TLW Challenge w/c 8 February
Following from an excellent Troop night making balsa airplanes, I thought this weeks challenge should continue that.
The Airbus A380 is a truly massive airplane. So, for TLW points, tell me a fascinating fact about the plane. Ideally, I would like each person to tell me something different rather than just copy an earlier post.
Good luck!
A lesson in Planning
Each week, we try to teach the Scouts about planning and preparation. I know have a tale that I wish to relate that I think demonstrates this quite clearly. It’s the tale of 64 boxes.
We were asked to put a data file onto 150 laptop computers. The work was urgent and it was decided that we would not charge for our time. Within our office, we didn’t think this was a difficult job and was surprised that we were being asked to do this… the only reason that we could think that we were being asked was because it was felt we could do the job quickly.
In conversation, we discovered that it wasn’t 150 but 64 computers, so we were happy that we could get the job done. The customer managed to arrange for the computers to be delivered to us. On opening the first box we found that this computer had not been turned, so we actually had to go through the whole set up before we could install the data file (and effectively tripled the length of time that this simple install was going to take). We also had a couple of questions about the set up generally.
At this point we found that an important piece of information had not been passed on. When the computers were issued, the set up was undertaken with the customer present. The only way then that we could assist was to create a CD that could be copied from once the computer was set up. Having resolved this, the customer then had to arrange for someone to come back to our offices and pick up the 64 computers, 63 of which were still boxed up and not opened.
I think there are a number of lessons that can be learned from this.
1) the most important lesson is NEVER ASSUME. Make sure that you have all the facts; if the customer had found how the computers were to be set up, 64 computers would not have to have made two pointless trips.
2) Plan properly. The original request was for 150 devices and we were making arrangements to set up this many… in some cases you could be charged for making sure that someone was available. There was also an assumption (point 1 again!) that we would send someone over to the customer’s offices (this was never asked for, causing a small panic and why the computers had to be moved over)
3) Ask questions. For our part, if we had asked we would have found out before the computers were moved that they had not been set up, so we might have asked some questions up front. Again, we had assumed (point 1) that the computers had all been set up so our job was going to be a simple one…
4) PLAN PROPERLY. The person asked to request this job did not know the whole process and had not brought everyone together to discuss the approach before getting the job underway.
If we take this back to our mnemonic PATROL we can see where it all went wrong:
P – Problem – install files onto the computers
A – Assess – what do we need to do, what issues might there be, what do we need to do and does everyone agree that this is the right way forward
T – Task – get the files onto the computer
R – Responsibility – the IT department installs
O – Off you go! – PCs get delivered, files installed
L – Lead – PCs were delivered, PC opened up; problems found.
If we had planned properly, it might have gone:
P – Problem – install files onto the computers
A – Assess – customer sets up computer on receipt – so files can’t be installed before the customer gets the computer. SO, create a CD that the customer can install once the computer is set up.
T – Tasks – Need to create 64 CDs. Need to deliver computers
R – Responsibilities – IT create the CDs before the computers get sent out; customer takes delivers computers (and the CDs)
O – Off you go! – CDs created, computers delivered
L – lead – CDs created and checked, handed over to customer to include in the delivery of the computer.
I’m including this lesson on the website to prove that even with training we can still get it wrong. However, we only truly get it wrong if we don’t review and learn from our mistakes – and then repeat the same mistake again.
TLW Challenge w/c 1 Feb
I really enjoyed listening to the discussion base at our last meeting; some great views and thoughts put forward. So, with that in mind:
Throughout the years tales, myths and fables have been told about heroes and villains. In some cases they are to teach lessons, in other cases it’s to ‘big up’ a national hero. in my opinion:
Robin Hood was the greatest character of them all.
For your TLW points – do you agree (and why)? If you don’t think so, who would you say was (again, why?) I’m also happy for you to discuss with each other – but discuss properly.
Good luck
Fire & Ice @ Tolmers 15-17 January
I think a better description for this weekend would have been “Mud and water”! the snow that had fallen in the previous week was on full melt and the ground was already very waterlogged before the scouts had arrived on site; it was obvious that this was going to be an issue (and also a tidy reminder that I had forgotten to pack my wellies for the weekend!). It was still very cold though – so it was going to really test the campers.
