Bonjour Everyone
It was a great sunny morning so we were out before breakfast inspecting our mighty oak after the storms and later Liz (the Chaplain) blessed the tree for us:
I think I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree,
A tree whose thirsty mouth is pressed against the earth's sweet flowering breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear a nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain; who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.
Sow sparingly, and you will reap sparingly;
Sow bountifully and you will reap bountifully.
Go and sow love and peace and you will reap love and peace in abundance.
Thanks for that Liz.
Yesterday good to see John T who came from Vallandry, Tom from Liverpool and Sean from Scotland but sorry I fell asleep before Si came. See you again on Saturday Si.
Having reflexology soon so Good night sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!
Lots of love
Ali x
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27 comments:
Hi it's Si here picking up from the earlier blog, I too, although a little nervous would love to know what a Simon Rainback inspection is / was!!!!!
As always all the comments have been fantastic and yet again proves what an amazing and influential time in our lives being part of HSVU was and continues to be.
Please do keep em coming as it really does give Ali, myself and countless others something to smile and be happy about.
Lots of love
Si
Good Night Ali, sleep well
Love
Jo
x
have you had a twister yet???
XXX
Is the hsvu is some kind of venture scout thing??? If so I was never allowed to join as I was crap at the Guides - I was the most un-enthusiastic person about it all and was always a bit gutted i wasnt allowed into venture scouts -up here it seemed to be one big snog fest with everyone camping out every weekend but as i had run away and deserted the guides i couldnt partake!! It sounds like you all had a blast and made some wicked friends..and fab memories!!If only we could all be that age again knowing what we know now....
Enjoy your twisters!!And enjoy the south african juice - ahh, also try a new Milka bar called " Happy Cows" it is a mixture of white and milk chocolate that i found in austria and apparently in woolworths!!
I am not obsessed with chocolate at all. Honestly!
Have a good day tomorrow - its nearly the weekend!!
jane
XXXX
Dearest Ali
What a lovely poem and we are sure your tree will grow and grow and be strong for generations to come and enjoy. Now that's a great thought.
It is wonderful that you had a good day yesterday and enjoyed your visitors but a shame that Si missed you but being a bruv he will understand and Saturday you can hopefully spend heaps of time together.
We too would love to know what HSVU is. If its fun can we join?!!
Keep that sunny side up Ali and your magical influence on people. We love you for who you are, you star.
Hope you have a lovely day.
All our love and hugs as always
The Conways,
Chris, David, Stewart, Jo, Freya, Sarah & Daniel xxxxxxxxx
Bonjour Ali,
Sounds like you had a busy day yesterday & how did you find the sunshine? It poured with rain all day in Wiltshire.
I hope you slept well?
Love the poem about the tree...show off!
Fabulous as ever to hear from you and the family.
Here's to another sunny day :-) and enjoy the reflexology, let us know how it goes.
Love as always,
Nix xxx
Hi Ali....Tom, my son will give you the next verse...
."...but if they bite, squeeze them tight, so they don't bite tomorrow night! "
Hope you slept well and have a good day today and see some more friends and family. Great Poem and glad you managed to get out. Hope to speak soon, have a great weekend. Love Sally XXX
Hey Ali,
I remember going to Ventures once with you and Simon and spending the entire evening petrified that somebody might actually talk to me. I was a shy little wallflower in those days. Needless to say I never plucked up the courage to go again. I don't have many regrets but might be one that I do as you obviously had a blast!
I did go to 16th Harpenden Brownies tho with Anne-Marie Leigh and Janie Husbands for a while. I remember I was an Imp. My Mum said it was quite appropriate - harsh, I thought.
Hope the reflexology is doing the business. Acupuncture is another good one. I had it after both lots of back surgery when nothing else could touch the pain and I was a total wuss.
Hope you have a lovely day today and enjoy all your visitors and the goodies they bring.
Best thing about today (so far) is we're all going out to lunch - woohoo!
