Fun among the trees
as cubscouts swing
back and forth
until the howl for
lunch or another activity
on campsite
until the call back – theyll
swing off the tyres or play on the wood stumps
Tag: Camping
Categories
Put a Pin on it
#socs #pin
Someone once told me – you never really leave the scouts
In a sense – i guess they were right.
Why? i hear you ask – because of some little things picked up along the way
back when i was a cub scout (yeah! i am that old) when we went on expeditions or on camps, we’d try and pick up a patch for our camp blankets – which kept us warm on cold nights and some of us turned into ponchos for night time around the camp
I collected plenty of these badges – and still have them in the house in a box – as a reminder of the places i’ve been
Yorkshire Dales, Edinburgh, Peak District, Lake District, Cheshire, Lancashire….
But i guess fashions change….and around the time when Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games, the cloth patches turned a little more smaller and a little more harder….and a little more metallic.
There were Pin badges with the Manchester logo on them , 18 Sports pins covering the various sports events, country pins and team pins for the staff
And after the games had finished, places of interest took up the mantle as well as other sporting events.
Turn the lock forward to 2012 – and i’m finding myself at Old Trafford and the Pins are back
Reminders of places visited, Events volunteeered at and things achieved
They even introduced them at the Imperial War Museum – for years of service
I
Normally served up
in a fine earthenware Mug
with Milk and Sugar
II
Veering from the norm
teabags stewing away in a can
over a roaring fire
III
Galley brews challenge
the finest of Galley cooks
during force sevens
IV
Tin Mugs for the Brew
for morning breakfast eating
whether sea or land
V
Set up for the day
warming you from head to toe
for the day ahead
Categories
Fantasy Island
#Writephoto #Fantasy
For years that place in the middle of the sea was
a folly, a place for the well to do’s to admire from their
nice windows of the lakeside apartments
today, its so much more than this – it’s
a place where your imagination can go mad
somewhere you can land your boat and pitch a tent
you’ll think you’re back to your schooldays – some say its better
Categories
Backwoods Stew
#Scouts #Cubs #Beavers #Supper
The ingredients were simple enough,
Taters in the embers of some dying beechwood
Corned beef, Some Carrots and a very big onion
Butter for frying, and some stock cubes for flavour
The Metallic billy can protected by the finest washing liquid
as flames licked the sides of the can
As the potatoes softened, the onions went see-through
hiding amongst the beef
and as the bubbles rose bringing the feast together
chef prepared his serving spoons – as it was served in tin mugs
in the other can ? usually tea but not that night
as chocolate buns were served for afters – with hot cocoa.
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Ventures all headed for bed after Campfire – with Smiles on their faces.
They said “Ban Soap at Camp”….but this rule didn’t apply to the cookware….as the recepticles enjoyed a dip in the bubbliest of alfresco baths and a scrub getting rid of charcoaled washing liquid
Categories
Packing
#SoCs #Holidays
Packing our bags again
as we head off for a country break
camping under some national park stars
key to this essential journey – notepad, camera and pencils
if needed – wellies and wet weather gear
navigation and maps essential for hiking and
good sleeping bag for kipping under canvas
#CYW #Brown #Wet #Mud #Footprints #Camping
Camping out in the wilds, has its disadvantages
As the weather can be particularly nasty
Making your way across the field to the washroom as
Persistant little raindrops land on your head
If you gave it some thought – you would have moved the tent
Now everyone will know who disturbed their sleep – as you’re
Going to leave a trail – right up to your tent!
the triangle a simple one
heat air and fuel
started by a little spark
amongst the smallest of shavings
Little flame eating
everything around it
kept at bay
by logs and bricks
Starting off slowly
the flames begin to grow
dining on everything near it
apart from the Billy can above
bread on a green stick
changes with the dancing flames
from dough to delight in seconds
with help from the makeshift grill
smells of the barbecue
rise in the air
as backwoods sausages
add fuel to the flames
light and warmth
dancing slowly in the moonlight
till all that are left
are the glowing impish coals
staff of life
the end of life
for the fire that maintained life
Round the campfire circle
A summer morning, Worsley woods, west of Manchester
the sun just peaking through the nest of trees
circle of tents in various spots
and a scout leader starting the beginnings of an altar fire
little faces pop out of the niger tents to grab a view
breakfast served at 8 am sharp
but first, a mug of tea
some make a break for the toilet block
as sausage and eggy bread sizzle in a pan
orders given to the sous chef … he keeps his eye on the food
and slowly the camp leader makes his way to the pole
and all stand still in observance
the flag is released from its bonds
and flies high in the gentle breeze , proudly to attention
and all present give a salute
before breakfast is served
Categories
Eggy Bread
This ain’t no restaurant “French toast”
it’s made over burning logs
in the country air
Foundation for the morning
Set against a glorious sunrise
and cups of camp tea
Thick crusty bread
absorbed in a lake of
golden runniness
Bacon awaits its partner
as it cooks away
in its fat
Poor Man’s omelette ?
after a night on the hills
it’s the food of kings.
Knives and forks ?
or eaten as a sandwich
only quandry – sauce Red or Brown ?
The Inkwell 