Weekend 8th & 9th December 2001
The Unit was split in half with two patrols in either group. My group had been told to arrive at Langley Scouts HQ at 8.30 am where we would be taken into Slough town center to attempt to raise some money for the Berkshire Contingent.
The idea was that some of us would stay by a small base located in the shopping center whilst the rest of us went around with donation tins, promoting the Christmas wrapping which was being done at the base.
After being told off a few times for rattling our tins, we decided to start asking individual people if they would care to make a donation. Some people were very kind and generous, some apologised for their lack of change, some ignored us completely and I'm sure one or two people actually ran away from me for some reason or another.
At about 12.00 we went back to our base to find that only 3 people had dared to have the Christmas present wrapped up by our specially trained team. I didn't see the results but I'm sure there were no complaints.
A little while later the rest of the Unit arrived. They were coming to take their shift and we were off to do whatever it was they had been doing to make them all miserable.
That afternoon we were taken over to Earleywood Campsite near Ascot where we did a few bases on, first aid and public speaking. The day was so busy that I had completely forgotten all about the Disco that had been organised for us and the Scouts going on the Join In Jamboree. It's now Wednesday and my legs are still aching from strutting my stuff on the dance floor.
We also had a selection of DVDs to choose from which were being watched through the projector. The choices of the night were Star Wars, The Mummy Returns and (chosen by me, much to everyone's delight) Shrek.
I didn't get to sleep for long that night as someone had brought a guitar with them. They were attempting to compose a blues song about trousers. It was awful. I wish I had taken my drum kit.
Breakfast the next morning was sausage sandwiches and spaghetti hoops. After a long tidy up we had Scouts Own and watched a video about the Jamboree Camp in Thailand. We basically had a tour of the site in a short programme. It made us all realise just how lucky we are and how it really is a once in a lifetime experience.
We were shown all the equipment that we would be taking with us to Thailand.
This is the uniform we will have to wear in Thailand -

After a short bout of pioneering we played an interesting game about smuggling. To explain the rules would take too long but somehow Phillip managed to pay me only six pounds for a pair of five hundred pound pistols. I'll hunt you down Phillip!
Everyone was just starting to fall asleep when the parents started to arrive. They were shown our equipment and after some debates of where the funds were going, we finally said goodbye and were on our ways home.
Now I just can't wait to get to Thailand! (report by Lee)