Tinkerblue

V = Volunteer

The Enclyclopedia of Meme that Cassi started us all on, was supposed to be done by the end of August.  I got behind, but there's only 5 letters to go, so I will finish.

V=Volunteer.  I don't have, have never had, and probably never will have much extra cash to help others.  So I donate my time instead.  Over the years I have volunteered for various organisations.

The Mothercraft Home on weekends - providing respite care for children whose parents needed a break.  The kids had some form of disability, the parents just needed help, or new mums stayed with their babies to learn the skills of mothering. 

Red Cross - stuffing envelopes, visiting the children's ward to read to sick kids, at the blood donor clinic giving out cookies and juice.

Athletics Tasmania - as a high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault official, and as an administrator.

Girl Guides/Girl Scouts - as a leader in Australia, Japan, England, and Canada.  As a program assistant and lifeguard at Our Cabana, and as Waterfront Director at Camp River Ranch in Washington State.

Weekend to End Breast Cancer - for two years, I signed up as a walker.  I walked 60kms over the two days, and with the help of family and friends raised over $2000.00 each year for breast cancer research.  I also volunteered at orientation nights with setup and registration.

Rachael and Andrea after 60kms in 2 days

Vancouver 2010 Olympics - at their retail store, one day a week.

There's been other days here and their for various organisations but the 6 above were the ones I spent the most time and effort with.

Q=Queen

I once had afternoon tea with the Queen.  Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.  At Buckingham Palace.  I think there were a couple of other Royals there as well, but can't remember now.  It was back in 1992. 

Aussies and Kiwis get to apply for a place at the Commonwealth High Tea. Held three times a year in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.  I applied and got a spot as a member of Guides Australia.  It is a one and only time opportunity. You cannot reschedule, you cannot take someone else with you, you cannot send someone else in your place.  Or at least you couldn't back then.

I booked the day off work.  I even ironed my guide uniform, and wore the hat. It's expected that ladies wear hats.   Everyone entered through the gates that you usually stand behind to take photos of the palace. How privileged is that?

The invitation was for 3.00pm.  The afternoon was spent wandering the gardens of Buckingham Palace with a couple of thousand or so other people in their finery, sipping tea, and nibbling tiny sandwiches and lovely cakes.  Her Majesty and members of the Royal Family arrived at 4.00pm accompanied by God save the Queen.  Each Royal family member speaks to pre-selected delegates.  I was not one of the chosen few, but that's okay. I had fun people watching. And how many people can say they had afternoon tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace?  Actually about 8000 people a year. 

Cameras were not allowed.  So there are no piccys from the actual afternoon tea.   

Instead here's some trivia for you:

Buckingham Palace Garden Party Statistics
(based on attendance of 8,000 people)

Food:
20,000 various tea sandwiches
5,000 bridge rolls
9,000 butter drop scones
9,000 fruit tartlets
3,000 butter cake fingers
8,000 slices of chocolate/lemon cake
4,500 slices of Dundee cake
4,500 slices of Majorca cake
3,500 slices of chocolate/jam Swiss roll

Beverages:
27,000 cups of Maison Lyons tea*
10,000 glasses of iced coffee
20,000 glasses of fruit squash

*Maison Lyons tea is a special blend produced exclusively by Twinnings for the Buckingham Palace Garden Parties.  It is a blend of Darjeeling and Assam leaves which gives the unique flavor of peaches or Muscat grapes.

Equipment:
12,000 tea cups and saucers
10,000 teaspoons
10,000 tea plates
6,000 glasses
408-foot buffet table

Staff and Management:
400 waiting staff and 30 management

The aforementioned list courtesy of Buckingham Palace.

(Buckingham Palace Press Office)

The next year, in the summer of 1993 they started opening some of the state rooms of Buckingham Palace to the general public. Jo and I paid our 12.00 pounds for the tour.  We couldn't resist.  Again no cameras were allowed.  But I can now say I have been inside the gates of Buckingham Palace twice.  We both bought a teacup at the souvenir shop afterwards. 

M = Magic

Do you believe in Magic?  I believe in the possibility of Magic.  No, I can't prove magic exists.  Don't you dare disprove it for me. 

I like to disappear into the world of Cirque Du Soleil, Harry Potter, Enid Blyton, Faeries, Disney, the Narnia Chronicles, books, movies, the theatre etc.  I saw a David Copperfield show in Sydney along time ago.  It was unbelieveably awesome.  I don't know how he does it.  I don't want to know.  Just let me enjoy it.

(google images)

When I volunteered at Our Cabana, the staff used to sing to all the participants outside the dormitory windows on the last night of each session.  One of the songs we liked to sing, and the participants like to hear was "Magic". 

My understanding was that it was originally written for a Girl Scout Camp in 1991. 

