I haven't had time yet to lok through my collection of gifts, swaps, badges and other memorabilia from the Jamboree but I thought I might mention one thing.
One of the receptions team was an older Italian man. His name seemed familiar to me but I didn't think too much about that because I know few Italians so it could have been similar to something from a film, book or anywhere.
A couple of days before the close of the Jamboree he engaged me in conversation and told me he was teaching English to some older Italians at the Jamboree. He had learned English at the age of 18. It transpired he had been in the diplomatic service but had only served in one English speaking country, Australia.
He observed to me that B-P never used words with more than 6 letters which made it simple to understand. This lead to a brief reference on my part to the simplicity of Shakespearean english. He told me that B-P's use of contemporary idioms seemed dated in English but worked well in translation. He then told me he had compiled a dictionary of quotations by B-P which was being sold by the World Scout Shop. At the first opportunity I went to seek out this book, bought it and he kindly signed it for me. It is called "Footsteps of the Founder"
During the Closing Ceremony he came near to me and said that Bill Cockcroft had been reading from one of his books when he quoted B-P during his speech, but not the book I had bought another one. We then said our farewells and he slipped away in to the night. Only after he had gone did I have a flash of light and realise that he was the compiler of "Playing the Game" which had provided some of the quotations for our District Renewal of Promise event. That was why I knew the name "Mario Sica".
I doubt whether we shall ever meet again but I have my memories of him and my momentoes of him.
Felicity
Friday, 10 August 2007
Back Home!
The last blog completed on Wednesday morning, I made my way over to the Ocean Hub for our final meeting, an opportunity for a debriefing before packing everything away.
The meeting didn't happen, but the packing away certainly did!
We set to, taking down three Fiesta Tents and clearing the Hub office.
Job done, I met up with Felicity and her friend Menai, helping to take down another Fiesta Tent and to fold some other tents, before joining all the UK members of the International Service Team, about 1750 in all for a farewell photo in front of Hylands House.
It was also an opportunity for the organisers to thank us for our work.
Back up to the Adult Hub for the last evening meal - a lovely Bar B Q - and on into the party.
Over the meal came one last conversation. Meeting up with another leader from Gloucestershire we got talking with a friend of hers from Canada who had been involved in the Starburst projects. I hadn't mentioned much about them in the Blog, but they were very much part of the Jamboree.
Each day parties of Scouts went out to a number of community projects to work on schemes that would leave a lasting mark on the local community. Our friend described the way in which the project she had been working on had set about restoring a Victorian Kitchen garden, planting out and clearing up. The work done by the various parties of Scouts had saved 1/4 million pounds and advanced the project by 3 months! Other work had been done on a forest, children's play group, a cemetery in the East End of London. This was all part of the task of creating a better world!
One last night sleeping in our tents, and on Thursday came the taks of packing everything away. Heather, a friend of Felicity's from her team, offered to take one of us over to North Weald airfield to pick the car up. I went with Tony, her partner to North Weald to pick the car up.
The last person we saw on the site was Roma, one of our Listening Ear team, still waiting for her lift! I hope it arrived!
We couldn't really leave the site so easily, however.
Much of the equipment was up for sale, or could be taken away if you had room in the car. We drove round to Gate 4, a Gate neither of us had used before, and Felicity acquired a couple of dining shelters, a stove and other goodies too that will come in useful for our own Scout Group.
That was not quite the end of the Jamboree, however.
We didn't drive straight home.
Instead we turned off the A40 before Cheltenham and drove round to Cranham. There a contingent from Iceland had joined the hosts who were putting them up for a few days to show them the delights of Gloucestershire. Other members of the Gloucestershire Contingent who had been at the Jamboree were also there. With camp fire fun and games, it was a wonderful way to finish what had been such a memorable experience!
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
The meeting didn't happen, but the packing away certainly did!
We set to, taking down three Fiesta Tents and clearing the Hub office.
Job done, I met up with Felicity and her friend Menai, helping to take down another Fiesta Tent and to fold some other tents, before joining all the UK members of the International Service Team, about 1750 in all for a farewell photo in front of Hylands House.
It was also an opportunity for the organisers to thank us for our work.
Back up to the Adult Hub for the last evening meal - a lovely Bar B Q - and on into the party.
Over the meal came one last conversation. Meeting up with another leader from Gloucestershire we got talking with a friend of hers from Canada who had been involved in the Starburst projects. I hadn't mentioned much about them in the Blog, but they were very much part of the Jamboree.
Each day parties of Scouts went out to a number of community projects to work on schemes that would leave a lasting mark on the local community. Our friend described the way in which the project she had been working on had set about restoring a Victorian Kitchen garden, planting out and clearing up. The work done by the various parties of Scouts had saved 1/4 million pounds and advanced the project by 3 months! Other work had been done on a forest, children's play group, a cemetery in the East End of London. This was all part of the task of creating a better world!
One last night sleeping in our tents, and on Thursday came the taks of packing everything away. Heather, a friend of Felicity's from her team, offered to take one of us over to North Weald airfield to pick the car up. I went with Tony, her partner to North Weald to pick the car up.
The last person we saw on the site was Roma, one of our Listening Ear team, still waiting for her lift! I hope it arrived!
We couldn't really leave the site so easily, however.
Much of the equipment was up for sale, or could be taken away if you had room in the car. We drove round to Gate 4, a Gate neither of us had used before, and Felicity acquired a couple of dining shelters, a stove and other goodies too that will come in useful for our own Scout Group.
That was not quite the end of the Jamboree, however.
We didn't drive straight home.
Instead we turned off the A40 before Cheltenham and drove round to Cranham. There a contingent from Iceland had joined the hosts who were putting them up for a few days to show them the delights of Gloucestershire. Other members of the Gloucestershire Contingent who had been at the Jamboree were also there. With camp fire fun and games, it was a wonderful way to finish what had been such a memorable experience!
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
One World, One Promise
... and for that matter, One Garden!
A slow start to a slow day with not a lot to do, and everything coming to an end. I sought out extra work at the Adult Support centre but was offered a shift cleaning toilets at 11-00 pm just when I was to go on duty.
I ended up seeking Felicity out and after lunch we ran an errand for her work team. We had to walk from Hylands House over to The Jamboree Headquarters and so we took a short cut through the One World Garden, created specially to commemorate the World Jamboree.
Our attention was drawn to someone etching initials into the trellising on the way to the centrepiece pool. "Ask, and he'll add your initials too!!" An irresistable suggesion!
We asked and quickly entered into another of those wonderful Jamboree conversations. It turned out our friend had been responsible for installing the water on to the site. He was most concerned about the situation in Cheltenham and full of very genuine sympathy. He described how they had drawn the water from two big mains in order to ensure that none of the surrounding area should run dry. In addition they had installed two enormous 'bladders' at the top of the site just about the Adult camping area. During quite spells, over night, they were filled with water so that at the busiest spells there was always a ready supply of water on tap.
A wonderful system!
That, however, was not all. When we commented about the garden he explained that he had designed it. His name I shall add just as soon as I can recall it!! He treated us to a wonderful description of the most marvellous garden.
He explained how it depicted the journey through scouting. Starting with the spring of water welling up in the welcoming hut, the stream wound its way first through a wild area of beautiful wild flowers, intentionally left wild but completely secured by a Ewe Hedge. This represented the starting point in Beavers - completely secure but as yet wild and free! Then the water wound its way into the Cubs area. Full of exploration and fun with the first experience of camping away. Interestingly one path left to return to Hylands HOuse at that point. That's what some choose to do ... but they still have been touched by Scouting and remain part of the family.
Passing two gyratory drains representing the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere the water then passes a much more ordered garden - we have reached the stage of scouting. With 'corkscrew' like box hedges circling the space where Scouts are much freer to do what they want to do with guidance from their 'corkscrew' like leaders!!
Then the waters lead on to the main pool. With paving stones all coming from India and laid out to represent the lines of latitude and longitude it is a reminder that Scouting is a world movement. Laid into the paving are inscriptions I have referred to before which relate to the Gifts for Peace projects for the centenary year and are a reminder of scouting's commitment to peace.
Another path leads into the wide world, or you can retrace your steps, stay in the movement and contribute to scouting and its future.
He described the way in which Hylands Park has been restored with its landscaped gardens returned to their original designs. This he suggested was a wonderful new garden looking to the future, but there were lots of features in it in keeping with the past, not least one wonderful view through a hedge, beneath an oak tree to a distant church spire.
What a wonderful insight into the One World Garden.
