One of the fundamentals of the Boys' Brigade Youth club is to instill discipline in its members.
However officers appear to give up at points. When they've been wound too far they begin to reach the point of excluding them. Sadly sometimes they reach the point far too easily.
If I am ever forced to exclude a member i will consider myself to have failed. It's against the original objective. And yet when the question is brought up i must admit that i have cowered and not confronted the situation.
All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing.
So when one of the boys had been in trouble i found one of the officers telling the parents that he was on his last chance or he wouldn't be allowed to come. I listened but didn't speak. I still haven't brought up the subject despite the time i've had considering how to go about it.
It just worries me that some of these troublemakers are best off in a group like the Boys' Brigade which i have seen change people for the better over and over. Some even come to find it their last refuge amongst problems going on elsewhere. To put it simply, it's the troublemakers that need our help more then any other.
Our BB did once exclude a member for 2 weeks and they never came back. But they had learnt a lot from the BB, they had even begun to change their ways, albeit not dramatically.
The kids they have problems with in one company are under 10! An age where they can change so easily and have a long time yet to mature and become the good men the Boys' Brigade creates. To quit so early on them would be very distressing. I do hope they change their ways and look at creating a disciplined environment soon, in the mean time i will eventually work up the confidence to bring the case forward.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
A giver or a Taker
Which are you?
The traveller i met still has more to say. If you haven't read the first one go back to "the Traveller" but this post explains my outlooks changing.
The traveller was still sat opposite me as i made my way to CHICKS. He'd told me his best and worst chances in life. But then he began saying how he finds it difficult to take, not a euphemism but taking gifts or other things from people. He much preferred giving, it was in his way of doing things. He had told me of his philanthropy of the people he'd tried to help.
I finally decided to tell the truth. I apologised and began to explain how i had been embarrassed to say that my true destination was a charity helping some of the most disadvantaged kids of Britain.
He accepted it quickly, he told me there was no need to be embarrassed about something so great. How he could tell givers a mile off and that's why he'd talked to me in the first place. So i went on to explain my first CHICKS camp, the kids and people I'd met and the difference in 6 days. About everything, the way it was all changing my life and how good it was.
Then he asked me for a favour. To explain what he'd learnt to those kids so as they keep on the right path. That those kids, no matter how hard their lives are can get through them and become great. They can do or be whatever they want to if they put the effort in and to never ever give up.
I ensured him i would do everything i could.
At that point the train pulled into the station and he said goodbye and disappeared into the town, I'll never see him again. The near anonymous stranger, i knew his name but he could be anywhere living in the back corners meeting the shadows people try to ignore. It was as though he'd been sent to find me, of all the people on that train, of all the trains he could have gotten on, he found the person who needed to hear what he had to say. Then once we'd said what we needed to say he was gone. Like the prophets of old exclaiming their message and disappearing.
The traveller i met still has more to say. If you haven't read the first one go back to "the Traveller" but this post explains my outlooks changing.
The traveller was still sat opposite me as i made my way to CHICKS. He'd told me his best and worst chances in life. But then he began saying how he finds it difficult to take, not a euphemism but taking gifts or other things from people. He much preferred giving, it was in his way of doing things. He had told me of his philanthropy of the people he'd tried to help.
I finally decided to tell the truth. I apologised and began to explain how i had been embarrassed to say that my true destination was a charity helping some of the most disadvantaged kids of Britain.
He accepted it quickly, he told me there was no need to be embarrassed about something so great. How he could tell givers a mile off and that's why he'd talked to me in the first place. So i went on to explain my first CHICKS camp, the kids and people I'd met and the difference in 6 days. About everything, the way it was all changing my life and how good it was.
Then he asked me for a favour. To explain what he'd learnt to those kids so as they keep on the right path. That those kids, no matter how hard their lives are can get through them and become great. They can do or be whatever they want to if they put the effort in and to never ever give up.
I ensured him i would do everything i could.
At that point the train pulled into the station and he said goodbye and disappeared into the town, I'll never see him again. The near anonymous stranger, i knew his name but he could be anywhere living in the back corners meeting the shadows people try to ignore. It was as though he'd been sent to find me, of all the people on that train, of all the trains he could have gotten on, he found the person who needed to hear what he had to say. Then once we'd said what we needed to say he was gone. Like the prophets of old exclaiming their message and disappearing.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The old work horses!
Heritage railway lines are now great attractions across the UK which are still expanding. But they take a lot of work!
I work from time to time on Llangollen railway in North Wales. The brunt of the work is done by volunteers from various backgrounds, whether engineering or admin. Of course the people heading up the heavy work such as the lines themselves are professionals from companies like network rail who choose to help in their spare time. Their enthusiasm for railways is never ending.
They're currently building the Betton grange 6880 locomotive in the engine shed at Llangollen and it's an impressive statement of engineering. The extension frame has been machined down by a face mill and the entire engine is taking shape with assembly starting to take place. It just shows how much it is progressing and the work going into it is of such a high level. Although a far cry from the days of the Swindon works buildings thousands of steam engines in what was the largest works in the world at the time.
But the engineering that went into these machines in the first place is so intricate and yet of such a massive scale. Not to mention that these companies were doing such innovation and building so much, but from records they hardly turned a profit.
However heritage lines are all over the place and are doing well as tourist attractions. The line at llangollen draws a good crowd into town to ride allong through some beautiful valleys. Headed up by steam engines chuffing steadily allong. It may be a long way from the speeds they used to do being limited to just 25 mph but offers a look back in history to a time of manufacturing power in Great Britain.
They're currently building the Betton grange 6880 locomotive in the engine shed at Llangollen and it's an impressive statement of engineering. The extension frame has been machined down by a face mill and the entire engine is taking shape with assembly starting to take place. It just shows how much it is progressing and the work going into it is of such a high level. Although a far cry from the days of the Swindon works buildings thousands of steam engines in what was the largest works in the world at the time.
