Bike Expo

The bikers; Chris, Tom, George, Zack geared up and ready to go!

Since we have a new guy within our ranks, I thought it would be a cool idea to give him a bit of a limelight and involve him in this blog entry... to write up about the last activity (the Bike Expo)

"just passing through"... SVS cycle through B'Bugia

Chris and George take a View break at Bingemma Gap
Water break... but why does Chris have his hands up?


Chris, Tom and Zack overlooking the sea

Zooming into Mgarr

Group photo with Ian at Mgarr church

Tom and George grubbing down at Ghar il-Kbir

at the ruins of ta' bakkari church

Since we have a new guy within our ranks, I thought it would be a cool idea to give him a bit of a limelight and involve him in this blog entry... to write up about the last activity (the Bike Expo)

Mo$es: Tom, you decided to join the Sliema Scout Group at quite an old age (for a Scout) [Tom is 16]...what led you to take this decision?

Tom: I've known about the Sliema Scout Group for quite a while now and have several friends who are members and I've always been interested in the activities they do. I honestly have no clue as to why i never joined earlier, but some time ago my friend's told me about the Bike Expo (knowing that im a cycling enthusiast) and asked me if i wanted to tag along. So i suppose the idea of doing something with the scouts sort of sparked my decision to finally join...

Mo$es: Last weekend you took part in your first Unit Activity...what did you think of it?

Tom: I really enjoyed the Bike Expo and think it was a great activity. The weather on Saturday made cycling a bit more difficult but I enjoyed it nonetheless
Mo$es: Where there any differences between what you thought a Unit activity would be like before the expo and what it actually was like?

Tom: Not really. My expectations were about the same as what it was like, because since I already knew alot of the people who attend, they've often told me what it was like and told me about the stuff they do so I pretty much had a good idea of what we were going to do.

Mo$es: What was your favourite part of the Bike Expo?

Tom: Apart from the cycling, when we got to Ghar il-Kbir and lit a fire and ate....pretty much the whole expo to be honest =]

Mo$es: Mention something funny that happened at the Bike Expo?

Tom: Watching George powersliding on his leg. He didn't hurt so we can laugh at it now.

Mo$es: What was the Bike Expo Route like?

Tom: Challenging, but quite well balanced...if it wasnt for the strong winds it would have been easier.
Mo$es: Did anything go wrong?

Tom: nothing major...my bike chain got jammed (luckily just before we got to the cave) but i managed to fix it before we left the next morning...Chris's gears weren't working well and he therefore found it hard getting up hills..but he still managed to cycle well and didnt really hold up the group at all...

Mo$es: What is the Unit Motto???

Tom: SVS-Take the Challenge

Mo$es: Which is your favourite photo from the whole weekend?
Tom: This:


Mo$es: What's the next planned Unit Activity? Are you looking forward to it and why??

Tom: Next activity is the abseil camp..i can't wait for it cos its gonna be a first experience for me and ive always wanted to try abseiling..

That's right Tom! But before the abseil camp some of the Unit Members will be running the Malta Half Marathon (13.1miles) on the 1st of march while the rest of the Unit will be helping out the Marathon staff by handing out water or powerade along the route. We have quite a challenging March coming up... should be exciting!

Mo$es

Outdoor meeting ... Mudoven building and Cake baking

Baking a cake in the dark!

On the 3rd of February we decided to brave the cold windy weather to hold out meetings outdoors. We built a mud oven and baked an upside down pear cake; which ended up looking more like a pair of caked upside downs!

Cooking with Mary and Helen (or Zack and Alan). Preparing the cake, til now still right way up

James, Ryan and co building the mudoven


Corrieri performing the delicate task of placing the cake in the oven (preheated to 220'C of course )

The oven a-roaring

A light moment

This is the last post in the "February catch up" which involved me posting loads of blog entries for the activities held during December, January and February. As I said before...we did loads of stuff! So take the time to read through the previous blog entries. From now on the posts should be more regular and less eratic (as usual insomma!)

til next time,
Mo$es

more photos from the Gradex

George and Andrew posing near a milestone

Thanks to some freelance photographers I managed to obtain some photos from the Gradex (held 7th-8th feb - see last blog entry for more info!)