One World was very much the theme of the closing ceremony. In spite of pouring rain it was a moving reminder of the world dimension of scouting. Earlier in the day the Guiness Book of Records had officially included Scouting as the world's largest Youth Movement including members from all but half a dozen countries in the world. That international theme recurred thorughout the ceremony with contributions from Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, Indonesia and many more places.
The World Scout flag was handed over to Sweden ready for the next Jamboree. The Secretary of the World Association of Scouts gave an impassioned pleas to everyone to take forward the vision of the founder of Scouting and create a better world by working for peace and for fairness.
That had been the over-riding theme of the whole Jamboree ... and a marvellously moving moment as we greeted others standing around us. I am pretty sure I spotted Michael Baden Powell just standing in the crowd, joining in the fun with everyone else - wonderful to see how unassuming he was! Glad I found the picture of him looking after Felicity's wellies!
The ceremony came to an end and I joined the Listening Ear Team to be around for the end of the evening.
Coming down to breakfast this morning, I joined Emanuel, the friend from Nigeria who had introduced me to Nigerian Society earlier in the Jamboree.
What was most memorable for him was the way in which he had been introduced to so many different cultures. How right he was! Never before have I met so many people from so many different parts of the world, all brought together by a movement committed to making the world a better place!
It has been a wonderful experience.
All that remains is to do a lot of clearing up, take a group photo of the UK IST contingent, have a bit of a party, take the tent down and go!
Thank you to Felicity for persuading me to come, to Highbury for letting us come 'in church time' and to all the organisers of the Jamboree for making it such a success.
One World - not a bad vision to take from the Jamboree.
One Promise - not a bad way of achieving the vision.
See you soon in Cheltenham!
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
A slow start to a slow day with not a lot to do, and everything coming to an end. I sought out extra work at the Adult Support centre but was offered a shift cleaning toilets at 11-00 pm just when I was to go on duty.
I ended up seeking Felicity out and after lunch we ran an errand for her work team. We had to walk from Hylands House over to The Jamboree Headquarters and so we took a short cut through the One World Garden, created specially to commemorate the World Jamboree.
Our attention was drawn to someone etching initials into the trellising on the way to the centrepiece pool. "Ask, and he'll add your initials too!!" An irresistable suggesion!
We asked and quickly entered into another of those wonderful Jamboree conversations. It turned out our friend had been responsible for installing the water on to the site. He was most concerned about the situation in Cheltenham and full of very genuine sympathy. He described how they had drawn the water from two big mains in order to ensure that none of the surrounding area should run dry. In addition they had installed two enormous 'bladders' at the top of the site just about the Adult camping area. During quite spells, over night, they were filled with water so that at the busiest spells there was always a ready supply of water on tap.
A wonderful system!
That, however, was not all. When we commented about the garden he explained that he had designed it. His name I shall add just as soon as I can recall it!! He treated us to a wonderful description of the most marvellous garden.
He explained how it depicted the journey through scouting. Starting with the spring of water welling up in the welcoming hut, the stream wound its way first through a wild area of beautiful wild flowers, intentionally left wild but completely secured by a Ewe Hedge. This represented the starting point in Beavers - completely secure but as yet wild and free! Then the water wound its way into the Cubs area. Full of exploration and fun with the first experience of camping away. Interestingly one path left to return to Hylands HOuse at that point. That's what some choose to do ... but they still have been touched by Scouting and remain part of the family.
Passing two gyratory drains representing the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere the water then passes a much more ordered garden - we have reached the stage of scouting. With 'corkscrew' like box hedges circling the space where Scouts are much freer to do what they want to do with guidance from their 'corkscrew' like leaders!!
Then the waters lead on to the main pool. With paving stones all coming from India and laid out to represent the lines of latitude and longitude it is a reminder that Scouting is a world movement. Laid into the paving are inscriptions I have referred to before which relate to the Gifts for Peace projects for the centenary year and are a reminder of scouting's commitment to peace.
Another path leads into the wide world, or you can retrace your steps, stay in the movement and contribute to scouting and its future.
He described the way in which Hylands Park has been restored with its landscaped gardens returned to their original designs. This he suggested was a wonderful new garden looking to the future, but there were lots of features in it in keeping with the past, not least one wonderful view through a hedge, beneath an oak tree to a distant church spire.
What a wonderful insight into the One World Garden.
One World was very much the theme of the closing ceremony. In spite of pouring rain it was a moving reminder of the world dimension of scouting. Earlier in the day the Guiness Book of Records had officially included Scouting as the world's largest Youth Movement including members from all but half a dozen countries in the world. That international theme recurred thorughout the ceremony with contributions from Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, Indonesia and many more places.
The World Scout flag was handed over to Sweden ready for the next Jamboree. The Secretary of the World Association of Scouts gave an impassioned pleas to everyone to take forward the vision of the founder of Scouting and create a better world by working for peace and for fairness.
That had been the over-riding theme of the whole Jamboree ... and a marvellously moving moment as we greeted others standing around us. I am pretty sure I spotted Michael Baden Powell just standing in the crowd, joining in the fun with everyone else - wonderful to see how unassuming he was! Glad I found the picture of him looking after Felicity's wellies!
The ceremony came to an end and I joined the Listening Ear Team to be around for the end of the evening.
Coming down to breakfast this morning, I joined Emanuel, the friend from Nigeria who had introduced me to Nigerian Society earlier in the Jamboree.
What was most memorable for him was the way in which he had been introduced to so many different cultures. How right he was! Never before have I met so many people from so many different parts of the world, all brought together by a movement committed to making the world a better place!
It has been a wonderful experience.
All that remains is to do a lot of clearing up, take a group photo of the UK IST contingent, have a bit of a party, take the tent down and go!
Thank you to Felicity for persuading me to come, to Highbury for letting us come 'in church time' and to all the organisers of the Jamboree for making it such a success.
One World - not a bad vision to take from the Jamboree.
One Promise - not a bad way of achieving the vision.
See you soon in Cheltenham!
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
Long Winding Road Homeward
The last few days have faded into somewhat of a blur. Trying to distinguish one farewell or final event from another. There have been Team Farewell parties, a Carnival procession, the Closing ceremony and individual goodbyes. We like many UK IST are here until Thursday but since the final day of onsite activity ended there has been a steady trickle of departures from my team. Tuesday was a strange day with no activities running but lotso f people around on site with not much to do. The World Village and Global Development Areas disappeared leaving numerous empty Fiestas tents. The only things going were Scout Shops with it's inevitable long queue, one or two other sales outlets and various cafes. There was a constant stream of contingents having there photos taken in front of Hylands House and swapping of Badges and anything else that was reasonable portable. The International Badgers area was overrun.
I had an earlyish run to London City Airport which ended up being a tight one because of slow traffic conditions. This was to take Thijs Stoffer who was flying back to Switzerland for the Closing Ceremony of Kanderjam. Thijs is Chairman of the Kandersteg Association and was working with International Guests here at the Jamboree.
When I returned our working area tenatsd had been taken down and equipment was being packed to go to the warehouse or back to Gilwell.
Last night Richard and I met up with my Team for the Closing ceremony and it was good to know that we had been valued and appreciated by co-workers.
Unfortunately I did not say a proper goodbye to my immediate manager Zaman who has now left for Bangladesh (middle of the Three Wise Men).
Today the Contingents leave and it will be very strange. I am off to see if there is any work to do - well there is work to do I know but finding the right place to be and the right person to see might be more difficult.
Next time it is to be in Sweden and has the theme Simply Scouting. Th eplans look good and th efeel a little different. This has been the Centenary Jamboree and this has affected it's size and it's content. It has been good to be here.
See you Thursday night at Cranham.
Felicity
I had an earlyish run to London City Airport which ended up being a tight one because of slow traffic conditions. This was to take Thijs Stoffer who was flying back to Switzerland for the Closing Ceremony of Kanderjam. Thijs is Chairman of the Kandersteg Association and was working with International Guests here at the Jamboree.
When I returned our working area tenatsd had been taken down and equipment was being packed to go to the warehouse or back to Gilwell.
Last night Richard and I met up with my Team for the Closing ceremony and it was good to know that we had been valued and appreciated by co-workers.
Unfortunately I did not say a proper goodbye to my immediate manager Zaman who has now left for Bangladesh (middle of the Three Wise Men).
Today the Contingents leave and it will be very strange. I am off to see if there is any work to do - well there is work to do I know but finding the right place to be and the right person to see might be more difficult.