But the engineering that went into these machines in the first place is so intricate and yet of such a massive scale. Not to mention that these companies were doing such innovation and building so much, but from records they hardly turned a profit.
However heritage lines are all over the place and are doing well as tourist attractions. The line at llangollen draws a good crowd into town to ride allong through some beautiful valleys. Headed up by steam engines chuffing steadily allong. It may be a long way from the speeds they used to do being limited to just 25 mph but offers a look back in history to a time of manufacturing power in Great Britain.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Traveller
I got on a train bound for the southwest for another CHICKS (country holiday for inner city kids) week which would be no ordinary ride. In fact as train rides go it was my favourite. Not particularly exciting, just different.
To begin i decided to talk to some people, not sure why but i did, i knew i'd get bored otherwise. So I attempted to talk to the person sitting next to me, an old guy and his friend, i got nothing back. Well until 2 minutes before i had to get off and he suddenly had all the questions in the world. Great timing.
So i boarded my second train, i had a booked seat somewhere and struggled through the carriages with a bag and guitar, never an easy feat. But when I got to my coach just outside the near silent seating area was a small, bench seated section separated by a door from the main coach. A solitary hole, it suited me perfectly and meant i could sit with all my things. So i sat there reading my new scientist and drinking ribena, two things that don't really fit but nonetheless i was pretty satisfied. Until he turned up!
A man with a massive rucksack who looked like some sort of hobo clambered into my section sitting opposite me. So much for being solitary.
"How long has this section been here?" he asked.
"Sorry, what?"
"How long have they had this bit on the train?" he said once more in shorter simpler words. A trainspotting hobo? I know a lot about trains but this is a difficult question.
"Well, erm, i really don't know." Not much else of an answer really. He went on to explain how he also liked this section of the train before introducing himself. We talked, more he talked and i listened best i could whilst the wind whipped through the door next to me. He had had quite a life really and he gave me his autobiography right there. From Being in the army, to working freelance for alsorts of companies across the world. He told me how his daughter tried to enrage him by coming out as gay. It was the way that she'd said it more then anything, but he just accepted it, explaining that he has no problems with gay people, even his best friend was gay. Which apparently annoyed her. She wanted a retort.
The half way point and he offered me a beer. I respectfully declined, turning up to a childrens camp drunk is generally not a good thing to do. He ask me what it is i do and where i was headed. I explained my university course and made up something about visiting a friend in Exeter, i just wasn't that comfortable telling him what i was actually doing there.
Then he started to explain his getup. Although he still had a lump of money in the bank he goes from place to place sleeping out meeting some of the worst off people. I think he finds it hard to stick in one place. But he told me about the most recent person he'd befriended, a big issue salesmen. The last couple weeks he'd slept allongside him in the small big issue shelter. The salesmen had found himself without a job, a house and stripped of his money left out in the cold. He'd suffered a lot but hadn't turned to drugs of alcoholism, he was trying to start a new with the help of the big issue.
The traveller explained what he'd seen of him and upon leaving he left a present, his waterproof gear, army North Face overtrousers, an expensive and useful present that he left secretly in the shelter to be found by the salesman. Who then attempted to give it back before being told it was his to keep.
The traveller told me how he gives what little he has to help these people although he would soon be heading back to work to rekindle his bank account. An anonymous philanthropist had sat down before me.
His best friend had passed away in the last few years. As he'd sat at his side for months through kimo, through his pain. Cancer had set upon him when his life had just been turned around. The traveller told of the drug addicted wreck of a man who he'd dragged up from rock bottom, been the friend to push him away from the drugs, into a good job, life had finally begun to look good. To have an illness like that set in and take him away was like a mockery. They'd gone through alsorts of treatment before he gave up the ghost. Perhaps that's just it, when we find out how great life is and start living it right God considers us worthy of his Kingdom and takes us before our time.
To begin i decided to talk to some people, not sure why but i did, i knew i'd get bored otherwise. So I attempted to talk to the person sitting next to me, an old guy and his friend, i got nothing back. Well until 2 minutes before i had to get off and he suddenly had all the questions in the world. Great timing.
So i boarded my second train, i had a booked seat somewhere and struggled through the carriages with a bag and guitar, never an easy feat. But when I got to my coach just outside the near silent seating area was a small, bench seated section separated by a door from the main coach. A solitary hole, it suited me perfectly and meant i could sit with all my things. So i sat there reading my new scientist and drinking ribena, two things that don't really fit but nonetheless i was pretty satisfied. Until he turned up!A man with a massive rucksack who looked like some sort of hobo clambered into my section sitting opposite me. So much for being solitary.
"How long has this section been here?" he asked.
"Sorry, what?"
"How long have they had this bit on the train?" he said once more in shorter simpler words. A trainspotting hobo? I know a lot about trains but this is a difficult question.
"Well, erm, i really don't know." Not much else of an answer really. He went on to explain how he also liked this section of the train before introducing himself. We talked, more he talked and i listened best i could whilst the wind whipped through the door next to me. He had had quite a life really and he gave me his autobiography right there. From Being in the army, to working freelance for alsorts of companies across the world. He told me how his daughter tried to enrage him by coming out as gay. It was the way that she'd said it more then anything, but he just accepted it, explaining that he has no problems with gay people, even his best friend was gay. Which apparently annoyed her. She wanted a retort.
The half way point and he offered me a beer. I respectfully declined, turning up to a childrens camp drunk is generally not a good thing to do. He ask me what it is i do and where i was headed. I explained my university course and made up something about visiting a friend in Exeter, i just wasn't that comfortable telling him what i was actually doing there.
