For Quite Simply, Boys + Water

Greetings From The Heart of Scouting

Click to enlarge: The inscription on the brass plaque reads "The spirit of adventure is inherent in almost every boy, but adventure is hard for him to find in the crowded city". B-P

On arriving at Gordon Park following the monthly Troop hike on Saturday afternoon, Liam and I were warmly greeted by Chris who had arrived shortly before us, having ridden out on his bicycle from town. For the next few minutes, we entertained Chris with stories of our hike until he could stand it no longer, especially when we told him of our discovery of a small cave containing Bushmen paintings. I got the impression that Chris will see to it that the next hike will have to be back in the same area, as there are sure to be more paintings waiting to be discovered.

With three of us to get on with the tasks set for the weekend, we had a belated lunch before undertaking the usual tour of the Park to check that all was in order, which thankfully it was. By the time we arrived back at Headquarters it was too late to start on anything, so we decided on preparing supper and have an early night. Liam and I needed and early night as we had not had a comfortable night out in the veldt on the Friday night during our hike. Being bothered by mosquitoes doesn't allow for a restful night's sleep.

Sunday morning saw us up by 06.00 hours feeling very much more energetic and ready to take on the world, but no climb up Shumba as Liam and I had climbed several big kopjes along our hike route. In order not to go climbing on his own, Chris had the weak excuse that he had taken the long way round in riding out to the Park the day before, as he knew that we would only finish our hike mid afternoon. Humph!

The first task was to get an estimate of the surface area of the buildings at headquarters in preparation for a repainting exercise that we hope to undertake as the major project for this year. Once this had been completed we strolled down the hill to the headquarter pump to start it in order to top up the storage tanks in preparation for the forthcoming Baden-Powell camp to be held at the end of the month. Next we decided on placing a high volume pump on number three well to drain it to check that no debris had been washed into it during the flood in December of last year. Fortunately there were no foreign objects lurking at the bottom of the well.

Chris and Liam then disappeared back to the "Bowl" to our campsite, (The 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop campsite) taking axes and grass slashes to clear our site of summer growth and unwanted grass, whilst I remained at headquarters to undertake a few more long overdue repairs. By 11.00 hours well number three had made sufficient water to allow us to position the normal low volume pump and pump water to the tanks that supply the "Bowl" campsites.

Having been kept busy the whole of the day we were surprised that it was soon time to clear up, pack our kit and head home. Oh, I might add that during the exercise to drain the well, not all went without incident, for quite simply, boys + water under high pressure and volume resulted in play time where we were each thoroughly drenched by the time the well was empty. It's a boy's life when one can enjoy getting up to good old fashioned mischief.

Cheers
Norman
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This Past Week...

Norman
(re last weeks article) How come I never get invited for dinner?
Have a good 2012
Gordon Shaw
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The 2012 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop's fundraising Calendar is out!

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"A Thought For The Week"

Extract of Scouting back in 1947 after WW2 - from Milton School Magazine...
www.oldmiltonians.com/internal_links/images_schoolmagazine47/old-miltonian-1947-magazine.htm#29
Scouting Notes
WE have had a successful year's Scouting, although the inability to get uniforms until recently was a great drawback. The troop numbers 37 and the Patrol Leaders are Serrano, MacDonald, Denchfield, Du Preez and Grill.
At the end of the first term we said "Good-bye" to Harris and our Troop Leader, who is now working in Livingstone. On Empire Day we attended the Scout and Guide Rally in the Prince's Park. His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Kennedy, and Lady Kennedy inspected the Rally and Sir John, after an interesting talk, made the award of the Medal of Merit to our Scoutmaster, Mr. L. Archell, for good services to the Scout Movement over a great number of years.

Then there was the Royal Visit and the great occasion when the Scouts and Guides had the Princesses all to themselves for an hour in Government Avenue. This we shall never forget. In June we had a week-end camp at Hillside, but which, somehow, did not reach up to expectations. In the final term, having received confirmation of the weather from the Met. Office, we decided to face the rigours of nature and we again camped at Hillside. This camp will go down in the annals of Milton Scouting as one of the most successful camps ever held. Not that we had such an enjoyable time, but that we camped so well under such miserable weather conditions. Rain and bitterly cold wind did not daunt us at all and Mr. Archell, who had his tent torn to ribbons by the wind, survived along with us.

Our Bisley team came third in an inter-troop competition at the Bellevue Scout Fete recently. We hope to run a Patrol Leaders' and Seconds' Camp this term for 1st Class work. Congratulations to the Bulldog Patrol under Grill for winning the mid-term camping competition; and thanks to the Colony Commissioner, Mr. Shillingford, and the District Commissioner, Mr. Gerry Stephens, who paid us a visit recently.
Our greatest need is still a lorry. but thanks to the 1st Troop for the loan of their old bus, "Monty."


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Matabeleland Scout Website http://matabele.altervista.org/
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Bulawayo, 1st Feb 2012