With the changing of the seasons we are now entering Autumn - that time of mellow fruitfulness - and the prospect of Winter draws near. This is the time when we contemplate the coming weather.

In the days before meteorologists and weather forecasts our forebears were just as interested in, and anxious about, what the weather had in store for them and they looked about them for signs. In most instances they took their cue from nature. Many of these 'natural' observations have come down to us in the form of ‘old wives tales’ and proverbs. They are still quoted and remain pretty accurate in the face of modern technology.

Take that old favourite 'Red sky at night'. It very rarely lets us down! Another favourite relates to the crop of berries on the hedgerows each Autumn. The more berries there are the harsher the coming Winter as Mother Nature stocks up her larder to feed the birds. We are advised to watch the pine cones. They open up for dry weather and remain closed when it is wet. Conifer trees take 18 months or more to create and ripen their cones and they are not going to waste their precious seed during bad weather. Another Old Wives Tale tells us that a warm October foretells a cold February. Or indeed, that ice in November sufficient to bear the weight of a duck means the rest of the Winter will be slush and muck. This would infer that a cold, freezing November precedes a mild Winter. A wet Autumn is usually followed by a dry Winter, although last year it seemed to stay wet right through to Spring.

Another popular idea is to watch for migratory birds. Most of our Winter weather comes from Europe and it is worthwhile watching the number of geese and ducks arriving to overwinter here as to the kind of Winter we can expect. The colder it becomes in North Europe and Russia the earlier and greater in quantity are our seasonal visitors. That humble little chap, the hedgehog, is also worth observing. While it remains mild he will be found snuffling about the undergrowth well into Winter but the merest hint of cold will send him scuttling into hibernation, although it has been known for a nice warm spell to bring hedgehog out for a mid-winter snack!

Let us not forget "If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter will have another fight. But if Candlemas brings cloud and rain, Winter is gone and won't come again". We will have to wait until 2^nd. February to see how accurate this one is although freezing bright weather in early February tells of cold Easterly winds whilst mild and wet weather hints at the arrival of the warmer Westerlies. I well remember wet Februarys during my childhood bringing the dour comment from my mother "Ha! February fill dyke".

Let me leave you with one that I observe every Spring. "Oak before ash, we will have but a splash - but ash before oak, we are in for a soak.    Barbara Corley

Wow! What a week! Or 6 days if you are going to be pedantic!

What am I talking about? Why, our Troop Holiday, on board "Yeoford", around the Stafford Canal Ring! For parents, and those who weren't there, here is a brief journal!

It all started off well, with cars being packed at lunchtime, followed by a drive up the M1 and A45 to Birmingham. We found Gas Street Basin (where we were to meet our barge and skipper) almost by accident.

Once on board the barge, luggage was stored, and bunks were claimed by the scouts, under Chris’ (Assistant Scout Leader) direction.

And so we "set sail" at about 4pm, moving past such landmarks as the National Indoor Arena and the National Sea Life Centre, as well as many industrial sites, before turning left off the "main" canal, through a 3200m long tunnel to our first mooring point near the town of Netherton. The scouts found it rather tricky to understand the local dialect (e.g. "What am you all doin’ ‘ere?"), but they decided to head off to the other side of the canal for a game of cricket, while we prepared their evening meal. Everyone was tucked up in bed by 10.30pm, even the leaders!

Today was a test of strength for the scouts! Why? Because we needed to negotiate a total of more than 30 locks before reaching our destination! The scenery was somewhat different today - much more rural, almost like Bedfordshire in places.

Unfortunately, as we moored for the evening, our skipper (another Chris, just to confuse things) informed us that there was a problem with the barge that he wouldn’t be able to fix ... but he added that he hoped to get it put right at a boatyard further along the canal. None of this news spoiled the superb barbecue that we ate that evening.

Meanwhile, some of the scouts had persuaded a local fisherman to give them some line and a hook so we waited to add the odd fish or two to the grill ... just as well that we had plenty of meat, because they didn’t even get a nibble!

Skipper Chris started the engine shortly after 5am; the barge had been moving for 2 hours or more before any of us rose from our bunks! Later that morning we moored at a boatyard on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, only to find that their fitter was not going to be able to get "Yeoford" sorted. At this point we started to make a "Plan B" in case they were not able to repair the barge; thankfully, we did not need to use that plan, as you will later see!

While our skipper attempted to get things sorted, we decided that it was time to get the scouts washed, so we took them, by bus, to Wolverhampton’s Central Swimming Baths.