Then he started to explain his getup. Although he still had a lump of money in the bank he goes from place to place sleeping out meeting some of the worst off people. I think he finds it hard to stick in one place. But he told me about the most recent person he'd befriended, a big issue salesmen. The last couple weeks he'd slept allongside him in the small big issue shelter. The salesmen had found himself without a job, a house and stripped of his money left out in the cold. He'd suffered a lot but hadn't turned to drugs of alcoholism, he was trying to start a new with the help of the big issue.
The traveller explained what he'd seen of him and upon leaving he left a present, his waterproof gear, army North Face overtrousers, an expensive and useful present that he left secretly in the shelter to be found by the salesman. Who then attempted to give it back before being told it was his to keep.
The traveller told me how he gives what little he has to help these people although he would soon be heading back to work to rekindle his bank account. An anonymous philanthropist had sat down before me.
His best friend had passed away in the last few years. As he'd sat at his side for months through kimo, through his pain. Cancer had set upon him when his life had just been turned around. The traveller told of the drug addicted wreck of a man who he'd dragged up from rock bottom, been the friend to push him away from the drugs, into a good job, life had finally begun to look good. To have an illness like that set in and take him away was like a mockery. They'd gone through alsorts of treatment before he gave up the ghost. Perhaps that's just it, when we find out how great life is and start living it right God considers us worthy of his Kingdom and takes us before our time.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Britains manufacturing prowess!
Many of us when thinking about Britain's manufacturing power remember the days of old, back to the days of British Leyland at its peak. I realise i may not have been there at the peak but i remember how people talk of it and the pride once found in our country.
My dad often remembers his Rover V8 with enthusiasm. If I've been to a car show or museum he'll ask about the rovers. I must admit the old rovers do have a nice look to them and the V8's did and do go like stink. But in latter years, my years, rover fell flat. Working as a mechanic when a Rover came in you'd do what you could not to work on it. They fell apart. Don't mention a Rover head Gasket to me or i think I'll cry. On one car, the 25, we had to do a head gasket several times because the replacement gaskets would break near immediately. Thankfully they did finally fix that problem developing a new one!
But that's just how people come to think so poorly of British manufacturing in this country. Hence British Leyland crumbled and ask most people and they'll say manufacturing is dead in our once great country.
However, that's not exactly true. Depending on statistics we're about 7th in the world for manufacturing. We may not believe it but our country as it stands is being helped back to its financial feet by our manufacturing sector. The service sector is struggling to remain above the water but we are still building things. Not the big parts anymore maybe, but the little bits, the difficult small parts, chip boards. But we still have the car makers. We''ve still got BMW mini, it may be German owned but they're built in Oxford. The Honda plant in Swindon, they've struggled at points, especially more recently as they struggle to get parts from the now earthquake stricken Japan, nonetheless it is still there. Along with the makes of old, Morgan, Caterham, Aston Martin, Jaguar as well as introducing the new batteries of Nissan (by no means do i condone electric cars however) and the supercars of Noble and Lotus.
Engineering is right there in the heart of our country and will remain so if we expect to survive through our economic struggles.
My dad often remembers his Rover V8 with enthusiasm. If I've been to a car show or museum he'll ask about the rovers. I must admit the old rovers do have a nice look to them and the V8's did and do go like stink. But in latter years, my years, rover fell flat. Working as a mechanic when a Rover came in you'd do what you could not to work on it. They fell apart. Don't mention a Rover head Gasket to me or i think I'll cry. On one car, the 25, we had to do a head gasket several times because the replacement gaskets would break near immediately. Thankfully they did finally fix that problem developing a new one!
But that's just how people come to think so poorly of British manufacturing in this country. Hence British Leyland crumbled and ask most people and they'll say manufacturing is dead in our once great country.
Engineering is right there in the heart of our country and will remain so if we expect to survive through our economic struggles.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Poor Kids (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011vnls
If you haven't watched it yet I urge you to do so on Iplayer as soon as you can.
Despite its peculiar time slot at 10:35pm it shines a light on our own problems in this country.
We focus our time, adverts, charities on third world countries, ignoring the plight of many people at risk in our own country. We have an estimated 3.5 million people living in Poverty right now in the UK. It's time we stopped being ignorant and faced the truth!
Poor Kids shows the stark realities for a lot of kids living in poverty. Some people still will refuse to believe that kids actually live like this, that this program like any other twists the truth to suit its ratings. But i have met Kids like these and it is often all too true. You can keep doubting but that won't help anyone.
The program focuses on several kids, one who lives in mold, a problem bought on by constant damp, often created by lack of heating, which they just can't afford. One who dreams of holidays, a playground which isn't falling apart and littered from drug users. To one boy who finds himself bullied because of the state of his clothes.
Sam who's 11 years old sums it up quite well. He tells life in his house as controlled by the money coming in from one day to the next. How the lights or heating will switch off as the meter clicks over and everything just... stops.
“Until dad gets a job we don’t have any money and sometimes I don’t get lunch and I have to save my hunger for when dinner comes and I eat it all,” Sam says.
He is made to wear his sisters old shirts which are specially marked to show that they're girls, old trousers which don't reach his shoes and a mop top hair style cut by his fathers unskilled hands. Needless to say the bullying hits him hard. He points out that it doesn't matter what you look like or the clothes you wear, its who you are and what you do that counts. Come his Birthday he receives a first trip to the barber, which he finds fantastic! The idea that it will help him fit in even a little bit better makes him feel great. Such a simple joy.
Courtney is found talking about holidays at one point. Her friend has been to several other countries but Courtney never had the chance. She questions why she doesn't get to go on holidays but it all comes down to being too poor.
The amount of Kids in our country that need help is horrific. But we can do things about it. We can give them a better chance. Look up charities like save the children, lets start asking these charities and the government what they're really doing and help push them forwards to sort this out.
With CHICKS we can give them the holiday they need, it may not seem an important part to you but it helps a child's self-esteem no end. Lets not let these kids think that they're not as good as any other, that they're bound to find themselves in the same position as their parents. This program shows that it's not their fault and they are by no means stupid!
