Me Flying The Flag At AJ2001
FEELING GO - CHRISTMAS CHEERS & SYDNEY NEW YEARS
(REMEMBER: IF YOU'RE MENTIONED BY NAME ITS COS I LOVE YOU DEARLY. IF YOU'RE NOT, ITS ONLY TO PROTECT MYSELF IN THE LIBEL COURT)
With New Year over and done with, my next port of call was to a place called Cataract Park about two hours south of Sydney where I was to attend AJ2001 - the 19th Australian Scout Jamboree!
Me Flying The Flag At AJ2001
ARRIVAL
As a man of experience I know that the course of a good Jamboree never runs smooth and so it was of no surprise to me when I got to the pick up point for the camp to find that there was no bus as I had been told. Fortunately Rowan and Kim came to my resuce and drove me out of Campbelltown to Cataract Park.
OPENING CEREMONY
It wasn't until the Opening Ceremony that I realised that I was not the only Brit onsite after all. I met up with the Orsett Venture Unit from Essex and spent the next two or so hours in bemused awe at the all singing all dancing spectacular of the AJ2001 Opening Ceremony. The highlight was without a doubt the finale where top award winning Aussir rockers KILLING HEIDI took to the stage for a blistering acoustic set. Ella Hooper I LOVE YOU!
SNOWGUM
I was assigned to SNOWGUM, the camp shop for the week, working with a top group of people, our main task being to flog souvenir gubbins to the 13000 or so kids on site. A top laugh had by all and usually at the customers expense. People were always asking me where in England exactly I was from. It has to be said that most people hadn't even heard of Sheffield, let alone Barnsley, however a quick mention of THE FULL MONTY put it on the map, so to speak. But with chinese whispers being what they are, soon people were pointing at me and asking for autographs, thinking that I had starred in the actual film. Well, hey, what kind of monster would I be to disappoint them by telling the truth?...
THE PANTOMIME
Reluctantly called up to serve my country at the eleventh hour I joined my fellow countrymen for a rendition of Cinderella which was to be performed in the Main Arena in front of 3 - 5000. After the dress rehersal it was evident that this panto was not going to go smooothly. However, with a bit of ad-libbing and the strategic positioning of a few plants in the audience by yours truly to cheer like mad, it went alright on the night and we went down a storm, my character even got a mention in the camp newspaper. There's talk of a Chunky Pumpkin tour, but I just don't think I can commit...
The cast of "Cinderella".
THE CLOSING CEREMONY
Another all singing all dancing spectacular, again leaving me and the Essex gang just plain bemused. The band this time were top Aussie Punk Rock wannabees FRENZAL RHOMB... and boy DID THEY ROCK!!!!