’s not just for Christmas.

Wish me luck

Me at Grays beach, sat on a rocky piece … it’s in the blog below as well

Well what a few weeks it has been! I’ve been so busy job hunting … still haven’t found one, but have one lined up for September so decided to go and volunteer instead. I’m now on my second week at an infant school and am loving it. I’m working with the reception and Year 1 children (so ages 5 to 7ish) and never thought I’d enjoy it, but have ended up loving it all. I help them with reading, spelling, games and general activities … I must say I do love art! Although I don’t think my clothes do, hehe.

So far, since I’ve been home I’ve been on two camps, one was the Guiding Division Camp at Thriftwood for which there were about 30 girls and 20ish leaders … good odds. The last camp was last weekend. It was 1st Grays Scouts’ Troop centenary celebration camp. That’s the group Alex is a leader at, so we went to Thriftwood (stayed on the site next to the one I was on with the Guides so I kept walking the wrong way ooops). It was a good weekend. Not too hot and only rained once when we were all in bed, perfect There were Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at that camp so it certainly kept us busy.

Above: Beautiful day at Thriftwood campsite (with the Guides)

My next camp is tomorrow (yes two weekends in a row … have another next weekend too making it three!) I’m off to Leeds for a selection weekend. I’m hoping to be part of the media and PR team at the Guiding Centenary Jamboree next summer … so watch this space. The weekend after is my last camp until August and that’s GiGA camp (weird spelling) … kind of like a mini jamboree for all the Guides and Scouts. Both my Guide group and Scout troop will be there, so I’ll be plenty busy running between the camps. And its at Skreens in Chelmsford …. a huuuge site that I’ve never been to, so should be good.

Other than camping and Guide/Scout meetings I haven’t been doing too much. I’ve handed CVs all around Grays town centre, but it’s just impossible to get a job at the moment … no one is hiring. I’ve also started to go swimming on a Tuesday night with mum as her support to keep her going. That’s been really fun and keeps me active as well.

More social things I’ve been up to include Bingo a few times (absolutely hilarious when we took our friend Darren), met up with Yaz when she came back from Germany for the weekend, and went to La Tasca (my favourite restaurant here) with Rhia when she arrived home from a year in France. I’ve been to see the new part of Camden market in London after it burnt down and have also been to see a band called Torus in Brentwood … one of the band members was my mums boss … I also went on holiday with Dad just 2 weeks after being home. We went to Allhallows Haven … so only the other side of the Estuary but it was wonderful and we had a great time.

Above: Sunset at Grays beach

Above: In the Thames at Allhallow with Sue (Dad’s wife) … yes I had alcohol in my system to actually do this and did go deeper as well.

Above: Guides do a chip walk to raise money for Breastcancer

Above: The lovely Camden Locks by the market

What else have I been doing? Err … nearly done my scrapbook for Canada … up to about day 100 on that so not much more to go, but other than that … I’ve not had much time to do much else. Can’t complain though, it’s better than sitting around bored all the time.

Above: Grays beach and me sat on part of an old pier or loading area for the factories to the left of this shot … (we think)

Bye for now, going to Condovers (local and small campsite in West Tilbury) with the Guides tonight for Archery

I’ve been home just short of two weeks and feel like I’ve been back months! How does that happen? Well I’ve kept myself busy is how …

After I arrived back on the 7th I popped into Guides, then on the Friday night Alex treated me and my mum to dinner at La Tasca (I LOVE that place!) and then we went to see Wolverine and on the Saturday night I had my welcome back drinks in Theos. That was a good night. There was a nice bunch there, even Joel who I haven’t seen since new year 2007/2008.

By Monday my routine was back in order … I went to Scouts Tuesday night (we did archery over at Condovers … that place still plays havoc on my hayfever!), then Wednesday night was Network where we built bivvywaks at Hillside. We managed to fit 5 of us in our teams effort, that was hilarious!

Thursday Alex had his hair cut off! It’s all gone now and he had blue bits added in as well, I like it still so that’s a plus

Thursday evening was Guides and the group there are working on the environment, particularly rubbish and what it can do to affect wildlife. I got several hugs from the girls welcoming me back, isn’t that nice. Will have to start planning my Canada night soon.

