Post Jamboree Blues

Well it been almost 2 weeks since my return from the Jamboree and still suffering from post jamboree blues.

Back in Canada

Well, I arrived back to Canada safe and sound. The taxi ride from Steyning to Heathrow was a great way to get to the airport and after going through security had a good flight back to Canada. Had a peoblem with my ears when landing in Ottawa as I still have this cough and sinus infection from the camp. It wasn't til the next morning before my ears unblocked. Needless to say, it is back to work today and time to get back into my regular routine. I had a GREAT Jamboree experience and THANKS everyone for checking out my blog and pictures.

Last couple days in Steyning, West Sussex.

On Saturday, Sheila and I went on a walk through Steyning, where we visted the statue of St. Cuthman, the founder of Steyning. The story is that when St. Cuthman was looking for a place and when the wheeelbarrow in which he was wheeling his disabled mother in collapsed, he decided this was a sign from God and this is where he should settle, so he started the village of Steyning. Here is a picture of Sheila by the statue of St. Cuthman.
Across from the statue is the St. Andrews Anglosaxon church (build in the 1600's) shown below which we walked thru which was nicely decorated with lots of fresh flowers and these special kneelers which were made by the local women.

We then went on a tour of the local Steyning museum which was very interesting below.

On Sunday, Sheila and I went on a 3.5 mile hike through the countryside and here is one of the pictures I took while on the hike.

Another picture of the clock in Steyning on the main street.


Tomorrow I catch my flight back to Canada so not sure if I will be able to add to this blog until I get back. Thanks for checking my blog and keeping up with my adventures.

Now in Steyning

Now with the Jamboree over, after a bus ride from Chelmsford to Victoria Station and then onto Brighton, I arrived safely in Steyning and have been enjoying sleeping in a nice comfortable bed again. Yesterday, spent the day resting and went with Ken to the hardware store to pick up some chain to hang the stain glass panels I made for Ken & Sheila. For lunch we went to a nice restaurant called Cromwell's which had a nice view looking over the hills of West Sussex. I forgot to take my camera. In the evening I took some photos of the beautiful old architecture in Steyning.

Here is a picture of the driveway to Ken & Sheila's place in Steyning (which is the lower unit on the left hand corner of the photo):
Some photos of the old buildings in Steyning:


In the evening went with Cath and Steve(Ken & Sheila's daughter and son-in-law) to this local Pub to listen to a local folk singer Phil who is a cab driver during the day who will be driving me to catch my flight from Heathrow on Monday. Here is a picture of the Pub:

A picture of Ken & Sheila sitting in their conservatory (sunroom):

Day 17 - Tuesday August 7th

PACKING UP AND CLOSING CEREMONY
Today was spent packing up in preparation for the evening Closing Ceremony. Here is a picture of two of the IST's from Quebec, as they headed off for Canada House (very lightly loaded) as they have to depart at 2:30 am to catch their 10 am flight back to Canada from Heathrow.


Took down my tent while it was dry as the forecast was predicting 'RAIN'.

At 5 pm, while eating supper, it started to rain very heavy, just in time to make things muddy again, for one last time. I got to wear my 'wellingtons' one last time to hike to the Closing Ceremony. Here is a picture of some Scouts from Wales under a blue tarp as they waited for the 9:15 pm Closing Ceremony to start. We asked them if they were trying to imitate the dragon of Wales on their flag.

My pictures of the Closing Ceremony did not turn out well, as I expected. Here is one. Even though it rained, the Scouts were in high spirits, as the UK passed over the World Scout flag to Sweden, who will host the next World Scout Jamboree in the summer of 2011. There was lots of songs and performances from Scouts from countries like Ireland, Mexico, Hong Kong. The Jamboree closed with Auld Lang Sigh, the Jamboree song and a big fireworks (the rain had changed to a light sprinkle at the end, during the fireworks). The Jamboree cast of Scout and Guide dancers did a final melody which they did at every noonday show to close the Jamboree.

Day 16 - Monday August 6th

Back to the early rise routine today and off for an early shower (to beat the line-ups). After breakfast, I hiked to the World Village for my last shift, since Monday is the last official program day. At lunch time, I headed off for the main arena stage to see the midday show, one last time, while I ate my box lunch. You could tell the cast of all Scouts and Guides that put on the show gave it their all, as it was their last midday show.

Then I took my last hike to the World Village to help take down our area. As they say 'many hands make light work' we started the take-down around 3 pm and were finished by 5 pm. However, I forgot to take any pictures of the take-down.

On our walk back to the IST subcamp, we stopped by the main arena, where the Jamboree cast were practicing for tomorrow night's closing ceremony. We sat for awhile and watched the rehearsals. Then, on the way to the staff dining tent, ran across a new vehicle and took a picture of the new mobile toilet. The driver ensured me that the toilet had never been use.

A picture of Jeanette and Brenda from Canada as we were relaxing after supper, the best way we could sitting on hard chairs and trying to enjoy a cup of tea.