I'm going to do what i can, what will you do?
If you haven't watched it yet I urge you to do so on Iplayer as soon as you can.
Despite its peculiar time slot at 10:35pm it shines a light on our own problems in this country.
We focus our time, adverts, charities on third world countries, ignoring the plight of many people at risk in our own country. We have an estimated 3.5 million people living in Poverty right now in the UK. It's time we stopped being ignorant and faced the truth!
Poor Kids shows the stark realities for a lot of kids living in poverty. Some people still will refuse to believe that kids actually live like this, that this program like any other twists the truth to suit its ratings. But i have met Kids like these and it is often all too true. You can keep doubting but that won't help anyone.
Sam who's 11 years old sums it up quite well. He tells life in his house as controlled by the money coming in from one day to the next. How the lights or heating will switch off as the meter clicks over and everything just... stops.
“Until dad gets a job we don’t have any money and sometimes I don’t get lunch and I have to save my hunger for when dinner comes and I eat it all,” Sam says.
He is made to wear his sisters old shirts which are specially marked to show that they're girls, old trousers which don't reach his shoes and a mop top hair style cut by his fathers unskilled hands. Needless to say the bullying hits him hard. He points out that it doesn't matter what you look like or the clothes you wear, its who you are and what you do that counts. Come his Birthday he receives a first trip to the barber, which he finds fantastic! The idea that it will help him fit in even a little bit better makes him feel great. Such a simple joy.
Courtney is found talking about holidays at one point. Her friend has been to several other countries but Courtney never had the chance. She questions why she doesn't get to go on holidays but it all comes down to being too poor.
The amount of Kids in our country that need help is horrific. But we can do things about it. We can give them a better chance. Look up charities like save the children, lets start asking these charities and the government what they're really doing and help push them forwards to sort this out.
With CHICKS we can give them the holiday they need, it may not seem an important part to you but it helps a child's self-esteem no end. Lets not let these kids think that they're not as good as any other, that they're bound to find themselves in the same position as their parents. This program shows that it's not their fault and they are by no means stupid!
I'm going to do what i can, what will you do?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Give Kids a break
At CHICKS i found out about how the other half live. Not to say I'm well off but in comparison to some peoples lives, mine has been perfect. The CHICKs respite breaks give those kids a time to have fun and get away from the problems in their lives. None of them are to blame for the situations they're in, they deserve a break.So when they arrive the smiles start. As with most things, when you share them with others the joy multiplies. So the Kids arrive and make friends with the other 15 children on camp and they all somehow get on. Everyone comes from different places and few know anyone else before camp. But there's an innocent thing about young people that means that somehow, when it comes to having fun, they make friends instantaneously.
Although it's somehow more then just smiles. As the week goes on they conquer their fears and really learn to trust people once again. For some that means everything. It shows that people do care, and the people at CHICKs really do, whether that's the people in the office, the supervisors or the volunteers who all just want to give kids a childhood to remember rather then forget.
With swimming, games and adventure the weeks are consistently exciting with so much to do. Not to mention the surroundings to the two centres in Devon and Cornwall. Deep in the countryside with fields for miles around. For these children from built up areas across the country it's a vast contrast to life back home. Some may never have seen the sea.
Overall they go home at the end of the six days with a new lust for life and that new found hope which they've been given by CHICKs and all that goes on within their breaks.
Check them out at: www.chicks.org.uk
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Behind the bully
As a child I was bullied, that's just how it is. Lots of people get bullied especially if they're short and ginger, a bad mix. I can't complain that badly, my bullies got to me but were not nearly as bad as the stories I've heard. Not to say it didn't matter.
So when I see bullying I hate it. So when one of the kids at camp was loud mouthed about people I did not like him. He summed up the people from my experiences and made me despise him.
He was placed in my group on the wednesday when we were given free roam of crealy theme park. Great.
We went round several rides and he was having fun, we shared some jokes and ran round like crazy. However it came to the swinging ship and they all wanted to go on except him, the bold, loud kid was now the nervous little boy. I tried to quell his fears but to no avail. So I stood off with him and we talked about stuff before racing each other to the toilets, jumping a fence! It seemed like he'd expected me to put him down and when I didn't he realised he could sort of trust me.
Then we all went off to the flumes where he refused to go down on his own, scared, but there was a 2 man donut and he decided he'd be alright if i came down with him. By the bottom the fear had gone. I had however seen him for who he really was. Which became even more prevalent that night.
I settled down to read them a story which so far had been difficult every night, it was still difficult. But he butted in to talk about his life, his dad was in jail and he lived with his grandma. What a way to live.
You see he's just like any bully, they're not essentially bad, a lot of the time its just the way they've been treated. It's to protect themselves, they often have low self-esteem and by putting the Target on someone else people don't focus on their faults.
I'd like to say that he didn't bully anyone for the rest of the week but I'd be lying. He had gotten better though but it takes more then 6 days to fix some issues, you just have to do what you can.
To be honest you'll never stop bullying, but some people need to be told that its not acceptable and others might just be lacking someone to care. Most of all no matter how bad someone is I believe that if you give them enough chances they'll show their good side.
So when I see bullying I hate it. So when one of the kids at camp was loud mouthed about people I did not like him. He summed up the people from my experiences and made me despise him.
He was placed in my group on the wednesday when we were given free roam of crealy theme park. Great.
We went round several rides and he was having fun, we shared some jokes and ran round like crazy. However it came to the swinging ship and they all wanted to go on except him, the bold, loud kid was now the nervous little boy. I tried to quell his fears but to no avail. So I stood off with him and we talked about stuff before racing each other to the toilets, jumping a fence! It seemed like he'd expected me to put him down and when I didn't he realised he could sort of trust me.
