This evening we held our first Scrap Heap Challenge type event. The Cubs brought in lots of old bits of cardboard, toilet roll, etc and we provided them with a mixture of hard boiled and uncooked eggs. The aim was to drop your egg from a height without it breaking. Points were awarded for accuracy, survivorship of the egg, and style. The winners were Joseph C for style, and Peter S and Louisa B.

Tonight we also said goodbye to Sixer Jack B and Cub Scout Leader Nicola Bowker, who is becoming our Group Scout Leader. Group Chaiman Nick Boon kindly came down to say a few words and present Nicola with some flowers and something to drink on behalf of the Group. Charlie H was also promoted to Sixer to replace Jack and Sam W is now the Red Seconder.

This evening we finished off our personal safety posters and played a few games before an investiture ceremony. Dominic W, Peter S, Joseph H, Daniel H, Jamie B, Tom W and Harry H were all invested as Cubs.

Photos courtsey of Bagheera.

This evening we also said goodbye to Jason A, who has been a Cub since the beginning of 2004 with both King Orry and the Vikings Packs.

After a quiet spell, the Executive Committee of 1st Laxey Scout Group came up with an exciting, if unoriginal, idea to have a disco for the local cubs and beavers. A date was set and arrangements put in hand. Initial plans to have Tony Blackburn as DJ and to be supported by live acts such as an Elvis lookalike floundered after Nick Black injected a little reality in to the situation by explaining that loss making ventures would defeat the object of raising funds for camping and play equipment! Not to be downbeat Nick Boon stepped in to assist on the evening as the pictures testify. Fortunately our follicly challenged Chairman benefited from the able assistance of Joseph C and a team of, well bouncers, who ensured that Nick took that ridiculous wig off!

Despite some decidedly dodgy music that only the over 40s could singalong to, all cubs and beavers had a great time. The evening was topped off by “The road to Amarillo” and support dancing was offered up by many of the parents who came to collect their children. Judging by the pizza stains adorning some of the parents one or two had had also enjoyed the evening (an oasis of peace!). It seems then that cubs and beavers really is fun for all and we raised over £100 towards the much needed play and camping equipment. A very big thank you to everyone who supported the evening.

Only Beavers and Cubs are identified above. Non members (i.e. guests) are not identified. If you were a guest and wish your photo to be removed from above please let us know.

Due to various circumstances beyond our control (such as the snow, speakers not turning up, etc) this half-terms programme has been rather changed so we are now playing games and finishing off little bits of badges that we've almost completed.

Over the past week we have also had 2 Cubs completing badges in their own time. Joseph C has done his IT3 badge via the IT3 Badge Page. He is the first to do so and badge 3 is designed for Scouts so he has done extemely well to achieve it as a Cub. See his short article about his rabbit here. Tonight, Charlie H also completed his Sports Enthusiast badge giving the pack a very good speech about Rugby and answering our questions. Well done both!

Congratulations to our team of Joseph, Mick, Josephine, Jason, Louisa and Charlie who came 2nd in the Cub section of last night's fun swimming competition held at the Western Swimming Pool in Peel. The event consisted of 5 different team swimming events, such as swimming with pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to the other end of the pool and then reassembeling them. With one event to go we were winning with 68 points, 6 points clear of the team in 2nd place. The final event was split into 2 Cub 'heats' and we won our heat. However when it came to the results we just missed out on first with 78 points losing by 1 point.

On this Sunday, we were invited to join the community planting scheme, following 'Laxey in Bloom'. We planted bluebells upstream of Glen Mill near the new BMX Track. Afterwards the Cubs were able to join in with the official opening of the BMX Track. We also got a mention in the Manx Independant on 27 January (see below).

Bluebell Planting

BMX Racing!

Photos courtesy of Mark Bradley, former Group Chairman. More information on the Laxey Commissioner's Website.