Lots of love to you all
J-A
Ali,
It's Friday that means nearly the weekend and you can do nothing for a couple of days ! !!
I have got loads of washing from my travels to do, let us know if your free and you can help me sort my socks. Saw Bretty last night he sends his regards.
Cheers
Dizz.
ps Like the poem mate.
Hi Ali
Hope you are enjoying a sunny morning and can get out to give that lovely little oak tree some kind words of encouragement. The words of the blessing were really beautiful.
Now, about those bed-bugs! To celebrate our 60th birthdays we took a "gap year" in 2004 and went back-packing in Australia, New Zealand and S. Africa. After staying in a backpackers on Fraser Island off the E. Coast of Australia, we became quite knowledgeable about bed-bugs and their (over 500) bites, and boy did they irritate.
So, please no more mention of bed-bugs, we can assure you they are no laughing matter!!!
Enjoy your visitors over the weekend, we hope they come bearing gifts of chocolate, wine, cake etc. etc.
Sending our love and thinking of you all.
Jeanette & Tony
Hi Ali,
I know you get a lot of these things, but I am passing this on to you because it definitely worked for me and we all could use more calm in our lives.
By following the simple advice I heard on a Medical TV show, I think that I may have finally found inner peace.
A Doctor proclaimed the way to achieve inner peace, is to finish all the things you have started.
It clears the clutter out of your life.
So, I looked around the house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished. So before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Shhraz, a butle of vocka, a pockage of Prunglies, tha mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke an a box a chocolets.
Yu haf no idr who fkin gud I fel.
Peas sen dis orn to dem yu fee AR in ned ov inr pece.
hic
Nikki & Matt xxx
Hi Ali
just to join in on the chocolate suggestions - coffee or hot chocolate thro a twix (with each end bitten off) is the best straw i know, and then eating the melted warm twix is fab!
lots of love
Sian xx
HVSU or Harpenden Venture Scout Unit was the only place to be during the late 80's and early 90's in Harpenden, we were graced by some Scouts from Hitchen / Wheathampstead (Ali, Si, Matt B, the Finch bros) and any failed brownie or guide was more than welcome. Some people took the scouting seriously - hiking up the nearest available hill to gain their Queen's Scout award, others enjoyed the Am Dram delights of the Harpenden Gang show which took place in early January every year and still does. Now under the musical direction of Ewan the Wine Man who posts dodgy lyrics. Every year the unit went on Summer Expedition to some unsuspecting European village where we would drink, cause havoc, sing round camp fires and lose our innocence. It was an amazing time, one we probably didn't appreciate at the time. The fact that so many of us have come together again on this blog is testament to friendships made and the foundations of good lives begun. I too was a wallflower when I first arrived at the Hut one dark January night, but I kept on coming back and I'm really glad I did.
Hi Ali
The weather's looking a bit iffy this afternoon but I hope you got out in the garden this morning to check on your tree. Lovely poem, by the way.
The best thing about today? Nicki and Matt's blog. That really really made me (Amanda) laugh! Obviously talking my language!
I definitely feel cheated now - I only got as far as Brownies. Sounds like the Venture Scouts was the place to be!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Love to you all
Paul, Amanda, Emma and Georgia
xx
Hi Ali,
Whilst novices to the art of blogging we have been following your journey on a daily basis. As veterans of HVSU ourselves (although more of a distant memory for us than you) we certainly agree that it gives you a good grounding in flora, fauna (some of you may remember the annual guides.....do they still do those?)travel, skiing, wine tasting, mass outbreaks of gastroenteritus, Paulines pack lunches and more.... happy times, well most of the time!
Hoping you enjoy a happy weekend and sending our very best wishes to you and your family.
Yvonne and Andy (Barford)
Dearest Ali
Well we have now found out what HVSU stands for but I guess we are too old to join now, shame - but it certainly sounded a lot of fun.
