It’s been a quiet year in South Bridlington.
We continue to decline gracefully, and are enjoying the even-tide of life. Not as good as 10 o’clock in the morning, but still not bad. We keep forgetting things, but since we can’t remember what they were it doesn’t matter.
Judy continues to swim each morning. Her schedule was interrupted in September for about 6 weeks following a surprising reaction to self-surgery on her feet. This resulted in a significant infection. After considered reflection, she was heard to mutter “I shouldn’t have done that”. She continues to enjoy not going on holiday.
The most significant personal development this year has been my being declared as “not a fit and proper person” to be a member of the Scout Association. “Well, done” (P.J.Butland). A child with huge behavioural problems was due to go from Beavers (ages 6,7) into Cubs (ages 8-10 ½). I asked a friend who is a child psychologist to give us some idea of how best to manage him, and she observed him for about ¾ hour in Beavers. She then compiled a list of recommendations. I had omitted to ask the child’s mother if anyone could observe him. Barnardos, who sent a carer with the child to Beavers complained, and the mother was then asked to complain, which she did. It was a put-up job. I had a very vigorous “review”, which turned out to be a disciplinary hearing and was promptly sacked as Group Scout Leader. All our parents were outraged, and held a very stormy meeting. I appealed against the decision, and the appeal was turned down 4 months later.
However, good has come out of the situation. I am still on good terms with the mother who “complained”. She feels dreadful about what happened, and her son does not attend Cubs. She was too embarrassed to send him. We have a new Group Scout Leader who brings a completely new set of skills to the post – not a bad thing. Gary is the new Scout Leader (I was doubling up as Scout Leader). Gary has 3 children in Scouts (1 Beaver, 1 Cub and 1 Scout) and a 4th on the waiting list. He is a good man, a builder. Sadly he lacks my quiet tact and diplomacy. He continues the 1st Brid “Up the Workers” campaign to the great annoyance of the Scout Authorities.
In spite of one of us being Not A Fit And Proper Person, we helped organize the Scout Christmas Post this December. It is probably best if you don’t tell anybody. The system worked like this – Gary arranged for about 8 collection points for cards in shops in Bridlington, charging 20p to deliver to Bridlington addresses. He got 1 notice of the Scout Post in the local paper. The cards were collected each day, and we sorted 3 ½ thousand Christmas cards by Post Code in our front room. Bunches of cards were then put together sorted on the 1st 6 out of 7 characters in the post codes. Each street was sorted into ascending numerical order of house number. The Scouts and parents took sets of cards to deliver. We thoroughly enjoyed the project. It was a wonderful application of sorting algorithms. We will re-read Knuth before next December in order to improve our technique even further. Our new Specialist Subject is “Post-codes of Bridlington”.
I cycled from Hamburg-Wittenburg in March under cloudless skies. Since I cycled Prague-Wittenburg 4 years ago, I have now cycled Prague-Hamburg, sort of.
In September I tried walking the “Corfu Trail” from one end of Corfu to the other – about 150 miles, taking a 1-man tent and sleeping bag. I got lost within 30 minutes of starting, and ended up spending about 10 days based in a magnificent empty hotel, walking each day (and getting lost). Corfu is a brilliant place in late September – not many tourists, and plenty of warm weather.
Our social life is based on the Bridlington Salvation Army Tuesday lunches. We have a 2-course meal for £2.60 each and meet an interesting set of people, many of whom have homes to go to. Even if they are slightly mad, the local SA volunteers are splendid.
Blood and Fire.
David & Judy Butland
20th December 2011
Later than intended, due to heavy commitment to the Scout Post. And general disorganization.
jbrip 