There is more than one version around.  The words go something like this:

When I was young I thought the stars were made for wishing on
And every hole deep in a tree might hide a leprechaun
Old houses all had secret rooms, if you could find the key
I do believe in magic, I believe

Magic is the sun that makes a rainbow out of rain
Magic keeps the dream alive to try and try again
Magic is the love that stays when good friends have to leave
I do believe in magic, I believe

Growing up the grown-ups said someday I'd wake to find
That magic's just a childhood dream I'd have to leave behind
Like clothes that would no longer fit and toys that I'd ignore
I'd not believe in magic anymore

Magic is the sun that makes a rainbow out of rain
Magic keeps the dream alive to try and try again
Magic is the love that stays when good friends have to leave
I do believe in magic, I believe

Now that I am grown I found that much to my surprise
Magic did not fade away, it took a new disguise
A child, a friend, a smile, a song, the courage to stand tall
I do believe in magic, after all

Magic is the sun that makes a rainbow out of rain
Magic keeps the dream alive to try and try again
Magic is the love that stays when good friends have to leave
I do believe in magic, love's the greatest magic
I do believe in magic, I believe

(google images)

G = Girl Guides (and Girl Scouts)

Warning.  This will be long and wordy!  Excuse the crappy photos. They are photos of photos, we don't have a working scanner.

I joined the Girl Guides of Australia (now called Guides Australia) back in 1977 as a brownie in Tasmania.  My Mum and Nan (grandmother) were involved in guiding before me.  I was enrolled as a Brownie and later as a Guide using their promise pin.  Up until last year I have been involved in guiding/scouting in some form or another since that first day as a brownie.  Last year I officially took a break, after 29 years I was approaching burnout!

Guiding has provided me with some wonderful opportunies, great friends, my husband and literally changed my life.   Back when my mum took me down to the local guide hall for my first brownie meeting, who knew the effect it would have on my life. 

When I joined the brownies we still wore the little brown dress, leather belt, pouch and beret.  My first pack holiday was at Orana.  (my brother and his girlfriend are now the caretakers there!).  And according to this photo I was adorable.  Didn't last long.

Fiona and Rachael circa 1977

Here is a brief history of my life in guiding

1997-1990 Guides Australia.  I was brownie, guide, ranger guide and then a brownie leader all in the Lindisfarne District.  I earned my BP and Queens Guide Awards.  And represented Australia at Olympus '84 in Greece, Asia Pacific Jamborella in Victoria, Noora Ku Neena in Queensland and the World Scout Jamboree in Sydney.

1990-1991 Girl Scouts Japan.  I was a Junior Girl Scout leader with Troop 41, Tokyo Council .  I went to the Tokyo Council 40th Anniversary Camp, learnt how to wear a kimono, participated in a tea ceremony and many, many other events.

Troop 41, Tokyo Council

1991-1994 Girl Guides UK.  In London I was again a brownie leader, and my unit met at Pax Lodge.  While living in London I also represented Australia at a Juliette Low Seminar at Pax Lodge and at the International Olympic Youth Camp in Norway in 1994. 

1994-1996 Guides Australia.  Back in Sydney I was a Brownie Leader with two units.  I received the Irene Fairbain Challenge and selected to represent Guides Australia at the Dialogue for Peace at Our Cabana in Mexico.

Winter 96/97 I volunteered as program assistant and lifeguard at Our Cabana in Mexico

1997-2006 Girl Guides of Canada as Guide leader, Pathfinder leader and Senior branches leader. 

Summer 98 - Waterfront Director at Camp River Ranch, Totem Council, Girl Scouts of the USA (Washington State)

Winter 98/99 I volunteered for a second season as program assistant and lifeguard at Our Cabana in Mexico.

Summer 99 - My second summer as Waterfront Director at Camp River Ranch, Totem Council, Girl Scouts of the USA (Washington State)

How did it change my life?  Growing up I wanted to be a teacher and I had no interest in travelling.  As a teenager I wanted to quit Guiding.  I was done.  It was embarrassing to be a Girl Guide.  So my parents bribed me.  They told me that if I applied for an international event, they would pay for it, and as repayment I would stay in Guiding until I was done school.  I applied for 3 events, I don't think Mum and Dad thought I would be selected for any of them.  But I was. 

I was one of 14 girls, aged 14-15, and 3 leaders selected from around Australia to attend Olympus 84 in Greece.  It was a one week international camp with 3000 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from around the world at the base of Mt Olympus.  We had three days in Athens before, and after we had a week of homestay in Xylocastro , a week at Olave House in London and 3 weeks touring Europe on a bus - Amsterdam (Netherlands), Paris (France), Lucerne (Switzerland) and Koln, Koblenz and Heidleberg (Germany).  We were gone 6 weeks. In August/September.

In Australia that's the middle of our school year.  I missed almost 2 months of school. In grade 9.  How amazing are my parents?  They sent me half way round the world for 6 weeks with 16 strangers, and thought it would be a good experience for me. 

