Day out in Park

Today, Akela was heading out to a coffee and chat catch up with her Cousin, who lives and working in England. She is home for a few weeks and the family are catching up at Joan’s Pantry, an oval and park area near where Akela grew up. She thought that it was a good chance to show Taquim around another part of Adelaide. It certainly was a great day out.

Big Bash T20 Semi Final

Today, Akela and I took Taquim to the Big Bash T20 Semi Final Cricket game at Adelaide Oval. The Adelaide Strikers were playing and if they had won, we would have been heading to a game on Sunday. Instead, the result wasn’t as we would have liked. However, we hope Taquim enjoyed his first trip out with us into the City.

AJ2016 Sites, Services and Camping and their rain photo

Thanks to AJ2016 Sites, Services and Camping for sharing this photo on their facebook page. It gives a good visual of the weather early in the Jambroee! The Sites, Service and Camping team Rocked It by the way! They were awesome people, working long hours before and after getting the Jamboree site ready for the Jamboree particpants.
 
https://www.facebook.com/1652008628386050/photos/a.1653960548190858.1073741828.1652008628386050/1671053606481552/?type=3&theatre

We would like to reassure people though that it did clear and that from the Thursday 7th January, the weather did in fact fine up for the rest of the Jamboree.

Arrival Home - AJ2016

Today, we arrived home. We had left the Jamboree site just after lunch time yesterday, arriving back early this morning (6am arrival – blurg!)

The trip was relatively quiet as many were sleep on the way home.

One great thing that happened on our arrival home was the arrival of Tquim while Akela and I were away at the Jamboree. He is a mascot (like I am) but form 4^th Chatham Cub Pack in Canada. He has had a rather long journey, having started it back in October – he took 3 months to get here. But he is here now, and we can start showing him around, taking him to adventures with the Cub Pack etc. I know he is going to have a great time here.

 

 

Homeward bound

Today was pack up day. It is always sad to have a jamboree end, and leave the many friends that have been made. But it is really only a few short years until the next jamboree in January 2019. We are really looking forward to that as it is so much closer to home.

Day trip to Sydney

Today, Akela took myself and Rufus into Sydney, as we had the day off. It meant we had to be ready to get on a bus at 7amin the morning. But we were determined to have a day off site. So, the early start was worth it.

We walked around the Opera House and admired the view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Once we had taken the photos, we then went to Woolworths – Akela was hanging for some Ice Coffee. Further, we had Kathy – a Hong Kong Leader for a short period who also wanted a supermarket. She then went to the Markets at the Rocks and also the Art Museum as well. After we parted ways, we were able to board a ferry for a trip to Manly, where we able to walk down the Courso, and found another leader on their day off – Helen from Qld. It was her birthday and we had lunch with her. It was just good to be able to have lunch, with a nice view of the beach and not be interrupted or have a time frame to be back for a activity. Definitely what we needed!

We soon (and reluctantly) dragged ourselves away from the comfortable seats, the view and the food, to wonder back down to the ferry for the return trip back. The day was certainly enjoyable and were glad to have been able to spend the day with pleasant company.

 

Super Saturday at AJ2016

Well, it is now over half way through the Jamboree. We arrived on the 3^rd January (along with the rest of the South Australians as we are a part of the contingent) and set up our tent. A shower and lunch followed, before heading to our activity base to meet the team we are working with. Akela knew two of the other leaders from other scouting activities and it was a pleasure for her to catch up with them.

Work on the activity pretty much started straight away, from 2 to 5pm. Then Akela was doing some crowd control for the Opening Ceremony and concert.

Since then, we have had 3 days of rain (Monday through to Wednesday) before the sun broke through and everyone saw the blue sky on Thursday Morning (the cheer that rolled across the campsite was something to hear).

Today, was Super Saturday (or better known as visitors day at previous Jamborees) and we had several thousand people attend the Jamboree to visit the site. Many of them came through the Australiana Village and enjoyed the activities the site provided.

 It was a long and busy day, while warm, was enjoyable. We are hoping that the many Cubs and Joeys that visited had a great time visiting both the jamboree and our activity.

 Akela did manage to find tine today to ring her grandpa for his 96^th birthday. He was pleased to hear from her and the family lunch sounds like it went well, with everyone having a good time.

 Tomorrow, Akela and I have the day off, and we are planning on going into Sydney, to have a look around and have lunch at Manly.

 

 

Packing for AJ2016

Today, Akela, Rufus and myself packed Akela’s bags and boarded a bus. Destination is the Australian Jamboree (known as AJ2016). While it is a 16 to 18 hour bus trip, but am sure we’re going to have a great time and we will update you when we are able to do so.