Opening ceremony

Pretty good: Peter Duncan (the Chief Scout and former Blue Peter presenter) abseiled on to the stage.

In the bit about the UK Scotland was represented by Franz Ferdinand and the Saltaire and Northern Ireland was represented by U2 and also by the flag of the Red hand on St Georges cross. England was represented by Robbie Williams.

The band was the Bogus Brothers and Stomp also featured.

The scores on the doors

North Weald Check-in 1186 - Hylands Park Admin 554

Registration

End of the first day on the registration desk, and we've got network connection to the rest of the world. Hello world!

We're Eurojamin

Left home at five thirty this morning and have been at Hylands since 9. My job is on the registration team. That's part of information management.

Now unwinding before bed.

Please buy one last single

Buy The Promise - Hope for you and me and help get Scouts to number 1 in the charts.

July 7?

Over at the Sharpener they're planning a mass gathering in defiance of the London Transport attacks on 7th July. Unfortunately it seems the Terrorists have already had a partial victory as they appear to be desribing the event in American terms ala September 11.

Click here to sign the pledge.

Gosh

I've been quoted in the Times. Well online at least.

This post in fact.

Back

That was a good weekend, the explorers seemed to enjoy it, and the other leaders are planning for more events next year. One of the explorers has reportedly told his mum, it was the "Best camp ever".

I learned quite a bit by doing during and before the weekend, there are certainly things I would do differently next time. I was a bit shonky on the buying of sundries (matches, bin liners, pepper salt etc), but as it was my first time being in charge of the organisation of an event involving under 18s (have co-run an alternative rally with Nicola and organised a New Year trip for Birmingham past members and similar 18+ stuff) ... And I think there were more times when the other leaders wanted me to take a lead, and others where I needed to go with the flow.

After dropping the kit off, popped into Leeds to visit a cashmachine to reset the pin on my Scout Association credit card. Unfortunately the community support officers checking cars around the market car park were actually moving them on and when I returned my car was behind a line of police tape due to a security alert. So Idecided to pop into The Light and see Batman Begins. Really great film.

Moblog

On camp. Weather good. Explorers cooking evening meal. Interesting.

For the SAGGA members out there the leaders came up with a new use for old tights- as a salad spinner.

Empty

Updated 8/7/5.

Well, given the big news story of the day- how do I feel.

Simple answer I feel nothing. No anger, no worry, no greif, no shock.

Actually I think shock may have a tiny bit to do with the lack of any other feeling.

Having thought about it my emotions may be incomprehension and bewilderment with a tiny bit of anger.

Looking throughout the Blogs the overall mood seems to be one of sadness and defiance, with just a little sentimentalism which can be excused at times like these.

Unlike Will I am not surprised that Charles Clarke and co are resisting the urge to say somthing crass and stupid like "with ID cards this may never have happened." You don't get to stand for Parliament for a major political party if youre a complete insensitive dipstick. Or maybe you do, but you certainly don't get into the cabinet.

I'm impressed at the measured way most people are dealing with this. Eye witness reports say when faced with an emergency, Londoners just got on with it, no panic, no hysteria, and certainly no selfishness. OK so there was a certain amount of screaming, but it would be totally unrealistic to expect otherwise. As Ken Livingstone said the conduct of those involved in yesterdays incidents is somthing to admire, and for the second time in a week I'm proud to be part of the same nation as these people.

And now, while writing this, it hits home- the thought of the horror people in the heart of it must have faced, and the bravery, such bravery. A tear is trickling down my face and there is somthing burning inside.

Breaking News

Software Patenting looks set to be defeated, and London gets the Olympics.

Busy busy busy....

I have an Explorer Scout camp on at weekend, and after that Eurojam.