Issue Issue 9090 November November && December December 2014 2014
From the Courtyard
sac scouts newsletter
From the Courtyard feature of the month
ITS ALL ABOUT THE TURKEY!
What’s on
Every year many of us try and plan a nice Christmas – the rest of us just join in for the ride – but overall we end up having a good time. The brunt of all the merriment is mostly borne by our clothes and our weighing scales...I can imagine mine cringe at the idea of a post festivity weigh in followed by an ‘OMG I’m fat again’ moment! Welcome to the January Drama! But until then we will enjoy our Christmas to the full. Whilst preparing for my Christmas I have taken a few notes that I wish to share to hopefully help in your 2014 festivities. The Upside down turkey – Now this was new to me – having made my fair share of poultry and game birds both for Christmas and random occasions I have now discovered a new roasting idea i.e. roast your bird upside down! Genius I say. This might sound a bit cheffy but in this way you make sure that all the juices are concentrated at the bottom of the bird which in this case is the breast...your only problem is to turn the hot bird over to brown the top when the time comes (i.e. the last 30mins) but with some care, persuasion and a touch of muscle you might pull it off without a glitch. But just in case you drop the bird on the floor in the process I would try to be alone in the room – just to be safe. This method also allows you to reduce the amount of butter you use when you massage the turkey and it will also reduce the number of times you need to baste...so its a win win I say! Oh and of course if you are not stuffing the turkey, flavour it with a couple of halved onions, lemons and course a sprig of thyme. A turkey dish with spikes and/or a gravy boat – Now this is just cool! Good luck finding one but if you do it will be a family heirloom! Its basically a dish that comes with spikes which means that you can carve the bird table side without having it fuff about and fall off the dish (I think that’s happened to the best of us) also the juice of the bird very nicely collects on the side so you can spoon it out at lib. Just one word of advice – make sure the dish is also hot...otherwise you will be spooning out cold juice...and no one likes cold turkey juice... It still hot out but you can still make it smell like winter – An open fire might be out of the question – either because you do not have one or simply because its still too hot, but you can still make it smell
From the Courtyard
ITS ALL ABOUT THE TURKEY!
Issue 90 November & December 2014
like winter – so simple – in a small pot just place a cinnamon stick, a couple of cloves and half an orange and boil. It will perfume the house beautifully and smell like a cosy Christmas eve :)
Feature of the Month
Need a dip – go for a chicken liver pate` - you will leave a lasting impression and everyone will be agog with excitement! Take half a kilo of chicken livers (hearts and all) mix these with a couple of slices of bacon, a clove of garlic, two heaped spoons of apricot Jam, parsley, 200ml of cooking or double cream, 100 ml of port (or brandy or sherry or anything else you might have running around) 2 eggs, salt and pepper. Blend until super smooth, then pour into a well buttered spring form mould (I use an 8 inch round) and bake for 30-45mins until its puffed up and browned. Melt a couple of spoons of apricot jam and pour it over the top of the cooked pate once it’s out of the oven...inexpensive...10 minutes of prep but an absolute show stopper! Oh and serve cold on hot crusty bread...
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Fan of the novelties or dismissing them as just fads? All a question of choice, but one thing you should definitely keep in mind is to plan ahead. To avoid you running around like a headless chicken frantically trying to defrost a turkey in the microwave make a plan of battle, plan your kitchen needs, gift needs etc. And if you are just along for the ride do make sure to lend a helping hand, a smile and an big fat thank you. Season’s Greetings to all !
From the Courtyard
GSL’s note
Issue 90 November & December 2014
This November/December Issue 90 is the last newsletter for 2014. Activities and Events This month has been one of the busiest so far this year. It started off with the unfortunate postponement of Operation HMS Bulwark due to the seriously bad weather during the weekend of 7-9th November. We shall however be holding the event in December.