The weekend brought plenty of fun and games with it. I went to see Angels and Demons with mum (it is brilliant! Ignore the reviews it has no links with Da Vinci Code except Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon again … lol) and then went over to see Dad’s new house on Sunday. It’s a three storey place in Tilbury, not too far from the station or from Asda, so a better location than their old place. Then Sunday evening Alex and I went to Bingo with his sister Madeline and her boyfriend Ian. That was a laugh! There was an old lady in the row next to us who held up a sign saying “F*** Off” whenever anybody won (hers wasn’t *’d out like that though…). We were in stitches!

Then in among all that I did all my washing … very slowly as all it did was rain. My clothes were on radiators and airers all through the house! I also changed my bedroom around to make way for my new pooter! (will upload piccy at some point). And … I have been chosen to attend a selection weekend in June. If I’m successful there I’ll be on the Media Team for the Guiding Centenary Jamboree next summer!

I have to get to Yorkshore for the camp though … some station called Horsforth. Luckily National Express website new what I was on about and offered me an online discount, a return ticket for about 40 quid … considering without my young persons or that online discount it would have been nearer £90 to get there! WOH! British Rail travel is expensive …

It’s Tuesday again now … Scout night. Tonight we’re planning the rest of the programme in among some games, so shouldn’t be too bad. Last night I went to welcome Jason home (a Networker who was away as well) and there were loads of the Networkers I hadn’t seen yet, so that was a nice evening, we all watched the Waterboy while winding Jen up about her hatred of feet.

The rest of the week is nicely planned so far. Tomorrow afternoon Kim and I are going to the cinema with Orange 2 for 1 Wednesdays, so that’l be nice and cheap. Then Network tomorrow night is about teaching power rising (or bokking or bouncy stilt thingys … whatever you call them) … I can’t do this and don’t really want to try, but I may go along for the laugh and to lend a helping hand.

Thursday I’m going to finish my packing for the weekend … then Thursday night is a sponsored walk with the Guides to raise money for Breakthrough Breast cancer. Friday I am off to Allhallows Haven Holiday Site on the Isle of Grain in Kent (the other side of the estuary) to spend the bank holiday weekend with Dad, Sue, Gemma, George, Daniel and Kim. Apparently all drinks and food costs are covered by dad … bonus!

Anyways that’s enough ramblings at the moment. I’m going to go and start packing for said weekend away now and then have dinner before Scouts tonight. Wonder how the Scouts in Canada are doing … they’ll meet this evening too …

The second flight was good to. I got four seats to myself, so plenty of space to stretch out. The in flight entertainment wasn’t as good as the flight out. It wasn’t on demand like the journey out, it kept running in the background and so if you wanted to watch something from the beginning you had to wait for it to start.

So I watched a few TV programmes and then played on the DS while I waited for a film to start. Dinner was a tasty chicken and pasta dish, but I kept the chocolate cake for Kim at the airport as I didn’t really fancy it. I watched ‘He’s not that into you’ and it was actually pretty good. After that I decided to try and get some sleep … I laid across all four chairs and put a blanket over my head … just as I closed my eyes they turned the lights on.

I had a short kip until we were told to put on our seatbelts and then we started our descent. As usual we were hovering above Heathrow for ages … always stuck in a queue there. But the plus side of that was that I had dozed off and missed the landing again, wooop!

It didn’t take me too long to get through customs (I chose a fast queue) and then waited for my luggage. It wasn’t last off which was good, it wasn’t first either though! So I had to wait for that. I had grabbed a trolley and when it came through I just threw my stuff on there and braced myself for seeing mum, Kim and Alex again. The walk through the gates was … daunting. There were loadsa people stood the other side, but directly opposite the door were my crowd … holding a string of toilet paper saying my name …

I was seen off with a pillow case and welcomed home with loo roll … nice, hehe. I gave mum and Kim a huuuge hug and thn Kim started crying, so she used the toilet paper to wipe her eyes. Silly people, crying on my return. Next I gave Alex a big hug and a kiss and held onto him as we all headed for the car. Alex pushed the trolley and mum and Kim were telling me about the journey there (mum actually drove at the speed limit instead of under).

