The bairn has gone off for an action-packed outdoor week-end, more or less collapsing under the weight of a back-pack half her height and twice her body weight. She's going to be walking 7 miles with this thing strapped to her back, and then to-morrow, after camping over-night in a sheep field, will be spending Sunday doing navigational stuff in the wilds of Teesdale.

Is there a point??

Yes, you have a weekend free of the little gets.

yes she wont get lost when she is older and can drive as she will be able to read maps.

Is that how you got to be a bus-driver?

yes showed my bronze duke of edinburgh award badge and that was it

Well seven miles does seem a bit light like.

Which badge is it - gold, silver or bronze?

I know a little bit about walking over various moorland with a big pack and seven miles for a kid, particularly a girl is very admirable. Hats off to the girl!

I'm not being sexist to the lass, its a biological fact that females are generally physically smaller than males. NOTE: I never said weaker, anyone who has seen childbirth close up knows who the stronger and braver sex are.

Get the Radox and Savlon ready for when she gets back, prepare for backache and friction burns where the pack rubbed.

Aye, I can but admire her. It's just the warm up to the final weekend of the bronze which is three days over longer distances.

Rushed off to answer the phone last night, convinced for the umpteenth time I was going to hear news of bairn having fallen neck-deep in North Yorkshire marsh, but it was only Mr Frodraff requesting info re folk events!

Info now sent, Mr Frodraff

She's back and she thought it was great. No injuries or large blisters.






I'd forgotten what she looked like without make-up

Many thanks for the info Ms Graby and glad to know that the bairn is back and in one piece. As I'll be sending the folkies from Weston Village to the Pot House I hope they escape in one piece just as easily.

Talking of bairns our big hairy one is playing with Hot Club De Paris at the White Rooms in Sunderland tonight. Local reviews would be gratefully received. They've a new single out on May 16th.

Well done to your bairn, a wonderful achievement, I know only too well what she has been
through, from my lad's DOE awards experiences!

Good luck to the girl in future expeditions!

Thanks to one and all...will pass messages on

No, you have to pay to do it. At least your parents do. You pay for mini buses to get you out in the wilds, for the supervision, and all that sort of stuff

I know nothing of well-paid jobs or pay rises, but Mr No 6 did say it got him his current position. YOU can't drive a bus, can you? No, you can't

I've told you, you get to drive a bus

The truth is that I've rewarded your commendable interest in D of E awards by entering your name for the next trek. Spot of exercise is just what you need



Erm, it's 11 0'clock so I'm going now and I'm not coming back.
At least, not until to morrow

the youth clubs in the town used to do the duke of edinburgh award scheme and other than the normal entrance fee to the youth club there was no further outlay.
mind there arent many youth clubs left now
the award scheme allowed you to develop as a person and the expedition was /is just a part of it and i thoroughly enjoyed the time i put into the scheme.
it also helps the participants to gain skills useful in the real world like map reading handy for when they are taking you to away games