Next time it is to be in Sweden and has the theme Simply Scouting. Th eplans look good and th efeel a little different. This has been the Centenary Jamboree and this has affected it's size and it's content. It has been good to be here.
See you Thursday night at Cranham.
Felicity
Monday, 6 August 2007
Carnival Time
My duty done, I've just managed a hot chocolate before turning in for the night.
One thing I have not said anything about is what's gone on at the Listening Ear tent on the Ocean Hub. That's quite deliberate as the idea it's a safe place where youngsters can come and share their problems ... and they have. It's been a great part of the Jamboree, part of that 'unseen' superstructure that makes the whole thing work well, a safeguard that's really important.
The team I have been working with are great. Headed up by Ellen and Ilsa from Holland, Christine was quickly deputed as deputy leader as Ellen was ill to begin with. Thankfully Ellen was able to return to the Jamboree, but Christine has continued to give a helping hand. A District Commissioner from Cheshire, she has been joined by a good friend Lesley.
Nick has played a big part in organising his contingent's presence at the Jamboree and comes from Manchester. Roma is our senior member. On her fourth Jamboree, from Canada she is in her mid seventies and a wonderful presence. Debbie comes from Ohio and has her son James on an adjacent Sub Camp. Don is from Washington and doing all sorts of other things at the Jamboree as well. Jane is a Guider who is proving a wonderful listening ear for quite a number. While Giancarlo is the star of the team - full of fun, speaking Italian and a little bit of French. We have all been brushing up on our French to include him in!
As the evening wore on a Carnival procession wended its way round the whole of the Jamboree site. It seemed as if all 40,000 participants and leaders were partying away.
Tomorrow sees the start of packing up, with a closing ceremony in the evening.
Then on Wednesday we shall be helping to clear up and on Thursday returning home.
I don't know how much longer the internet cafe will remain open! I'll try another couple of updates before getting home.
I'm really sorry not to have been able to add any more photos - I have some great ones on the mobile phone, but for some reason they have not got through. Orange must be laughing as I have paid for them all ... but not received any!!!
Hope to be in touch again!
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
One thing I have not said anything about is what's gone on at the Listening Ear tent on the Ocean Hub. That's quite deliberate as the idea it's a safe place where youngsters can come and share their problems ... and they have. It's been a great part of the Jamboree, part of that 'unseen' superstructure that makes the whole thing work well, a safeguard that's really important.
The team I have been working with are great. Headed up by Ellen and Ilsa from Holland, Christine was quickly deputed as deputy leader as Ellen was ill to begin with. Thankfully Ellen was able to return to the Jamboree, but Christine has continued to give a helping hand. A District Commissioner from Cheshire, she has been joined by a good friend Lesley.
Nick has played a big part in organising his contingent's presence at the Jamboree and comes from Manchester. Roma is our senior member. On her fourth Jamboree, from Canada she is in her mid seventies and a wonderful presence. Debbie comes from Ohio and has her son James on an adjacent Sub Camp. Don is from Washington and doing all sorts of other things at the Jamboree as well. Jane is a Guider who is proving a wonderful listening ear for quite a number. While Giancarlo is the star of the team - full of fun, speaking Italian and a little bit of French. We have all been brushing up on our French to include him in!
As the evening wore on a Carnival procession wended its way round the whole of the Jamboree site. It seemed as if all 40,000 participants and leaders were partying away.
Tomorrow sees the start of packing up, with a closing ceremony in the evening.
Then on Wednesday we shall be helping to clear up and on Thursday returning home.
I don't know how much longer the internet cafe will remain open! I'll try another couple of updates before getting home.
I'm really sorry not to have been able to add any more photos - I have some great ones on the mobile phone, but for some reason they have not got through. Orange must be laughing as I have paid for them all ... but not received any!!!
Hope to be in touch again!
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
Serendipity!
The Jamboree has been full of serendipity ... but now it's drawing to a close all too quickly!
Yesterday the sun got the better of me! After completing my blog I went off to do my duty on as a Listening Ear but it was very quiet at our tent! It seemed unbearably hot inside and outside the tent.
We made our way over to the Tropical Hub to join in the Roman Catholic Worship. Teeming with young people from many different parts of the world it was a lively mix of worship with three mini sermons in Spanish, French and English exploring the reading for the day - the Parable of the Rich Fool who thought he could keep all his worldly possessions only to discover that death summoned! We were challenged to consider our priorities and seek the things of God's kingdom, justice and peace.
We took supper in the company of someone from Fijii who told her story to Felicity. I was glad to sit and listen!
My evening came to an early end and an early night was followed by a very good sleep.
Breakfast this morning was in the company of three from Kenya who were thrilled with the Jamboree but now ready to get back home.
This morning I had a task to do.
We both packed up as much as we could for me to take back to the car. That was quite some expedition. It is a 30 minute walk from our tent to the bus stop for the car park, a 30 minute ride in the bus to the Air Field, a 30 minute retrieve of the bags, a 30 minute bus ride back, a 30 minute walk back to the tent and a five minute walk to the Internet Cafe. It is now 3-15 and I left the tent at 10-15. You can see the sums don't add up!!
The first problem was that I had nearly reached the bus stop before realising I had left my car keys back at the tent.
That's what led to the serendipitous moment!
I had got half way back to the bus stop on my second journey when I drew level with an elderly man heavy laden with a back pack and draped in a flag. For two pins I would simply have passed him as I was in a hurry. But that's not quite the spirit of the Jamboree! So yet another conversation began.
At his enquiry I explained I was from Cheltenham. He explained he was from Australia, or at least he had been living there for 40 years. Originally he had been from Surrey ... and he hadn't lost the accent!
He asked if I had enjoyed the Jamboree, and then he said one of the best moments for him had been on Brownsea Island. "So, you had been there!" I said. For the Sunrise ceremony representative scouts from all the countries at the Jamboree had gone over to Brownsea Island to renew their promise there. I took it he had been with the Australian contingent.
But that had not been the reason for his presence at Brownsea Island.
"They wanted someone from the family there," he explained.
I guessed the family he was referring to!!
It turned out my fellow traveller, also taking an advance bag back to the car, was none other than Micahel Baden Powell another grandson of Lord Baden Powell! With great excitement I invited him to sign my map, and he added his name in a wonderful signature right across Australia. He then proceeded to pin a badge on my Jamboree necker, "I met Michael Baden Powell Founder's Grandson, Scouting Centenary 1st August 1907 2007."
I recalled visiting the family house with Felicity earlier in the year, and he was beginning to explain that he had been born one month after his Grandfather's death, but that he had wonderful memories of his Grandmother, when a buggy drew up.
The buggy offered him a lift, and he in turn insisted I ride on the buggy too.
I have a wonderful picture of Michael Baden Powell clinging on to my all too heavy bag with muddy wellingtons strapped on top in the h ope that neither he nor the bag would tumble from the back of the buggy.
The buggy driver took him to the celebrity car park where his wife picked him up and I realised that I was nowhere near the bus stop to take me to the North Weald Airfield car park that I needed. No matter, the buggy driver took me round to the bus stop and my journey was completed.
With a good long break for lunch I am now ready for my next duty from 4-00 through to 10-00.
What a wonderful day yet again!
A day full of serendipity.
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
Yesterday the sun got the better of me! After completing my blog I went off to do my duty on as a Listening Ear but it was very quiet at our tent! It seemed unbearably hot inside and outside the tent.
We made our way over to the Tropical Hub to join in the Roman Catholic Worship. Teeming with young people from many different parts of the world it was a lively mix of worship with three mini sermons in Spanish, French and English exploring the reading for the day - the Parable of the Rich Fool who thought he could keep all his worldly possessions only to discover that death summoned! We were challenged to consider our priorities and seek the things of God's kingdom, justice and peace.
We took supper in the company of someone from Fijii who told her story to Felicity. I was glad to sit and listen!
My evening came to an early end and an early night was followed by a very good sleep.
Breakfast this morning was in the company of three from Kenya who were thrilled with the Jamboree but now ready to get back home.
This morning I had a task to do.
We both packed up as much as we could for me to take back to the car. That was quite some expedition. It is a 30 minute walk from our tent to the bus stop for the car park, a 30 minute ride in the bus to the Air Field, a 30 minute retrieve of the bags, a 30 minute bus ride back, a 30 minute walk back to the tent and a five minute walk to the Internet Cafe. It is now 3-15 and I left the tent at 10-15. You can see the sums don't add up!!
The first problem was that I had nearly reached the bus stop before realising I had left my car keys back at the tent.
That's what led to the serendipitous moment!
