Christmas time is here. And the times they are changing.

I know it may be a song mash up, but for me it is definitely true. Christmas eve is my last day at my current employer, then after a Christmas break I start my new job 5 January. It's been a long time since I've looked forward to starting a new position, it's usually a case of, "Who am I fooling? I can't actually do this." Not this time, I'm looking forward to new challenges.

I'm always trying to learn new technologies and techniques, but the programming world is just growing far to quickly. And that's part of the fun.

The Scout Troop is really growing. There are currently 9 members (and I think there are 2 more coming up from Cubs in January) and 1 new Assistant Leader. Now we just need to plan out next term.....

May already

Has it been a month? Time flies when you're having fun(?). A lot has happen since last time.

We have two cats now, Whiskey and Vino, and they settled in almost immediately. I've grown up with cats. It's been close to 10 years since Ginger passed on and I'm glad to have cats driving me crazy again.

The Scout troop is growing. When I first took over there were only 4 Scouts and the parents of 3 of those were leaders of the group's Beavers or Cubs. We are now up to 7, with at least one more joining in a couple of weeks (when the family get back from holidays). Combine that with 3 more coming up from Cubs in September and 5th Douglas is going to have a healthy Scout Troop.

Tomorrow we are taking part in Jamboree on the Trail. JOTT is an annual day for the World Scout Movement to hike together. The Scouts in the Isle of Man are going from Douglas to Peel (if you know the island), a total of 10.5 miles. The average age of the troop is 11 (only one is older at 14) and this will be the farthest hike any of them have done (the Cubs are doing 5 miles), so this may get interesting;
    "Can we stop for a rest?
    "We just started 15 minutes ago."

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I must be a glutton for punishment. I'm thinking about starting another blog (possibly hosted on a personal domain) focused on programming and development. Info when available. I can sleep on the weekend, just not this weekend. I'm busy.

April is already a busy month

April is less than a week old and already it's been a busy month.

Tuesday evening (1st April) I was at an evening of Scout Leader training. The modules covered the Scouting fundamentals and working with other adults. It was a great night and actually learned things, which is always important when designing a training course I understand.

Tonight the family is making a visit to Pets at Home (there are other pet supply stores....) to get the things we need for tomorrow. Last Saturday we visited the Ard Jerkyll, which is home of the Manx Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) and applied to adopt 2 cats, Whisky and Vino. Tomorrow they come home.

Sunday I'm in training again, First Aid and I've already have 5 things booked over the next two weeks, before Scouts start up again after the Easter break (2 weeks).

It's OK, I have lots of time to rest when I retire....one day.

Another New Start

I'm re-discovering this blog tonight.

While glancing over past entries I've realised that I've restarted this blog far too many times. I have decided that I need to make a more purposeful effort to do it right this time and to do it regularly. That said there has not been a HUGE number of changes in my life since my last entry.

Not to suggest that nothing has happened, but...

• I'm in the same job I was to start in my last entry
• I still run The Scout Association - Isle of Man website at manxscouts.com

What has changed is:

• I've gone from just doing the website, but am now the Media Development Manager for TSA - IOM
• I am now the Scout Leader for 5th Douglas. The Troop was with out an SL recently and offered to take over as SL.

I was an Assistant Leader back in Canada for Cubs and then Scouts, but when I moved to the Isle of Man almost 20 years ago I didn't get involved with Scouting here. After a few weeks as SL I regret waiting so long. So I'm trying to complete my Leader training (to earn my Wood Badge, for those who know what I mean). Things are completely different when I was a Scout ASL back in Canada, so it's all new to me. I'll know what I'm doing soon enough (I hope....).

I'll make an effort to write here 2 or 3 times a week. Fingers crossed.

New Beginnings

Tomorrow I start my new job (“Yea for me”). It’s a company I was already familiar to me, which is also a new experience. I’m both excited and nervous; excited about new challenges, but nervous about new challenges (I hope that clarifies it). I’m hope to blog about the new job as it progresses.

At the same time as starting a new job I’ve also taken on a new project. The website of the Isle of Man Scout Association is currently down and without a webmaster. My son is in the 5th Douglas Scouts and I volunteered to take over the site (seemed like a good idea at the time <smile>. It looks like I’m not going to be in it alone though, there’s another volunteer. More details as the site is developed. 

“The time has come,” the walrus said

In just 15 minutes I off to the train station to start the journey to the Isle of Man. Furniture is already there, wife’s there, sons’ are there. I’m the only one left.

So long and thanks for all the fish.

More from the IOM.

Moving day is nigh

Not just nigh, the removal guys are working around me. Family is already en route to the Isle of Man and I'm here watching them load the van. I finish work Friday afternoon and am on the boat Friday night. It's all go, go, go.

Post more tonight on how it went when I'm home alone (not Home Alone as in the movie of course...).