General Chat

Jess, Oh the vision that conjures up!! New blood maybe just what they need! Lin

Linette, dont dare me - They'd never let go of their zimmer frames long enough to grab the elastic! ( i have a vision of one in particular leaping off the side of a parapet...in twin set and tweeds and ever so sensible brown lace up shoes!!) Jess x

Lisa, Great to hear you love it. Hope you enjoyed your Pack Holiday!! What time did the little darlings get to sleepLOL Jess, I dare you to orgainise a bungee jump for your TG you may be surprised!! Lin

I escaped due to work commitments ! Our trefoil Guild are all kind of geriatric and expect one to be able to go Tue to Thurs to Hautbois to do crochet! They are not the most 'get up and go lot' - all sadly retired ladies , and very set in the old traditional ways. Would love to organise a bungee jump for them - !

Maggie hs been warned! Tee Hee

Greetings Maggie, I am most definetly not blue knicker!! I even have a badge that says so. I just typed in girl guides and lo this is what I found so I added to it!! Does anyone have kids that one minute are playing nicely then the minute you sit down to do email or answer message boards suddenly start arguing or is it just me!! Oh yes Maggie and I will be meeting up somewhen Lin

Blame that Toots!! She says her knickers aren't navy - I'm not so sure she hasn't got a pair somewhere!! (Will let you know after I meet her - next year if not before!!). ...not quite old enough for Trefoil Guild?? You only have to be 18 - and what's with all the ex's...how did you escape?? LOL

Blimey - this has been resurected from the depth of somewhere! JESS X Ex brownie Elf Ex Guide swallow (Queens Guide at that!) ex Ranger Ex Brown owl Ex DC Ex D treasurer ...not quite old enough for Trefoil Guild!

G'day Toots!! Mike, Now that Lin has revived this, Is bugs wood more buggy than Willesley cos we were out there for the Charny Roadshow and Lesley and I got bitten to death!!!! Online bookings for Charnwood 2006 now open - hoping to have a genie tent (maybe with a gravestone outside!!) - would be great to see some guiding/scouting genies there from any part of the world!! www(.)charnwood(.)org

I'm a Guider in Coventry and am thoroughly blue bloodied as have grown up in the orgainisation, moving through Brownies to being a Leader and I love it. I am not blue knicker I hasten to add. My mother was a Brownie and Guide and now the 3rd generation for our family has started. My eldest seem to be following my footsteps and growing up in the movement having been a Rainbow and Brownie and is now a Guide. She loves it. My youngest is due to become a Rainbow sometime next year. I'm doing reasonably well recruiting in the past year of several girls one leader and 3 unit helpers. I've got up to many things i wouldn't have done otherwise in Guiding and long may it continue!! Lin

Hi Maggie, I was in the Girl Guides at Roehampton, London but I can't remember the name. I thin we were 5th Putney but not sure. I was in the guides from 1985 till about 1988. I remember going to Crystal Palace for a big 75th anniversary thing on a freezing cold day and lots of poor girls passing out from hypothermia on parade! I eventually left guides and joined the Rangers until around 1992 and was a Tawny Owl at Brownies. I had a great time but unfortunately now I'm just too busy. Naomi

Hello Lucia!! Never been to Scotland - hope to get there one day as I'm an eighth scottish - Great Grandma's Heatherill clan were from Edinburgh. (If there are any Heatherills from Edinburgh out there, chances are I'm related to you!!).

Hi Maggie, I'm a guide in Scotland. Lucia:)

Can only echo what Eleanor has said!! There are hundreds of girls up and down the country who are being denied the chance to experience Guiding because of a lack of leaders. The work is unpaid, but is great fun!! The rewards in terms of seeing young people grow into happy adults are enormous, not to mention the times when the leaders get to let their hair down when the girls are not around!! Leaders get the chance to do things and to go to places they have never even dreamed of!!!! The support and friendship of fellow Guiders is second to none. Like many voluntary organisations, whatever you put in, you get back 100 times over. You are never bored, and you do still have time to research family history!!!!!!!! For more info check out http://www(.)girlguiding(.)org(.)uk/Default(.)asp?bhcp=1 or to go straight to the recruitment page go to http://www.girlguiding(.)org(.)uk/info/recruitment/subsection(.)asp?sectionid=514

I was a Brownie, Guide and Ranger and loved it all! When my local unit (4th Streatham Hill) almost collapsed through lack of leaders 5 years ago I did a stint at that too until I had to stop when I got ill after the birth of my son! I'd love to see a Rainbow unit in our area as there are none and there are hundreds of little people who would love to join! We're just looking into the possibilities at the moment! Any guiders or would be guiders in sw London who are looking for a good cause to support please get in touch! We lost the Guide unit shortly after I had to stop. We have lots of girls just about old enough to move on from Brownies but there's nowhere for them to go! Fingers crossed for us! Eleanorx

Lou, You're in luck!! You don't have to wear a uniform to help take girls camping!! We have "Unit Helpers" who are non-uniformed adults who help when they can!! Daphne, Your tale about ice cream reminds me of the time we camped near Poole. We stopped to get chips after swimming for about the same number (Group Guide and Scout camp so there were a lot of us!!). The chip shop had a sign up saying that it was one year old - so while we waited for the chips the guides and scouts sang "Happy Birthday" to the shop!! Needless to say, the other customers thought they were mad!! Welcome Bob - you're not alone - My Brown Owl's husband was known as "Mr Brown Owl" to the end of his days - a higher honour man cannot have!!

I am an honorary Guider! My wife is and has been a Guide Leader, Ranger Leader, District Comissioner and Camp Adviser. I have been to Guide camp every year for the last 21 and could put up a tent blindfold. When we first started we had to dig latrines, now they moan cos there aren't any showers. My 16yo daughter was a Brownie then a Guide and is now a Young Leader. Bob

Hi, was never a Brownie or Guide as non where I lived but started my Guiding when second daughter started Brownies, asked to help for 1 night and you know the story!!!! 26 years later decided to retire. Was the 1st Guider for 4th Minden Pack in West Germany, returned to England and held various posts for another 24 years in Malvern. Took my Brownies on many pack holidays, favourite place for girls and leaders Criccieth North Wales. Often joined force with 2 other packs or a Guide company to make good use of a coach. Ever gone into an ice cream parlour and asked for 43 cornets? Also took the Brownies Camping when that was allowed and camped as QM for friends Guides too. Best Guide camp has got to have been an International camp held at Chatsworth in Derbyshire. Happy days but I like my home comforts now. Guiding could be in the Genes. My 4x cousin in Texas is now a Brownie Scout Leader after her daughter joined the troop and their leader was going to retire.

maggie don't think i'd be acceptable as a guide leader somehow....not into uniforms but do enjoy camping lou

Lisa, Please do!! I work in training too - really enjoy it. Mike, Think it's our AGM on the Sat night which should be there for - unless away for w/e with family - Hubby is not Scout minded - prefers the footie/rugby - each to his own. Chelsea and Tigers supporter - not happy after match yesterday!! Will remember tip of the day if I come to camp - think last time we were doing a wide game, and the little bug***s got everywhere!!!! Only place I've been that's worse is Kielder - got bitten there in places I didn't think you COULD get bitten!!!!