When we returned to the barge, we were told that we would be moving on to another boatyard that afternoon. To get things started, most of the scouts and leaders used muscle power to pull the barge into a nearby lock!

A couple of hours later we arrived at the second boatyard, at Autherly Junction; the people here seemed much more helpful and optimistic.

We all enjoyed another game of cricket on a nearby playing field before tea.

We awoke to be told that the fitter was hoping to be able to carry out repairs that day!

So we all set off for the Black Country Living Museum, by bus.

I caught sight of a few of the scouts trying out the old-fashioned games, such as diablo, spinning tops and skipping, in the "village street" at the museum, and we found out that several of the scouts had enjoyed travelling on the museum’s tram. Chris, Mike and I can vouch for the fact that the chips sold at the village chip shop are very tasty (if rather salty!). All in all, it was a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, despite the hassle of travelling on public transport - we could have taken the barge right into the centre of the museum‘s area if it had been repaired!

When we got back to the barge, skipper Chris told us that they had completed repairs, so we cast off, forgot all about Plan B, and set off along the canal.

A couple of hours later we carried out a crew change as Chris (that’s scouter Chris, in case you’re confused!) left the barge, to be replaced by Baz.

We all enjoyed a hearty stew for our evening meal, even though Chris had tried to dispose of it across the deck before he left!

Skipper Chris was determined to make up for yesterday’s poor progress - he was up at 5.30am! We were travelling along the canal for most of the day, eventually mooring near a very busy (and therefore noisy) railway line.

Once again, some of the scouts tried fishing ... once again we were all glad that there was plenty of meat to cook on the barbecue!

Our last full day on board started at 6.15am (well, it started at that time for Chris - it was nearer 8am when we got up!), and the scouts finally got to find out the "mystery destination" that we’d promised them all week when we moored up almost outside the front gate of Drayton Manor Theme Park!

It gave us all a chance to have lots of fun - not to mention get rather wet on some of their rides (for example, having queued for over an hour to ride on "Stormforce 10", Mike, Baz and I then got thoroughly drenched on this "log flume" type ride!)

Thankfully, we had all just about dried out by the time that we returned to the barge, and we moved on to a somewhat quieter mooring point than last night!

Our last few hours on board were the wettest of the whole trip, thanks to a rainstorm as we approached Central Birmingham! We also had to manoeuvre through several flights of locks, as well as travelling through a short tunnel.

We arrived back at Gas Street Basin in Birmingham at 3pm all that remained was to thank skipper Chris for all his hard work, retrieve the cars from the parking compound, pack them and drive home - oh, I’d better not mention that Baz managed to get Mike lost on the edge of Northampton!

While we travelled back from "Brum", one of our home contacts was busily phoning parents to let them know we’d be arriving back in Odell 3 hours earlier than anticipated. Scouts and luggage were transferred to parents’ cars, and we were all able to sleep in real beds for the first time in a week!

I would like to thank everyone who helped in any way, especially Alastair McKenzie (the dragon), Baz Crookall ("Have no fear, Baz is here"), Chris Poulter ("I don’t do scrambled eggs, you’ll have to ask Baz") and Mike Jenns (ace navigator around Birmingham). Without them, the holiday would not have been as enjoyable, nor would it have been as successful as it was. THANKYOU!

September 5th Odell Village Hall

12th Village Hall

19th Harrold Cub Hut

26th Cub Hut

28th - 30th District Activity Camp

As you may have read above, Ouse Valley District Scouters intend to hold at least three camps in the next few months.

The first will be held at the "Broadwater Scout Camp Site", near Meriden, from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th September. The cost for this Camp will be £25 per scout, to include all transport, food and activities.

For those who enjoyed our canal barge trip (or for those who were unable to take part!), there is another chance to partake of this method of transport from Saturday October 20th to Sunday October 21st, courtesy of Colmworth Scouts; the cost of this trip is £35 per scout.

The final event will be held at "Two Mile Bottom Scout & Guide Camp Site", near Thetford, from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th December. The cost for this event has yet to be finalised, but will again include transport, food and activities.

The Odell Scout Troop is always looking for young people aged from 10½ to 14 years old to join the Troop!

If, after reading this article, you are interested, please contact Scout Leader Martin Clark, telephone 01604 763890, or email: MartinOdell51@aol.com

Or you could come along to one of our meetings (7pm to 9pm)                      Martin Clark, Scout Leader, 51st Beds (Odell)