Am home (albeit briefly) from GaSCiT, and am pleased to report that the camp went well, the kids enjoyed themselves and the political minefield that was the committee managed not to go ka-boom. All I need now is some sleep and a couple of hangover pills to help me recover! I've got a huge feeling of satisfaction and a strong desire to buy some hand-held radios/walkie-talkie type efforts.

At present, my dirty clothes are being made clean and dry again, then they're being shoved straight back into the rucksack and I'm off on another camp. I'll be back on Saturday (and will be remain here for longer than 2 hours!) so will fill in more of the gaps later!

The piles are mounting up, and I hear there's a good cream available at the doctors.

Ah. Whooops. Um. Let me start that again...

The piles of equipment to be taken on camp tomorrow are mounting up, but it's taking up every available surface in my flat. I've printed out (most of) the documents I need to take with me, but I'm wishing that my desktop was a laptop, because I'm sure to have forgotten to print important things. I've got all the general equipment sorted, but I've still not thought about packing my personal kit. I'm feeling grouchy and even hot Ribena's not helping... it may well be something to do with the impending chore of packing everything into the car:

Hmm isn't the Madmobile's boot rather small I remember you saying once .... you could be having fun there! Caz

Indeed, and I suspect that this emotional roller-coaster's going to continue for the next few days, so I'd best be leaving you...

Over and out.

Tomorrow lunchtime I head off into the sunset. Metaphorically speaking, that is. Last-minute preparations have been going well, although I have yet to fit everything into the Madmobile, so there's still plenty of potential for tears before bedtime. I've also failed to pack my own stuff yet, so there's another little challenge to while away this evening's hours.

Also

Been scannin' any int'resting bits o' anatomy? Heh Heh.

Eeek. Frightening thought! Better go and lie down in a darkened room...

Today I have been mostly eating quiche and scanning things. Am amazed at how thin my wrists look from underneath and how brown my arms look when scanned. Little things, little minds...!!

I have a confession to make. This evening I scared Fatso so much that he sat in the corner and quivered for a good 5 minutes. It wasn't until I waved a slice of freshly-cut apple seductively under his nose that he moved. All I did was walk into the kitchen and he scuttled off as quickly as his stumpy little legs would carry him. Perhaps he was doing something dodgy and didn't want to be disturbed.

Maybe I should act on advice and get him laminated... at least then he'd be wipe-clean.

Much of today has been spent shopping. As a rule, I hate shopping, except when perusing the shelves looking for books, CDs or outdoors stuff (which - I suppose - says summat about me. I'm just not sure what.) Particular hates in the shopping line include never-ending searches for clothes, shoes and food. Today's shopping fell into the "food" category, but was, however, passibly exciting. I was responsible for buying approximately 2880 biscuits, 9kgs of split lentils and 75 litres of squash, among other things. Now that's what I call shopping!!

Long time, no write. Hope you're all well and bimbling along quite happily.

Life's all been a tad hectic here on Planet Mad, full of writing, filing, printing, collating, stapling, shopping, eating, drinking, mooching and watching films. Some of these have been very tough assignments. Luckily, I've been looked after by friends, who have at least ensured that I had help with the eating and drinking bits. Result? My summer diet's not going too well, but my appreciation of Thai food is far greater. After all, there is a price you have to pay for being well-informed in the culinary sense, and if that price happens to be a larger pair of jeans - so be it... I choose wisdom over skinniness any day!! :-) Now - believe it or not - off to a BBQ. Tarra!!

The Madmobile registered an outside temperature of 34 degrees C. It's a bit nippy out.

Another day of sun; another day lodged behind a computer. Ho de hum.

Conversation about my horoscope for today:

You're frustrated when you don't know things you should have mastered long ago.

Amy: Not learnt how to tie your shoe laces yet?!

Too much wine and not enough sense. More tomorrow. Mebbe.

Have been inspired by Ash's blog, and today I shall be mostly being a pirate. R.

Chicken rogan, medium spice: check.
Peshwari nan: check.
Bottle of wine: check.
Good company: check.
Spot on.

Kind of makes up for embarrassing sunburnt cheeks.

Yesterday's highlight: lying on top of a canoe on a lake in north Staffordshire, gazing at the sky and letting the water lap gently round my hands.

Today's highlight: a small Rainbow's comment, on being told that we had to wait for 2 Guides and a parent before setting off for home, "I wouldn't bring that parent again. I'd choose another one next time." From the mouths of babes and sucklings...

I now have a lust for curry.

Ah. Whoops. Caused some confusion earlier, I suspect, as this rather succinct mail made me realise:

WTF!

Some, however, recognised it. Hang your heads in shame!

Life is butter? Have you been scouting for boys again?

Ah. Busted. Also this

I passed all me exams....we can book a holiday. Also the 2nd line is melon caulifour melon cauliflour.

Congratulations, but not in my book it's not, and as this is my blog I shall post the version I want! So ner. :-)

For them what's still confuzzed, read it out loud, to the tune of Frere Jacques. Sorry.

Life is butter, life is butter
Cauliflower, cauliflower
Life is butter melon, life is butter melon
Cauliflower, caluliflower.

After a stiflingly muggy but overcast day (spent, you will no doubt be very surprised to hear, doing GaSCiT and Guide things) it's now raining - big fat plops of rain making the world seem alive once again. It's just right for a spot of naked dancing in the moonlight, (a la Toploader, or - going back to the original - King Harvest), but fear not, I am somehow resisting the temptation to remove my clothes. Instead, I'm going to eat pizza and drink beer, which are appealling because I suspect they will involve less effort than dancing nekkid. For those who had the misfortune to witness me dancing - avec clothes, I hasten to add - will appreciate quite how much energy the average Mad Dance uses up. Apart from the time that I spend lying on the floor laughing. Or in mid-air, on the way to the floor. Or curled up in the toilets, being looked after by a bloke who's declared himself an honorary woman for the night. If only I had the opportunity of more nights like that....

Caffeine hangover. Ouch.

Have over-done the whole "cup of tea" thing again. It's been 2 pots: about 7 cups' worth. I desperately want to go to bed, but my eyes won't let me, so I'm spending the time doing administration that - yet again - should have been done months ago. Gah.

I spent a decadently lazy lunch and afternoon in Derby, sitting in the sun with Mark. We did the quick crossword, got confused by the cryptic crossword so made up all the answers, and then got carried away writing silly captions on the pictures and adverts. Mental age: 6.

This evening's excitement was Division meeting, where I had to be growed up and sensible (in general). Mental age: 23.

I got out of the meeting to find a five minute answer phone message of more things to do for GaSCiT. Mental age: 69.

I hope this new hair colour covers grey hair, coz I'm bound to be several shades whiter after this summer!

Finished. Finally. Yawn. Why do I volunteer for these things? Am off to wash the word "mug" off my forehead.