GSL’s note
The most important task we’ve undertaken this month is the transformation of the courtyard at our HQ. A number of Leaders and Rovers spent the weekend of 15-17th November working at our HQ removing the concrete floor and remaining tree trunks. In order to save some money we actually dug up the concrete with jack hammers ourselves and hired other tools such as chain saws to remove tree trunks that were embedded into the ground for over fifty years. Also we were sad to remove trees however they were creating a lot of damage to the floor and surrounding foundation walls. It was a back breaking exercise for those of us that spent hours digging and cutting and leveling the floor. The final phase, applying the new concrete floor was done by a professional. I’m sure we’ll reap the benefit of the new floor and newly laid underlying pipes to save water in the well which was previously going to waste. The rover crew also managed to fit in a hike to Mount Etna during the weekend of November 22-23. I’m sure you’ll read about this further on. A camp for leaders is also planned for the weekend of 5-7th December. As you can see its never a dull moment and most weekends during November and December are taken for scout related activities. Last but not least was our visit to HMS Bulwark on November 30th. We were invited to the Ship by its CO Captain Dean Bassett for a tour of the key areas of the Royal Navy’s Flagship. Our liaison officer Lt Thomas Bowler ensured that the tour went well and all members enjoyed the tour. We also exchanged mementos of the occasion on the ship’s upper deck. Towards the end of the tour we were invited for some cake and a drink in the Junior Ratings Mess. Once again we thank the Ship’s CO and Company for the interesting and entertaining tour. We wish them well on their return to Devonport. Fundraising and Annual Membership Subscription Fees We shall soon be sending out our annual subscription form. We know this is not necessarily the right time given Christmas is around the corner. Our deadline will be around end of January and we hope all members contribute so that we can carry on with the projects we have in mind at HQ. One must also keep in mind that we forward part of the subscription fee to the Scout Association of Malta. The “room next door” is the next key project we have in mind. Quotes we have gathered show that the total expense is around €9000 to get the room’s roof replaced and flooring up to scratch. This is quite a hefty sum for us and we are looking at different ways of financing this. Obviously, donations are the best and fastest way to get there but we are also asking around for donations from friends, former scouts, “friendly businesses” and providence. We’d really like to get this done by early January/February 2015 so that we can hit the ground running in 2015 and finally focus on other real scouting matters and activities as recently most leaders seem to be
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From the Courtyard
GSL’s note
Issue 90 November & December 2014
more focused on construction than running a Scout Group. I’d like to thanks all those that have been involved and stick around when the going gets tough.
GSL’s note
2015 and beyond Next year is our Group’s 99th year since its establishment. We shall start to work on a programme to commemorate our 100 years in 2016 and to this end we might rope in former scouts and family members to help us. More on this in the near future. Any ideas are most welcome.
GSL Edward Cassola hands over a memento to Cdr Scott Sellars RN, Cdr Logistics
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REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE
From the Courtyard
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CENTENARY OF WW1
Issue 90 November & December 2014
With this year marking the centenary of the start of the First World War, four SAC Rovers participated in the annual Remembrance Day Parade together with the rest of the IHQ contingent, representing the entire scouting community in Malta. Remembrance day is observed on the Sunday closest to 11th November, with this year’s event falling on the 9th November 2014. Every year the date is commemorated throughout the Commonwealth countries as a tribute to all those who fought and gave their lives during WWI, however this year was particularly significant as it marked 100 from the war to end all wars. From the outset, the Scouting Association was never directly affiliated with the military, and this is ever more true today when we are moving further and further away from any form of military mindset. However we should not forget that during WWI, when the movement was still in it’s infancy, scouts played an important, more domestic role on the home front, acting as watchmen and messengers within their local communities. Even for those with an entirely anti-military sentiment, I believe that being part of a movement, which was so ready to do its bit so early on in its establishment, provides additional incentive to participate in events such as these. To prepare for this significant event, the whole scout contingent underwent training practice on two consecutive Saturdays at the Luqa barracks to ensure that our collective marching was up to scratch. Under the direction of Garrison Sergeant Major Mulvaney we learnt that Scout drills do not even come close to the discipline required for military marching. While scouting does instill a considerable amount of discipline and respect in it’s members, I must admit that it was on the Luqa Parade ground that everything I learnt about discipline from scouting fell into place. The second of our practice sessions came the day after the gale storm I’m sure most of us will remember for a while. Did I (read, most of us) feel like getting out of bed on windy a Saturday morning? Did we feel like standing in the chill or marching to the orders of someone who informed us, on no uncertain terms, that we really needed to smarten up? Of course not. None of us did. Yet I think I speak for most of those present when I say that we used those moments of (very minor) discomfort to reflect upon the experiences of those we were paying tribute to, and carried these thoughts forward to parade day where, along with members of the Armed Forces of Malta, the Royal British Legion and many others, we observed a fittingly sombre two minute silence after the traditional laying of wreaths on the war memorial cenotaph in Floriana.
