Thursday 25th July 2013

At final parade last evening the skies looked ominous and I advised the boys to be prepared for rain.  I have been at this a little while now and I have learnt that it is always good to keep one eye trained on the horizon and to pay careful attention to the atmosphere, climate, etc...  Then, just as the leaders headed off to bed, the heavens opened.  IT rained, it rained and it rained.  I have to admit that I was quite pleasantly warm in bed and if it is going to rain, let it rain while we sleep. I drifted into a pleasant sleep only to be rudely awoken by the gruesome noise of some poor cow either in the throws of some brutal murder or in the later stages of giving birth.  Either way, I was pleased when it stopped and I could continue with my night's sleep.

As morning drew near the rain ceased and blue skies prevailed.  I had set reveille at the unusually gentlemanly time of 09.00.  This was to accommodate the fact that we have two very early mornings on Friday and Saturday so that we can get off to Gorge Walking, climbing, etc...in good time and also because I wanted to start army day with a bang!

The HQ assembled in the small marquee at 08.40 to be issued with face paint, green t-shirts, etc..and prepared to hustle the troops out of bed.  We then had smoke bombs, bangers and all sorts of nonsense.  There were great training stations in the morning where the boys learnt stealth, communication and all sorts of army skills.  This was followed by a mass game of capture the flag and another welcome dip in the river.

We also had our first car wash today.  For new parents this means the boys line up in a queue and are splashed down, given soap to scrub up and then splashed down again.  A very 9th tradition!

Mr Allen was in charge of stores this evening as Mrs Maher returned home with our two girls so that they could go off on their own Cub and Guide camps.  Never fear, all was well.

Tomororow we are up early and off for adventure.  The sun is just setting over the hills, the boys are having cocoa in year group meetings and the HQ are recovering from their shock 2-1 defeat to the PLs in the evening football match!

Friday promises to be a good day!

SRM