We wish you peaceful dreams tonight Ali and remember
"Good night, sleep tight, mind the bed bugs don't bite. If they do,squeeze them tight so they don't bite tomorrow night."
We feel sure there are no bed bugs in your 5 star accommodation anyway but we like the newly extended rhyme.
All our love and hugs as always
The Conways
Chris, David, Stewart, Jo, Freya, Sarah and Daniel xxxxxxxx
PS We had another unsuccessful phone call to your mum tonight but you know you are all constantly in our prayers even if we don't get to speak.
Hi Ali (and Simon!)
Well I have photos which I think demonstrate SR style inspections. Don't worry, they are safe in my garage (undisclosed location in the depths of West Yorkshire right now...)
It was good to read Ewan's memories of HVSU expedititons. Funny how I also remembered the catering in Lochghoilhead. Beryl put the spaghetti on about four hours ahead of tea time...hope you're dining better now.
That was the holiday when Alistair Brooks broke the water skis on the first day and we were told that hot showers were "a bonus" (or something like that). Alistair then got off with some local girl and was greeted with cries of "MOOSE!" wherever he went...how cruel we were (but fair methinks...)
My photos of Sion (Switzerland) show a "Chunderchart" (nice) on the wall behind the bar which was being run by...Richard Marshall. Who ever thought that was a good idea?
I remember the talent show featured a song by the "E5 Climbers"..."Chunderrise early in the morning..." lead by Steven Hulme (are you proud Nicky?).
Loads of other memories of Peak Assaults, Rhum, Canalboat trips, Gang shows, gang show parties, Totnes, Gilwell, cycle rides, catering, annual dinners, The Mill, Orchard Farm, I could go on and on.
Seems like only yesterday. Weren't we lucky?
It's nice to see all the old names on your blog Ali. I'm sure there are loads more lurking around and following your days on here.
Thanks for keeping us updated, I like your tree poem and your photos are always great.
Really enjoy reading your blog. Take it easy.
Sending love down to you in Herts,
love jane whitham x
Hello Alistair,
fine fine to read this lovely poem.... feel the same way a bit myself today. After feeling well deflated & batterd after being asked to leave cannes hospital. Tidied my rubbish tip of a car this morning for our visitors & already felt 23 times better.
Chinese meal for lunch to celebrate Rebecca's 9th birthday & feeling better still. Straight from chinese meal to Marineland at Antibes.... Saw Rays, sharks, killer whales. Also dolphin show, birds of prey show & sea lion show.
Saw dolphin balancing man on his nose (not the other way round) really amazed at the amazing power & strength & balance of these animals. Saw huge turtles etc etc was really amazed over all this amazing creation and about to leave when the mobile rings......
Yes another mission (temporary work) starting monday in Vallauris. (I like this place). Work sounds a lot less unpleasant than the cannes hospital....less petrol & less autoroute also.
Thank God again for the lovely day, amazing creation & the loving care not even losing one day of working time. May He help me to be a bit wise here in this new Job.
The most most fit & graceful & athletic dancer cannot compare with the grace, balance & and enormous power of the dolphin
As someone said a while back feel bad...dont worry it wont last.
Feel good, it also won't last....life changes constantly....
I must let go of what people think of me it is not good for me!!!!!!
Thank God for the work, for all of good things & for the loving care
Love respect & Gods best blessings to you, Jeanette & Team Rainback
Steve cagnes
Dear Ali,
Sorry I haven't written for a while but have been thinking of you. Glad you are feeling better and have been out and about. Lovely poem, great sentiment.
A few Borough boys are off to Chipping Norton of all places today. No tour this year so Jonno has organised a camping trip to an obviously tickets to the beer festival, good old Jonno, for a Manc is not a bad bloke!
We are entered into the tug-of-war! Don't fancy our chances after 20 pints of the local brew. well mate, Myself, Geachy, Jonno, Stuey, Super G, Rugby League, Alex, Spacey, Giles et al wish you well and only wish you could be on the team sheet, soon maybe!