From the Pack
From the Courtyard
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CUB HIKE
Issue 90 November & December 2014
One dark November evening, the Cub section decided to go on a quest. They had heard about the secrets that lay in the valley on the other side of the hill and decided that it would be a good idea to brave the odds and discover what was found in the labyrinth of paths. It was not an easy feat but they planned how they would get there and what they should take with them. They packed their bags with enough food and drink for the journey, notepad and pen, just in case, a torch and a hi-viz jacket just for safety and then 22 courageous Cubs with 5 guardians set off on their adventure. The beginning of their journey was quite straightforward, but as most adventures go they eventually get more difficult to complete. They left HQ at 17.45 and walked up the hill past DC, standing one after the other on the right hand side of the narrow road. Once they got to the top of the hill they encountered their first difficulty which was to be their biggest problem throughout the journey – the perception of traffic – and how to cross the main roads? There were no pedestrian crossings they could use at this point, so caution was the order of the day. They waited a while and eventually a kind-driver (who realised that he wasn’t getting anywhere any time soon) decided to let our adventurers cross the road. The guardians guided the Cubs across the road to safety. The first obstacle had been overcome. The Journey proceeded through the Wignacourt Aqueduct where once again they met their next obstacle, crossing the road safely. This time it was not that much of a problem, as even though the traffic was at a gridlock there were traffic lights that could be used. After crossing, the Cubs and guardians ventured on, trying to reach their destination – the valley! By this time it was getting late and obvious that they would not make it to the intended checkpoint in the valley and back to HQ in time. After much strife, the Cub-hood managed to make it across the road while the luminous-eyed monsters were stuck pushing against each other. Once they got to the other side, they realised that the pavement ended abruptly and they could not walk far on that side, so they slipped into a country-road that on map appeared not to lead anywhere, and where finally the Cubs could use their lightsabres (their torches) to protect them in the darkness. They got to a quiet area, away from the terrible noise created by the polluting monsters, where they could sit and have a break, something to drink and a quick snack, whilst admiring the starry sky above. Before long it was time to head back to HQ. The journey back was a much calmer and easier one for our now sort-of tired adventurers. They crossed back the same way they had managed to cross before but took and different and safer way back to HQ. The pack of hikers might not have reached their intended destination but they surely enjoyed their adventure just the same as they spent the whole way back singing various campfire songs and making up new lyrics for them. Written by Rikki Tikki Tavi Joanna Camilleri Ellul
From the Courtyard
TROOP TESTS
Issue 90 November & December 2014
Tests are the way you can show how much a scout knows. There are levels one can reach according to the tests one makes, these are; Tenderfoot, Pathfinder, Explorer and Pioneer. Tenderfoot is the first and most basic one. In tenderfoot there are only three tests, which are Promise and Law, Scouting history and Flags. In pathfinder there are much more tests these include, First Aid, Knots and Lashings, Fire and Cooking, Basic Mapping and Knife and Axe. In explorer there are even more tests to complete than in pathfinder, these include, advanced first aid and advanced mapping. The more tests you do the harder they get. After you finish a group of tests (for example pathfinder) you get a badge that you stick on your uniform. Although these tests are not obligatory it’s fun to have passed these tests. Paolo Bezzina
From the Troop
Very often we notice scouts are missing a woggle to hold their scarf in place. Get rid of that ugly knot in your scarf and try your hand at making this simple woggle!
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From the Courtyard
VENTURES ON HMS BULWARK
Issue 90 November & December 2014
Members of the Venture Unit visited HMS Bulwark along with the Troop on Sunday the 30th November. Accompanied by leaders Andre and Liam, the Ventures team which consisted of Daniel Pace and Jonathan Pace, along with senior scouts Max and Daniel were taken around by Lt. ’Raffles’ Bowler.