Then we all went off to the flumes where he refused to go down on his own, scared, but there was a 2 man donut and he decided he'd be alright if i came down with him. By the bottom the fear had gone. I had however seen him for who he really was. Which became even more prevalent that night.
I settled down to read them a story which so far had been difficult every night, it was still difficult. But he butted in to talk about his life, his dad was in jail and he lived with his grandma. What a way to live.
You see he's just like any bully, they're not essentially bad, a lot of the time its just the way they've been treated. It's to protect themselves, they often have low self-esteem and by putting the Target on someone else people don't focus on their faults.
I'd like to say that he didn't bully anyone for the rest of the week but I'd be lying. He had gotten better though but it takes more then 6 days to fix some issues, you just have to do what you can.
To be honest you'll never stop bullying, but some people need to be told that its not acceptable and others might just be lacking someone to care. Most of all no matter how bad someone is I believe that if you give them enough chances they'll show their good side.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Dare to Dream!
I spoke to the Boys' Brigade juniors about dreams the other night. What they wanted to be. There were a lot of answers!
How much better can you get then engineering something to go into space. I hadn't really though about it before but what a cool dream!
I stumbled one day after and it found a video on spaceflight. That was almost feted. It talked about the steps we're making in commercial space travel. Although I'd caught it before it just meant more this time. The main runners are of course Virgin Galactic. They've already started to build a space port and made it into space several times testing the original Spaceship 1 and now the updated Spaceship 2. The first to make a commercial space shuttle that made it to space. Not only that but completely reusable.
Incredible. A massive jump in technology from the days of Apollo for which we all think when we dream of space flight. It's become possible. Not only that but how much easier will it be for our junior to achieve that dream. At $200,000 it's still out of the price range of most of us but it's there for the taking nonetheless. Something i would love to be a part of. A whole new sector that needs engineers. A reason to get up and get going!
We'll see the first commercial flight in the next year or two. It's no longer a dream, it has become reality!
http://www.virgingalactic.com
- Bus Drivers
- Policemen
- Engineers
- To be strong
- Teacher
- Actor
- Firemen
- Paramedic
How much better can you get then engineering something to go into space. I hadn't really though about it before but what a cool dream!
I stumbled one day after and it found a video on spaceflight. That was almost feted. It talked about the steps we're making in commercial space travel. Although I'd caught it before it just meant more this time. The main runners are of course Virgin Galactic. They've already started to build a space port and made it into space several times testing the original Spaceship 1 and now the updated Spaceship 2. The first to make a commercial space shuttle that made it to space. Not only that but completely reusable.
Incredible. A massive jump in technology from the days of Apollo for which we all think when we dream of space flight. It's become possible. Not only that but how much easier will it be for our junior to achieve that dream. At $200,000 it's still out of the price range of most of us but it's there for the taking nonetheless. Something i would love to be a part of. A whole new sector that needs engineers. A reason to get up and get going!
We'll see the first commercial flight in the next year or two. It's no longer a dream, it has become reality!
http://www.virgingalactic.com
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Curiosity killed the Cat.
Our BB joined up with another company for a summer camp of fun and frivolity. All in all about 14 lads between 11-18 years of age and 7 officers. Which was a massive difference to the BB camps back home where 3 churches youth groups of BB and the Girls Brigades unite to make an 80+ strong camp. But it was still great fun although there were some who had problems.
There was one Kid who was quite young and got it in the neck a lot. He wanted loads of answers and would constantly ask questions. This annoyed the man in charge who would shout for him to put his hand down and consistently criticised the boy. Then one of our boys decided to criticise him as well, one of those people that gather a following and soon everyone was joining in. There was no real malice in it but it soon got to this boy.
He had a camp way about him and gay jokes became non-stop by half way through the week. It ended in tears.
The lad who'd started it came over to everyone one lunch and made a gay joke too far, nobody laughed. I saw the boy behind a bush crying, i don't think anyone else noticed. I'd gotten to know him a bit by then and found myself sitting next to him, a situation which i'm getting far too frequently these days. I'm not fond of speeking to anyone in that state, but he needed someone to give him a leg up.
He told me what had happened. This innocent kid had let slip that at points his eyes often wandered whilst in the toilets. Now puberty is a difficult stage for most people, especially if you're as curious as this one is. But telling people something like that is just foolish especially on the current popularity of gay jokes. He spoke without thinking.
I told him that not one person had laughed, they'd also seen me with him and i could see the guilt when they saw him crying. We talked about it and i joked about it with him before he wiped his eyes and we headed over to the others who guiltily tried to cheer him up.
But the jokes continued soon after.
I spoke to them all that night about my experiences with bullies as a kid, when i was once a small lad who got picked on. It was more about dealing with bullies then anything but also how people can change. They understood it at least. But more then that, i gained respect for it, which they'd also gotten from seeing me helping out the crying boy. A different type of respect to the main officer, not through fear.
I caught up with the ringleader before bed and we had a chat. Several of the others joined in and i discussed how they'd feel on the other side of the bullying, or what if one of their friends was gay and saw them making jokes. Rationalising a situation is often better then disciplining.
For the rest of the week the boy received no bullying from the boys. The camp got along perfectly. When someone said a gay joke they were told off, not by me though, but by the ringleader. A u-turn.
People can change!
There was one Kid who was quite young and got it in the neck a lot. He wanted loads of answers and would constantly ask questions. This annoyed the man in charge who would shout for him to put his hand down and consistently criticised the boy. Then one of our boys decided to criticise him as well, one of those people that gather a following and soon everyone was joining in. There was no real malice in it but it soon got to this boy.
He had a camp way about him and gay jokes became non-stop by half way through the week. It ended in tears.
The lad who'd started it came over to everyone one lunch and made a gay joke too far, nobody laughed. I saw the boy behind a bush crying, i don't think anyone else noticed. I'd gotten to know him a bit by then and found myself sitting next to him, a situation which i'm getting far too frequently these days. I'm not fond of speeking to anyone in that state, but he needed someone to give him a leg up.