My first day back was strange. I was tired from lack of sleep but awake as I was excited. Mum, Kim and I went to the carvery round the corner for lunch (I do love that place!) and then I had a nap before popping along to Guides. I didn’t stay as I was feeling a little too tired, so I said hello and then went home. We watched Taggart for the evening and then I went to bed … twas a good first day back in all. Night!

Starting my journey back today … scary thought. I’m excited about going home. But I’m going to miss this place and the people, especially Brent, Jonas, Tiina, Stuart and the Scouts. I made a real connection with that lot here.

I woke up at 8am and went to say goodbye to Jonas before he went off to school. While Brent was taking Jonas to school, I loaded up lappy to check my mail and facebook and had a wallpost from Stuart saying that we should have done that every Tuesday after Scouts. Looking back, it would have been nice, but I’m glad that we at least had that drink later rather than never. Brent then came back as he was working from home so that he could take me to the airport. We had omelette and back bacon for breakfast and then while he did some work I had a shower and shoved the last few bits into my hand luggage for the flight.

Before we went to the airport, we went to the Scout shop as I hadn’t seen it yet. I got myself a Scout’s Canada badge and a mug up badge for my camp blanket. We also managed to look around the museum and the two guys in there were such characters, one of them named Alan Griffin was a fighter pilot in the Second World War in London, so he was telling me all about that. The museum is packed with artefacts from scouting through the years, including uniforms, books, badges and figurines. That room was full of it all!

After the Scout shop we grabbed some lunch in Subway before heading over to the airport. As predicted my case was 1kg overweight so I took out the camp blanket. The lady then tagged the bag ready for flight and gave me some US custom declaration forms to fill in. Apparently it’s all done there so that I don’t have to go through customs in America, makes sense to me … so why didn’t they do that on my flight over?

He told me that my ‘dad’ could help me so Brent and I went and sat on a bench … while over there I put the blanket back in my bag … what were they going to do now? So at least that didn’t have to be carried anymore. I then filled out my customs form saying that I had no meats or fruits or money in excess of $10,000 … I wish! Once that was done I gave Brent a huge hug goodbye and thanked him for everything he’s done for me. I really don’t know what I’d have done without his help. After that, I was gone … on my way through security and out of sight.

Security was … the usual. Had to practically strip … well take off my jacket and shoes, as well as lay my laptop down and out of the bag. After that was customs where I had to show the form I’d filled and he put it all in my passport, along with another stamp. Once I was through security and heading to the gate was when it all hit me that I was actually going … so I had a little teary moment and pulled myself together before getting a bottle of water.

I found out I could get 15minutes of free wi-fi access and by this time I only had 20 minutes before boarding, so I did that so that I could update my Facebook status and send Brent a message that I’d left him some money … he can’t say no now hehe.

The flight was practically empty, only around 15 of us there, so I got a window seat and had a spare seat next to me as well. Take off was easy, I flicked through the magazine in the chair in front. Once we reached altitude it was a little bumpy, so the pilot lowered a little and it was fine. I played on the DS for the flight and when told to turn it off not too long after (the flight was only an hour long) I relaxed and closed my eyes … I was jolted awake when we touched down, so I must have fallen asleep pretty quickly. At least I slept through my most unfavourite part!

Next was a couple of hours wait in Dulles International airport, Washington … I finally found my gate and sat there until someone arrived so that I could get my boarding pass, as it couldn’t be issued in Ottawa. At least I didn’t have to transfer my luggage, it was done automatically this time, bonus!

My last full day in Canada and my plan was to go to the War Museum, so I did. I woke up just before 8am and went downstairs to see Brent and Jonas before they went out. When they went I pottered around, packed some more bits, using all my strength to pack out my rucksack as much as I could. I managed to get its weight up to almost 21kg! I was impressed.