From the Unit
Although most of us had already visited the ship before, including a couple who had even spent time out at sea ‘in the navy’, we were very interested to explore and discover the intricacies of how such a huge Ship is operated by a very large crew who, being ’all in the same boat’ (please forgive lame pun) work all together as the eyes, ears and heart of the Ship. Upon boarding the ship, our tour started at the bridge which is where the ship’s captain and fleet commodore decide on the ship’s course and any action to be taken. From here they keep contact and give their orders to all parts of the ship. Jumping out (tightly) through an escape hatch, we headed down into the heart of the ship which hosts the state of the art ops room. Here we marvelled at all the high tech computer systems used to control every aspect of the ship’s operation, defence and engagements. More stairs ladders and corridors took us to the damage control department, which is where the ship is monitored against fire and flooding. Next we proceeded to the well deck which is where the landing craft and all other vehicles are kept. Being the business end of the ship, this is where we met and secretly fell in love with some Royal Marine Commandos with all their cool combat gear such as dinghies, night vision goggles and all the modern weapons one could imagine. Reluctantly, we moved on to the flight deck where we learned about its different uses and back inside, we were shown the fire fighting equipment used by the crew. Our tour came to an end in the junior ratings mess hall where our hosts, the Marine Engineering section offered u some drinks and sweets which were deliciously prepared by the crew. After this we all trooped out on the deck where Edward presented the officer in charge with a plaque from our group and we were given a massive poster depicting the ship’s role in a recent exercise. We hope that it wont be long to meet our friends on HMS Bulwark once again. And hopefully in the future we will get to spend more time on board ;)
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From the Courtyard
VENTURES ON HMS BULWARK
Issue 90 November & December 2014
From the Unit
Here’s what Jonathan and Daniel have to say about the visit.
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The Royal Navy flagship, HMS Bulwark arrived in Malta on Saturday 29th November 2014. The Bulwark is our group’s patron ship and thus the ship’s crew invited our group to go and visit the ship o Sunday 30th November. At half one in the afternoon the scouts started to gather next to the gate that led to the ship. After a while a group of sailors came to take us on board the ship. First we had to divide ourselves into small groups. My group consisted of Andre Brincat, Liam Curmi De Grey, myself, Daniel Pace, Daniel Busuttil, and Max Evers. Then one of the crew members proceeded to show us around the ship. Amongst the places that we visited were the ship’s bridge, where the ship is controlled, the operations room, the well deck, the ship’s damage control department, the flight deck and the canteen. Whilst visiting the well deck the Royal Marines showed us their weapons and equipment such as night vision goggles and also the landing craft and their vehicles. We were also shown the equipment used by the firefighting team on board and some of us also got the chance to try it on. At the end our Group Scout Leader presented a commemorative shield to the ship’s crew who in return gave us a large poster of the ship’s latest deployment.
HMS Bulwark is a ship which has a lot of functions. I really liked the area in the ship full of high-tech that controls part of the ship with computers. This ship has supplies of first aid and fire equipment for emergency purposes that could happen on the ship. Outside on the flight deck on Saturdays the ship’s crew does physical exercises and some games to have fun such as power ball and other similar games to what we play at scouts. On board the ship, we visited the main area where the captain sits, here we were showed a lot of functions that help him control the ship. They have a kitchen in which they cook for themselves and also for the captain. It was very interesting to be inside the well deck where they have a lot of vehicles and weapons that are used while they are outside the ship.
From the Courtyard
FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE
Issue 90 November & December 2014
"Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot. I see of no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot." - Guy Fawkes
From the Crew
It was the 22nd November in our case. Close enough. The point is remember November. Because November is the time of great happenings. Such as 5 members of the SAC Rover Crew arriving at the airport at 0430hrs, seriously caffeine deprived, and itching to board the 6am flight to Sicily to grab a heavenly espresso on landing. A bit of a lengthy trip for a cup of coffee, but there's no coffee like Sicilian coffee so off we went. Spur of the moment sort of thing.
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Despite the innocence of coffee, a good scout is always prepared. Whilst some might consider it excessive to take a tent along when you're out to grab a coffee, this is very normal for a scout. We were going all the way to Sicily for coffee anyway, how much more excessive can you get! Upon landing we trooped to the nearest airport caffetteria and had our first coffee. Mission accomplished. We thought we might as well venture further out, seek more coffee adventures. By sheer coincidence, Pierre had taken the precaution of renting a car. Brilliant! So we drove off in search of the ultimate Sicilian coffee. At 7am, however, most places seemed to be still closed. Spotting a pall of smoke in the distance, we realised how close we were to Mt. Etna. As everybody knows, volcanoes are the great coffee making machines in the sky. Coincidentally we all had boots on. Also coincidentally we had GPS units with maps of the area. And stoves. And walking poles. Taking a closer look at our kit we realised how truly a scout's preparation knows no bounds. All we needed was a pit stop for some water and food, because the great coffee machine in the sky cannot be reached by car, and it takes a while to get there on foot. The way up was exceedingly pretty. At an altitude of about 1700 m we reached a rather imposing gateway (without a gate) that spelled the end of our four wheeled road. So on foot we went. And we encountered a lot more pretty. And some more pretty. And some trees. And some lava stones. A lot of lava stones. Then even more lava stones. Then more trees. And breathtaking views all around. There was a lot of funny gong on as well in the meantime. A wrong turning took us up to one of the lesser peaks, we realised this halfway up the rather steep scree slope. But we soldiered on and were rewarded with an absolutely stunning view... of a white capped pristine volcano peak directly in front of us. And pure silence. Which meant that the great coffee machine in the sky was off. So no coffee for us. Disconsolately we trooped back to a small mountain hut we had passed, set up our tents next to it and gathered wood for a fire. A sad night indeed. Lacking coffee we were all listless and crestfallen. A beautifully inquisitive little fox came snuffling about as we were preparing our evening meal. We'd have loved to give him some coffee, but all we had was bacon. 'Rover' as we christened him, seemed as woeful as we were at having to munch on such meager, caffeine free fare.
