h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Damn, not been doing too well at catching up lately, have I?

Have a great time and natter soon

Ta ..don't worry you've been busy 'Tis life, me dear *wise expression*

Back from stormy Yorkshire Very glad I unpugged the iMac before I went away as there were thunderstorms all over I think...How've you been, love?

Oh, not too bad, busy weekend - had my day of umpiring on Saturday, which went quite well, and between all the rain and work managed to squeeze in some gardening, too! So all in all, I think I deserved my solid lie-in today

I think you deserve it too! Umpiring must be quite a task, I reckon. Hope you were rewarded with a or three afterwards. Rain's 'orrible but good for the garden, I know

I had a good amount of afterwards, but had to avoid a few of the opposition team who disagreed with one or two of my decisions. Wasn't my fault they couldn't hit the ball

Off taking a bunch of schoolkids on their nature camps Thursday and Friday, so am looking forward to a last night of peace and quiet tomorrow night!

Glad you managed to avoid the dissenters Hope your night's a happy and peaceful one before the nature camp. Did I mention I used to help run summer 'adventure' camps with partially-sighted kids? Enormous fun but some had been so over-protected the rest of the year they ran riot...Fortunately we all survived in one piece but there were some pretty hair-raising moments
See you soon

Yes, it's been nice, fish n chips, a good shower and groom, all packed up and have had a few good naps on the sofa as well - no excuse for being late tomorrow! You didn't mention that you'd done camps before, they sound a riot

Big journal on the camps coming up soon

Oh good! well it was a while ago What age-group are they? And where are you going? Don't worry if you need an early night...just lovely to have a natter again

Yes, it is, I'll be up for a beer or two yet! The kids are primary school age for the most part, 7-11 year olds, and we work with them in groups of 14-26 kids. We're mobile, based on Dartmoor but travelling all over Devon - this batch is near Exeter. I'm leading two in a row, which is pretty demanding, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather holds ok...

Ooh I'll keep my fingers crossed for good weather and two great camps!

And nice kids please. Very important!

It's a lovely age-group...I was a guide in a stately home/museum for a few years and the primary school age group were great to give tours to...asked very perceptive questions too

yes I definitely prescribe nice kids!

Yes, they've very inquisitive, which is really good for the whole vibe of the camp. We encourage them to explore and find out about nature for themselves, so the freer they feel to do that the better. The older kids are a bit too self-conscious to really get into it at first, but the 8-9 year olds have their for the whole camp!

That's great! Will there be ?

Oh, yes - this is where my love of them comes from We do a night walk and go looking for s, owls, and suchlike, using owl whistles and bat detectors to track them down and explain about things like echolocation and territories. We normally get good pipistrelles at Exeter, and there's a great spot with a big sky to watch them in

I want to go too! (Suddenly I'm eleven-years-old again ) Went on a dusk walk in the Forest of Dean to see/hear nightjars...wonderful!

Ahhh, fantastic - the nightjars just got to the heath last week

Am writing big journal entry explaining all about camps

Oh good...look forward to reading all about it Shall say night-night now..have a great time!