He told me what had happened. This innocent kid had let slip that at points his eyes often wandered whilst in the toilets. Now puberty is a difficult stage for most people, especially if you're as curious as this one is. But telling people something like that is just foolish especially on the current popularity of gay jokes. He spoke without thinking.
But the jokes continued soon after.
I spoke to them all that night about my experiences with bullies as a kid, when i was once a small lad who got picked on. It was more about dealing with bullies then anything but also how people can change. They understood it at least. But more then that, i gained respect for it, which they'd also gotten from seeing me helping out the crying boy. A different type of respect to the main officer, not through fear.
I caught up with the ringleader before bed and we had a chat. Several of the others joined in and i discussed how they'd feel on the other side of the bullying, or what if one of their friends was gay and saw them making jokes. Rationalising a situation is often better then disciplining.
For the rest of the week the boy received no bullying from the boys. The camp got along perfectly. When someone said a gay joke they were told off, not by me though, but by the ringleader. A u-turn.
People can change!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Beam Engine
I went for a ride the other day around the island only to find something new. A beam engine, open and running. Eastney Beam engine. A steam Powered Giant!
There were originally several of them to pump the cities increasing sewage away. A dirty job, but one beautiful engine. Restored to its condition in 1887, they've done a terrific job. The building houses 2 engines although only one has been fully restored but it runs near perfectly aside from a squeaky seal.
Very late on in the era of steam it's designed perfectly to make it as efficient as possible. A condensing engine using a mixture of Newcomen's original vacuum powered pistons by pulling the low pressure piston and James Watt's expansion Pushing behind the high pressure piston giving even more power and efficiency. The steam is produced in a boiler in the room next door by burning coal and water is superheated through pipes before being sent to the cylinders. Each engine has 2 cylinders, one high pressure where the steam is first expanded, before the steam is exhausted to the low pressure where air and water is jetted into the cylinder to cool the steam quickly creating the vacuum to pull the piston. Each piston is also double acting so once the steam pushes the piston one way, the superheated steam is allowed in at the other end pushing it back again. Using as much of that heat energy as possible and turning it into work to pump the sewage and water below. The Watts link keeps the piston shaft perpendicular to the cylinder with beautiful movement attached to the massive beam above which is then attached to a flywheel to keep it going and a governor keeping the pace steady.
But the Victorians took pride in what they did and not only was it powerful but built as a showpiece of engineering, a thing of beauty.
Very late on in the era of steam it's designed perfectly to make it as efficient as possible. A condensing engine using a mixture of Newcomen's original vacuum powered pistons by pulling the low pressure piston and James Watt's expansion Pushing behind the high pressure piston giving even more power and efficiency. The steam is produced in a boiler in the room next door by burning coal and water is superheated through pipes before being sent to the cylinders. Each engine has 2 cylinders, one high pressure where the steam is first expanded, before the steam is exhausted to the low pressure where air and water is jetted into the cylinder to cool the steam quickly creating the vacuum to pull the piston. Each piston is also double acting so once the steam pushes the piston one way, the superheated steam is allowed in at the other end pushing it back again. Using as much of that heat energy as possible and turning it into work to pump the sewage and water below. The Watts link keeps the piston shaft perpendicular to the cylinder with beautiful movement attached to the massive beam above which is then attached to a flywheel to keep it going and a governor keeping the pace steady.
But the Victorians took pride in what they did and not only was it powerful but built as a showpiece of engineering, a thing of beauty.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Get straight back on the horse
Back on a my first week at CHICKS and I've got yet more to say. Just so much goes on throughout a week.This time i want to tell you just how happy the kids get when you get them riding high on the back of a pony. Chicks has a running contract with a local stables and all the kids get the chance to go horse riding. Something i sure didn't get to do when i was a kid, in fact even now I've never got riding lessons aside from donkey rides! It really does give them something special, to talk about forever.
They each mounted a pony and the volunteers, i.e. me, took the reigns to lead them round. It was one beautiful day. But i got the rebellious pony and it really wasn't too excited about getting out and about on this day. I was leading a young girl who was very nice and to my surprise made a complete fool out of me on the football pitch when i first met her. Not that I'm that good at football, but 8 year olds rarely have great ball control.
Anyway, we took the kids up to a soft floored riding area and begun to get the basics. We had been pre-warned the night before about the slightly eccentric style of the lady in charge but it didn't stop all the volunteers from giggling the whole way through. She walks like a cowboy from a western and sings the instructions to the kids in time with the horses. I'll admit it works perfectly however is rather humorous to the point where we were still laughing when we made it back to the home. However part way through and i admit i was being tested. As i said I've never had the chance to ride a horse and the basics i know are from theories I've heard and very primitive. So when the horse began to play up, i struggled. It started by stopping for a snack whenever it liked. Then it would get slightly excited and drag me forward for a bit before i pulled it back in line. It seemed to be going alright and the girl was doing very well and loving it when we reached a part where i had to let go of the reigns and just walk along side...
It went fine in and out of the cones as she controlled it till it got round the end cone and thought it had lost me, so it bolted and started cantering off to my bewilderment. I had to chase it down and being in wellies that was no easy feat. But i grabbed the leading rope and stopped the runaway before it made it too far. The girl loved it, i however, did not. That was on the worrying side!
That marked the end of the first set of kids and i was boiling over from the heat. We walked back to the stables and the Kids dismounted. They had really had fun. What's really great is just how much they had actually improved and gained control. I however had gotten no better, proven by the pony stamping on my foot, wellies aren't made for protection from lumbering oafs. I swear it did it on purpose as well.
We got some water on and although talk had been made to change my pony we still ended up heading back out with the same annoying pony with another kid mounted upon it laughing as the pony made a fool out of me. Immediately it was playing up again.
