Thinking day

I loved Brownies but Guides had only just started up in our area and was not well-organised.
After one more boring walk along the same country path I gave up.

But I think that if it is well-run, by people who are enthusiastic, inspirational and actually LIKE young people, it is a wonderful movement.

As a Brownie I was an Imp and used to go on a Wednesday afternoon at school. I did later go to Guides but cannot remember patrol I was in. I never did go camping but probably just as well as not really my thing!

And excuse me, iMac, I put the apostrophe at the end of flippin to indicate a missing letter - the g. Why did you have to go and put the g in anyway?

Part of my Cookery badge included making "Cheese Dreams". Oh my word, these were delicious! Fried cheese sandwiches - white bread, of course! If only they weren't so damned unhealthy I'd go right out to the kitchen and make one now . Another, equally unhealthy, one was a jam sandwich, cut into quarters, dipped in batter and deep fried. They were so flipping' yummy, it's just not fair

I remember the Red Roses, Jings - I was in the Daffodils.
I still boast to the family that I got my Firelighter's badge because I could light a fire with one match
Our two girls joined the Guides as well, they had some exciting camping holidays with them. One, everyone had to come home when the tents were wrecked in a thunderstorm.

Do they still call them "Brown Owl" in the Brownies thes days? I only come into contact with Cubs and Scouts now. Son in law is an Arkela.

My first period started while I was at my first Guide camp. Thank heavens for a very motherly Brown Owl who was amongst the helpers.

I remembered it was Thinking Day this morning - I don't know why, but I always remember it, every year.
I used to love it, being able to wear my Guide uniform to school, and going to the rallies. I remember one year all the Girl Guide troops in the area got together for an evening meeting of songs, games and competitions on Thinking Day. When I got home, I felt particularly queasy and thought I'd eaten too much of the camp-fire food. But I soon found it was because my periods had started. Mum let me have the next day off school while I got used to the idea of being 'grown up' now

Sixer of the Kelpies; PL of Honesty patrol; Rangers captain in Kenya. We had a big rally on Ayr racecourse one year and I was chosen to raise the Union flag. Lady BP was there.

Oh enamel plates. Going camping was the first time I ate muesli which was made from scratch. Oats soaked overnight and grated apple being some of the ingredients. Remember the smell of the tents.

OMG! The soil latrines! Especially when they dug the sides too wide apart for thirteen year old legs to reach! I remember they abandoned ours and borrowed some 'bucket and chuckits' off the farmer.

Now the porridge on enamel plates, that's different. Mmm.

I loved Guides. Camping with no mod cons and a soil latrine, lovely. The tents were ex army ridge tents and smelled foul.
I was in the Kingfisher patrol but was never promoted to the dizzy heights of patrol leader although I tried very hard. I still have my badge and belt somewhere.

I was kingfisher. We had a captain who thought she was in the army.

Great as a source of rebellion as we didn't dare rebel at school. We use to go late if someone special like the Beatles or the Stones were on Ready Steady Go.That did annoy the captain!!! Horrible little girls.

They seem to have more fun these days and wear much more practical uniforms.

My mum was an original guide. She wore a huge brimmed hat and went camping in St Ogmore. She loved it and I assumed I would....not so sure I ever did. Lots of knots, darning and knitting.
The camping was grim as some lovely girl thought it funny to squeeze toothpaste on my shorts.

Not sure I was a natural girl guide.

Oh yes chips! 4d they were. I broke my arm at some stage and the plaster cast smelt divinely vinegar and chip fat.

I wanted to be a Scout but it was boys only so I refused to join the Girl Guides.

My youngest grandaughter is a Scout and absolutely loves it.

I Rose to the dizzy heights of patrol leader of the bluetits. Never understood why my father thought it was funny.
I really only joined at first because it got me out of my hated boarding school for one evening a week.
I remember we used to buy a cone of chips (strictly forbidden) on the way home and eat them by the side of Minster pool ( how common) and then try to get rid of the smell of the vinegar before returning so that MATRON would not know we'd had chips!

I was an enthusiastic Brownie (sixer of pixies) and still have all my badges. After I'd 'flown up' to guides the guide captain left the district and guides finished. I became a 'lone guide' but it never really worked for me, doing everything by post, and I soon gave it up.

I was in the Robins. After guides I joined the sea guides/scouts? We used to go rowing at Shoreham. Our dingy was called Anson. Also lots of camping. Does anyone remember some celebration - was it the 50th? We all met up in a local athletic stadium and became part of a huge birthday cake, each guide holding a large piece of coloured card representing the icing etc.

I loved guides , and actually became a Queens Guide. When my Dad passed away , I found a newspaper cutting with my picture from our local paper about my achievement.

I was in the Forget-me-nots.

I was in the Red Rose patrol.

I was kept on, despite the occasional bit of bad behaviour, because the Captain was a family friend. Most of the time I entered into it wholeheartedly. I've still got photos. One where Princess Margaret came to our town and we lined the route.

Oh yes 22nd Feb. Forgotten about that!

Yep. Another girl guide here. We got to wear our guide uniforms at school I remember.

Must have liked the date, I got married 41 years ago today. ?

Apparently it was started in 1926

I was thrown out of the guides!