The week away

This year we did actually get to have our Smol camp in The Lakes which was fitting as the last one we had was at the same location but weeks away from and the last time any of us saw the group tm together so things were different and obviously emotional.

That's why this entry is being done a little different apart from me being a bit jetlagged.

One of things we often do is assemble model kits of things such as Castles and this year we did Hogwart's, home of the best school ever and the setting for the Harry Potter novels and movies.

We also completed two jigsaws between us but I didn't get a picture of that as I was unwell for a day and bit which isn't untypical unfortunately.

There usually is a a themed competition and this years by Miss Green was the Fiftieth anniversary of Decimalization of the UK's currency from Pounds, Shillings and Pence (and a few other bits tossed in) to just Pounds and (new) Pence.

This was her display which took three weeks to put together with just above that samples of bank notes from the last century to today with our plastic coated five, ten, twenty and fifty pound notes with examples of aids and guidance for children, people in the service sector like shops and the then British Rail and adults and other promotional material.

There were examples of magazines such as the Radio Times, Practical Wireless and comics such as the Beano and Tiger from the week before and after decimalization showing the prices and how advertising in them had to use both for a period during the changeover.

Needless to say I and a friend didn't win after all I was brought up with units of ten with both decimal currency and metrication so never used it.

There was a Fairy Tea Party on Thursday for dollies and teddies to attend where we learned about Fairies and everyone was given a Fairy Neckless.

On the Tuesday people made fairy cakes and biscuits for it, decorating for good measure.

Wednesday was a Damp Squid tm. so we held a small outdoor games the day after it was planned where we did archery where we seemed to have more success in sending our arrows beyond the target one landing in a Fairy Card which wasn't very sporting.

There was an Egg and Spoon race as well as a water filling relay race with buckets to run with to see who got the most water in the container, not me as I got my socks a bit wet!

There was a target game and a beanbag relay event to see which team could run balancing a beanbag on their heads.

Here's some of the kit we used and the organizers clip board for recording the scores although to be honest it was all played for fun rather than deadly serious.

I did venture out for a stroll towards the shoreline although it soon turned rather wet and my camera needed drying out carefully, cleaning the built in zoom lens by hand when I got home which was fun itself between bad weather, road works and an incident that left three lanes closed for a period and half hour delays for us coming back

Thanks for everyone who helped whether or not you run an event, assisted with food, put stuff out and away and for just taking part.

Thanks to Suzy for organizing it in the most challenging of times we've ever had.