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Tents are coming down, bags are packed, Kathy and Katie took off for Heathrow this morning.

Last night for dinner we had this fine fellow. And very tasty he was. There were extra ears roasting in the bottom, I'm not sure what they were for, maybe the kitchen staff. There was a sign in the pan that said only 2 pieces of crackling per person. 

We had a very wet closing ceremony last night with fire works.

The shops are dismantled and everything is ready to be taken away. The tent is coming down tonight. 

I am packing up and heading to my friend Marion's after the staff party tonight. I am looking forward to going home tomorrow to my own bed.

I can honestly say, these are not my favorite.

Camp Highlights

The day starts off with a proper English breakfast- the best meal of the day. 

Then it's off to the craft area. So far I've taught rockets and kaleidoscopes. Today it's origami, tomorrow to woggles to put on one's necker. 

I love love these wellie sticks so clever. Keeps the rain water out.

These scouts have the best entry to their camp site.

Second best

Runner up!

This is a patrol tent for cooking, eating, laundry etc.

Here is the ever popular burger stall. 

Windsor

This is the "Long Walk" from the camp in the great park to Windsor Castle. We got the afternoon off from the craft area and headed into town.

 Kathy and I crawled up the walk and detoured at the Windsor Castle pub for a leisurely lunch before go on to Windsor proper. We are a little tired of camp food.  It's not bad, it's just not great. They have 2 pubs here at camp for the volunteers and drinks are cheap after you buy your reusable glass. I usually can't be bothered to go over. 

We tried on hats at Marks and Spenser's, had afternoon pastries at a coffee shop and took a taxi back to camp. 

Wings 2014

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Here's my friend Marian who in encouraged me to come to Wings in 2003 with my troop. I'm back again this time as a volunteer. 6000+ campers, 1200 volunteers and one week in the Queen's deer park. The troops are pouring in. I am signed up for duty in the camp store.

Patches are flying out the door. Woggles (scarf slides) are the second best sellers. The main tent is full of things to buy, I spent part of the morning putting huge gummy snakes into tiny paper sacks for the tuck shop. There is a cafe that sells drinks and baked goods, a burger wagon and ice cream stand. Lots of things for those kids to spend their pocket money on.

Here's my home away from home. The borrowed tent came with a camp chair essential for putting my shoes on in the morning. I had to tie a bandana on top so I can find it in the sea of tents.  

The opening ceremonies with flames , fire  works, and lots of music and dancing. 

I am taking painkillers in anticiation of all the air leaking out of my mattress again tonight.

Old stuff

Three guesses where we are. It's a good thing we got here early- thank you Katie for booking on line. We could see the  traffic backed up coming up the hill to the site. Millions of people too.

This is the biggest fish I have I have ever eaten. Good thing I rejected the chips.

Then on to the Fashion Museum in Bath where they had a Downton Abbey display commemorating the centennial of the beginning of World War One. Eatyour  heart out Normandie and Brena.  They had lots of other stuff as well.

The next day held more old stuff and much less driving. We went to the town of Woodstock, home of Blenheim Palace. 

Fabulous approach.

A really big pile of rock.

With a very nice water feature. An interesting exhibit about Winston  Churchill. 

Chipping Norton

I stayed in this part of Britain in 1997 when I came with a bunch of Girl Scout friends. We rented a house in Chipping Camden that time. This time I am staying in Chipping Norton with a different bunch of Scout friends Kathie and Katie Woolard. We are going to a big scouting event at Windsor Castle and wanted to see a few sites before we go.  

Forget Me Not cottage is on a quiet dead end lane. 

It's really tiny, just one room wide on three floors.

It has a tiny garden which we have actually use. Flowers grow like mad here, every house has a beautiful display. 

The village has been yarn bombed in honor of the WW1 Centenery.

The village has everything one needs within walking distance, groceries, restaurants, bakery, post office, money machine etc it has been great place to stay.