Don't forget your toothbrush!

All the prep, all the anticipation, I can't believe it's nearly here!


I have been packing and repacking, walking round with my dogs to get fitter and drinking loads of water in preparation for the heat.



So soon it will be farewell UK, Konnichiwa (こんにちは。) Japan!

My goal is reached!

Thanks to craft sales, cat sitting, folding what seems like 100s of cranes, generous donations from family and sponsorship from Bakewell & Calver District Guiding I have reached my fundraising target! 

I have to say I've really enjoyed the fundraising, particularly standing on the craft stalls and talking to people about the guide experience and what a Jamboree in Japan might be like. I was touched when some people gave me a donation and didn't even buy any craft.

It's made me aware of the effort of the guiding community to raise funds for many activities that young women can benefit from. I was happy to donate some of my Christmas money to a young guide in M&S bag packing, they were raising money for camping equipment.

The journey so far with my new unit has been amazing. Getting to know new people and learning new skills has been great. For practicing going to Tokyo we went on a fantastic trip to London. It was a great way to bond as a patrol and we met Paddington.  I'm so excited to be going to Japan!

Catching the waves with the Highflyers

Training weekend 4...we were instructed to bring swimming gear and plenty of towels as we were likely to get wet...at least twice! Oh yes - and don't forget a baby potato? 

We arrive, we carry all the food to a little boat, we board the boat and we were at camp. Camp was at theTrent Lock Scout Activity Centre. I'd not been there before so had no idea what to expect, apart from water.

The weekend included learning about Japanese culture, building and setting sail on a raft, kayaking and eating rice. The potato was for a for a challenge one of the leaders (George) came up with. We had to put it in our mouth and talk Danish.

We had to put up strange tents which was OK. 

We performed Jack and the Beanstalk. I played the 'main' part as the front of the cow, and a magic castle door. People laughed. We had a singsong in the traditional campfire way. In my humble opinion, the guides are way better at singing than the scouts! 

We got some top tips from Japanese cultural guide about going to the Jamboree: Take old clothes which we are happy to leave behind to make sure we can carry back souvenirs. She said to bring back unusual things like tea bowls that can be used for interactive presentations when we return.


All aboard for the homeward journey.

First it was paperclip....

It has begun...I had a lovely paperclip with many uses including

• clipping paper
• Earring
• Hair clip
• Nail cleaner
• Mini cat-a-pault
• zip pull

My challenge is to swap it for something more valuable to sell to contribute to my Japan Jamboree trip.

Very quickly I managed to turn it into a pen! A very fine one indeed. This pen could:

• Write an award winning novel
• Doodle an artistic masterpiece
• Get you an A* in an exam
• Fashionable hair accessory 
• Tent pole for a very small tent
• Base of a pencil case fort
• Half of a chopstick set

So...who would like the honour of having this pen? The only condition is you swap for something slightly more valuable!

Under Construction

This weekend I will be making origami cranes for a 50p donation at Curbar Primary School. They are having an Art Show and are happy for me to set up a stall.

CURBAR ART SHOW 2014 is held at

Curbar Primary School, Calver, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 3XA

The show is open from 10.30 - 16.30 Saturday and Sunday 17 & 18 May.

Chopsticks!

Today I have been researching things about Japan and have been practising the of art eating with chopsticks. I found some good facts on this page.

Things I'm looking forward to:

• meeting and making new friends
• some of the food (like sushi)
• the cultural experience

Things I need to practice:

• bowing
• eating with chopsticks
• my Japanese   

Some sushi I made with my friend (hope their sushi is better)