Gilwell Park

General 

Elliott was really good today. Just before football he didn't want to go again, even though he'd done so well last week, but as soon as we got in to the car he started really looking forward to it and talking about how many goals he was going to school.  

Activities

Football went well, though not as well as last week. He played the whole first half as striker and created a number of chances that were on target but saved by quite a good goalkeeper. At times he didn't quite know where he should be standing or running to but he did a lot of running around and was unlucky not to get more reward. In the second half his goalkeeping was pretty good and a definite improvement on when he kept goal in training. Unfortunately Panthers lost due to letting in a lot of goals directly from goal kicks but it was really good to see none of the boys seem down hearted and afterwards Elliott had clearly enjoyed the game. After we got home we packed for Matt Hyde's 40th celebration and set off for Gilwell Park (scouting headquarters) where it was being held. On our way we stopped at services and Elliott had a Burger King hamburger meal for late lunch..

After lunch we drove the final 15 minutes to Gilwell Park and after we arrived found our camping field, parked up and put up our tent. Elliott helped me with pegging the tent and also with getting the inflatable mattress ready. After the tent was set up we headed over to the conference centre where the party was being held. There was an indoors with tables, a bar and a dancing area and an outdoors with lots of activities for the children and a hog roast. There was archery with instructors, golf with soft balls, football, big Connect 4 and Jenga and lots of other games. Elliott had a go at archery and enjoyed it:

He really enjoyed playing with all the other children there including Lucas Dawson, Reuben Hyde and Finn Griffiths (Paddy and Rachel's son). He also made particularly good friends with Henry Black's partner Petra's son Thomas who was the same age as him - sample quote from Thomas "hello, we're both really fast but I'm just a little bit faster than Elliott". It was a very sociable evening:

They all did a lot of running around together, some sharing of Minecraft hints and tips on various devices and later in the evening they even did some dancing in the disco. When it was time for bed he was really good and said good night quickly and we headed for the tent where he slept ok, but perhaps not as well as sometimes. However he was really excited about camping and enjoyed being in the tent.