Hi All!
Today I went to see Guide Pantomime in Frimley - what a great show it was! When you bear in mind that this is children led by amateurs with moderate resources even if they all have bags of enthusiasm. It just shows what we can all achieve if we try. The pantomime was the route to raising funds for "Railway Children" under the Change the World banner. I don't know how much money was raised but I think they ought to all be proud of themselves.
Saturday 28 February 2009
Friday 27 February 2009
Babies!
Last year there were a lot of funerals - of close relatives. However, I am pleased to announce that three babies have made their way into the world this week. Firstly Holly Louise Harvey weighing in at a monstrous 9lb 9oz - that must have made Hazel's eyes water! Holly was followed a couple of days later by Ava Ruby who is Cindy's first grandchild. Today my stepmother announced the arrival of her 13th grandchild - between them my father and her have 20 grandchildren (7 children but as you can see our side is less fecund!).
I have also noticed that there are a significant number of bumps in my office - is there something in the air? Should we be planning increased numbers in Rainbow units in 2014-16? Is this something we should include in our planning?
Talking about planning; I asked Guiders at County Day about their three wishs and there were quite a range. Some we can help with or think about but admin, removing the retirement age and getting Sophie Wessex to visit might be outside our ability to influence!
I have also noticed that there are a significant number of bumps in my office - is there something in the air? Should we be planning increased numbers in Rainbow units in 2014-16? Is this something we should include in our planning?
Talking about planning; I asked Guiders at County Day about their three wishs and there were quite a range. Some we can help with or think about but admin, removing the retirement age and getting Sophie Wessex to visit might be outside our ability to influence!
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Needed - a programmer
Since we moved Herons Wey and Weyside bookings into the County Office it has been clear that we need a more automated booking system. This would probably be Access and would have an enquiry form that generated email confirmations, completed bookings on a calendar and generated invoices etc. This would be a saving in time for Julie and would increase the professional look of our booking system. It would sit happily alongside the new brochure Bec and Janet are developing. It could be linked into a website on Herons Wey. However, what we lack is someone with the skills to build something. I don't think it would be complicated - maybe a nice project for someone doing IT GCSE or A'level even. Any offers?
Saturday 7 February 2009
County Day in the snow and with some last minute changes
Today we held County Day - for those who don't know, this is our biggest event each year when more than 300 Leaders come together for a day of training and workshops. It also our chance to present County awards.
With the snowy weather this week, it has been touch and go about holding it or cancelling. However, if we cancelled we would have to start again from scratch and the sheer scale of the planning and other arrangements made this less than appealing. So we decided to go ahead. The day started very cold and icy but warmed up through the morning. Most participants made it although there were tales of icy roads, traffic jams and road closures. Unfortunately the trainers, who travel from further afield, had more of a struggle. However, our marvellous committee juggled numbers; joining groups together as well as accepting the offers of three brave ladies to facilitate sessions at a minute's notice - Thanks Catriona, Cindy and Julie. Most of the afternoon workshops went ahead as the leaders came from Surrey West and travelled later in the day.
Leaders seemed to realise just what we were struggling with and greeted it with good humour. So thank you everyone who came for the wonderful "Blitz Spirit" and particularly to Jill, Sheila and Lesley who managed to organise things when it looked like we had chaos on our hands.
With the snowy weather this week, it has been touch and go about holding it or cancelling. However, if we cancelled we would have to start again from scratch and the sheer scale of the planning and other arrangements made this less than appealing. So we decided to go ahead. The day started very cold and icy but warmed up through the morning. Most participants made it although there were tales of icy roads, traffic jams and road closures. Unfortunately the trainers, who travel from further afield, had more of a struggle. However, our marvellous committee juggled numbers; joining groups together as well as accepting the offers of three brave ladies to facilitate sessions at a minute's notice - Thanks Catriona, Cindy and Julie. Most of the afternoon workshops went ahead as the leaders came from Surrey West and travelled later in the day.
Leaders seemed to realise just what we were struggling with and greeted it with good humour. So thank you everyone who came for the wonderful "Blitz Spirit" and particularly to Jill, Sheila and Lesley who managed to organise things when it looked like we had chaos on our hands.
Tuesday 3 February 2009
In my carboot I packed a stove, sleeping bag...
...and it wasn't for camp. With the bad weather, a trip to Southampton to visit a client could have turned out to be cold, wet and possibly stuck in a queue behind a jack-knifed lorry. So I packed a rucksack with blanket, sleeping bag and pillow; a book; a Trangia, fuel, water and soup. Oh - and a spade. As it happened, the motorway was fine and the emergency preparations were unused. But I was prepared! Now, after two days of snow, making childcare arrangements, mopping up snowy footprints from the hall floor and wrapping up really warmly (actually I don't mind that bit) I would like to return to normal. So I would like all the schools open tomorrow please!
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