Our first meeting of the new term saw a moving on ceremony from the 25th Morningside, when Jamie joined the Unit. We expect other Scouts from the 60th and 103rd to join us later in the month. The ceremony over, the Unit was split into three teams and sent out into Morningside to solve a number of clues, each giving them a few words that they had to put into a grid. After it was all over and Richard and Mikael had won the late Christmas present, Martin and Alan talked with the Unit about the programme for the Spring term.

The first part of the evening was spent discussing future programme ideas and hearing from Calum about the Jamboree in Thailand. We were then joined by David Dixon, a leading light in both the Border Bothies and the Mountain Bothies Associations. David rigged up his trusty slide projector and treated us to fifty minutes of slides on the rebuilding of two bothies, White Laggan in Dumfries-shire and Sourlies at the head of Loch Nevis. The slides told the story of the dedicated people who put in so much effort to rebuild old farming properties as comfortable shelters. When it was all over, we looked for some of the Highland bothies on OS maps and planned possible future expeditions. Thanks to David for giving up his time to come along and infect us with his enthusiasm.

We met at Cluny  for a moving on ceremony from 103rd Morningside, when Niall and Nicholas joined the Unit. The Explorer Scouts then ran a quick game for the Troop, a game that they just began to understand when it was almost over! Then up to Buckstone to the 60th Morningside, when Michael joined the Unit. After this we ran an activity, Cartoon Character Quest. This is the same activity that we had already run for the 25th and 103rd last term.

Bill Brockie was our guest at this meeting, which was the first stage in our Group Faith Award, working with the EASIE team in rebuilding Bonaly's chapel. He led us in a discussion on chapels and churches and made us think about how one might be designed from scratch. It seemed important to us that a chapel should allow for communal celebration as well as individual reflection and meditation. We had a go at building models of possible chapels and churches from card, paper and straw. He then talked to us about labyrinths and how these had been used in various religious sites over the centuries.

We met at Cluny and were transported down to Jewel & Esk Valley College, where we were given fins, masks, diving jackets and air tanks. After a safety briefing, we were divided into two groups and each had a go at swimming along and breathing underwater. The group not under instruction were allowed to play around with snorkels, masks and fins. Alan sat on the bottom for the whole evening and practiced submarine levitation.

Having had such a successful evening at Braid Church, we all trooped along to Cluny Centre on the Friday for Richard's Moving On. James presented him with his Award and Alan welcomed him into the Unit. We ran the same game and this time the Hawks won, with 63 points.

The game was based around a Welsh theme as St David's Day was coming up. One team were attackers and the other defenders, both trying to gain as many Golden Eggs as possible while avoiding the Red Dragon. After a game of some stealth, some skill and a little physicality, the Defenders emerged triumphant.

Sun 2nd March 2003 : Curling

Eight Explorer Scouts and leaders met at Gogar Curling Club. Our instructor, Alasdair, gave us some advice and safety rules and then took us down on to the rink. Team captains Calum and Richard allocated vice-captains and the order of play and we set to, the yellow team winning hansomely over the reds. Unfortunately this curling rink will be pulled down to make way for the Royal Bank of Scotland, so we shall have to go somewhere else if and when we do this again.

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Thurs 6th March 2003 : Cookery Competition at Bonaly

We met at Bonaly a little late for St David's Day, but still with Welsh music singing in our ears. We split into four teams, the first preparing Cawl Cennin, a leek broth, and the second Selsig Morgannwg, vegetarian cheese sausages from Glamorgan. Unfortunately, the only vegetarian amongst us was a vegan!  Two teams cooked the desserts: Picau ar y maen (Welsh Cakes) and Teisen Reis Grieddell (Rice Griddle Cakes). The groups were scored on preparation, edibility and presentation.

We were visited this evening by Bob Alexander, an elder of Cluny Church, who introduced himself, brought us best wishes from the Kirk Session and then sat back to enjoy the evening.  Alan first provided us with a picture quiz - eleven photographs of various objects from strange angles. He then let us look at, play about with and in some cases dismantle a number of old still and ciné cameras. We then talked about what photography was for and used a collection of photographs of the Unit to make posters advertising the North Face Unit. Lastly, we talked about portraits, examined a number of baby portraits of the Unit and took pictures of each other. Here are some of them:

We met at Watsons and lined up at one end of the gym while the 9th Morningside Troop formed a horseshoe at the other end. Kenn introduced us to the six Scouts that were leaving the Troop and each patrol leader shook hands with his Patrol and handed over responsibility to his APL. They were welcomed to the Unit by Alan and Martin, after which the Troop then formed two lines on either side of the door and cheered them (and us) as we left. Alan then took Stuart and Calum as two 'hares' to lay a trail of flour around Colinton and after an initial training session from Martin, the 'hounds' took off in hot hash-house-harrying pursuit.