So for 2010 Misbourne Unit decided to venture into uncharted territory: Finland and the 6th Finnish Jamboree. Having asked around the bucks scout units we were accompanied by an excitable contingent from Iver Heath. At the reasonable time of 12.30pm, on Tuesday 27thJuly, Misbourne Unit set off for the airport – via various kind parents and the minibus – for once check in was easy and it didn’t seem long before we were aboard the Finnair flight. Five hours later, well 3 in real time, we arrived at Helsinki airport and were met by a rather enthusiastic Finnish scout. This kind scout led us to the airport shop: so what I get hungry :P and then onto a coach to the campsite. The two hour journey was rather musical with six way headphone splits and renditions of classics such as ‘fat bottomed girls’ and ‘Living on a Prayer’ all accompanied by Joel on his legendary pink ukulele!
So just before Wednesday we arrived on the Evo Campground site of Kilke, where we would spend our next 10 days. Unsure of where we were meant to be that night we ended up setting up camp on the path near our subunit and bunked down in our little tents, well unless you were one of the unfortunate people whose tent buddy had forgotten the poles but I’ll mention no names…
Later that morning we discovered what Finnish breakfast on Raffu sub camp was like, well there was a lot of porridge, and luckily I like porridge. The next day and a bit, was spent settling in: moving to the ‘Misbourne Valley’; trying to build up the campsite and learn what was going on; meeting the rest of the sub unit and a bit of swimming.
On Thursday evening came the atmospheric opening ceremony complete with long boats, fire and acrobats. After that Kilke is a bit of a happy blur of memories. For me some of the highlights were: afternoon tea; making woggles; getting soaked in an ‘organised’ water fight; letting my duck swim past the radio station; creating croquet; getting on stage at international evening; teaching the entire campsite ‘Oggy Oggy Oggy!’ and making new friends. Oh and of course the sauna! (Father Christmas if you’re reading this: please can I have a sauna this year?) Yes there were complications, there always are, for me I have to say the worst bit was the dust though if you ask Calum he might mention wasps… For some of us the food was a bit of a difficulty: thankfully the Unit has acquired a dustbin by the name of Nick Peters so little food was wasted in the course of the camp. Patwa sub unit 233 is most definitely the best sub unit in the whole of Reggae, Raffu, Kilke and the world! Many thanks to Czeg and Peta for making our lives easier. I have to say when the Finnish sang ‘everywhere you go’ to us as we left camp on the 5th I was truly touched.
Kitos for reading,
Jen ‘Not Again’ Griffiths
