Hello? Hello! This is a bit weird...

So, we’ve had our first GOLD Guyana 2013 phone conference (hence the confusing title- this was my introduction to the conference) and I now have lots of exciting news to tell you all!

As we were waiting for everyone in the team to ring the special number to join the conference we enjoyed stories of Clare’s skiing trip- which sounded amazing! But finally we were all ready, and so we got down to the serious business- PLANNING and ORGANISING.

Jess had produced an agenda- which we stuck to in the most part- so we went through each item very thoroughly. We discussed flights, onward travel, group uniform, 3rd briefing plans and our to-do lists from 1st briefing (amazingly, every member of the team has either done, or is the process of doing all their actions from these). Our lovely badge and Challenge Pack were also fairly important topics of chat. However, we had the most fun talking about plans for our 2nd briefing country presentation and evening entertainment. A lot of ideas were shared but the ones we have decided on are going to be truly amazing!!! This information is top secret at the moment, but to keep you hooked to the blog, I will divulge that Team Guyana GOLD 2013 will be dressing up for the occasion... 

:D

All too quickly it was over (after only 2 hours!). Rebecca's tea was ready and Deborah and Jess had job applications/ assignments in for the next day, so we checked our new to-do lists, confirmed the date of our next phone conference and said our goodbyes.

I think that is everything...

I will be updating very soon with personal profiles of each team member, so keep a look out.

LOGL

Miriam x

GOLD Guyana 2013 Challenge Badge

Our Challenge Pack is finished- very exciting! Thanks to the lovely Clare for designing our amazing team badge (see the side bar >>>) .

This blog post is particularly aimed at Leaders who are thinking about planning summer term meetings (fingers crossed you are like my unit and have not done it already!). Why not take a look at our GOLD Guyana 2013 Challenge Badge syllabus (it's very good- promise!)

Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6z1E0Z0q1HuODdNblVxcFBlOTQ/edit?usp=sharing 

There are five sections: International Guiding, Guyana The Rainforest, Guyana The Ocean, Guyana Culture and Traditions and Guiding in Guyana. Each contains loads of great ideas suitable for every age and ability. Once you (and your unit) have finished the required number of activities- one activity from each section, as well as: Rainbows +1 other; Brownies +2 others; and Guides, Senior Section and Trefoil Guild +3 others- fill in the Badge Order form included in the Pack, send it off with the appropriate money, and as quickly as we possibly can we will send you the badges so that you can get busy sewing. :D

Alternatively, you can just order a single badge (by the same process described above).

I will leave you with a picture of the Badge Pack (which I went to great lengths to take- the photo involved standing on a chair!).

Lots of GOLD love

Miriam x

ps. Please, please share this blog and the Badge Pack with as many people as possible- it would really help out our team! Thank you.

pps. You can now subscribe to this blog- I know, very exciting! Just type your email address into the little box on the right hand side bar >>>. This will mean that every time I update, you get sent an email
with the appropriate link. Amazing!

First Briefing

A couple of weeks ago Team Guyana GOLD 2013 came together with all of the other 2013 GOLDies at first briefing. We travelled from the around the country to meet up for the first time since INTOPS (the selection weekend for GOLD; find out more at http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/seniorsection/whatcanido/international/intops.html )

I think it is safe to say that we were all pretty nervous! However, nerves were quickly lost when we sat down and had a really yummy meal together prepared by two ex Guyana GOLDies (because obviously Guyana is the best project country!!). Jess told us that Clare was ill and would not be joining us until Saturday morning :( , so we had to eat her dinner too- tough times :D Then it was on to an evening full of ice breaker games to bond as a team. The highlight was Rebecca attempting to mime "Girlguiding CHQ" and "Brownies" whilst being under a duvet!!! She was successful (although "VERY HOT") and team Guyana came second overall- pretty good for a team with one man down. It was a great evening- I have not laughed that hard in a long time!!!! (Sorry for the lack of photos- note to self, always have camera near by.)

After a fairly good nights sleep we were ready to learn lots and lots and lots about GOLD and Guyana. But before that, we were fairly pre-occupied with welcoming Clare, who must have been up very early in the morning to get to Tolmers for breakfast- we were all seriously impressed with her efforts! We had a full  team and could not wait to begin our GOLD journey together :D.

We spent all day Saturday doing various sessions, from how to look after our lovely leader Jess, to fundraising and PR advice. We took on a lot of information, but this was interspersed with some really fun energisers outside in the snow and sweets provided by Jess and Amelia! I quickly learnt that note taking and "to-do" lists are a must for GOLD. I even had "to-do" list envy with Deborah- hers were just incredible! Jess had this sorted though and gave us lovely note books, post-its and a folder to keep everything organised- mine had pink ladybirds on it :)

Hard at work planning.

We also had lots of group time where we discussed team roles, kit and uniform, project dates, badges and a challenge pack (more on all of these very exciting things in future blog posts- keep a look out!!!!).

After a very busy day we were all summoned to our team rooms and left in them for what felt like an absolute age whilst the GOLD team leaders were preparing for our evening's entertainment. And oh my goodness, it was very entertaining! The theme- 150 years of the tube. Confused?!?! We were too, until... well just look at the picture below.

Which tube stations can you spot?

We enjoyed games, quizzes and a bit of random dancing.Team Guyana's (or rather Victoria line's) favourite game- the alternative bus route game (basically crossing the room by only standing on two carpet tiles). We were very creative in our method of getting across London (the floor), but we were accused of cheating (wrongly) which made us all very sad :(.

I would just like to say a big thank you to all of the GOLD team leaders, Anna and Carrie, and the lovely cooks for putting so much time and effort into the evening- it was truly incredible! Also, Jess- aka Victoria- your costume was amazing!

A vision in light blue and Queen Victoria.

Sunday morning brought more energisers, happy plans, health and wellbeing talks, a culture shock presentation and lots of reminders to share the GOLD love. All too quickly it was time to travel home. After lots of hugs and checking of diaries that we all have the right dates for our up and coming phone conferences, we left feeling tired but super excited for GOLD Guyana 2013. Bring it on.

Lots of GOLD love

Miriam x