Can Tell We're Back In Blighty

Docked on time at Dover. Flagged down by a steward to assist in getting a British woman off the ferry as her partner had already departed in their car, need I say more on that!!!

No check at all to allow us in to the UK, need I say more on that!!

Have managed to travel over 2000 miles in Europe with no sign of an accident or traffic jams. Get back to Blighty and a journey that should've taken two hours thirty, three hours tops took six hours thirty. Need I say more on that!!!

To sum up had an awesome time travelling to and from the Jamboree with Nutt and Benk. The jamboree it's self was even better. Would be lying if I said I was glad to be back!!!

Will try to upload as many photo's as possible over the next couple of days.

Dunkirk To Dover

Left our hostel in Brugge at 0730 after a really good night beating our Spanish room mates at Pool. Currently docking in Dover after Nutt had the opportunity to steer the ship during our visit to the bridge.

From Holland To Belgium

Stayed at a lovely Dutch Scout Campsite yesterday. It was also being occupied by some Scouts from Ecuador that had also been to the Jamboree. Went to the beach yesterday afternoon. Failed miserably to try and fly my power kite. It was actually to windy to set it up, how ironic. Bought some food from a supermarket and spent the evening cooking and basically chilling. Left the site this morning and headed for Brugge in Belgium. Got to a Scout site to find out they aren't allowed to pitch tents. So we headed off to a campsite recommended which transpired to be full. Have ended up in a hostel in the centre of Brugge. Sharing a room with three Spaniards. Currently enjoying some live music and a beer in the hostel bar. Very busy and the atmosphere is brilliant. Aiming to leave for Dunkirk around 0830 in the morning for our final leg off the trip.

Change Of Plans

Arrived in a little village called Lubeck last night about 20 miles out from Hamburg. Managed an awesome deal on accommodation....... free with a full 360 view. Some of you may now it as my car!!!!! Left for Hamburg 0630, located a tourist information centre to obtain some details about hostels in the Hamburg area. Not a very helpful tourist information and after contacting two of the hostels on the list with no joy we decided to leave our German friends. Heading along the longest damn in Europe to the best of our knowledge we ended up back with the friendlier Dutch. Spent about 30 minutes watching a few kite surfers who were brilliant. Located a hostel with an en suite and wifi for about £29.50 Currently sat in an Irish bar enjoying our first Dutch beer. Off to a Dutch Scout campsite in the morning.

Jamboree Departure

Closing ceremony was brilliant, special guests Europe finished with 'Final Countdown' followed by the handing over from the Swedish hosts to Japan in preparation for the next Jamboree in 2015. Despite being a wet closing ceremony it didn't seem to dampen people's spirits. The King of Sweden did the Swedish rocket countdown to start a firework display that would put Disney's displays to shame!! Avon unit left site at 0430 to go off on their 'Home Hospitality to Portugal. Up early yesterday to assist with the take down of the Summer sub camp town centre which had been my place of work through out my Jamboree experience. Amazing to work with people from different countries without any problems to achieve a swift take down. Was sad to see it all go after the effort to implement it and to see the benefit the young people got from being able to socialise with fellow brothers and sisters from around the world in their own town environment. Had a good party last night to celebrate the end of our IST experience, with a brilliant Danish band. Left site this morning, can't believe where the time's gone. Stopped in Malmo to look around and had a lovely Italian meal before leaving Sweden. Driven down through Denmark calling into the Scout centre in Copenhagen we stopped at on the way to Sweden for a much needed shower. Currently sat on a ferry heading to Germany. 45 minute trip so we'll be finding some where to get our heads down for the night once we dock. Looking at spending tomorrow in Hamburg.

Penultimate Day With Participants

Still unable to comprehend how quickly our Jamboree experience is coming to and end. Last full day tomorrow with the participants on site. Looking forward to the closing ceremony but not looking forward to Jamboree life coming to an end. We have to start taking down the Summer Town Centre Cafe tomorrow. Strange to think the tent that has been our place will not be there in 24 hours time! Weather has managed to stay dry today even though rain had been forecast. Not sure if that is a bad omen for tomorrow. Really hoping that that the participants get a dry closing ceremony. Went back to the Dutch Primitive Scouting experience base today and learned how to sharpen knives and axes properly. Again the tuition provided was second to none. Hope to pass on the skills I learned, with the young people I share camps with in the future. One of my fellow Avon IST members managed to talk to the King of Sweden today with out even knowing it. He drove himself onto site in his own BMW. Completely different culture for the Royal Family over here compared to ours. Can't quite see our Queen camping with her Scouts in a green field. Not ones cup of tea I expect!

Cultural Day

Learnt and successfully managed to start a fire using a fire bow in the Dutch Primitive Scouting experience. The instructor made it look so easy damn him!!! Kristianstad was a nice little village, every where you went the busses and bins had posters advertising the Jamboree. Finnish saunas are amazing!!! Didn't manage to get to the beach yesterday as planned, work was manic so worked a double shift. Takings topped £10,500 yesterday. Loads more ice cream. Our Swedish bosses are very happy!! Had 'cultural day' today, amazing to see traditional dress from so many countries in one place. The ceremony this evening was amazing. 48,000 scouts in one place all dancing and singing, joined by all the 'camp in a camp' hosts. Kathryn joined the Avon Unit yesterday and is staying for three days. It was kept as a secret from the unit, as unfortunately she had to drop out as a unit leader. Great to see her working with the 36 unit members she's spent over eighteen months getting to know. Hope she gets some great memories to remember from her shortened time!!!