 I also found out my final grades! I got AAB: an A in Personality Psychology (my final essay in the exam got me 48 out of 50 and a final percent of 82), an A in Television Journalism (well I assume, I got 81% and it says on the website that above 80% is an A) and a B in Forensics, which I already knew. So I’m pleased with those.

Just after lunch I headed off to the museum. I walked to the bus stop and caught the 16 to town. I popped into the Rideau Centre and bought some boiled sweets (called hard candy here) for the flight and then walked all the way down Wellington Street to the museum. It’s a lovely building, the roof is sloped so you can walk part way up, which I did afterwards.

Inside there are several exhibits running through many different wars as well as home life before, after and during. They were really interesting to see. There was even a room full of vehicles from different countries and different wars.

After my self guided tour I walked to the war memorial where I caught the 16 bus back to Main Street to walk to Brent’s house. Jonas was already home when I got there and had a friend over called Mike. So I left them to their X-Box-ing and went to pack my last few bits. I’m all packed now. My case is going to be the problem child … it’s just under a kilo overweight. But my camp blanket weighs a kilo, so that can easily come out. 

Brent dropped me off at Scouts tonight as he had to get Stuart and Tiina to fill out some forms for records. Tiina wasn’t staying at the meeting, so once they all left Stuart and I ran it. The plan was to debrief camp, find out what they liked (food, activities and the fort type thing) and what they disliked (the outhouse) and then practice putting up and taking down the tents before a race to see who was fastest. That was a funny activity! One group were so slow and were just not co-ordinating themselves well, taking almost 20minutes to put the tent up. We spilt them into oldest vs youngest for the race so that we knew the younger ones could do the tents too. The oldest put up and took down the tent in 6 minutes; the younger ones were not too far behind with just less than 9 minutes. See they can do it … eventually.

After Scouts Stuart and I went out for a farewell drink. We went to a restaurant/bar right next door but I can’t remember what it was called. I had 2 glasses of a cider called Blackthorn as well as a plate of nachos while I was there. But we talked so much about everything and anything for a good few hours. It was a lovely evening and a nice relaxing final evening in Ottawa.

I didn’t look at the time, but I think it was somewhere between 11.30 and midnight we left the restaurant and had a good bye hug before heading back. Stuart said that he’s useless at keeping in touch so I would have to make the effort if I wanted to, which I definitely do, so hopefully all will be good there. He then cycled off to his place and I walked back to Brent’s. It was a lovely walk. It was a nice warm night and even though I went the long way round again and walked to the end of Sunnyside, at least I knew the way back. 

I was as quiet as a mouse when I let myself into Brent’s, locked the door and went up to my room. And after getting changed for bed I crashed right out. Night!

I changed my blog header yet again … have to keep it fresh and all that. This time the picture is of some of the tulips from the Tulip Festival

Enjoy!

This morning I woke up after others gone out, I must have been tired last night. I had a breakfast of Shredded Wheat and then went and sat out in the garden to write up the weekends blogs in the sunshine. It was a beautiful day. All the tulips are in bloom (well most) and so I took a few pictures of the ones in the garden before getting the bike out and cycling down to Dow’s Lake to see the Tulip festival.

It was an interesting ride, but I found my way eventually. A smart thing to do would have been to look at a map before I left, but I didn’t … so I got to Main Street and went the wrong way. I ended up at the canal anyway, just a long way up from the lake … so I enjoyed the cycle back and once there … realised I was on the wrong side of the canal. I went back up the canal slightly and over a bridge … but the bridge had no ramp the other side, so I had to carry the bike down some steps.

Once at the festival the flowers were lovely, most were in bloom and they were all different colours too! I walked around the park looking at all the different tulips and then settled myself onto a bench to give my knee a rest and to read my book.

After what felt like a short time, but was probably much longer I jumped back on the bike and headed back. I didn’t want to carry the bike back up the steps s I went along the canal to the Bank Street bridge and crossed there as that lead up to Sunnyside and along to Brent’s house. Except if I’d have looked at a map I’d have known that it wasn’t a direct route … so I ended up asking for directions and found my way back in the end.