And since I was short of pictures for today's blog, I decided to take one of the sign for the Internet Cafe, my connection to the rest of the outside world. As the camp quickly switches into take down mode, things start to be disassembled very fast, and it may be that the Internet Cafe will all of a sudden disappear, so it may be a couple of days that I will be off-line, until I get to Ken & Sheila's place where I can continue with my blog updates. I still have a bad chest cough and plugged sinuses. I am looking forward to a few days of recuperation at Ken & Sheila's place in beautiful West Sussex before catching my flight home.

Day 15 - Sunday August 5th

The day started off with a late breakfast and being able to sleep in, since I was not scheduled to work. On my way past the IST subcamp hub, I stopped in the Adult Craft tent to say hi to Rose-Marie, and a lady from Hong Kong showed me how to make a butterfly from string and knots. It only took me two attempts to get it right (my eye hand coordination was slow). Then I headed off to catch the midday show probably for the last time.

Here is another photo from the Midday Show where day visitors learn the Jamboree song:
After enjoying the Midday show I hiked to the Trash program area. Here is a photo of the Jamboree sign made from different colored plastic bottle tops:

As part of the Trash program they had the Scouts use trash to play music. Here are some photos. It was just like going to see Stomp at the National Art Centre in Ottawa. It was amazing how well the Scouts played.




During supper we had a visit by Saint Nicholas and his helper:
Then Jeanete, Tom and myself walked to see the One World Garden where Jeanette took a picture of us. Tom also works for CRA, but in Sudbury, who I have known from previous Jamborees.
Jeanette wanted to get a picture of her with the Scouts from Thamesford so we hiked to their campsite and I took a couple pictures of them enjoying their evening meal:

Earlier in the day I walked through the Faiths and Beliefs area where a Scouts taught us how to make a Wonmani which was created by a Won Buddhism priest for Won Scouts.

The six knots represent our six senses (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, limbs and mind)and aimed for using them harmoniously everyday. At the start of the day the body is pulled down close to the beads for feet.

Then as one uses their six senses for good work the body is moved up to make the legs longer.

As we walked back through the Plaza, badge swapping is everywhere around camp which is always popular at a Jamboree.

I came across this Troop gateway which I thought was unique and thought I would use it to end off the photos for todays blog.

Day 15 - Saturday August 4th

A bit of change in the routine today. Since I didn't have to work til the afternoon, I decided to sleep in and try to help shake this cold, which has moved into my chest. Since it was a beautiful day I decided to clean my tent and air out my sleeping bag, thermarest sleeping pad and do a general clean-up. After the long walk back from the World Village for supper, I decided to roam around the troop subcamps and take a few pictures which I have included in today's blog.

A nifty camp device used for air-drying dishes:
What would camp be without your own sofa to rest. I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to carry this into camp.
Some of the different Troop countries gateways:

Day 14 - Friday August 3rd

Another early day as we had to open our site at the World Village at 9 am instead of 10 am to allow the Scouts who missed out the first day we were closed due to no water or washrooms. So today was extra busy with twice the number of Scouts taking part in activities. We rearranged the layout and set up a table to do the paddles with our contingent logo tattoos which worked out well and the Scouts liked them as a souvenir.

After lunch since I had the afternoon off I walked by the main stage and took in some of the midday show put on for the day visitors which is a collage of music and dance from the Opening Ceremony and Sunrise Ceremony. Then I went thru the energizer program area and then went to have a rest and see if my laundry I had done last night was drying inside the vestibule of my tent. Hard to believe another day has gone by so fast.

A couple pictures of the midday show at the main stage:

The Energizer Program area:

Rose-Marie Harris working on Chinese knot braiding who helped me with the glass etching last night.

Day 13 - Thursday August 2nd

After my early 5 am rise and lukewarm shower (as the showers have one temperature only.....lukewarm, which makes it very cool when you step out into the 10 degrees Celsius cool air), I headed off to the Internet cafe (which is open 24 hours) to update this blog. At least at 5 am there are no line-up for the showers, if you can handle the cool exit and no lineups (like in the evening) to use the Internet. Guess like the saying 'the early bird gets the worm' .

Today, I worked the entire day at the World Village helping with the soap stone carving that the Scouts are doing a great job with. It is messy, as the white talcum powder it produces can make a mess on black pants, but brushes out easily. We have about 1200 small 3 inch wooden paddles which the Scouts were suppose to spray a small Canadian maple leaf on and can take and use as a key chain, but after a couple of sprays, the stencils got clogged up and the paint ran on the paddle which ruined it. We have these temporary tattoos we give out that the Scouts can wet and put on their bodies. I got the idea of trying to apply it on the paddle and it looks good, so we decided we would try this tomorrow. However, trying to find paper towels or j-clothes to use to wet the tattoo was a challenge, but I managed to buy some at the Jamboree Sainbury's store.

After supper, I went into the Adult Activity tent where Rose-Marie is working, and she taught me how to do etching on a glass and made a glass candle holder. Kewl, something I can try at home. Watch out everyone, you will be getting glass-etched candle holders as Christmas presents this year.

I didn't get a chance to take many pictures today, so on my walk to the IST dining tent with Jeanette, we stopped to take a few pictures of the subcamps and some of the Scouts gateways they built which I have uploaded below. Enjoy.

Some pictures of the Subcamp entrances:


Some pictures of the Scouts Gateways:






These are some of the huge black tents that German Scouts always use.