SVS - Dec 2008 - Jan 2009

Hi all,
I'm finally back to posting on the blog.... sorry for the hold up but the new year season was crazy!

Here's a run down on some of the stuff we did in this time

Pioneering Project 29th November

We met up at HQ to do some admin stuff and the O-Coy members erected a swing outside HQ to show us their pioneering skills. We built the swing right near BP so that he could appreciate our great Scouting Skills!

VSL Debono and Martin having a relaxed conversation while George and Keith do all the work!

George doing a square lashing

Night Game in Buskett (16th December)

Who's that under there??? Two of the Ventures (Ian and Simon) wearing their newly made Ghillie suites

We met up at Buskett one Tuesday evening, to play a night game in the Valley. This was about 1.5-2 hrs long and involved one team being the fugitives who had to hide from the other team. The end results were that half of the fugitives got caught, while the other half remained free for the entire game. It wasn't all so straightforward for one, who got caught and then tried to escape... but this was to no avail! because he got caught again right away. We agreed that the battle was a tie, but as always...the war is not over!

Terrence and Zack while camoing up

VSL Debono applying his camo paint

SVS Xmas Bash 2008 (23rd December)

We gathered at HQ, again on a Tuesday evening, to celebrate Xmas together! There were traditional and not so traditional activities during the Party. We started off with a BIG xmas meal which included Spaghetti, Tortellini and "IAN-CHIKIN" (honey and mustard chicken).

We then continued with some, short, speeches. First George enlightened us with his Funny memories of 2008, including Rubei dropping his head torch into the chemical toilet at Easter Camp. The VSL then gave us his more serious speech which included the introduction to the SVS Unit Tea.... Unit-T is now the Unit's theme for 2009...

Abela, Corrieri and George devouring their food

Rubei with Kyle & CZ, partying Father christmas style

George, myself, Martin and Sam the reindeer

mob of santa clauses

We followed up the meal with some partying, SVS-style. We spent the whole evening with father christmas hats and so looked like a mob of St Nicks celebrating their last day off before xmas eve! We were joined on the night by Skipper Timmy, Fusu and Miki (ex-SVS).

We were also joined by Kyle and CZ who moved on from the Unit to become leaders in the Pack this October. We used this activity as their farewell party (FOP)....Kyle and CZ joined the Unit in June 2006 and did various exciting things with us such as travelling to the UK for the Jamboree, attended the bomba Summer Camps at Austin's in Zabbar and an Easter Camp at Ghajn Tuffieha. They started training to be leaders within the Unit and by carrying out a Tour of Duty with the Pack in June of 2008.

Well, thats basically most of what we did in December 2009.
January was filled with exams and other exciting stuff such as Training for the Malta Half-Marathon. More on that, and other stuff we did in the next post,

Mo$es

just to let you know....

.... that we are not sleeping!!!!!!!

despite the lack of posts on my blog, the SVS are still up to a number of projects and are taking on challenge after challenge.

I will soon be posting updates on our recent activities which included: the SVS Xmas Bash 2008, an exploration of Fort Pembroke and a night game held in wied il-luq (buskett).

what about the future???

2009 is a big year for our Group (we're celebrating our centenary)! What about the Unit? Well, the Unit is very healthy at the moment, with 16 active members, most of which are taking up various challenges including: the Half Marathon (13.1mile) on 1st of March, a 2-day bike expo (in February) and the O-Coy are taking the challenge and completing the Basic Training as a team!

Some of the recruits had participated and completed the GRADEX last november but will redo the activity along with the ones who hadn't done it during the first week of February. This is what the SVS spirit is all about!

We are also in the process of collecting sponsorhips for the marathon runners (5 of them last i checked) which will be donated wholly to the Commitato Aiutiamo Edoardo www.aiutiamoedoardo.it

Some of the older Unit members (those older than 18) are also in the process of training as leaders, both which IHQ and helping out with other sections of the Group. Although the Unit is designed for members until the age of 19 it's very good for the older ventures to learn, hands-on leadership skills in the hope that they later move on to another section as a leader.

ohh, and did i forget to mention the Kandersteg visit? The Sliema Scout Group will be travelling to Switzerland to spend some time in the Kandersteg Scout Centre (www.kisc.ch) and of course members of the Unit will be taking the opportunity to try out some of the cool activities on offer (sky diving, anyone?).

Right now, our meetings are being used for training in particular skill areas such as abseiling, climbing, potholing and for carrying out various parts of the Venture Training Programme (venture award & dolphin award). In April we will be heading out to Verdala Castle for a Group Camp...this should be one to remember!

sorry for the rather long update,

keep checking the blog within the next few weeks for updates on recent activities!!

Mo$es

SVS 2009 --- UNITY

SVS FC 2009 = 34 balls...one team, one goal!!