The first day was settling into camp and no sooner had we built alter fires than the Berherder (Warden) came to inform us that due to the dry weather all open fires were banned. All cooking was to be carried out on camping gas.
Even the campfire had to be a gas light!!!
We were fortunate in having an young American Leader (Alex Glass) on the camp who organised the campfires, making them a truly International occasion.
Eric, the Dutch leader, indicated that the English troop would arrive on Tuesday rather than Monday, and asked that the Scots provide a programme for Monday afternoon. This we gladly did - running a Highland Games, a haggis hunt and finally a taste of Scotland - haggis, oatcakes, cranachan, and Irn-Bru!!
Traditional in a highland Games is the Tug-of-War - in this
case we pulled over the stream to make it more exiting!!!!
The Scouts, however, just wanted to get cool!!
Eric thought he could audition for a part in the sequal to
Braveheart!
And of course Paul had to get in on the act!!!
The Flags were raised each morning and flags lowered each evening with due ceremony - The Dutch raised the Dutch flag, the American raised the American flag, the Scots raised the Scots flag and the English raised the British flag!!
The Scots and English Scouts could not resist trying on the
Dutch Scout Hats - we have not worn hats like this since the '70's
At the end of the camp there is a tradition of exchange of
gifts - from Scotland we always bring a some craft gift made in Scotland.
However, Cay-Noya have a tradition that they, themselves design and make a
momento of their summer camp. They presented to each of us, the English Troop
and ourselves, a beautiful plaque - ours now holding pride of place in our new
HQ in Cupar.