I had got half way back to the bus stop on my second journey when I drew level with an elderly man heavy laden with a back pack and draped in a flag. For two pins I would simply have passed him as I was in a hurry. But that's not quite the spirit of the Jamboree! So yet another conversation began.
At his enquiry I explained I was from Cheltenham. He explained he was from Australia, or at least he had been living there for 40 years. Originally he had been from Surrey ... and he hadn't lost the accent!
He asked if I had enjoyed the Jamboree, and then he said one of the best moments for him had been on Brownsea Island. "So, you had been there!" I said. For the Sunrise ceremony representative scouts from all the countries at the Jamboree had gone over to Brownsea Island to renew their promise there. I took it he had been with the Australian contingent.
But that had not been the reason for his presence at Brownsea Island.
"They wanted someone from the family there," he explained.
I guessed the family he was referring to!!
It turned out my fellow traveller, also taking an advance bag back to the car, was none other than Micahel Baden Powell another grandson of Lord Baden Powell! With great excitement I invited him to sign my map, and he added his name in a wonderful signature right across Australia. He then proceeded to pin a badge on my Jamboree necker, "I met Michael Baden Powell Founder's Grandson, Scouting Centenary 1st August 1907 2007."
I recalled visiting the family house with Felicity earlier in the year, and he was beginning to explain that he had been born one month after his Grandfather's death, but that he had wonderful memories of his Grandmother, when a buggy drew up.
The buggy offered him a lift, and he in turn insisted I ride on the buggy too.
I have a wonderful picture of Michael Baden Powell clinging on to my all too heavy bag with muddy wellingtons strapped on top in the h ope that neither he nor the bag would tumble from the back of the buggy.
The buggy driver took him to the celebrity car park where his wife picked him up and I realised that I was nowhere near the bus stop to take me to the North Weald Airfield car park that I needed. No matter, the buggy driver took me round to the bus stop and my journey was completed.
With a good long break for lunch I am now ready for my next duty from 4-00 through to 10-00.
What a wonderful day yet again!
A day full of serendipity.
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Politics from beginning to end ... not quite!!
Saturday was quite some day!
It began with a fascinating breakfast. This time with someone from the UK who has done quite a bit in scouting not far from where we live ... in fact, come to think of it, her scouting is done just where we live!
Yesterday was the first day we both had free ... and so we started it together before going our separate ways and meeting up for lunch.
In my walk past the Arena I met and had a chat with the President of the Scout Association of Sri Lanka, a Day Visitor accompanied by his daughters who were living and working in the UK.
It was then that the politics began!
A big part of the Jamboree is the commitment of Scouting to peace and to social justice. One of the major activity areas is on Global Development and quite a number of NGO's are here on site. I made for the UNHCR tent and some fascinating and disturbing computer presentations, leaflets and games on the refugee crisis afflicting great swathes of the world.
What made this stall different at the Jamboree was that it brought together unexpected people. Jennie Hartley works for UNHCR in London, while Ashley Fleming works as a lawyer with refugees and immigrants in the Midlands. Ashley was taken to task by an Indian Doctor from Assam in North India. Feelings were strongly expressed as he began to describe the consequence of mass movements of refugees in the wake of the war that led to the creation of Bangladesh 35 years ago. What happens, he asked, when the refugee population take over the land and the culture? Working for the Indian Railway in health care for its workers, our Indian friend saw a refugee crisis from a different perspective. Ashley, meanwhile, stood her ground, arguing that the refugees needed support in the plight they experienced and that support was precisely the purpose of the United Nations conventions on refugees.
It was fascinating to have two quite different perspectives on a major issue brought together with such personal feeling. Some of the material UNHCR had provided for the Scout Jamboree and their fascinating games can be found at www.unhcr.org/scouts
The discussion over, I made my way round to the back of th Hyland House to explore the beautiful gardens. An addition to the gardens has been designed and built to mark the World Jamboree.
The wonderful One World Garden celebrating the Centennial World Scout Jamboree will become a permanent feature of the beautiful gardens. A winding rill of water leads to a centre piece with quotations from different Scout Associations througout the world.
The photo I took, if I can manage to retrieve it!, was of a group of five scouts from Tajekstan with their leader.
In the paving slabs are a number of quotations. Each celebrating 'gifts for peace'.
New Zealand - Healthy Young People
Burundi - Peace and Togetherness
Russian Federation - Supporting deprived youth
UK - Looking to the Future
India - Respect for Religions
Brazil - Peace and Friendship
After a cool, refreshing Czech Lemonade in the company of Aaron and Zoe from the 1st Ditton Scout Group in Kent, I met up with Felicity for lunch.
We made our way afterwards to Terraville and Aquaville where different national scout associations had activities around a village theme. It was good to meet with Welsh speakers in the Welsh tent, and play all sorts of games and puzzles from many different parts of the world.
In the scorching heat we flaked out under a gazebo at 4-00 in the middle of a busy field full of activities. When we came to with a start at 4-30 the field was entirely empty. Then came one of those wonderful linguistic moments the Jamboree is all about.
Seeing what turned out to be a Belgian walking towards us, Felicity called out, "Can you go to the entrance to the field that way?" pointing the way he had come. "OK," came the response as the Belgian turned and began to walk back the way he had come. "No, no!" called Felicity after him, " I didn't mean, 'Can you go to the entrance of the field that way? I meant 'Can we go to the entrance ...' You could almost see our Belgian friend's despair at the quirks of the English language and felt he wanted to say, "Why didn't you say so in the first place!"
We made our way back through the sub camps and met up with Julian and the Gloucestershire contingent who were having a wonderful time, even if rather too much of the rice was getting burned!
While Felicity stayed around the Plaza for more of an explore, I made my way back to the Adult hub for a meal and for one of the most exciting events of the Jamboree.
On my way to the Astronomy field I bumped into Francisco Diego, the Astronomer form University College, London, who prompted me to take a wonderful photo of the two of us silouhetted in the setting sun! I do hope I can rescue that one!
On to a big tent for a link up between half a dozen scouts and the International Space Station. AT the most unexpected of moments we arrived at the political moment at the end of the day. AFter giving a fascinating presentation of the work of the International Space Station Francisco Diego described the way in which from Space it is impossible to see borders and frontiers between countries. The international nature of teh work of the Space Station is a massive statement for peace, he suggested. Questioned on its cost he said it had cost 100 billion dollars. There were gasps of disbelief. He then justified that expenditure suggesting that it was but 1 per cent of the expenditure on the Iraq War. It was quite something to hear the applause from all round the very international audience expressing a united sense of horror at the Iraq war.
At precisely the expected moment, contact was made with the Space Station as it moved over Britain. A nine minute question and answer session ensued and was wonderful to share!
Then it was out to the telescopes and wonderful views of the Ring Nebula, the M 3 or is it M 13 globular cluster in Hercules, the Andromeda Galaxy, the double star in Ursa Major and a wonderful half moon!
Francisco Diego had no time for religion ... I differed with him, but he did not pursue the discussion. My mind went not so much to Genesis 1 as to Proverbs 8 and the sheer delight God takes in his creation and in his people. I went to bed with sheer delight in my heart too!!
Another wondeful day.
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
It began with a fascinating breakfast. This time with someone from the UK who has done quite a bit in scouting not far from where we live ... in fact, come to think of it, her scouting is done just where we live!
Yesterday was the first day we both had free ... and so we started it together before going our separate ways and meeting up for lunch.
In my walk past the Arena I met and had a chat with the President of the Scout Association of Sri Lanka, a Day Visitor accompanied by his daughters who were living and working in the UK.
It was then that the politics began!
A big part of the Jamboree is the commitment of Scouting to peace and to social justice. One of the major activity areas is on Global Development and quite a number of NGO's are here on site. I made for the UNHCR tent and some fascinating and disturbing computer presentations, leaflets and games on the refugee crisis afflicting great swathes of the world.
What made this stall different at the Jamboree was that it brought together unexpected people. Jennie Hartley works for UNHCR in London, while Ashley Fleming works as a lawyer with refugees and immigrants in the Midlands. Ashley was taken to task by an Indian Doctor from Assam in North India. Feelings were strongly expressed as he began to describe the consequence of mass movements of refugees in the wake of the war that led to the creation of Bangladesh 35 years ago. What happens, he asked, when the refugee population take over the land and the culture? Working for the Indian Railway in health care for its workers, our Indian friend saw a refugee crisis from a different perspective. Ashley, meanwhile, stood her ground, arguing that the refugees needed support in the plight they experienced and that support was precisely the purpose of the United Nations conventions on refugees.
