Sailing With Scouts

Sailing at Watermead Country Park

Collected Donna and Joshua at about 6.00pm and all 5 of us followed the directions on Donna's sat nat -even though I knew the way as I had driven there before and checked the way on the route finder.  The sat nav took us via the MI  (I would have gone on the A46).  Unfortunately the postcode that sat nav was programmed to find was too large, so I had to take over to get us took the lake site carkpark.

Horror of horrors the cost of parking has gone up to £2.50 - I had to scrabble around to find enough change as it was a £1 last time we went.

A good turn out approx 18 boys plus Hannah.  The leader also bought his friends daughter so she wasn't the only girl.

Nat went in the pink boat with Joshua and Hannah went with Brandon.  At first they all became becalmed so had to be towed out to deeper water in the middle of the lake.  The boats were tiny - just big enough for 2.

The boys and Hannah had to complete races, paddle the boats by lying on the front and they had to change partners (whilst in the middle of the lake) - this meant Nat came to shore with Jacob and Hannah came back with Liam who was complaining of being seasick!!!  Not a very manly boy according to Hannah.

When they got near to the shore they were allowed to capsize the boats - Hannah of course was the first in and they all quickly followed - all that is except Joel's boat much to the disgust of his sailing partner. So he was allowed to go back out into deeper water once Joel had alighted to capsize the boat.

It was than back to the huts to strip,dry and change clothing, a quick drink and back off home.  A full load of washing, a quick shower and a mug of cocoa with a muffin - then bed.

Upset Stomachs, Hannah and the Cubs go Sailing,

Nat and I both had upset tummies today probably linked to the aforementioned undercooked baguettes. He recovered quite quickly but my stomach arch persisted and I was off and on the loo all day long. This was unfortunate as I was trying to sleep in order to go to work that evening. After another protracted visit to said water closet at 19:15 I contacted work to advise them that I’d not be back at work that evening (luckily I was only due to work two days this week so this wasn’t a problem). Meanwhile, Hannah, accompanied by Deb, had gone sailing with her Cub troop on John Merrick Lake in Watermead Country Park. We’ve been there before, when Nat was a Cub (he was there, with Scouts, again a few weeks ago) and it’s a really great evening for the kids. Deb managed to take some great photos, with my trusty old Nokia N73, and I’ve embedded these below. They were home at about 21:00 and were somewhat surprised to find me still there.

Swimming With Jacob; Sailing With Scouts

Wednesday

Today was very wet in fact it was very very wet.  Why was it so wet? You might ask well there are two reasons you will have to wait for the second one but I will tell you the first one. The first reason is that I went swimming to Enderby with Jacob, Josh, who is Jacob’s brother, and Zak. While we were there we played a game were three people had to get a float from one end of the pool to the other sounds easy well it is for the first ten seconds because after those ten seconds a chaser is let lose on you.

The Second reason it was wet was because I went sailing with Scouts.    First I got picked up by Darren and he took, Jonathon, George and me sailing.

Once there we met Jacob, Zak, Brandon and the rest of the troop – Yahoo NO BEN.

Once Jacob and I had our life jackets on we got into our ‘pink’ boat this was the only ‘pink’ boat and took to the water. Jonathon ‘the wimp’ went in the leaders’ boat because he didn’t want to get wet!!!!!!!!!!!!

We sailed around and got attacked by Darren who has a super soaker, but also he capsized twice ha ha ha…..

Later on we purposefully capsized our boat twice – the 1^st time I got my leg caught on the sail the 2nd time I was at the front and got wet.  We also jumped into the water multiple times – I even jumped in when we were moving at speed and was abandoned by Jacob in the middle of the lake. Well maybe not the middle it was close to the shore but not to close.

By Nat (The Ginster) Jones 

Tuesday and Wednesday - Phone John, Occ Health Tel, Sore Throat, Occ Health Reschedule Friday, Shitty Day, No Sleep, Wed Am Bed, Swimming, Sailing

No much has happened over the last two days. Just after midnight I phoned work and spoke to JDM (mgn) re: my return and occupational health appointment. I explained that I was hoping to return, for at least one night, on Saturday but before then I had an appointment to see Lucy the Occ Health Nurse this morning. I explained that I still hadn't heard back from her to confirm this appointment and did JDM have her number so that I could check this morning. Luckily he had her number and I took it down. During this time I'd been feeling more and more unwell as my throat became increasingly painful and I continually coughed up a thick yukky mucus. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go to the appointment and this, in part, was why I'd rang to get her number. Things got worse, I was unable to get any sleep and finally at 9:45 I gave up can called Lucy to explain why I wouldn't be able to make our meeting. Hearing my squeaky and croaky voice she thought this was best and we provisionally arranged to meet on Friday. I'm to call to confirm I'm fit and to arrange a time that day. I didn't really do anything much else for the rest of the day other than watch TV and drink too many beers in a vain, but enjoyable, attempt to ease the soreness of my throat. I stayed up after everyone else had gone to bed and eventually at 6:00 on Wednesday morning went to bed and slept until Noon*.

Shortly after I came downstairs Nat left to go swimming, with his pals, Hannah was almost inconsolable when she found out she couldn't accompany them, at Endeby Leisure Centre so we'll see him when we see him altough he can't be too late as his Scout Troop is going sailing this evening. I made Deb and Han and myself some salad sandwiches (it took me 30 minutes!) for lunch and now, because I used all the remaining bread, I'll have to pop to ASDA at some point to buy some more.

*When she got up Deb finally accepted the inevitable and phoned her work to report that she was sick and would be absent for today. While I've found this bug unpleasant it's hit her much harder and she's been feeling quite unwell for the last several days. In fact, as I was writing this she quietly crept upstairs and went back to bed where she's now fast asleep.