Realising i was at the point of melting and loosing control as the pony rebelled one of the supervisors relieved me of duty and took command, i felt better when she struggled as well though. However the worst was yet to come.
Toward the end there was a race of sorts, the volunteers all pondered round as fast as they dare but it came down to 2 french stable hands who were leading the larger horses and they were up for a race. They cracked the whip out and got some speed up. But when one of them turned, the boy on board didn't follow, he rolled off the horse and fell to the floor...
The supervisor ran over to his aid. The lady in charge walked on over, looked him up and down and said "right then, back on the horse". I don't think he even considered what she said when he found himself back up on the horse. Well that was easy. He was fine. But we were pretty shocked! That's one heck of a life lesson!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Going Sobre!
Lent is upon us and somehow fasting entirely seems rather difficult. So things i like:
I'll think about it over a pint... Ah... hmmm... not sure.
Me and my friends go drinking maybe twice a week or so depending on which sports are currently running, i.e. F1, Rugby and several others. We also play a lot of pool and a bit of snooker, all drinking sort of activities.
Well it would prove a point, and drunkards are frowned upon heavily in that big ole book. OK, can't be that hard!
It may be harder then i first thought! My course friends are Atheists and are the main people i hang out with, they understand I'm a Christian but this sorta pushed the bar. They weren't fond of my reasons and put me to the test. For the last 2 weeks I've been oh so tempted for a wee drop of Cider, whisky, Beer, anything! But no. Sure and steadfast the anchor holds. I'm by no means an alcoholic but this has turned out to be a real test. Like helping out a friend the other day, what did i receive but a bottle of White Wine. From a church friend no less. Yes, God definitely has a sense of humour.
Worst of all, the other day my Grandma passed away. Some things just knock you down. Quick as a flash within a night of being in hospital to meeting the big man. Last time someone i knew died, a friend, i hit all the whisky and bourbon i could find in our local and wished the night away. That's just how I'd come to deal with things. I don't know quite if I'd do the same this time if i wasn't on lent. I must say i still sat and played the blues for a time. Music heals the soul. But the first thing i did, I've never done before, was turn to that book on my side table. The Bible helps you out from time to time, Mathew 5:4 opened and it ricocheted round my mind. At that point i had God sitting at my side. I went to the Pub that night. However nothing but a pint of coke passed my lips.
I have no idea why bad things happen, but when they do your strength is only as strong as your Faith!
- Chocolate (its been done before, not really that hard despite the amount i eat!)
- Engineering (Now that is just silly)
- TV (But formula 1 starts half way through!!!)
- Bread (hmm no , dad's doing that)
- Meat (i would probably be left with plain pasta and rice, vegetables are rare in my cupboard)
- Bike rides (my only exercise?)
- Reading
- Homework
- Math
I'll think about it over a pint... Ah... hmmm... not sure.
Me and my friends go drinking maybe twice a week or so depending on which sports are currently running, i.e. F1, Rugby and several others. We also play a lot of pool and a bit of snooker, all drinking sort of activities.
Well it would prove a point, and drunkards are frowned upon heavily in that big ole book. OK, can't be that hard!
It may be harder then i first thought! My course friends are Atheists and are the main people i hang out with, they understand I'm a Christian but this sorta pushed the bar. They weren't fond of my reasons and put me to the test. For the last 2 weeks I've been oh so tempted for a wee drop of Cider, whisky, Beer, anything! But no. Sure and steadfast the anchor holds. I'm by no means an alcoholic but this has turned out to be a real test. Like helping out a friend the other day, what did i receive but a bottle of White Wine. From a church friend no less. Yes, God definitely has a sense of humour.
Worst of all, the other day my Grandma passed away. Some things just knock you down. Quick as a flash within a night of being in hospital to meeting the big man. Last time someone i knew died, a friend, i hit all the whisky and bourbon i could find in our local and wished the night away. That's just how I'd come to deal with things. I don't know quite if I'd do the same this time if i wasn't on lent. I must say i still sat and played the blues for a time. Music heals the soul. But the first thing i did, I've never done before, was turn to that book on my side table. The Bible helps you out from time to time, Mathew 5:4 opened and it ricocheted round my mind. At that point i had God sitting at my side. I went to the Pub that night. However nothing but a pint of coke passed my lips.
I have no idea why bad things happen, but when they do your strength is only as strong as your Faith!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
The Longest 15 minutes...
I went to Boys' Brigade one night, as I've said I'm a volunteer or warrant officer and help them out when I can. So i turned up once more when i got back to Uni and helped out a couple weeks. But things had changed, there was unrest in the ranks!
There's one Kid who no one quite gets, he's got what they call ADHD i believe. Albeit I'm not fond of the diagnosis it describes the sort of symptoms. He's Hyper most of the time and difficult to get through to at points and has that knack of annoying the officers and leaders. From what i hear he's getting 1 to 1 teaching at school to help him out. But really, this Kid is pretty smart, incredibly creative and i liked him near immediately!
But i turned up after holidays and he had turned, not once in the first weeks i was back was he enjoying the meetings. He wouldn't get involved in games and he'd get annoyed about anything! He had been a little bit of a bully the last year, he was now getting his comeuppance, him and his brother were under fire from another set of brothers who were taking the mick. He really couldn't take it. By the time i came back his Dad was getting worried, his son came back annoyed every week, starting to despise the BB nights. His dad complained to the captain and i must admit i agreed with him. The next week on and the boy exploded...