It was fascinating to have two quite different perspectives on a major issue brought together with such personal feeling. Some of the material UNHCR had provided for the Scout Jamboree and their fascinating games can be found at www.unhcr.org/scouts
The discussion over, I made my way round to the back of th Hyland House to explore the beautiful gardens. An addition to the gardens has been designed and built to mark the World Jamboree.
The wonderful One World Garden celebrating the Centennial World Scout Jamboree will become a permanent feature of the beautiful gardens. A winding rill of water leads to a centre piece with quotations from different Scout Associations througout the world.
The photo I took, if I can manage to retrieve it!, was of a group of five scouts from Tajekstan with their leader.
In the paving slabs are a number of quotations. Each celebrating 'gifts for peace'.
New Zealand - Healthy Young People
Burundi - Peace and Togetherness
Russian Federation - Supporting deprived youth
UK - Looking to the Future
India - Respect for Religions
Brazil - Peace and Friendship
After a cool, refreshing Czech Lemonade in the company of Aaron and Zoe from the 1st Ditton Scout Group in Kent, I met up with Felicity for lunch.
We made our way afterwards to Terraville and Aquaville where different national scout associations had activities around a village theme. It was good to meet with Welsh speakers in the Welsh tent, and play all sorts of games and puzzles from many different parts of the world.
In the scorching heat we flaked out under a gazebo at 4-00 in the middle of a busy field full of activities. When we came to with a start at 4-30 the field was entirely empty. Then came one of those wonderful linguistic moments the Jamboree is all about.
Seeing what turned out to be a Belgian walking towards us, Felicity called out, "Can you go to the entrance to the field that way?" pointing the way he had come. "OK," came the response as the Belgian turned and began to walk back the way he had come. "No, no!" called Felicity after him, " I didn't mean, 'Can you go to the entrance of the field that way? I meant 'Can we go to the entrance ...' You could almost see our Belgian friend's despair at the quirks of the English language and felt he wanted to say, "Why didn't you say so in the first place!"
We made our way back through the sub camps and met up with Julian and the Gloucestershire contingent who were having a wonderful time, even if rather too much of the rice was getting burned!
While Felicity stayed around the Plaza for more of an explore, I made my way back to the Adult hub for a meal and for one of the most exciting events of the Jamboree.
On my way to the Astronomy field I bumped into Francisco Diego, the Astronomer form University College, London, who prompted me to take a wonderful photo of the two of us silouhetted in the setting sun! I do hope I can rescue that one!
On to a big tent for a link up between half a dozen scouts and the International Space Station. AT the most unexpected of moments we arrived at the political moment at the end of the day. AFter giving a fascinating presentation of the work of the International Space Station Francisco Diego described the way in which from Space it is impossible to see borders and frontiers between countries. The international nature of teh work of the Space Station is a massive statement for peace, he suggested. Questioned on its cost he said it had cost 100 billion dollars. There were gasps of disbelief. He then justified that expenditure suggesting that it was but 1 per cent of the expenditure on the Iraq War. It was quite something to hear the applause from all round the very international audience expressing a united sense of horror at the Iraq war.
At precisely the expected moment, contact was made with the Space Station as it moved over Britain. A nine minute question and answer session ensued and was wonderful to share!
Then it was out to the telescopes and wonderful views of the Ring Nebula, the M 3 or is it M 13 globular cluster in Hercules, the Andromeda Galaxy, the double star in Ursa Major and a wonderful half moon!
Francisco Diego had no time for religion ... I differed with him, but he did not pursue the discussion. My mind went not so much to Genesis 1 as to Proverbs 8 and the sheer delight God takes in his creation and in his people. I went to bed with sheer delight in my heart too!!
Another wondeful day.
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
Saturday, 4 August 2007
Meeting People
Thursday and Friday were mixed bags for me. I had Lech Walesa to drive a short distance in my Buggy. He has visited for 2 days and made speeches and had meetings as well as mingling with Polish Scouts and others on the site. Prior to him I had to take the High Commissioner of Nigeria to his car after his visit.
I have also done runs to Stansted and London City Airport carrying staff. The Mercedes is automatic not something I am used to but getting used to it now.
On Thursday night I was on the other side of the Receptions as a guest at a Reception put on by the UK Arab Scout Network. This Network was lauunched at Gilwell last year and I was present at that launch. The Reception included guests from Algeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan and Lebanon. Some Scouts from Surrey presented some money they had raised for the Retrun of the Pheonix project in Lebanon.
I had an intersting conversation with a Scouter from Sudan who said they had Scouts from North and South Sudan and Darfur camping together at the Jamboree.
I met an EWgyptian woamd who works for the World Scout Bureau at their office in Cairo and she told me about the Scout Guest House and Conference Centre in Cairo. I found out more when I tracked her down today in the World Village.
Today Richard had a day off on his rota so I wangled one too. This has been a great opportunity to see more of the activities around the site. I first visited the Adult Programme tent called "The Kross" on the Adult "Island " Hub. I tried writing and reading braille then had a go at a craft.
I then headed for the main site and found myself on Energise. Here I saw various activities available to scouts during their programme including some pioneering and primitive skills. I also got in a Hennessy Hammock - Andy S. be impressed!
Next was some time mooching through the Global Development Village and World Scout Centre. I met up with Richard to eat our picnic in the shade before moving on to find the World Villages in Terraville and Aquaville. I picked up some great craft ideas for our Indian Gifts for Peace, project and learned a Slovenian - I beat Richard! We also have some basic rules for a game called Skritter Ball from Austria.
After dosing in the shade we tried to find the GloTrotters. Eventually I saw part of Julian that cannot be hidden and we had a chat with him, Nigel and Colin, not sure where Chris was. Nigel walks a bit then sits a bit but looked well, Julian looked hot and Colin relaxed in a lounger.
Try to add some more tomorrow
I have also done runs to Stansted and London City Airport carrying staff. The Mercedes is automatic not something I am used to but getting used to it now.
On Thursday night I was on the other side of the Receptions as a guest at a Reception put on by the UK Arab Scout Network. This Network was lauunched at Gilwell last year and I was present at that launch. The Reception included guests from Algeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan and Lebanon. Some Scouts from Surrey presented some money they had raised for the Retrun of the Pheonix project in Lebanon.
I had an intersting conversation with a Scouter from Sudan who said they had Scouts from North and South Sudan and Darfur camping together at the Jamboree.
I met an EWgyptian woamd who works for the World Scout Bureau at their office in Cairo and she told me about the Scout Guest House and Conference Centre in Cairo. I found out more when I tracked her down today in the World Village.
Today Richard had a day off on his rota so I wangled one too. This has been a great opportunity to see more of the activities around the site. I first visited the Adult Programme tent called "The Kross" on the Adult "Island " Hub. I tried writing and reading braille then had a go at a craft.
I then headed for the main site and found myself on Energise. Here I saw various activities available to scouts during their programme including some pioneering and primitive skills. I also got in a Hennessy Hammock - Andy S. be impressed!
Next was some time mooching through the Global Development Village and World Scout Centre. I met up with Richard to eat our picnic in the shade before moving on to find the World Villages in Terraville and Aquaville. I picked up some great craft ideas for our Indian Gifts for Peace, project and learned a Slovenian - I beat Richard! We also have some basic rules for a game called Skritter Ball from Austria.
After dosing in the shade we tried to find the GloTrotters. Eventually I saw part of Julian that cannot be hidden and we had a chat with him, Nigel and Colin, not sure where Chris was. Nigel walks a bit then sits a bit but looked well, Julian looked hot and Colin relaxed in a lounger.
Try to add some more tomorrow
Been there got the tee shirt!
Continuing my leisurely start to the day I made my way beside the Island Hub's wonderful beach over to the cafe for a cappucino and a relaxing read of the Jamboree's very own paper.
I had only got half way down the cup when a couple of people wandered through the tables offering people a free tee shirt. I couldn't quite understand why on one else rose to the bait ... but always one for a free be! I said, Fine I'll have a tee shirt.
The one catch was that I had to spend an hour cleaning the toilets.
Reaching the toilet block it was with some sense of relief that I was allocated to a team cleaning the shower block instead. Just as well, we had all had baked beans for breakfast!
Making my way down to the Plaza and lunch with Felicity I paused at the gate to explain to friends on the gate the crossed winds method of forecasting the weather. Stand with your back to the lower wind and if the upper wind is coming from your left the weather will deteriorate over the next 10 to 12 hours, if the upper wind is coming from your right the weather will improve and if it is parallel to the lower wind the weather will stay the same.
