Skaters Badge Day

December 20th

Weston Super Mare have a temporary ice rink set up on the high Street. We needed to do something with the Cubs to round the year off. Lets combine the two we thought.

The idea of going skating was announced to the Cubs, all 28 of them in November, places would be limited to 24 as that was the limit for skaters on the ice at anyone time. Cubs behaviour at home and school as well as at Pack nights would be monitored and if any negative reports came back then the Cub's name would not be put into the draw for places. This was not good news as far as the Cubs were concerned, they all wanted to go and some would be disappointed.

The Parents were told that to go into the draw, they would have to pay for the trip next week without fail or again their child would not be going. There were 28 forms with money back the next week, the Cubs really wanted to go skating.

The Pack night before we were due to go, Akela wrote the names of all the Cubs onto slips of paper and put them into a tea-pot. The Cubs sat around with fingers crossed hoping that they would be picked. As the names were picked out the cries of relief for themselves and their friends were loud and heartfelt. When 23 names had been pulled out, there were a few worried faces, then Akela pulled the last slip out that read " Everybody can go" the relief of the faces was something to remember for a long time.

Saturday

The party consisted of Cubs; Paris, Breez, Deanne, Megan, Geogia, Georgina, Sammy, Alice, Beth(ff), Aimee, Jess T, Jess F, Charlotte, Brad, Ryan C, Ryan S, Xenos, Cameron, Mike, James, Jamie, Conner,  Shaun, Robert and Matt. Siblings as there was a late cancellation; Hannah and Lauren and finally the Leaders; Akela, Bagheera, Hathi, Mrs Akela (Peg), Sam and Julie (Mothers of some of the Cubs)

We met at Keynsham Railway Station in the pouring rain at 11:15 for the 11:30 train, it was felt by Akela that a train ride would add to the experience. Several trains passed through, all of them tooted their horns. Rather an understatement as the noise was deafening! Our train pulled in and stopped right in front of us in the rain. It was a two carriage train and the people in the first carriage looked well pleased when we boarded and filled the second. The Cubs all sat quietly and in the ten minutes it took to get to Bristol Temple Meads Station there was almost no noise.

We arrived at Temple Meads, it was still raining hard, our train was at Platform 12 so off we trooped, well as the train we were on terminated on Platform 12 we did not have to walk far in the rain. At 11:50, ten minutes before we were due to go Akela asked if anyone needed to go to the toilet. Well about twenty Cubs went with him looking for the toilets. Mrs Akela and Hathi wondered if this was a wise thing to do with so little time (in the rain.) An elderly gentleman asked if Hathi was actually Hathi and said Akela had told him that Hathi would look after him and make sure that he got onto the train to Weston with us. With less than three minutes before the train left Akela arrived with the now relieved Cubs. When we moved towards the train on Platform 12 we were told that our train was currently on platform 6 and we would have to go there!

Brilliant! So with our new friend we set off, the guard from platform 12 had radioed ahead so the train waited for us. We had managed to loose our new friend and Akela asked the staff if the train could wait for him. "Don't worry sir", was the reply, "We are not going without him." He arrived and we set off, in the rain. Ten minutes out of Bristol the sky cleared, the sun came out and the Cubs started to complain about how bright it was. Akela was delighted, claiming full responsibility, he stopped looking worried about his reputation (sun god) as well.

Every time the train stopped, people looked at our carriage and moved along to another. At every stop the Cubs asked can we get off here? yes was the reply but don't you want to come to Weston with us? Eventually the train pulled into Weston and we disembarked said good bye and Merry Christmas to our friend and made ready to walk to the skating rink.

Hathi was allowed to lead, the Cubs were confident in following him because Akela said that it was alright. Keeping in a column of twos we set off. As it was the last Saturday before Christmas we wanted to avoid the crowds as much as possible, so we went by the back streets to the 'sea-front'. As it was still bright and sunny we had our picnic on the beach. It was a little breezy, well almost gale force but watching the seagulls swoop and soar above the Cubs was to see experts in their element, and no one got caught by the seagulls inability to judge wind deflection when letting go, no one had any little presents dropped on them. 

After this we walked the last little bit to the rink. Akela went first to spy out the land, yes we were expected, we had a short wait and then we had the fun of taking shoes off and putting skates on. Thank goodness they had the clasp type fittings and not laces. Over half the Cubs had to go back and get larger sizes as the skates must have shrunk and were not the advertised size. Akela and Hathi were the only ones not to venture onto the ice. We were so knackered putting on and doing up dozens of other peoples boots that we did not feel like it. The female Leaders were made of sterner stuff and got onto the ice.

At this point the sun let us down and it rained again, this made the ice rink fill up with water. In the middle it was several inches (5-6cm) deep.  Some of the Cubs found this irresistible and swam through it several times, Ryan and Jess F were the winners in the falling down stakes (about 54 zillion times according to Jess) with Conner coming a close third. Miss May, Sam and Bagheera did not fall over once so well done to them. After what seemed no more than sixty minutes our hour was up and the Cubs came off the ice. At this point it suddenly struck them how cold and wet they were. Hot chocolate all-round was most welcome. There were a couple of moans as Cubs discovered that their parents had not packed spare dry clothes. The Leaders spare fleeces and coats were commandeered to give the wetter colder Cubs the chance to avoid hypothermia. Next was a short walk through the crowds in the Sovereign shopping centre to use the toilets and hot air driers to warm up.

While we were waiting for the stragglers the Cubs joined in with the carols being broadcast over the Mall's loudspeakers, if only we had a few buckets to collect the money in, we could have made a fortune. The walk back to the station was as fast as we could make it except for the pit stop at Tesco's for Akela to pop in and get some cookies. The train was due to depart at 16:15 and we were there at 15:45. We sat on the platform, it had stopped raining when we left the rink but the sun was low and not very warming.

The train pulled in at 16:00 and we were allowed on to get warm, there was a man asleep on the train and as it had terminated at Weston the Cubs were not told to be quiet so that he might wake up. The train moved off and the windows steamed up as the warmth dried out the Cubs clothes to a certain extent. Half way back the 'dead' man woke up, realised what had happened and looked non too pleased. We had the carriage to ourselves at the next station and Mrs. Akela started off a sing song.

The time flew past and we were at Temple Meads again. As it was cold the Cubs were let loose in a waiting room where a few other passengers were soon cowering as they were entertained by twenty odd tired Cubs sang songs and played the 'clapping song' that had been outlawed on a camp several years ago. Akela and Hathi braved the cold and waited outside in the peace and quiet. At 15:20 we were led to our train but had to stand watching as two more coaches were added to it. At last we could get on board and off we went, a couple of choruses later we were back at Keynsham ready for the parents to pick up their youngsters. Certificates were handed out to everybody and they vanished into the night.

The feedback that the Leaders got was that not many of the Cubs stayed awake much after 19:30 but that they had really enjoyed themselves. What a great way to end the year.

Thanks to Akela for organising it, and the sunshine, to Sam as it was her first experience of being out with a small Pack of Wild Animals. Also thanks to the other adults who went along and helped make it possible.