UFO's At Gordon Park

Another exciting week at the "Heart of Scouting" in the Matopos. Some time late last year I had been asked by Jeff Calvert if I would be interested in running a team building course for the Plumtree school prefects. I agreed, and so a date in early February was set. Well it did not happen and a second date was set, which also didn't happen. A third date, last week from Tuesday to Thursday was set and I even sent a programme for them to mull over, not that I would have changed anything, as that is just not me. So, off I trundled to the Park on Tuesday morning to set everything up. To keep twenty-six guys busy for three days and have them on their knees after lunch on the second day needed some high-powered activities. By three o'clock in the afternoon all was in place so I toddled off for a cup of tea and awaited their arrival. Well, no body pitched up and so as I had programmed a week at the Park I was not about to waste the opportunity of being in that paradise.

On Wednesday morning I decided to catch up on some work at the Park and after preparing breakfast I set about the usual chores of getting the pump down to the well and so on. As an aside, I had not taken much food out with me, in fact only milk and some bread for lunch, as I was to be fed by the school. Oh dear, blunder. The day progressed pretty well with more mowing on the programme. On going down to the well to check on the pump I discovered that the "new" hose I had put on the week before, that is between pump and pipes leading to the tanks, had burst. The "new" hose had been in hibernation in the Rough for aeons, being an ex RR high pressure hose that had been liberated from said company by who knows who. Anyway, I decided not to cry, there was no point as there was nobody around to offer any sympathy, so I packed up the pump and went back to the Leask for a cup of tea.

After lunch, I had my siesta and then decided to fire up the mower and cut those little areas that I had conveniently left in the rush to give the casual visitor the impression that everything was perfect, trees trimmed, grass cut, fat and well fed buck prancing happily around the Training Ground, you know the scene. Well, imagine my utter astonishment when in broad daylight I saw a cluster of UFO's. I fell over backward. Quite some feat when you consider that my portly well nourished belly, usually causes me to fall forwards. Anyhow, there it was and no mistaking that I had witnessed a UFO.

Now, normally we tend to be looking up when we see such things, but nay, this one was firmly ensconced on terra firma, an Unidentified Fastasleep Object.
On closer inspection, and I may add at great risk to my well being, I crept forward rather cautiously.

A deep sigh of relief, for what I found was a herd of car tyres that had been left on the ground, hidden from view, after an obstacle course.
No names as to who the culprit was. But, never mind, the long suffering Camp Commissioner had everything under control within a short space of time. It is a pity that the Peter Heering and Kahlua are now finished, for they certainly helped to forget the trials and tribulations of dealing with today's errand youth.

By the end of Thursday I had finished mowing the plateau Leader Training camp and kitchen sites and the drive from the main road. I had also moved some old railway sleepers... now I am not referring to some old age pensioners, from the HQ incinerator site to the kitchen at the Lodge. How long they had been laying there is anybody's guess, for they were in that location when I took over the Park last century. I needed them, to extend the terracing for the dining area towards the road, so forming another step. A slightly elevated step would make it easier for the smaller Cubs to see what was being ladled onto their plates, plates that are usually filled up whilst on the concrete table next to the ovens and out of eyesight for the little tykes. This task was completed a few days later when I was at the Park for the hike and service weekend. All that remains to be done now is to fill in the terrace with soil. Next week's task.

For a report on the monthly hike you will have to wait for, "Pioneer Trail".

This month's Service, doubled as a Memorial Service for Mike George. Liz did not want anything special, but then do I ever listen. (Reminds me of somebody else I know). As I was at "The Park Alone" again this weekend, sport plays havoc with our Troop activities, I was able to work long and hard in preparing for the service. Mmmm Emma and Shadow don't play any sport. Besides the normal mowing I even prepared the area around the "Mike George Camp ground" plaque up in the Bowl. On Sunday morning I decorated the plaque rock, put flags on the Bowl Parade Ground flag poles and mounted a small display of Mike's things on a table on the veranda of the Stables. The usual signs and flags were put in position at HQ, and the Gordon Park Standard was placed in its position behind the altar in the chapel. Father Noel Scott conducted the Service. Afterwards, Liz and Megan, Mike's eldest daughter who lives in Harare, plus a few close friends went up to the Bowl and scattered Mike's ashes around the base of the plaque. A few more prayers were said and all was done. When I am able to down load pictures from my camera, I will send some pictures of the day's events to you.

Not having had any luck in locating another hose for the pump, at no cost quite naturally, I had no option than to come up with a plan to use what I could find in the Rough at the Park. To cut a long story short, I have gone back to the inch and a quarter diameter hose I had used many years ago and after much modification, threading of pipes, manufacturing of heavy duty clamps, the task of getting water from pump to rising main was accomplished.

A few more chores that should have been seen to ages ago were completed, the main one being, I have at long last pulled the tree between the Stables and the Rough from its reclining position to an upright position. A stout rope tied to Inguluvane and a gumpole to hold said tree in an upright position, is all it took. Another tree, the one that was blown down some years ago and left reclining against the rock alongside the road just past the War Memorial, was also removed with said stout rope and Inguluvane.

The Hillside Post Office never fails. It might take a few months to get the mail to one's address, but it never fails. Fortunately, I was not the only one to receive my Christmas and following two months mail this week, many others experienced the pleasure. Thanks very much for the Christmas card and the insert. I will get Adam to sit down for a few minutes for a well deserved coke, but most probably at lunch time as he would have gone back to his kia long before sunset.

Adam's bicycle has had a new lease of life given to it. Pete paid out for two new tyres and tubes and also a new crank shaft, cups and ball bearings. So old Adam is getting lots of help. He needs it, as he is getting noticeably grey and very slow in his work. I am getting a little exasperated with him as he is not as conscientious he used to be. I find that I have to do and re-do some of his work.

The US$ is fetching 25 million Zimdollars today. Inflation is doubling every week now. We are still enjoying nice hot days and warm nights. No rain for more than a month, so the bush is beginning to dry out.

Leon, I trust you are settling in. Good to hear that you have a job. Pass on my regards to Paul, Mark and Gumbie.
Now I look forward to a great week. Keep fit and keep smiling.
Cheers
Norman
Bulawayo, 13 March 2008