12 months of the Trefoil Guild

I thought it was fitting to do an annual report for Forest Hall Trefoil Guild in the spirit of Christmas. I've spent many hours trying to do something that on the face of it seems quite simple but I'm not a poet or a songwriter so some of the lines don't scan quite right so as long as you don't try to sing it out loud (and believe me I've tried using youtube as my backing music when the house is empty) and take it in the spirit that its intended it kind of works.

In the 1st month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to plan an exciting year of activities

Collingwood Monument

In the 2nd month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to be detectives by the North Sea and plan an exciting year of activities








In the 3rd month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to relax and find with their inner animal,
play detectives beside the  North Sea and plan an exciting year of activities

My egg turned out nothing like this!

In the 4th Month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to celebrate Easter with eggs, balloons and string, find inner animals, play detectives beside the North Sea and plan an exciting year of activities








In the 5th Month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to sample Fairtrade food and wine
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

In the 6th  month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed on a trip to see the Vicar of Dibley
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

In the 7th month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed that Mexico was the place to be
6 theatre visits
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

In the 8th month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to go to the Shire Horse for a meal,
7 Mexicans
6 theatre visits
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities




In the 9th month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to paint pigs for a Rainbow charity
8 Shire Horses
7 Mexicans
6 theatre visits
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

In the 10th month of 2014 the Trefoil Guild agreed to celebrate 50 years with 50p's
9 Painted pigs
8 Shire Horses
7 Mexicans
6 theatre visits
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

In the 11th month of 2014 theTrefoil Guild agreed that our first birthday called for food and drink at Amicis
10 50p challenges
9 painted pigs
8 Shire Horses
7 Mexicans
6 theatre visits
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

In the 12th month of 2014 the Trefoil guild agreed to once again eat and drink merrily,
11 birthday wishes
10 50p challenges
9 painted pigs
8 Shire Horses
7 Mexicans
6 theatre visits
5 Fairtrade wines
4 String Eggs
3 inner animals
2 detectives and
an exciting year of activities

A brilliant year with some lovely friends and I look forward to 2015

Sunday is a day of rest!

Another day, another Christmas trip. This time I was off to Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth (www.whitehousefarmcentre.co.uk) with the Division Brownies for their Christmas outing. I have taken Rainbows here before so knew that I was in for a good but cold day and I was not disappointed. Three layers on top, two on the bottom, thick coat, hat and gloves, I was determined not to be cold. It was a lot less stressful for me as I was helping a Brownie unit but didn't have any of the added responsibility of organising anything. I just had to turn up and herd them all around.

The Brownies started by writing letters to Santa and going to see Santa and the Good Fairy then it was off to Elf School and before you knew it, time for dinner. 

The day was not without its challenges

1. Going to the toilet with 3 layers of clothes on

2. Trying to drink my coffee at lunchtime before it all leaked out of the crack in the bottom. 

3. Trying to take a selfie to show I was there without the sun blinding me. As you can see from the photo it was very sunny but that photo is deceptive, it was a biting cold wind.

Despite these personal challenges there was still time for the Brownies to see real reindeers, feed some of the animals in the barns and very quickly walk past the rather smelly pigs. We also saw a rather large bird but couldn't decide if it was an emu or an ostrich, whatever it was it was big. The Brownies decided to ride the toy tractors as if they were Formula 1 cars before going to the Animal Barn. This seemed to cause more excitement than seeing Santa when the Brownies had the chance to hold, pet or squeeze animals, wear a very large snake round their shoulders or a tarantula on their head. I supervised from a distance. The day ended with a ride on the real farm tractor and the warmth of the soft play (this won over going to watch an owl display in the very open, cold, windy field I cannot understand why) Then, after getting a reply to the letter that was written at the beginning of the day, it was back home.

Another 7.5 hours on the Service element of the Voyage award.

Where are the dancing waiters?

For the Benton Division Rainbow Christmas outing we went to Tanfield Railway (www.tanfield-railway.co.uk) for the Santa Express. It all started way back in September when I co-ordinated the application for the tickets from Girlguiding North East England.

I cannot believe it was 2011 when we last did this trip but it was such a success I had no hesitation in doing it again. So with all my numbers and credit card at the ready I went to book the tickets on-line. First problem: the on-line booking system wouldn't let me do it for the numbers I wanted. Second problem: I e-mailed the organisers to ask how to get the order done and the reply was "we don't actually have that many tickets left but leave it with us" Hats off to all who sorted it out behind the scenes and arranged for an extra train to be put on so we could all travel together.

So on 5th December 105 excited adults and children and one harassed Joanna left for Tanfield. Apart from the coach driver missing the well signposted turning and a Rainbow with a desperate need for the toilet we got to Tanfield in time.

All we had to do was get them on the train, in the right carriages, in the dark and without losing anyone. It was going well until I was standing in the cafe passing on messages, my units safely on the train.........so who was this standing in front of me, a Rainbow who was supposed to be on the train! One Rainbow leader summed it up as  "its like herding kittens" and she is right.

Eventually we were all on the steam train and off we went. It was like a mystery trip as it was so dark outside and not much lighter inside as the carriages are all authentic and had very little light. It didn't seem to bother most of my Rainbows. Out of the darkness loomed the North Pole station all brightly lit and off we jumped to go and see Santa. Its lovely taking the Rainbows as they are so excited about it all. Santa talked to them all and they all got a present then it was time for snacks, drinks and opening presents.

Then back on the train to return to the bus, waiting to get our goodie bags the Rainbows loved the steam coming from the train and the sound of the whistle. It all added to the magical experience.

We all got goodie bags with presents and badges from Girlguiding North East England and it was time to get back on the bus to go home. I couldn't believe how fast the time went. I thought the excitement would have worn them all out and they would sleep going home. Silly me, they were even noisier going home with the added excitement of the game - how often can I drop my present/sweets/gloves on the floor without Joanna getting annoyed.

And the dancing waiters? One Rainbow said the train journey was boring as there were no dancing waiters like the Polar Express film. Well if she had only said sooner I would have done a dance for her in the aisle. Do you think that would have satisfied her?

That is another section of the Voyage Award completed "Plan and participate in an event of at least 10 hours' duration"