The wispy cyrhus clowds were beautiful and prompted me to suggest that towards the end of the evening the clouds would gather and we could expect rain. I did hedge my bets a bit and suggest it might also be fine towards the end of the evening. Just as well I did, the clouds did gather and then what must have been (!!!) a weak front passed over and the skies became a beautiful red suggesting more fine weather tomorrow.
After all the flooding we have experienced in Gloucestershire recently our hearts go out with a little more understanding to those on the Jamboree from Bangladesh and South Asia who are experiencing flooding on a scale we cannot begin to imagine.
Walking on towards lunch I accompanied a guy from ? Switzerland working on the media centre who passed on some nuggets of useless information. Scottish bagpipers have been making their way round the site complete with kilts. Did you know in German a bagpipe is a Dudelsac - a kind of doodling in sound, I suppose. I liked that!
He also informed me that when the Icelandic contingent left to join the Jamboree they made history in Iceland, being the largest single group of Icelanders ever to leave their country at the same time! The day came to a close in conversation with some Faroe Islanders - I hadn't realised the Faroe Islands were linked by a couple of tunnels! A kind of North Sea / Atlantic equivalent of the Channel Tunnel. Quite some accomplishment. They could speak Faroese, Danish and English. Had the Norwegians held on to the Faroe Islands in Scandinavian wars of previous centuries they might have spoken Norwegian instead of Danish!
Lunch with Felicity was enjoyed on the terrace behind Hylands House looking at Mexicans gathering in their national costume ready for one of the may receiptions taking place in the Guest Area.
Lunch over, it was down to the Ocean Hub for another duty in the Listening Ear tent, affectionately known as the Reef. That came to an end just before 11-00 and here I am once again blogging away.
Pass the word around about the blog!
Every blessing,
Nos da,
Richard and Felicity
I had only got half way down the cup when a couple of people wandered through the tables offering people a free tee shirt. I couldn't quite understand why on one else rose to the bait ... but always one for a free be! I said, Fine I'll have a tee shirt.
The one catch was that I had to spend an hour cleaning the toilets.
Reaching the toilet block it was with some sense of relief that I was allocated to a team cleaning the shower block instead. Just as well, we had all had baked beans for breakfast!
Making my way down to the Plaza and lunch with Felicity I paused at the gate to explain to friends on the gate the crossed winds method of forecasting the weather. Stand with your back to the lower wind and if the upper wind is coming from your left the weather will deteriorate over the next 10 to 12 hours, if the upper wind is coming from your right the weather will improve and if it is parallel to the lower wind the weather will stay the same.
The wispy cyrhus clowds were beautiful and prompted me to suggest that towards the end of the evening the clouds would gather and we could expect rain. I did hedge my bets a bit and suggest it might also be fine towards the end of the evening. Just as well I did, the clouds did gather and then what must have been (!!!) a weak front passed over and the skies became a beautiful red suggesting more fine weather tomorrow.
After all the flooding we have experienced in Gloucestershire recently our hearts go out with a little more understanding to those on the Jamboree from Bangladesh and South Asia who are experiencing flooding on a scale we cannot begin to imagine.
Walking on towards lunch I accompanied a guy from ? Switzerland working on the media centre who passed on some nuggets of useless information. Scottish bagpipers have been making their way round the site complete with kilts. Did you know in German a bagpipe is a Dudelsac - a kind of doodling in sound, I suppose. I liked that!
He also informed me that when the Icelandic contingent left to join the Jamboree they made history in Iceland, being the largest single group of Icelanders ever to leave their country at the same time! The day came to a close in conversation with some Faroe Islanders - I hadn't realised the Faroe Islands were linked by a couple of tunnels! A kind of North Sea / Atlantic equivalent of the Channel Tunnel. Quite some accomplishment. They could speak Faroese, Danish and English. Had the Norwegians held on to the Faroe Islands in Scandinavian wars of previous centuries they might have spoken Norwegian instead of Danish!
Lunch with Felicity was enjoyed on the terrace behind Hylands House looking at Mexicans gathering in their national costume ready for one of the may receiptions taking place in the Guest Area.
Lunch over, it was down to the Ocean Hub for another duty in the Listening Ear tent, affectionately known as the Reef. That came to an end just before 11-00 and here I am once again blogging away.
Pass the word around about the blog!
Every blessing,
Nos da,
Richard and Felicity
Friday, 3 August 2007
Another sunny day
Once again, the sun is shining and the site is as busy as ever.
I am having a leisurely start to teh day after such a full day yesterday!
Breakfast saw me in the company of Irakli from Georgia. In charge of the Caucasus countries Scout area, he was telling me of the Georgian scouts and how much they were enjoying the Jamboree, in spite of an 8 hour wait at Heathrow for transport when they first arived.
It was fascinating to catch a glimpse of a Scouting Association in Georgia that was very proud of its links with the church.
He explained that Christianity had come to Georgia at the very first and had been in his land for 2000 years. It was in 327 that his church became a state church. With the Georgian language his church was 'autokephalous'. Auto means self. Kephale means head in Greek. Auto kephalous does not quite mean independent, neither does it mean autonomos, rather it means 'with its own head'. THat is very significant in the world of the Orthodox church.
From 327 to 1801 the Georigian Orthodox church was autokephalous. But then in 1801 Georgia was annexed by Russia. THe church was subsumed into the Russian Orthodox Church.
Ironically, the Russian Revolution that led to the creation of the USSR and the years of repression in Georgia, also resulted in the Georian church breaking from the Russian church and regaining its status as an autokephalous church. That is a status it has retained ever since.
One of the great Orthodox churches, the Georgian church delights in its singing, with rich harmonies sung by 3,4, or 5 voices. Recently, women's voices have also begun to be heard in Georgian church music.
He promised to let me have a CD of Georgian church music when next we meet. The chances of meeting again are remote on such a wonderful site with its mix of nationalities but we wait in hope.
I am now heading off for lunch down on the Plaza and then another duty in the LIstening Ear tent that will take me up to the end of the evening.
Thinking of you all in Cheltenham. Good to hear that the water is back on. Let's hope the drinking water comes soon as well.
Every blessing,
Richard
I am having a leisurely start to teh day after such a full day yesterday!
Breakfast saw me in the company of Irakli from Georgia. In charge of the Caucasus countries Scout area, he was telling me of the Georgian scouts and how much they were enjoying the Jamboree, in spite of an 8 hour wait at Heathrow for transport when they first arived.
It was fascinating to catch a glimpse of a Scouting Association in Georgia that was very proud of its links with the church.
He explained that Christianity had come to Georgia at the very first and had been in his land for 2000 years. It was in 327 that his church became a state church. With the Georgian language his church was 'autokephalous'. Auto means self. Kephale means head in Greek. Auto kephalous does not quite mean independent, neither does it mean autonomos, rather it means 'with its own head'. THat is very significant in the world of the Orthodox church.
From 327 to 1801 the Georigian Orthodox church was autokephalous. But then in 1801 Georgia was annexed by Russia. THe church was subsumed into the Russian Orthodox Church.
Ironically, the Russian Revolution that led to the creation of the USSR and the years of repression in Georgia, also resulted in the Georian church breaking from the Russian church and regaining its status as an autokephalous church. That is a status it has retained ever since.
One of the great Orthodox churches, the Georgian church delights in its singing, with rich harmonies sung by 3,4, or 5 voices. Recently, women's voices have also begun to be heard in Georgian church music.
He promised to let me have a CD of Georgian church music when next we meet. The chances of meeting again are remote on such a wonderful site with its mix of nationalities but we wait in hope.
I am now heading off for lunch down on the Plaza and then another duty in the LIstening Ear tent that will take me up to the end of the evening.
Thinking of you all in Cheltenham. Good to hear that the water is back on. Let's hope the drinking water comes soon as well.
Every blessing,
Richard
Over the Moon!
Thursday was Felicity's day, though I was most certainly over the moon as well!
Felicity found herself chauffeuring Lech Walensa around the site on the back of a golf buggy! It was Polish national day on the Jamboree site and the Polish contingent were hosting special events throughout the day. Their special visitor was none other than their former President. How wonderful to meet up with one of the key figures in those heady days of the 1980's when such major changes were happening throughout Eastern Europe, not least in Poland!
Lots of people were taking photos, of course ... so Felicity will figure large on many of them! But she could hardly whip the camera out and take her own!! So if anyonereading this has a photo of Lech Walensa riding round the site in a buggy email it to us!! And let us know via a comment!
