Ignition
Getting there was reasonably exciting. And rather painful. But at East Grinstead a very nice man who works for Channel 4 carried my bag to the taxi rank for me. And then the Taxi driver put it in the taxi & Laura & Abi both helped me get the bag into Weavers, so all was well.
We dropped to a mere six participants. Ignition is for Senior Section members from all across the SE of England. I think the plague must have been going round or something this week. One girl in fact had to drop out on the Friday night & was hoping to come on Saturday but did not make it. Nonetheless, we had a splendacious time.
My 4 session went très well. Huzzah. We took lots of photos and did some filming over the weekend, so out cunning promotional plans may well work out. There was some energetic leaping by participants. The participants were also very very good at clearing & cleaning & tidying. Someone give them a badge, please. (Preferably a cloth one...)
There was much mirth (hilarity) over the weekend. Like Laura looking to see if the built-in kitchen cupboard was on wheels. And Abi talking about soup knives. For about five minutes until Joo pointed out that actually, she meant spoons... Yeah. It was good. Joo and Laura both laughed so hard they cried during charades. I almost joined them.
We had a 90th birthday pyjama party with games and cake on Saturday night. One of the participants got quite high on Love Hearts. Sadly there was no Diet Coke. Alas.
We got some very useful feedback and ideas from the participants and were able to explain and discuss various Senior Section related things. We also learnt a lot about things that would be useful for someone who is in care in relation to Senior Section events - like the level of detail they really need to have about sites, activities & supervision for example.
I have another badge for my blanket. I have been to Blacklands before, but they had exciting badges. And I wanted one. It has a big fire on it, for one thing. And pink bits. How could I resist?
We were visited by: Sussex Central's Senior Section Advisor (she lives very close & popped in to see us in a friendly way); the Region Senior Section Advisor; and the Region Commissioner, who came for lunch today.
Everyone ate very well. Joo is a splendacious QM. And we did, obviously, have food for about twice as many people as were there, given the late-dropping-out situation. But there you are. These things happen.
Getting home was not as eventful as I had feared (there were going to be buses and so on) as Joo gave me a lift to Tonbridge, from where it is only two trains & a five minute walk home. Huzzah.
The new building at Blacklands is ever so slightly disappointing. It has large bedrooms (ensuite leaders' rooms!) and a HUGE kitchen - and then two tiny activities rooms. It would actually have been very difficult if we had been a larger group. And the mattresses on the beds were actually rock solid. Not much sleep was had, despite the extra hour in bed. Alas for me.
Anyway, it was all very good, I am now very tired, and we already have some cunning plans for next year...
We dropped to a mere six participants. Ignition is for Senior Section members from all across the SE of England. I think the plague must have been going round or something this week. One girl in fact had to drop out on the Friday night & was hoping to come on Saturday but did not make it. Nonetheless, we had a splendacious time.
My 4 session went très well. Huzzah. We took lots of photos and did some filming over the weekend, so out cunning promotional plans may well work out. There was some energetic leaping by participants. The participants were also very very good at clearing & cleaning & tidying. Someone give them a badge, please. (Preferably a cloth one...)
There was much mirth (hilarity) over the weekend. Like Laura looking to see if the built-in kitchen cupboard was on wheels. And Abi talking about soup knives. For about five minutes until Joo pointed out that actually, she meant spoons... Yeah. It was good. Joo and Laura both laughed so hard they cried during charades. I almost joined them.
We had a 90th birthday pyjama party with games and cake on Saturday night. One of the participants got quite high on Love Hearts. Sadly there was no Diet Coke. Alas.
We got some very useful feedback and ideas from the participants and were able to explain and discuss various Senior Section related things. We also learnt a lot about things that would be useful for someone who is in care in relation to Senior Section events - like the level of detail they really need to have about sites, activities & supervision for example.
I have another badge for my blanket. I have been to Blacklands before, but they had exciting badges. And I wanted one. It has a big fire on it, for one thing. And pink bits. How could I resist?
We were visited by: Sussex Central's Senior Section Advisor (she lives very close & popped in to see us in a friendly way); the Region Senior Section Advisor; and the Region Commissioner, who came for lunch today.
Everyone ate very well. Joo is a splendacious QM. And we did, obviously, have food for about twice as many people as were there, given the late-dropping-out situation. But there you are. These things happen.
Getting home was not as eventful as I had feared (there were going to be buses and so on) as Joo gave me a lift to Tonbridge, from where it is only two trains & a five minute walk home. Huzzah.
The new building at Blacklands is ever so slightly disappointing. It has large bedrooms (ensuite leaders' rooms!) and a HUGE kitchen - and then two tiny activities rooms. It would actually have been very difficult if we had been a larger group. And the mattresses on the beds were actually rock solid. Not much sleep was had, despite the extra hour in bed. Alas for me.
Anyway, it was all very good, I am now very tired, and we already have some cunning plans for next year...