From the Courtyard
FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE
Issue 90 November & December 2014
From the Crew
Sunday funday! We woke up, packed, chatted with the myriad of cyclists that didn't seem bothered at all by the lack of coffee but were just there for the views and the outdoors (imagine that!), and started to make our way back to the vehicle, which was reached at a speedy downhill rate of 3 hours or so. The rest of the day was characterised by bargain shopping; 2 items between 5 people. A quick pizza lunch, coffee and some last minute airport shenanigans.
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Quite a failed occasion. The only decent coffee we had was at the airport. We could have saved ourselves the trouble of walking, and saved our eyes the painful scene of the stunningly pretty mountain top (which was off), saved ourselves the chore of chatting with friendly cyclists... and just sat in the airport having coffee. We resolved that next time, we'd do just that. But we'd have to go fetch 'Rover' first. We promised him coffee the next time we meet.
From the Courtyard
Issue 90
COURTYARD RENOVATION—A STORY OF November & December 2014 CONCRETE ANR ROOTS
‘Once upon a time we dared to dream. A wishful fantasy, some might call it. But we believed… We believed in a freer courtyard, one not constrained by badly laid concrete or destructive tree roots.’ – Matthew ‘Meli’ Zammit.
From the Crew
The courtyard had always been a point of congregation in the SAC HQ, where members as diverse as the youngest cub and the oldest leader could exchange a quick nod before going along their merry way. It was thus with a heavy heart that we set about its destruction, sustained only by the thought that, similar to the legendary phoenix, a newer, better, less hillocky version would rise from its ashes. The task would be completed by a core team of five Rovers who would spend the whole weekend at the HQ, backed up by any and all of the volunteers that could devote a few hours of their time to the task. The former group would consist of Liam Curmi de Gray, David Pace, Matthew Zammit, Albert Galea and Simon Gauci, as well as Andre Brincat, Edward Cassola and Pierre Sant, who were with us in spirit on the few occasions that they were not there in body. Honourable mentions also go to Bernard Maniscalco, Andrew Zammit Montebello, Daniel Busuttil, Andrew Agius and Daniel Pace (apologies if anyone has been forgotten). Day 1 – The End of the Beginning The meeting time was established at 16:00 sharp. In the finest traditions of the SAC scout group, work did not start until 16:30, although things moved on swiftly from there. The five trees already having been dispatched (well, the parts of them that were half a metre above the ground…), our first task was to organise the transportation of their prone trunks to the rear of the building, where further indignities would be exacted upon them later. Having done that, our main task was now at hand. Equipped with two jackhammers, we now targeted the floor itself, all the obstructions on it having been moved to other locations on the premises. We started out from one corner of the courtyard and branched out with a pace that surprised even us. Amidst the roar of jackhammers and splintering concrete, more people arrived until we had a steady working system with people using jackhammers, others moving the concrete pieces into piles and a third group, equipped with two wheelbarrows, moving the heavy pieces outside to the skip (I am dismayed to inform our dear readers that there are no prizes for
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From the Courtyard
Issue 90
COURTYARD RENOVATION—A STORY OF November & December 2014 CONCRETE ANR ROOTS
guessing which was the most popular job. But just in case any of you have not used a jackhammer, may I add with great delight that should you have the desire to do so, the SAC Rover Crew is fully available to inform you about their stress-relieving and muscle creating powers).