On arrival Friday night, we helped our 8 Scouts put up their hike tents and then they at least had a base to start off from. Although our Troop was only eight, we also had Scouts from the 17th, 27th and Roxeth – so there were about 60 people in the District contingent. Whilst the scouts explored, the leaders attended the briefing and then stayed on in the warm.
Saturday morning came round and everyone got up. Breakfast was expertly produced by Tony and ??? with the Scouts being fed first before the leaders. Then it was 10am and the Scouts all disappeared off to go on the rides and activities, leaving the leaders to help wash up, then wander round the site. Unlike the Gilwell Winter Camp, Tolmers acknowledged that the leaders would want to play too – so let us have a go also! This was great and I enjoyed playing on the dodgems and the Super Waltzer – after working out how to get the spin working really well with Nandesh, Vishan joined me… his comment afterwards was “I don’t feel well – we went so fast!” Praise indeed!
During the afternoon, a wood pile was built up and the fire pit bailed out ready… later in the evening the fire was lit, so after dinner everyone could stand round and swap stories – it was a lovely relaxed evening. Once again, Tony came up trumps – after an excellent pasta dinner he then served a really warming curry for the leaders!
Sunday morning was a little slower for everyone, but the scouts got up, and headed off for their activities. This allowed the leaders to start packing up their stuff, dropping tents and getting ready to go home. With the mud sloshing everywhere, the decision was taken to leave the District White up for the week, but some of the tents were hosed down to get the mud off!
Once all the kit had been packed into the trailer, we drove back to the Cabin and unloaded the tents so they could dry off. As I got home, I could feel the mud on my trouser legs start to harden and crack off… I decided that I would not look at washing any of my kit until next weekend!
My thanks to Ivor for organising our Troop, and to the 17th and the District for doing the catering for myself and the Scouts – making it a very relaxed, enjoyable weekend.
POST CAMP DEBRIEF UPDATE:
I have now added the two “mind maps” that the Scouts drew up to identify what was good and what was not so good about the camp. As well as that, they noted the following things that they learned:
- Pack more clothes
- Pack less clothes
- never play in water – bring wellies
- bring loads of carrier bags for wet stuff
- drive the bumper cars better
- bring more socks
- put the tent up better
- don’t bring a suitcase for kit
- don’t leave clothes in the porch
- don’t pitch the tent with the opening uphill
- consider using gaiters
- wear a hat and gloves
- use the waterproof jacket to keep the warmth in
Counting down the days
It won’t be long before we meet back – so I thought it would be worth having a bit of a tidy up. I’ve also added a "subscribe" facility – so you can see when I’ve posted something new.. useful for the Challenge reminders!
Scouts at the Panto!
I’m sure she won’t mind – but this was the Beaver Leader after Muddles had managed to cause it to snow in the Watersmeet theatre!
We saw “Snow White and the seven dwarves”… and it so appealled to my corny sense of humour!
The Press launch for the Pantomime (oh yes it is!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fexQGA-Yz68
Angelina Riley’s acrobatic display was simply fantastic – I found myself simply amazed at the artistic display. Muddles (Michael Otton) magic acts were very funny – I’m a little sorry now that I clapped when he asked for the audience to give him a hand (but I was well into the humour by then!) , Mark Hasting was a very excellent Dame Dolly Dumpling…
Kim Hartman (Allo Allo!) was a great Wicked Queen and was ably helped by her Henchman, played by Richard Grieve. Snow White was played with great beauty by Sarah Accomando – and finally Grant Neal played the Prince – with a swashbuckling flair.
Although not credited I would also like to say that the dancers and the seven dwarves added to the general happiness of the production.
To me though it’s not about the actors as such, but the interaction between the audience and the actors. To be fair, from where I was sat (quite near the front) it did seem that the audience was well behaved… and it took a little while (and a little effort) to get the audience up to “proper” panto effect. That said, last year (for Alladin), PC’s Ping and Pong did start well before the curtain went up.
But at the end of the day - it’s all panto. The good guys one, the bad guys saw the error of their ways – we sang along, cheered and booed and laughed. Everything that tells you that the Season for Goodwill has arrived with glitter and corny jokes. Oh yes it has!!!
