My working day

Today things began to fall into place in my working life at the Jamboree. I arrived at the Guest Services area at 9 am, changed into my driving shoes from some muddy boots. It is taking time to dry out so the half hour walk to work is still muddy in places. On my way to work I managed to track down Joan Goldsmith, already hard at work in the nether regions of the UK pavilion on the World Scout Centre.

I was told the two golf buggy carts needed to be at Gate 2 for 10 am in anticipation of special guests arriving who couldn't manage to walk to the Receptions Area. Rock, a BSA Scout Leader from Minnesota and I set off through the crowds of Scouts making their way to the on site activities. At Gate 2 are members of the Guest Services team assigned to meet and greet the new arrivals so we join them to wait. Before long the our first guests arrive and our services are required to take them to the Special Guest Reception Area behind Hylands House. The journey has to take a route through the one way system with Scouts still moving in large numbers augmented by Day Visitors who are beginning to arrive and milling about in a semi-purposeful way. Our instructions are to give way to pedestrians which we try to do but frankly we might never get anywhere if we observed this to the letter.

The Golf Carts are left hand drive and have no mirrors, horn or indicators so if we need to turn we have to use hand signals - a left turn can result in your arm being jolted back by a Scout thinking you are high-fiving. Other hazards are those who try to cadge a lift by hanging on or standing in front and pleading with you. Needless to say I am immune to all entreaties.

My passengers to day included local dignitaries from Essex and representatives of businesses related to Scout Insurance services, other arrivals included MP's, the Chief Constable of Essex and a football coach. At receptions they are greeted with refreshments and given an introduction by Guest service team members and then they can explore the public areas of the site.

About 1 am I returned for my packed lunch and to spend a little relaxing time which included slipping off to the Cafe Cucsa run by the Finnish Scouts. I bought a Cucsa and then enjoyed a free coffee. A trip to the cash machine nearby was the next port of call.

Back at our waiting area which is a bit like a doctors but people sit longer and play cards, read Harry Potter, sew on badges or just chat. Today I had an interesting discussion with a Slovenian Scout who had got a copy of the Koran in Croatian. They are giving them away free in the Islamic Tent in the Faiths and Beliefs Zone apparently. He can read Croation and they hadn't a Slovenian translation. This all led to a talking about the role of religion in Scouting and how it is applie din th edifferent countries. Slovenia has 2 Scout Associations, one for Catholic Scouts and one open to everyone else of any faith. Miha belongs to the latter. A BSA Scout then chipped in about the practise in the States where they cannot included an religious texts in a Scout's Own but where reverance and belief in God is important. A Scout from Dubai, offered to get Miha Slovenian translation when he got back to Dubai.

Dubai is covered by British Scouts Abroad, I met another of them at breakfast a leader from a very small group who have come from St Helena.

Later in the afternoon as Receptions began to start in the Guest services area, things began to hot up. IST had to be on hand to help with the Korean reception, later the WAGGS were in followed by the BSA with 3 separate groups. I left before the Irish reception but volunteered to help move some tables, and clean others. It is a very tight turn round for these. The Korean one included music and dancing and all the IST who helped were given lovely gifts.

After the Korean reception a trip had ot be made to gate 5 to enable catering staff to get passes sorted, so I accompanied Meani my driving colleague and took some gifts from th eKoreans for the Jamboree Director to the Jamboree HQ. There a table is covered in some beautiful and interesting gifts from various groups or visitors.

As we made our way back we were flagged down and asked to take an Australian IST member who was feeling very poorly tothe Hospital which meant a longish trip round to back where we had come from. The woman came from a small town of 2,000 people near Cairns, smaller than most of the sub camps.

At 7:15 Menai and I finished and I made my way to mneet Richard who finished at 8 and then we made our way for Dinner. He is now off inthe Elements Zone where has discvered they have some Astronomy actiivites and they were planning to set up telescopes tonight. His last words to me were a message for Amanda, "it is getting dark but the clouds are gathering." You will have to read future blogs to see if he managed to see anything significant or in fact anything!

The pictures shows some of my waiting friends in our waiting room.

I hear this is being read in Cranham, so hello to Ken and Barb, Nicki and Ian. Keep smiling there are silver linings to the dark clouds!

Felicity