I'm not sure what triggered it but he got angry and stormed out into the corridor. I stood for a second and took it in, 4 officers had given up, they would have been fine if he stopped coming, that just doesn't cut it for me. One of the older boys helping out when into the breach with me out into the corridor. There the boy sat, head resting on his knees. We learn life is unfair quickly. This 9 year old was not enjoying life. I slid down onto the floor opposite him. "What's Up?". Nothing, like he'd slammed a door and was pretending no one was home. "I can't help unless you let me know what's wrong". I could see a feint light through the window when he murmured for me to go away. Like he was deciding whether to open the door or not. My mind considered the the next move for a few seconds. "Everyone else is enjoying themselves, what's wrong?". The metaphoric door creaked open a crack with 'Doesn't matter'. "Well it obviously does if you've ended up like this". Nothing the door was shut again. I sat a couple minutes, i had my head on my knees as well at this point. I sighed, then gave up. I gave the older boy who sat watching the scene a look of hopelessness as i got up and walked away...
I've learnt from CHICKS and elsewhere that that's just what happens. People give up. The children face their problem alone. No one has the time to listen. I made it around the corner before stopping and putting my face in my hands and contemplating banging my head against the wall since it felt about the same. I couldn't give up.
About turn, 3 paces and i was back where i had been sat down on the floor head against the wall mirrored by a 9 year old boy opposite. I got comfortable for the night. I saw that thought go through his head when i came back when he and i were both sure I'd given up, but I'd come back. A few more minutes of me taking stabs in the dark at what was wrong before i broke through. He'd calmed down a bit when a small sniffling voice finally layed out his worries upon my shoulders. The real problem, he was in trouble at school and had been told off by school and mum and dad. Strange how things pile up on your mind whether you're 9 or 39 and when something annoys you it all just cracks.
We sat talking for a bit. We shared our woes, I can't remember quite what i said but something hit a chord. I like everyone have had my share of problems. When i was younger and now to be honest, i always believed the boys' brigade nights to be a time to forget about everything else and just have fun.
A little smile showed upon his face for a second and we got up. Regaining our composure i followed him out into the fun. He was a 9 year old again.
The next weeks his father said nothing, his son was at peace with us again. The boy, I'll call him Martin, came to me at the start of the next weeks showing me a new toy each week that he'd brought along. Although i did have to confiscate one when i nearly stamped on the speeding toy car he fired across the room! Luckily he got over it and collected it at the end. But one week he came to show me his Pokemon cards, I'm not really a fan but indulged him by letting him tell me all about his favourites until another boy noticed and immediately started up a conversation. The start of a new friend, i snuck off as they became heavily involved in which cards were best and my challenge was completed.
It's better to share the load then try to hold it alone!
There's one Kid who no one quite gets, he's got what they call ADHD i believe. Albeit I'm not fond of the diagnosis it describes the sort of symptoms. He's Hyper most of the time and difficult to get through to at points and has that knack of annoying the officers and leaders. From what i hear he's getting 1 to 1 teaching at school to help him out. But really, this Kid is pretty smart, incredibly creative and i liked him near immediately!
But i turned up after holidays and he had turned, not once in the first weeks i was back was he enjoying the meetings. He wouldn't get involved in games and he'd get annoyed about anything! He had been a little bit of a bully the last year, he was now getting his comeuppance, him and his brother were under fire from another set of brothers who were taking the mick. He really couldn't take it. By the time i came back his Dad was getting worried, his son came back annoyed every week, starting to despise the BB nights. His dad complained to the captain and i must admit i agreed with him. The next week on and the boy exploded...
I'm not sure what triggered it but he got angry and stormed out into the corridor. I stood for a second and took it in, 4 officers had given up, they would have been fine if he stopped coming, that just doesn't cut it for me. One of the older boys helping out when into the breach with me out into the corridor. There the boy sat, head resting on his knees. We learn life is unfair quickly. This 9 year old was not enjoying life. I slid down onto the floor opposite him. "What's Up?". Nothing, like he'd slammed a door and was pretending no one was home. "I can't help unless you let me know what's wrong". I could see a feint light through the window when he murmured for me to go away. Like he was deciding whether to open the door or not. My mind considered the the next move for a few seconds. "Everyone else is enjoying themselves, what's wrong?". The metaphoric door creaked open a crack with 'Doesn't matter'. "Well it obviously does if you've ended up like this". Nothing the door was shut again. I sat a couple minutes, i had my head on my knees as well at this point. I sighed, then gave up. I gave the older boy who sat watching the scene a look of hopelessness as i got up and walked away...I've learnt from CHICKS and elsewhere that that's just what happens. People give up. The children face their problem alone. No one has the time to listen. I made it around the corner before stopping and putting my face in my hands and contemplating banging my head against the wall since it felt about the same. I couldn't give up.
About turn, 3 paces and i was back where i had been sat down on the floor head against the wall mirrored by a 9 year old boy opposite. I got comfortable for the night. I saw that thought go through his head when i came back when he and i were both sure I'd given up, but I'd come back. A few more minutes of me taking stabs in the dark at what was wrong before i broke through. He'd calmed down a bit when a small sniffling voice finally layed out his worries upon my shoulders. The real problem, he was in trouble at school and had been told off by school and mum and dad. Strange how things pile up on your mind whether you're 9 or 39 and when something annoys you it all just cracks.
We sat talking for a bit. We shared our woes, I can't remember quite what i said but something hit a chord. I like everyone have had my share of problems. When i was younger and now to be honest, i always believed the boys' brigade nights to be a time to forget about everything else and just have fun.
A little smile showed upon his face for a second and we got up. Regaining our composure i followed him out into the fun. He was a 9 year old again.
The next weeks his father said nothing, his son was at peace with us again. The boy, I'll call him Martin, came to me at the start of the next weeks showing me a new toy each week that he'd brought along. Although i did have to confiscate one when i nearly stamped on the speeding toy car he fired across the room! Luckily he got over it and collected it at the end. But one week he came to show me his Pokemon cards, I'm not really a fan but indulged him by letting him tell me all about his favourites until another boy noticed and immediately started up a conversation. The start of a new friend, i snuck off as they became heavily involved in which cards were best and my challenge was completed.
It's better to share the load then try to hold it alone!
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