Once back I sat out in the glorious sunshine and read some more of my book, but then it started getting really warm on my arms so I came inside to finish reading. The book was great and had a twist I really wasn’t expecting. I guessed a few chapters in advance but still was shocked. Once I finished the book I closed my eyes just to rest for a little bit and fell asleep until Jonas came home. I had enough time to change my shorts into jeans and brush my hair as Brent and Jonas took me out for a leaving dinner at Malone’s Lakeside Grill.

I had the lasagne that I had when we went back in January and it was tasty! I also had a glass of wine, but had forgotten my ID, however after studying me for a while she brought the wine over anyways, wooop. Brent had chicken penne and Jonas had a huuuuge pizza, the waitress wasn’t kidding when she said it was big. 

The view out the window was amazing, back in January it was all frozen over, now it was a lake full of water and people were in boats on it. After dinner we went to see some falls where the Rideau River meets the Ottawa River and they were pretty, it’s in a secluded place and really is a beautiful place. We then went up to the Rockliffe lookout which overlooks Gatineau and the river, pretty!

We then came back afterwards and before I went off to bed I gave Brent some of the pictures I’d taken here, as he likes the pictures I take. So after that I went off to bed, I was feeling tired regardless f the nap I’d had this afternoon. Night!

Last day of camp already, but it was a busy one as usual. Wake up time was 8am, but a lot of us were up earlier than that. I got up around 7.15 and Tiina and Stuart were already awake, as well as a few Scouts who were helping them build a fire to keep us all warm. I was lovely and toasty last night, so no worries for me there and none of the Scouts complained they were cold either, so that’s a bonus.

For breakfast, one leader from each pack had to go to a different troop as a guest. Tiina and Stuart both voted for me … so at 9am off I went to 1^st Aylmer Troop who were next door. Before I went though (as I had just under 2 hours) I had a bowl of oatmeal and jam to get me through. At the other site I had a huge breakfast! As many pancakes as I could eat, as well as bacon and a sauce called Fancy Molases (very thick and very sweet) They also had potatoes and beans to offer me, but as I don’t eat them, the Scouts finished them off.

Opening horseshoe was at 10.30am, where we had Scouts Own and the guests for breakfast had to give a short report about how it had gone. One leader was greeted by waitresses and a menu written on birchwood and another leader had performances by egg jugglers.

After Scout’s Own the Scouts lashed together a travois (a square with a cross through it) and then raced these. Our troop came third out of 5, so this wasn’t bad, considering their rope broke and the rider flew off mid race.

Next up was lunch where we started to take down the site before closing horseshoe at 1pm. Of course we didn’t get everything done by the time closing occurred, but we came back and finished it after. At the closing Tiina went into the middle and said the group were privileged to have a leader from England join their group for the past four months … cue my redness! Then she called me into the centre and gave me a Scout activity t-shirt (in one half of the troops colours) that the whole group had signed … cue tears. Awww, it was so sweet. I’m going to miss these guys so much when I go. But I’ll see them Tuesday at the meeting … my last meeting too.

At 2ish we left the site and Marilyn was again bringing me back to the church. We went on a small detour on the way back to see the covered bridge, but didn’t get out as I was so tired. Once back at he church we all unloaded the gear and put it back in the Scout locker before Tina gave me a lift back to Brent’s. I gave both her and Stuart a hug to thank them, Tiina a bigger hug as she won’t be at the meeting on Tuesday and then took my stuff into Brent’s house. First thing I did was have a lovely shower and as usual the tan went. Then I used a proper toilet … yeah forgot to say, it was outhouses all weekend for me and they are freaky! Even Stuart agreed that the place gave him the creeps.

Before dinner I had a quick chat to Alex as we haven’t been in contact all weekend. Dinner was corn on the cob and BBQ’d burgers, mmm. I didn’t think I was hungry, but I must have been, I ate the corn and two burgers … well I say ate, I practically inhaled them.

After dinner we all watched a few episodes of Dead Like Me, but by 10pm I was shattered and went to bed. The weekend had caught up with me. Night!