Andrew on the Day Nav

George outside his farmhouse

The members who took part in this Gradex (and successfully completed it) were George, Andrew, Chris, Zack and Ryan. They're now almost ready to be invested and take on more challenges within the Unit. They planned on embarking on a Bike Expo this weekend although the weather is looking bleak. We also have an abseil training camp planned since some of the members are working on their Basic Abseiler award. Easter Camp is also soon upon us, and although the N-coy members will probably not join us for this because of their A-levels it will no doubt serve as a good bonding activity for the rest of the Unit (which is pretty much bonded like super-glue already) and allow us to take on some seriously cool activities.

We also have a new member in our midst -- Tom. He joined our Unit to take on some adventurous challenges and enjoy the outdoors properly...well Tom, you've come to the right place! Welcome to the team.

Mo$es

The O-Coy take the challenge...

On the 6th-8th February, members of the O-coy took up a challenge, initially set by the VSL, to carry out the assessment part of the basic training (the pioneering, written tests and Gradex) all in one weekend. The aim of the activity was to give the O-coy the opportunity to work as a team and show off their Scouting skills which by now should be of SVS Standard!

Zack tying a square lashing during the pioneering exercise

George

The activity began at HQ at 1800 with the construction of a tower outside HQ. The following morning the Recruits carried out their written tests; with questions on First Aid, Pioneering, Navigation, Estimation and Ranging and Scouting History. On the whole everybody did well although there were some recruits who faltered in one of the areas... I'm sure they will make an effort to sharpen their Scouting knowledge so as to keep up the standard of skills within the Unit!

O-coy on top of their tower, while BP looks on

Haidon and Zack concentrating during their written tests

Following the tests we set out on the Gradex part of the assessment, with the Day Nav starting from Bahrija Cliffs. The recruits walked all afternoon making their way South towards Siggiewi and back up to Buskett where they spent a few hours sleeping under bivvies. In the early hours of the morning they started the Night Nav which took them from Manikata across the Northern part of Malta, ending at the Qolla ta' Brared. On this knoll we carried out quite an intense and sophisticated medevac which included evacuation by (imaginary) helo.

Everybody was knackered by 10:00 when we headed home. It was a pity that not all the O-coy could make it to this event as the team really pulled together, especially during the Medevac and on the Night nav...

I hope you enjoyed my latest updates... this post should bring me more or less up to date (although by Monday i should have more photos from our Bike Expo which is taking place this weekend). Now I'm off for a cup of Unit-Tea and then to bed.
Mo$es

Abseiling & Climbing at Wied Ix-xaqqa

Ryan all locked up, on Xaqqa cliffs

On the 31st of January we went out for our first abseil of the year at Wied Ix-Xaqqa, Limits of Siggiewi. We rigged two abseil exits and a climb giving the ventures ample opportunity to try out various techniques on the cliff face including practicing falling, locking, bottom safety, forward rappel and more. We were once again joined by our abseil instructor and supervisor Andrew.

Martin enjoying the view from 40m up!

Corrieri doing a forward rappel down the cliff face

The ever-watchful Andrew keeping an eye on our technique


Andrew (the venture in Green) attempting the climb and being assisted by Andrew (the instructor in blue)


VSL Debono and Martin belaying from the top...

Andrew making progress

Close to sunset- nice photo, prosit!

still more to come....
Mo$es

2009....SVS UNIT-TEA!!!

Abela - Abseiling

It's a new year (I know I'm a month and a half late on this!) and we're up to a whole lot of stuff. Things have been a little bit hectic in the Universe of the SVS and we're gearing up for even more cool adventures.

The first of our endeavours in 2009 was an exploration of the maze-like tunnels underneath Fort Pembroke. This is within the premises of Verdala International School and thanks goes out to Ms Attard (a kind lady who works at the school!) who let us use the premises for the activity.

The SVS within Fort Pembroke

George, Simon and Zack having a look at something (probably something very old!)

Within the moat

The two goats that live in the moat. Some of the Ventures tried to catch them.... to no avail!

The tunnels were built as an escape route, towards the sea, by the British (who built the fort itself). They also served as a very large shelter during the war and we found loads of old rusty ammo boxes and other relics. There were old switch boards and electricity panels which must have been there for over 80 years! We also found lots of new stuff such as halloween decorations including a 5-foot coffin used by the current students of Verdala, and needless to say we had a blast messing around in there!

Within the moat the atmosphere was completely different --- this school is like a zoo! Apart from loads of cats and chickens there were also two, rather short and stout goats. We fed the animals and some Ventures tried to catch the goats but they stood no chance! Who thought that they could run so fast with such short legs??!

more updates from recent activities coming soon,
Mo$es