The day finished in the company of Kevin Brewer, Gloucestershire's press officer, who has joined the Media centre for the next few days. We were having dessert and a coffee in the Hungarian pavilion with Hungarian dancing going on beside our table. A wonderful way to finish the evening. So, Kevin, if you do read this ... let me know if you have a photo of Lech Walensa in Felicity's company, or should I say a photo of Felicity in Lech Walensa's company!!!
My day got off to an interesting start over Breakfast talking to another of the Swiss Contingent. Our conversation once again turned to the 'yellow pages' in our Jamboree leaders handbook. They are the pages that contain the children's safe from harm guidelines of the Scout Association. They have caused quite some controversy, not least from many of our European leaders. They recognise much of the advice as the common sense and good practice they follow in their own work with children. But some elements of our guidelines surprise them. At the heart of many cultures here on the Jamboree site is a hug of welcome. Hugging in a 'proper' kind of way to show affection is very much a part of many cultures. And yet, we have draconian instructions forbidding the use of touch in an adult's relationship with a child, and absolutely forbidding a hug.
As the conversation developed I wondered whether someone would do a study of children growing up in the British society that has imposed these regulations. Maybe twenty years on from their introduction some interesting things might emerge. Will British children be 'better' than their European counterparts? By the time they reach adolescence will they be less vulnerable to abuse? Will they be more 'well-adjusted'? Will indicators of 'well-being' for adolescence show that they are much better off in Britain. Statistics already available suggest not.
The most vulnerable of chidlren are those who have very difficult home backgrounds. Maybe they are subject to violence in situations where there are few if any hugs. When they go to school and are upset the adults in charge of them are forbidden by law to give them any hugs. By the time they reach adolescence they will not have experienced a hug from an adult. They will not, therefore, know how to give a hug to an adult. Anhd they will have missed the kind of emotional closeness a hug can express that is taken for granted in so many other cultures.
Interesting food for thought ... and all over breakfast!
I went then to help out on the Astronomy tent in the Elements Zone. After spending the morning showing my pictures of the moon and of the solar flares I had taken the previous day as clouds prevented any really interesting observations, I walked over to the moon tent. What a wonderful experience.
Anita, who had studied space sciences at Leicester University, home to the national Space Centre which sadly I had to confess I had not visited, had brought with her some remarkable specimens of meteorites gathered from all over the world. Only the previous day I had been talking to a new friend from Mexico about the massive meteorite that landed in the ocean off the Mexican coast supposedly wiping out the Dinosaurs. Now I found myself holding a meteorite that had landed their much more recently.
I wait with bated breath for the Persieds Meteor shower leading up to 12th August - it promises to be extra special this year as it will be a New Moon.
Not only did she have Meteorites, but she also had some moon rock and moon dust. It was absolutely wonderful to look closely and hold for a moment some fragments of room rock, albeit encased in a plastic container. Even more wonderful to look at moon dust through a microscope with a polarising filter. Turn the filter and the wonderful colours of the crystals changed as in a Kaleidoscope. One of the most beautiful things I had seen. Gathered from the Apollo 15,16, 17 sites, they were quite varied. Looking through another microscope the dust was made up of simple brown and black fragments.
Walking back across the field to the Astronomy tent I enjoyed lunch with Anita. The converstaion turned to matters religious. Is it possible for an atheist to belong to scouting? she asked. No, I replied. At the heart of Scouting is a promise that includes doing one's duty to God. That's why other youth movements had been formed in response to the Scouting Association. I couldn't think of the name at the time, but I was thinking of the WoodCraft folk, who in Cheltenham attract parents who want their chidlren to attend an atheistic youth organisation.
The conversation turned to questions of science and religion. How is it possible for all the religions to be at such variance with each other that they resort to hatred and war? My response was to say how I felt there was so much of value in, for me, the Christian faith that I wanted to be within that faith, sharing my belief in God, but working towards an emphasis within the Christian faith on reconciliaiton, peace and love that seems to me to at the heart of all that Jesus Christ stands for.
I drew on John Polkinghorne's account of the reasonableness of holding a faith in God for a scientist.
THe universe can be described in the language of mathematics. There are 'just six equations' that explain the universe, as in Martin Rees's book.
The human mind is the mind that has discovered and then constructed the language of mathematics.
It is as if the human mind bears the imprint of the Creator of the universe, or as Genesis puts it humankind is made in the image of God.
No wonder that the human mind is capable of understanding the universe.
It is not an argument for the existence of God, but it is an account of how it is reasonable to believe in God.
We explored the way in which Science and religion address different questions.
Anita suggested it was difficult to believe in God, when at the heart of the scientific method is the readiness to change one's views if one is proved wrong. New discoveries cause what Kuhn would describe as a paradigm shift to happen.
IN response I drew on Hans Kung's use of Kuhn's philosophical approach suggesting that a person of faith has to recognise that in the understanding of God there are paradigm shifts too.
The reality described by science remains the same. Discoveries result in the same reality being seen in different ways. The splitting of the atom and Einstein's theory of relativity did not change the reality of the univers, it resulted in a different way of undersatnding the universe.
So too in religion. The reality that is God remains the same. Events happen, however that result in a paradigm shift of understanding. One such event for us within the Christian fiath, is the coming of Jesus Christ. God remains the same reality. The coming of Jesus results in a paradigm shift of our understanding of God.
Our conversation could have gone on. But my duties called.
So it was I made my way back to the Ocean hub for another afternoon and evening as a Listening Ear.
My work done it was up to the Plaza for a first course in the Greek Restaurant, an ice cream from Gloucester's very own Walls, and a crepe in a Hungarian restaurant.
And so to bed!
Quite some day!
Every blessing,
Richard
Felicity found herself chauffeuring Lech Walensa around the site on the back of a golf buggy! It was Polish national day on the Jamboree site and the Polish contingent were hosting special events throughout the day. Their special visitor was none other than their former President. How wonderful to meet up with one of the key figures in those heady days of the 1980's when such major changes were happening throughout Eastern Europe, not least in Poland!
Lots of people were taking photos, of course ... so Felicity will figure large on many of them! But she could hardly whip the camera out and take her own!! So if anyonereading this has a photo of Lech Walensa riding round the site in a buggy email it to us!! And let us know via a comment!
The day finished in the company of Kevin Brewer, Gloucestershire's press officer, who has joined the Media centre for the next few days. We were having dessert and a coffee in the Hungarian pavilion with Hungarian dancing going on beside our table. A wonderful way to finish the evening. So, Kevin, if you do read this ... let me know if you have a photo of Lech Walensa in Felicity's company, or should I say a photo of Felicity in Lech Walensa's company!!!
My day got off to an interesting start over Breakfast talking to another of the Swiss Contingent. Our conversation once again turned to the 'yellow pages' in our Jamboree leaders handbook. They are the pages that contain the children's safe from harm guidelines of the Scout Association. They have caused quite some controversy, not least from many of our European leaders. They recognise much of the advice as the common sense and good practice they follow in their own work with children. But some elements of our guidelines surprise them. At the heart of many cultures here on the Jamboree site is a hug of welcome. Hugging in a 'proper' kind of way to show affection is very much a part of many cultures. And yet, we have draconian instructions forbidding the use of touch in an adult's relationship with a child, and absolutely forbidding a hug.
As the conversation developed I wondered whether someone would do a study of children growing up in the British society that has imposed these regulations. Maybe twenty years on from their introduction some interesting things might emerge. Will British children be 'better' than their European counterparts? By the time they reach adolescence will they be less vulnerable to abuse? Will they be more 'well-adjusted'? Will indicators of 'well-being' for adolescence show that they are much better off in Britain. Statistics already available suggest not.
The most vulnerable of chidlren are those who have very difficult home backgrounds. Maybe they are subject to violence in situations where there are few if any hugs. When they go to school and are upset the adults in charge of them are forbidden by law to give them any hugs. By the time they reach adolescence they will not have experienced a hug from an adult. They will not, therefore, know how to give a hug to an adult. Anhd they will have missed the kind of emotional closeness a hug can express that is taken for granted in so many other cultures.
Interesting food for thought ... and all over breakfast!
I went then to help out on the Astronomy tent in the Elements Zone. After spending the morning showing my pictures of the moon and of the solar flares I had taken the previous day as clouds prevented any really interesting observations, I walked over to the moon tent. What a wonderful experience.