From the Crew
Apparently dressing as a builder makes you work better Since the law states that jackhammers and other heavy equipment cannot be used after 19:00 hours (our legal team is still trying to establish why said restrictions do not apply to other construction crews or the banda talfesta. Should they discover any information about this, we will be only too happy to inform you, providing that you submit a request in writing to Mark ‘Lippu’ Borg. Gifts of sweets will ensure your application is dealt with swiftly by our team of dedicated Rovers), we decided to continue working up until 19:30, when the courtyard floor looked like it had been subjected to an artillery barrage. The concrete pieces were then swept up and deposited in the skip.
The job for that day done, most of the workers left, with the exception of our dedicated overnight crew, who had bravely volunteered to stay behind in order to safeguard the equipment. We thus settled down for the night quietly, confident that the bulk of the work had been completed (as you will see later if you have the patience to read on, this prediction was about as spot on as Chamberlain’s in 1938…).
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From the Courtyard
Issue 90
COURTYARD RENOVATION—A STORY OF November & December 2014 CONCRETE ANR ROOTS
Day 2 – A Bobcat would have been useful… Reinvigorated by our rest, as well as the thought that little labour awaited us, we woke up at 8:00, and immediately started off as the dedicated workmen we were, with Liam asking us if we wanted tea, coffee or hot chocolate. In order to complete our immersion into the Maltese workman’s lifestyle, we also prepared a healthy and filling breakfast (erbgha pastizzi min ta’ wara tal-kantuniera).
From the Crew
With both tasks accomplished, we set about further preparing ourselves to start the day’s work, which involved taking a shower at HQ to remove the quite frankly incredible amount of dirt that our bodies had accumulated. Unfortunately, we are not equipped with all the conveniences that are found in today’s modern homes, and thus our shower was less of your Jacuzzi with padded seating type and more of a ‘ħasla bil-pipe’ type (if any parents who have made it this far into the article wish to donate any sort of water heating apparatus, we would be most grateful). The main task of the day would be uprooting the five tree stumps that still resided within the courtyard walls, through a combined effort of pickaxes, hoes, jiggers and the occasional chainsaw. The first step, however, was to dig around the trunks in order to expose the roots binding them to the ground, and severe them from the main body. It was at this point where we ran up against stiff opposition. To our surprise, the trees (well, what was left of them anyway) put up a fierce struggle, seemingly quite attached to the ground they were in. Trial and error was the order of the day, and some quite inventive methods were developed by our budding team of enthusiastic lumberjacks in order to be the first to uproot their respective tree (as due to space restrictions, it was decided that groups of two to three people should work on each tree). Enthusiasm quickly turned to sobering reality. These trees were not coming out without an almighty struggle. Having observed this, the esteemed author of said article decided to commence a strategic withdrawal to the rear of the building where the prone tree trunks were awaiting dismemberment. Rover Liam Curmi de Gray saw the wisdom in this manoeuvre and decided to do the same, bringing with him the much beloved supplies of a chainsaw and cold water. Quick work was made of the prone tree trunks, which were cut up into half-metre lengths in order for use in a future project, with the rest being designated as firewood. Having thus finished our task, we returned to the courtyard, where we found everything pretty much in the same state as we had left it. It would, however, not long remain so. Long years of wisdom allied with new found experience were combined, and finally one of the tree stumps relinquished its hold on the earth. Two followed in quick (-ish)
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From the Courtyard
Issue 90
COURTYARD RENOVATION—A STORY OF November & December 2014 CONCRETE ANR ROOTS
From the Crew
succession, and at the end of the day’s operations, brought about by darkness, the tally was three stumps removed, with two more having been temporarily spared that fate. With that, some of the members bade ‘adieu’ whilst others settled down for a second night at the HQ, physically fortified by a set of lamb doner kebabs.
Operations begin winding down for the day Day 3 – And we bade a fond farewell… Muscles groaning in protest, and unlike the previous morning, under no illusion that the task ahead was either simple or straightforward, we gradually got out of our sleeping bags and joined the now regular attendees who had already arrived. We continued our task with little energy, but gradually progress was made and with our new found experience in the delicate art of logging, we removed the two remaining tree trunks in a far more efficient way than the preceding day, and they were placed with the others. Thus all that remained was a bit of cleaning up, which was carried out with some amount of gusto, signifying as it did the end of all work that weekend. As we cleared up and each of us went on our merry way, each with dreams of showers and beds, we could reflect on a job well done, and one that we could feel justifiably proud of. Thank you to all the members who attended for this activity and contributed in whatever way they could.
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