Speak soon mate, God bless
L'sex
Hi Ali - big hug and been thinking of you. Sorry it has been a while - you have been constantly in my thoughts and I read your blog every day with enthusiasm and such hope. You have an amazing partner in Jeanette and such strong supportive parents and a wonderful bro Si.
Your tree looks great and one day when I return form NZ I will sit beside it and remember our young days growing up in Kimpton. What a great poem Liz wrote.
Hey HCVSU sounded great I only got to Brownies, GG and two nights at Wheathampstead ventures and refused entry!!! Oh well cest la vie.
Love to you all.
Debbie
Hey Ali - so good to see you on Friday and talk over all those good times. And, with great timing, Cockachumpey's good s**t turned up in the post to go with the chocolate cookies and the After Eights! You're not lacking for food and a whole bunch of great caring folk around you - your family, your lovely Jeanette whom I met just as I was leaving, and boy, do I wish I had a girl like Terri to bring me stuff in bed everyday!
Stay strong, mate, enjoy the wine and don't get too "hung-up" on the upsidedown lawn mower!
See you soon. Ewan xxx
Hey Ali, sitting outside the Emerites. Been here 4 hours, only 3 to go. Good to see its being put to good use at last. BROOOOOCE!!!
Hi Ali,
I hope you have had a great Saturday so far.. the weather has been good to us, so hopefully you got out in the garden and felt some of the summer warmth!!
Bumped into Tristan and Chris D last night at the Engine and we had a couple of beers and were chatting about how much of a brilliant bloke you are, bringing up funny stories about suggestion boxes on venture trips and general great stuff. Such excellent days.
Sounds like you had a good catch up with our Gang Show Hero, Mr Ewan Murray!... Roll Out those crazy hazy days of summer, those days of sunshine and ice cream and beer etc etc etc .... (not sure if that was Old Time Musical or Gang Show).. but never the less they were brilliant.
Just finished a round of golf at Stockwood Park in Luton and wiped the floor with the other 3 players, collecting £45 quid.. lovely stuff. Not too long til the Euros now, not too sure whether I can be bothed to watch that after our dismal displays, in not getting there!!
Make sure you continue drinking that vino, its the best!!
Stay tough mate, thinking of you..
Craig xx
Hi Ali,
I'm an old friend of Jeanette's from our days in London where we used to have more than a few laughs together (although come to think of it ACA wasn't all that funny...just as well I had Jeanette around). Anyway, I hadn't heard from her in a while until she emailed last week to let me know what was going on. I've been reading your blog every day since then and just wanted to drop you a note to say that my husband Mats (I married a Norwegian and now live in Oslo) and I are thinking of you both a lot. Your blog has made us smile and also reflect more upon life than during the average day. I'll keep reading and if I have anything particularly interesting to say I'll drop you another line (no snow right now so I can't tell you about Mats' prowess in Telemark and cross-country and my own efforts to keep up!)!
Love from Gillean and Mats Nordal x
hey ali,
great to hear you have your appetite back. loving the blog from nikki, really made me smile.
I qualified as a physiotherapist yesterday. Who would have thought that a ski bum like me would become a batchelor of science! just goes to show anything is possible, so keep hanging in there my friend.
livestrong
martin creasey
Hey Ali,
Love the new photos!
Been very bad in my favourite shop and bought far too much fabric yet again!
Thinking of you as always and hope you're having lovely times with your family.
Lots of love
J-A
Hi Ali
Letter from Scotland at present we are suffering from a an invasion from the Rowe family up near Bonny Glenshee they have started to play golf.I have had Martin and Derdrie round the nine hole at Rosemount golf Club in Blairgowrie Derdrie could not stop
laughing every she had anair shot
she had some lesons at Rosemount
and is doing well. Also had Bernie and Karin here for a visit before Bernie went of to sea.
That it for now from Bonny
Glenshee.
Andy Mc
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