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Be as prepared as you like

August 20, 2012 by Jen

Oh the places I've been. Day 227/366.

JJ has been doing scouts for a few years now and it’s something he absolutely loves and looks forward to going to each week. Just recently he moved up to Scouts from Cub Scouts. This means they get more responsibility and go on more camps.

On the weekend he went on a back to basics camp. We were provided with a list of things to take, and this time we packed it in my old backpack. It was the backpack I bought in 1991 all ready to go travelling with for my first overseas holiday – the obligatory ‘find yourself’ backpacking holiday.

The backpack is a bit battered and worn now and it’s been patched up but I’m glad I’ve kept it because JJ will use it on his next scout camp, the hike. When I dropped him off on Friday one of his fellow scouts commented about the ‘badges’ on the bag, which of course aren’t scout badges.

So we got out the items he was told to take and packed it together. I made suggestions of how to pack and for the most part he put things in the backpack. This included spare clothes incase things got a bit wet because they were camping in the Hills and it rained a lot during the week with a good chance of rain again on the weekend.

I dropped him off on Friday evening and hoped that they didn’t get rained out. It was after 8pm, and dark, when we dropped him off and they had to put their tents up so they had somewhere to sleep for the night. I was glad it wasn’t me as we went to a nearby pub to sit near the fire while eating a late dinner.

I missed him during the weekend but didn’t stress too much about him. Afterall they had my phone number and if needed could ring me.

I picked him up yesterday afternoon and when we arrived they were all kicking a ball around on the grass and seemed pretty happy.

He was wearing someone’s tracksuit pants that were at least two sizes too small, so they were more three-quarter length pants. He was sockless. He was also wearing a fleecy zip up top of mine so that was a bit like a shift dress on him. The bare parts of his legs that I could see were quite muddy.

I knew he’d be absolutely knackered after two nights and days of full-on activities but the first thing he asked me if was one of his mates at the camp could come back to our place. I told him no as it was already mid afternoon and they still had to go back to the scout hall to unpack everything and spread all the tents out to dry.

We eventually did all of this and got home. I helped him unpack his backpack. I pulled out clean pairs of jocks and a clean pair of socks – damp. I pulled out a clean pair of jeans – damp. I asked him why he wasn’t wearing those? He told me that he didn’t know they were in there. Remember we packed the backpack together and I explained that he had a spare set of clothes if he needed them.

I pulled out all the dirty and damp clothes that weren’t in the plastic bag we’d also packed for all the damp stuff. Next time we’ll put all the clean and dry stuff in a plastic bag and the dirty and damp stuff can be shoved in next to the plastic bag.

I put everything in the wash – clean and dirty and he went into the shower to give himself a good clean.

We ate dinner at 5pm. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten dinner so early in my life and was happy that I’d organised osso bucco in the slow cooker earlier in the day. I didn’t make him do his night-time jobs like feed the dog or get wood for the fire. I just let him lie flat on the couch in front of the television then sent him off to bed early. He was still tired this morning.

But he had a great time on the camp and is looking forward to the next one. I swear that he grows up while he’s away at these camps and he loves earning badges. Speaking of which, I have some sewing to do.

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Dib dib dob dob – it’s official

May 15, 2009 by Jen

JJ has been going along to Cub Scout meetings for quite a few weeks now. I’ve bought him the uniform and because he’s been going long enough it was time for him to be invested into the Scouts the other night, along with ten others.

He nearly didn’t get to go because there was a major meltdown here between him and I and he wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t for this investment thing. He is on less Playstation and TV privileges this weekend, especially after being a bit naughty at school today but that’s another story.

We turned up to Scouts minus his Scout hat – oops – and the ceremony began. To be honest I can’t remember the whole order but I do know I have a bundle of badges to sew on his shirt.

Becoming a proper Cub Scout

His smile in the photo below says it all about how proud he is of himself at this point.

That’s it now. He’s got the badges and the certificate and there may as well been a ceremony for the new parents too to pledge allegiance to help out on bottle drives, scout camps and goodness knows what else. Guess what we’re doing Sunday? Driving around the neighbourhood getting the 10c recyclable bottles off whoever wants to give them to the Scouts. I hope it’s not raining.

It's official

He actually posed for me in this photo. That’s not always easy these days.

Dib dib dob dob - he's a Cub Scout now

At least by the end of the night our argument was pretty much forgotten and we’d both moved on and the next day was a whole lot better. Thank goodness for nights and sleeping on things.

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Quest of another kind

April 21, 2009 by Jen

It’s school holidays here at present and I haven’t taken the whole two weeks off. In fact I’ve not taken any time off except for yesterday which meant, with Easter, I had two – four day weekends.

I used to only work three days a week and it’s much more civilised than working a four day week which is what I presently do. It allows time to do those chores around the house that probably normally wouldn’t get done. Therefore yesterday morning saw me out in the little front yard we have sweeping the little front porch. I realised I’ve never ever washed the stained glass window next to my door which I still didn’t do yesterday but I’ve put it on my mental to-do list along with painting my bedroom door which has been waiting five years for me to do.

Yesterday was also the day to head into the city to buy JJ’s scout uniform. As I forked out for the shirt, scarf and hat I told him that he was staying with Scouts. None of this I’m bored with it after ten minutes.

Before we even got to the scout shop we walked past a shoe store. This one had a sales rack out the front and I can never walk past a sales rack. I found this pair of Birkenstocks and it was the only pair like it and it was in my size. So I bought them. Nevermind that we’re moving into winter here, I’ll still have them when it gets warmer and they were too much of a bargain to pass up.

birkenstock

Actually it’s been an expensive weekend. My vacuum cleaner finally died this weekend and it pretty much worked out that it was just as economical to buy a new one, so I did.

JJ’s boots are on their last legs so I bought him a new pair.

I stocked up on tights, undies, singlets and a pair of tracksuit pants for the coming winter.

As mentioned I bought the scout uniform and the Birkenstocks.

My credit card will be staying in my wallet for a while.

After our shopping expedition yesterday we walked down to Cold Rock and bought an icecream. JJ had a bubblegum flavour with freckles mashed in. I had rum and raisin and boysenberry with nothing mashed in.

Eating icecream

It was a good day.

I’ve had one person do my Blogging quest with some others saying they’ll do it. I’d love it if you do it too.

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