Time in the Homeland...

So I headed back to the homeland for County Day, so had the novelty of a whole day’s worth of training. I ended up being a hostess on the first training (which was a Commissioners group! They let me in!) as they saw the surname, so phoned mum on the Thurs night (so mum told me I had been volunteered on Fri night) and asked if I could do it at last minute as the person who was to now had to train! Hehe the person who became my Div Comm just as I left the county didn’t realise I was in it until I was defending 4 plastic cups in an activity! When she realised who was under the hair (for it was down and covering my face in the act), she wasn’t surprised at the actions!

It was a good, if thoughtful training on the new GGUK resource of ‘Right Now!’ Lots of good activities with no much prep needed, and if easily laid out; all in all a good resource that I think we’ll be dipping into a fair bit over the years. It gives you solutions to deal with what can difficult topics, as the resource is based around the UN convention of the Rights of the Child (which I was surprised (but then at the same time not too surprised) to hear that the US hasn’t signed up to). The DC my mum had mentored recently was also in the training, and had twigged that I was related to her! She had appreciated the different viewpoint I had brought into the group due to the location I do my Guiding in. The trainer had been pointing out that ‘community/ world’ could mean 2 miles down the road as well as the whole the UK/ world; this is very true as when dealing with aspects of poverty, as 2miles down the road and still in the same Division as my unit we have areas of ‘government defined’ child poverty. The council here is strong on improving on this, as is a main aim; but maybe not so high in people minds back home (there are probably some child poverty areas in a couple of Divisions in the county, but its isn’t a major issue, however due to having Dover/ Folkestone in the County they do have Asylum seekers as a bigger issue than we would).

All in all I had a good time at the training, saw old faces, caught up with Guiding friends … it was just nice to be back Guiding in the homeland again and having a whole day of training!).

Then I stocked up on good cheese/ apple juice/ local real ale/ localish yummy salad dressing at Macknades to complete the day (recommended if in the area of the M2/A2/A299 junction).

Rest of the weekend was in the company of BIL & Sister so bit hit and miss.

So I had a good weekend, and in a strange way the heart ended up growing fonder for Dr T (although I did enjoy a weekend featuring much food he would go ugh to!) so happy to be back home with him Sunday Evening.