Guiders Staff Room Part 2

London is really easy to to if you don't try to cram too much in. Let me know if you want any tips or need an extra pair of hands.

I'm there...reading lots at the mo rather than posting though :)

Join us in the Guide leader group on FB!

I'm not really sure how far we are from London, drspouse, I shall google and see (geography really isn't my strong point ).

I thought if we could get some parents on board (there are two I pretty much know I could rely on - the rest I'm not sure tbh) it might be easier than just two leaders plus an extra from...somewhere.

I've had a more productive day today finally. Lots of printing/sorting out done. Extra posters made up for Guides. Letter to remind a parent about subs oweing finally drafted.

Feeling more optimistic about Hollywood night too!

Just need some sort of vague plan for our first ever Guides meeting other than getting stuck into picking a GFI to start on. Although I can't see why we can't just jump straight in after introductions and laying down a few ground rules tbh.

We went to Brownsea Island too, and camped. It was just a 24 hour thing but they loved the ferry (we had fish and chips with the BP statue on the waterfront while we waited) and they provided all the camping gear. There is a residential building too, but it was booked when we wanted to go. Tons of programming which makes it easier too (if more expensive). That sounds like a tangent, lol, but it was the same trip...

I've had a "Flossie is moving up to brownies but we've just decided she did another night at a different pack" text. We're full, so it wasn't an issue, but dc supports keeping the pack for local girls, not girls from the nearby town.

Getting into brownie holiday prep. My first ever! Got the going away books ordered. It's daunting!

Pax lodge sounds fab (adds to list of ambitious bright ideas!)

London with Rainbows... I'm sure its do-able, but oh my, you're brave!

Ah ok. That would be the one section I avoid like the very plague
I took mine to stay at Pax Lodge amongst other things. London was terrifying with a bunch of other people's children!!

Are you far from London? Should be doable if an hour or so - we've been skating with our feeder R/B units and the train journey was an hour because of the change (15 mins walk to the rink, probably less actually, that was more challenging!)

They're Rainbows pontification.

You should have seen some of their 'places to visit' suggestions .

London was one of them so we're going to see about train prices/getting parents on board with coming with us and see just how do-able that one is.

Yeah I'm embarrassed I didn't spot it earlier too!
I'm going to offer them a choice between helping us set up a subs fund and having it back. Makes me feel better.

Tell 'em.
Pleased this popped up as I have a whole list of gg stuff to do this week. A salient reminder!
No idea who I have this year - lost a lovely fat cohort of girls who aged out, and when I checked my roster there was only one girl on it (who I have never heard of lol). Better check again and send my reminders to everyone to get registered. We have a diff system here and I never know who I've got until the last minute. I suppose I should also register my own kids. Bahahaha. Oops.
I do have a set of twins who want to be in different units. We only have one of each section (miles from anywhere in a small town) so mum wants me to put one in the next section. Gotta convince my AC. We will lose both if we don't, which is a shame. They have been in my units for four years now. Mum is deadly serious. The girls are actually in different schools as well.
Lucysmam, you are having music right? Dance party?
With older girls we have turned that sort of thing into an etiquette evening or an awards ceremony (so at the end of the year). The etiquette stuff the guiders dress as fancy waiters and serve the girls, and they practice their manners... If you are doing it at the beginning of the year, could you do an awards bit with gold envelopes where they find out which sixes (or whatever, not sure of age group) they are going to be in? You could 'award' the sixers and seconds? Or if it is a little later, do more personality/ individual led awards 'best tidying up at camp/ most pasta eaten/ funkiest wellies' type thing.

(They did tell me she was leaving. They just didn't check their bank account. I also didn't check properly as she has the same first name as another Guide).

It's so rude! I think it's ruder than not replying to a birthday party invitation (well, maybe not).
Also rude: leaving Guides and not telling the leaders.
Moral dilemma: do I tell the parents of the Guide who left months ago that they haven't cancelled their standing order, or use it for a hardship subs fund?
(I do know the correct answer... and they were nice parents... just v tempting to keep it... and one of my complaining mums has not paid subs for months actually).

I'm waiting on confirmation of our new starter at the mo. Mum replied almost instantly a few weeks ago so I emailed to remind her of our start-back date and ask her to confirm her dd will be there.

Nada.

Does. My. Nut. In.

Photo props/booth of some sort is a good idea! I will google.

Dd1 and her friend are joining us that week too because of no Brownies & I don't want them to be bored.

Any game ideas?

Props for pictures

Just had my first Flossie isn't coming back email. We'd finally rearranged the sixes into a lovely order. Grrrr

I did send it Becles, just waiting for a reply. Specsavers here know they can give them to us but never have them there to actually give.

If not, I'll budget for them out of the next term's subs from poundland or similar.

I need some help with a Hollywood themed meeting please! I was bubbling with enthusiasm at the beginning of the hols but everything's a bit meh at the mo & I'm not getting far.

I've got...
dress up (party clothes or from the fabrics box?)
Sparkling flavoured water in plastic champagne saucers & star biscuits
Walk of fame (cardboard stars on red backing paper with drawn round hands - should be quick ish)

We've no tv or dvd player there so can't watch anything.

Brain's gone blank & that doesn't seem very exciting!

Lucys mam send an email can't hurt and if it's a no go try the local spec savers

Train track mad

We do one or two sleepovers a year where generally everyone who wants to can come (a big unit but we're lucky in having enough leaders, big venue and lots of girls with other commitments )

We do a pack holiday where we take the oldest 12. If one of them can't go we offer the space to next oldest

Don't feel you need to change your system for one parent. It sounds totally fair and transparent, which is important. We had s parent query where her dd wasn't invited to pack holiday and best friend was, but when we explained she was unfortunately the 13th oldest and best friend was 12th oldest I don't think mum was thrilled but she understood. And we have plenty of other chances for overnights

Productive day today...sort of. I aqcuired what I thought was 12 hi-viz vests from lifewise999 at a local event, just got them out and there are only 11 :(

Now dithering about whether to email them and ask if they might post me a 12th one out so they all match, or just pick one up in the pound shop.

To do list written to start tackling tomorrow too. It's not as bad as I thought. Although the parent of the girl meant to be joining us when we go back is now not responding so looks like I will be picking up an extra one of everything for the first week back and playing the 'wait and see if she comes' game .

I've started to save things on g drive as a back up after a computer melt down lost three years worth of work

Would be good, wouldn't it! I'm just glad my partner in crime is staying. She's just announced they might be relocating next year when her dd3 finishes her GCSEs. Gosh, I'll miss her if she does.

Outdoor cooking sounds great

I'm hiding from dp, his laptop has lost his plans for next term, and all last terms updates re moving on, challenge badge tasks completed, waiting list, everything, and the air is rather blue. (Beaver leader, their waiting list isn't centralised, and it'll be a while-think years- before it is). He's a very grumpy bunny so I'm leaving him to swear!

Need to get back into the swing of things here!

Have the laptop back now though so should be easier.

I'm a tad concerned that no-one has heard from our new volunteer since locking up the hall after our last meeting. I've emailed and text a couple of times, checked with DC to see if she's heard anything but nada . I just want to know if we have extra hands or not before we go back

Looks good we're going to be planning next week