Wednesday 1st July

Wow - it has been busy down here. The Pls completed their 'weekend off' and hiked the beautiful coastal pathway between Porlock and Lynmouth whilst James O'Sullivan and the Third Year took over running the Troop to prove what they could do. As always, they did remarkably well. The APLs competition was a draw between Andrew C-B's Ospreys and Ben Chamberlain's Hawks both patrols receiving 'clean sheets' on both days. I will be taking them for a cream tea this afternoon to congratulate them on their efforts!

On Tuesday, the PLs returned from their little break and Mrs Maher and I returned from a night away at the Lorna Doone Hotel. The talk on the camp site was all about rebellion. The junior HQ were in a particular state of frenzy. Older and calmer heads just sat and waited knowing that these things will happen and there is no point in getting anxious about it.

Last night I decided that it was high time that the PLs were taken on the 'walk of the dead'. So after packing the Troop off to bed, I asked Mr Orbell to tell them the legend of the desecrated graveyard in Horner Wood and then told them we were going to walk there. We set off at about 10.30. It's quite a walk right into the heart of the wood to get to the location and it is, of course, pitch black in the woods. Unknown to the boys, Michael had sneaked off down the path and just as I was explaining about the priest who threw himself off the hill, he jumped out with a blood curdling scream!! Some of the tougher boys didn't respond quite how they would like their peers to think they would! Still it was all good fun and we carried on along the path. We eventually arrived back at about 12.30, had some cocoa and went to bed. I did hear some mutterings about it not being that frightening. It's funny how brave you become when back in familiar surroundings.

So onto this morning and a bit more rain. The weather has been a little less clement this week. I had announced a lie in this morning and reveille was set for 09.00. Breakfast went as normal, added the HQ meeting. I sent the team off for inspection and slipped into Horner Hamlet to attend to a few bits and pieces. 10 minutes later I arrived back on site to see boys running around, water carriers all over the place and HQ getting 'decked'. It could only be rebellion. Any normal human being would have out his car into reverse and sat it out at the cream tea room, but I couldn't leave my colleagues to their fate. I ploughed into the chaos and immediately got dumped by Xavier for my valiant efforts and soaked by some grinning sprog! There's respect for you!

20 minutes later or so and everyone was puffing and panting so Olly and I called an honourable draw.  Parade was called and the TL and ATLs were presented with a small token of our thanks for their efforts this year and camp life kicked off again with the unfinished inspection.