To this day I am eternally grateful to them and guiding. 

I had the. best. time.  I came home with the worst case of itchy feet.  I wanted to travel again.  Now.  I changed my career path.  I was not going to be a teacher now.  I wanted something where I could travel.  So at college I studied business, majoring in Travel and Tourism.  I went on to work in the hotel industry in Japan, England, Australia and Canada.   I spent 6 years travelling.  I called on my network of guiding and scouting friends.  I met new friends through old friends.  I met my hubby through a connection from guiding to boy scouts.

Now let me introduce my three closest friends, all of whom I met through Guiding.  Friends I would fly half way round the world for at the drop of a hat, if they asked me to.  Friends I can phone at 3 in the morning if I need a shoulder to cry on.

Jo - we have known each other since we were 7.  We were cute little brownies together.  That's 30 years! We haven't always been close. In fact there were periods of time when we refused to speak to each other.  There was even a night in a youth hostel in Luxembourg where I threw a saucepan at her!  We've drunk beer in Munich, belted out the songs from Hair in a London Tube station at 2am, sat silently admiring the beauty that is Prague, got lost in Budapest, been awed and frightened by the atmosphere that is Dachau and admitted we thoroughly enjoyed the Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg.  We used to phone each other at 2am to go for hot chocolate at the 24 hour coffee shop.  She's taken me to more hospitals around the world than I care to remember and I've nursed her through more hangovers than she cares to remember.  She's one of the first friends I see when I go home.  Sometimes she'll go visit my mum and dad, just cause.  Jo was our Maid of Honour.

You think I could find a better photo of us, but no.

Narelle - we met when we were 14, when we were both selected to attend Olympus '84 in Greece.  That's 23 years.  We lived in different states, but spent time together every summer.  I was a bridesmaid at her wedding to Justin, and they now have two adorable boys Dale and Liam.  Narelle was our Matron of Honour.

Narelle and Justin with Dale

Jane - we were 24 when we met .  I was representing Australia, and Jane was representing the UK at the International Olympic Youth Camp in Norway for the Lillehammer Winter Olympics.  13 years ago.  We supported each other through some rougher times - breakups, low self esteem, loss of jobs, deciding what to do with life.  Jane was in Sydney when I pretty much decided to quit my job, give up my career, my steady and steadily increasing salary to travel again and to Volunteer for WAGGGS.  Jane was a bridesmaid at our wedding, and even met us in Sydney for part of our honeymoon.  I had the honour of being able to participate in Jane and Cindy's commitment ceremony.  That was the last time we saw each other - 2 years ago for 4 days in England. 

Jane, Me, Cindy

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." - Anais Nin

Julie, Lori, Niamh and I all became friends at Pax Lodge in 1992. (yep 15 years ago.  Girls - we are getting old!)  Julie and Lori were volunteer house assistants, Niamh and I were representing our respective countries (Ireland and Australia) at the Juliette Low Seminar.

Julie - She helped celebrate many a birthday in London, Aussie Style.  Julie is now back in Australia.  On the opposite side of Australia to where my family is.  But we've managed to meet up in Perth, Sydney and Tasmania.  Distance is no barrier.  Julie was a bridesmaid at our wedding. 

Julie and Rachael circa 1996

Lori - I was one of the many who was not looking forward to the loud American arriving at Pax Lodge.  But Lori changed that pretty quickly.  Many nights were spent drinking Long Island Ice Teas, or having a pint at the pub.  Despite not keeping in touch regularly and galivanting round the world, she to India, me to Mexico we remained connected through Julie.  Dave and I were guests at Lori and Tim's wedding, and they were able to make it to ours.  The world of blogging reconnected on a much more consistent basis last year.

Rachael, Julie, Lori - photo stolen from Lori.

Niamh - After she went home to Dublin, and I found a job in London we stayed in touch. I visited Dublin a few times, meeting her family and fiance, Jim.   I was lucky enough to be able to return to Ireland, from Sydney for their wedding.  And Niamh and Jim made it to Australia for a month.  Unfortunately I have never met her three kids - Sarah, Emer and David.  Gotta work on that. (I can't find any photos of Niamh but I know I have some, somewhere).

"Never shall I forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours." - Ludwig van Beethoven

Guiding taught me to live by the 10 guide laws.  A guide:

• is loyal and can be trusted
• is helpful
• is polite and considerate
• is friendly and a sister to all Guides
• is kind to animals and respects all living things
• is obedient
• has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties
• makes good use of her time
• takes care of her own possessions and those of other people
• is self-controlled in all she thinks says and does

It also encouraged me to live wider and open my eyes, to be tolerant and accepting, introduced me to friends, gave me itchy feet, found my hubby, and gave me a camp blanket with more badges (patches) than I have room for.

Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. 

So be careful what you sign your kids up for!