Anita, who had studied space sciences at Leicester University, home to the national Space Centre which sadly I had to confess I had not visited, had brought with her some remarkable specimens of meteorites gathered from all over the world. Only the previous day I had been talking to a new friend from Mexico about the massive meteorite that landed in the ocean off the Mexican coast supposedly wiping out the Dinosaurs. Now I found myself holding a meteorite that had landed their much more recently.
I wait with bated breath for the Persieds Meteor shower leading up to 12th August - it promises to be extra special this year as it will be a New Moon.
Not only did she have Meteorites, but she also had some moon rock and moon dust. It was absolutely wonderful to look closely and hold for a moment some fragments of room rock, albeit encased in a plastic container. Even more wonderful to look at moon dust through a microscope with a polarising filter. Turn the filter and the wonderful colours of the crystals changed as in a Kaleidoscope. One of the most beautiful things I had seen. Gathered from the Apollo 15,16, 17 sites, they were quite varied. Looking through another microscope the dust was made up of simple brown and black fragments.
Walking back across the field to the Astronomy tent I enjoyed lunch with Anita. The converstaion turned to matters religious. Is it possible for an atheist to belong to scouting? she asked. No, I replied. At the heart of Scouting is a promise that includes doing one's duty to God. That's why other youth movements had been formed in response to the Scouting Association. I couldn't think of the name at the time, but I was thinking of the WoodCraft folk, who in Cheltenham attract parents who want their chidlren to attend an atheistic youth organisation.
The conversation turned to questions of science and religion. How is it possible for all the religions to be at such variance with each other that they resort to hatred and war? My response was to say how I felt there was so much of value in, for me, the Christian faith that I wanted to be within that faith, sharing my belief in God, but working towards an emphasis within the Christian faith on reconciliaiton, peace and love that seems to me to at the heart of all that Jesus Christ stands for.
I drew on John Polkinghorne's account of the reasonableness of holding a faith in God for a scientist.
THe universe can be described in the language of mathematics. There are 'just six equations' that explain the universe, as in Martin Rees's book.
The human mind is the mind that has discovered and then constructed the language of mathematics.
It is as if the human mind bears the imprint of the Creator of the universe, or as Genesis puts it humankind is made in the image of God.
No wonder that the human mind is capable of understanding the universe.
It is not an argument for the existence of God, but it is an account of how it is reasonable to believe in God.
We explored the way in which Science and religion address different questions.
Anita suggested it was difficult to believe in God, when at the heart of the scientific method is the readiness to change one's views if one is proved wrong. New discoveries cause what Kuhn would describe as a paradigm shift to happen.
IN response I drew on Hans Kung's use of Kuhn's philosophical approach suggesting that a person of faith has to recognise that in the understanding of God there are paradigm shifts too.
The reality described by science remains the same. Discoveries result in the same reality being seen in different ways. The splitting of the atom and Einstein's theory of relativity did not change the reality of the univers, it resulted in a different way of undersatnding the universe.
So too in religion. The reality that is God remains the same. Events happen, however that result in a paradigm shift of understanding. One such event for us within the Christian fiath, is the coming of Jesus Christ. God remains the same reality. The coming of Jesus results in a paradigm shift of our understanding of God.
Our conversation could have gone on. But my duties called.
So it was I made my way back to the Ocean hub for another afternoon and evening as a Listening Ear.
My work done it was up to the Plaza for a first course in the Greek Restaurant, an ice cream from Gloucester's very own Walls, and a crepe in a Hungarian restaurant.
And so to bed!
Quite some day!
Every blessing,
Richard
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Sunrise Day!
For the sun to rise on Scouting's sunrise day was special.
To rise with the sun on Scouting's sunrise day was not so easy. Especially as my duties didn't finish last night until 11-30 and I didn't get back to the tent until 12-15! It's quite some walk from one side of the site to the other!
No matter, we were up shortly after 5-00 ready to walk down to the Arena with the International Service Team. We arrived in good time for the Sunrise Ceremony. Representatives of each of the countries at the Jamboree had gone to join Peter Duncan, the UK's Chief Scout, on Brownsea Island ready to lead us all in renewing the Scout Promise. They stood on the very spot where Baden Powell led his first camp bringing together boys from inner city London and from Bournmouth to camp together. Just as then the purpose of the camp had been to bring people together from very different backgrounds and bridge the gaps in society, so too, 100 years on the World Jamboree is doing exactly the same thing.
Prayers from many different faiths focused on the call to peace. Wonderful 'puppet doves' flew around the arena before real doves were let loose and circled over the 40,000 crowd. As baloons in rainbow colours lifted over the Arena there was a real sense of peace to share.
Most moving of all was when Baden Powell's grandson, the present Lord Baden Powell took to the stage to read the final words of Baden Powell expressing his hopes for the future of scouting and its contribution to the search for peace.
That was followed by a service we shared in and then another day's work!
At dinner I shared with a new friend from Swaziland who pointed out that Baden Powell drew many of his insights for scouting from his experiences in South Africa, not least in what is now Swaziland. It was most moving to have started the day in the presence of Baden Powell's grandson and finished it with someone from the very place that inspired his vision for Scouting.
The evening has come to an end with a concert featuring the likes of Cool Play, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and co in a concert for peace, focusing on peace projects Scouting has been involved in during its centenary year.
Highlight of the day came at the end of the Sunrise Ceremony when we were invited to try to get 100 and more signatures on the special 'Sunrise Day' necker. I think I managed it ... and so did Felicity. Most moving of all was to meet two scouts from Bethlehem in Palestine ... the Christian prayer had recalled the Peace Light from Bethlehem that has played such an important part in our celebration of Christmas at Highbury. How good to see that a contingent of Scouts from Bethlehem had made it to the Jamboree!
Felicity sends her love ... she's driving a Mercedes 8 seater into the City Airport in London's Dockland to pick up a party who had flown over to Switzerland from the Jamboree to mark Sunrise Day in the Alps. Quite some experience (driving the Merc, I mean, not climbing the Alps!)
Great to hear news from Amanda of the Sunrise Ceremony on the Promenade in Cheltenham! Keep the comments coming in.
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
To rise with the sun on Scouting's sunrise day was not so easy. Especially as my duties didn't finish last night until 11-30 and I didn't get back to the tent until 12-15! It's quite some walk from one side of the site to the other!
No matter, we were up shortly after 5-00 ready to walk down to the Arena with the International Service Team. We arrived in good time for the Sunrise Ceremony. Representatives of each of the countries at the Jamboree had gone to join Peter Duncan, the UK's Chief Scout, on Brownsea Island ready to lead us all in renewing the Scout Promise. They stood on the very spot where Baden Powell led his first camp bringing together boys from inner city London and from Bournmouth to camp together. Just as then the purpose of the camp had been to bring people together from very different backgrounds and bridge the gaps in society, so too, 100 years on the World Jamboree is doing exactly the same thing.
Prayers from many different faiths focused on the call to peace. Wonderful 'puppet doves' flew around the arena before real doves were let loose and circled over the 40,000 crowd. As baloons in rainbow colours lifted over the Arena there was a real sense of peace to share.
Most moving of all was when Baden Powell's grandson, the present Lord Baden Powell took to the stage to read the final words of Baden Powell expressing his hopes for the future of scouting and its contribution to the search for peace.
That was followed by a service we shared in and then another day's work!
At dinner I shared with a new friend from Swaziland who pointed out that Baden Powell drew many of his insights for scouting from his experiences in South Africa, not least in what is now Swaziland. It was most moving to have started the day in the presence of Baden Powell's grandson and finished it with someone from the very place that inspired his vision for Scouting.
The evening has come to an end with a concert featuring the likes of Cool Play, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and co in a concert for peace, focusing on peace projects Scouting has been involved in during its centenary year.
Highlight of the day came at the end of the Sunrise Ceremony when we were invited to try to get 100 and more signatures on the special 'Sunrise Day' necker. I think I managed it ... and so did Felicity. Most moving of all was to meet two scouts from Bethlehem in Palestine ... the Christian prayer had recalled the Peace Light from Bethlehem that has played such an important part in our celebration of Christmas at Highbury. How good to see that a contingent of Scouts from Bethlehem had made it to the Jamboree!
Felicity sends her love ... she's driving a Mercedes 8 seater into the City Airport in London's Dockland to pick up a party who had flown over to Switzerland from the Jamboree to mark Sunrise Day in the Alps. Quite some experience (driving the Merc, I mean, not climbing the Alps!)
Great to hear news from Amanda of the Sunrise Ceremony on the Promenade in Cheltenham! Keep the comments coming in.
Every blessing,
Richard and Felicity
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