Summer Holiday Mode

I walked up town to Cathedral Square today to do some shopping for my community. Fred, our 90 year old, needs new slippers and Peter, our newest arrival, needs a special almanac.

It was one of those warm summer days and people were in summer holiday mode. This policeman stopped and smiled for the camera. He couldn't have been too busy or he would have been rushing off.

In Cathedral Square, I was attracted by these bright green hats. When I approached the group, I learnt a couple of things:
1) The green hats are part of a scout uniform
2) Boys Scouts and Girl Guides are integrated.

This group is from Christchurch and are representing us at a Jamboree in Christchurch with over 5000 attending.

Around the corner, I met another group of Scouts. These young men are from Whangarei, which is at the other end of the other main island in New Zealand. They told me that it is the 100th anniversary of scouting and that there are people attending from around the world.

The temperature was over 30 degrees as I was walking home. So this group of young adults took pity on me and invited me to have a welcome beer with them under the trees. Conversation ranged around fitness, beer, old people like me, beer, street violence, beer. They affectionately called me "Grand-dad".

Yep, we've got some good young people around. My community will be pleased to hear that.

Bye-the-way, I bought the slippers; I hope that they are not too big for Fred's 90 year old feet that are shrinking. I couldn't get the almanac, but I have put it on order. Peter says he will use last years one, with adjustments, till it comes.

Meanwhile, thoughts linger of the street violence that our young adults experience these days.