Laura's Rebel Journey

 The Carpe Diem badge requires the completion of two brown "Wild" badges.  I chose Camper and Codebreaker.  Lots of the Camper badge I felt I could back date as we camp so often, and I have been over the Clauses so many times. Spend at least three consecutive nights under canvas - three nights is a minimum for us! Pitch and strike a tent - The pole tent we used to have, the air beam tent we currently have, a pole ridge tent from my youth and the pop up two person tent we camp in the garden with.  I think I can safely say that one is covered! Keep your belongings safe and dry - On our first trip as a family with little children in tow, I decided we needed a "dry box" and a "wet box" after reading about family camping online.  Our clothes go in a large Really Useful Box to keep them dry and things like toothbrushes and flannels in a smaller box with other items that can get wet.  Husband thought it was a bit much, but then it rained.  Norfolk had a mon...

 I had originally planned not to post more than once a day, but sitting here with the fan on in the coldest part of the house is rather nice, so I'm going to post again. Today's post was meant to be an update on my progress with the Environmentalist Badge but turned into an Animal Lover post about my chickens.  So here is the originally planned post to keep me on track. Clauses 1 and 2 for this badge are compulsory. 1. "For a month, track how much rubbish you generate personally." It goes on to suggest that you save it in a container, 'where practical'.  No, that isn't even vaguely practical!  So I am going to keep a log. 2. "For a second month, actively reduce your waste." I started Clause 1 on Wednesday 13th July and due to finish it and start Clause 2 on Wednesday 10th August. I am firmly fixed on the 'rubbish you generate personally' section.  So, items we use as a family I am not counting.  Here's my personal litter so far: Chu...

It's hot today. It was hot yesterday.  This heatwave is interesting. 😰 This was going to be a post about the Environmentalist Badge, but instead I'm going to write about Clause 8 of Animal Lover. "If you have a pet, make a proactive change to their lifestyle to improve their current way of life." We have three chickens, Peggy, Amelia and Lavender.  Chickens don't like hot weather, their bodies can't handle sudden changes in temperature in either direction. Once the temperature reaches 32C, it's too hot for a hen.  A neighbour recorded a high of 39.8C in her back garden yesterday, so yes, we have baked chickens. I'm very scared for them at the moment, and I am most definitely counting "keeping the chickens alive" as the scary thing I've had to do this week for the Carpe Diem Badge. I have made them frozen treats, chunks of watermelon, ice pops made from sweetcorn, raspberries and cucumber.  Their run was watered frequently throughout the...

I've been through the book and have decided which Badges I will complete, which Badges I might complete and the ones which I definitely won't complete. Next job will be working out a sensible timescale for the ones I would live to achieve.

​I started working on the Carpe Diem quarterly Badge before I received the book, so some of clauses were well on their way last week. I’d seen a few posts on the Facebook group about the World Traveller, so I knew what to expect for Clause 1.  Clause 5 involves doing something that scares you every week. Well, sometimes more than one thing might scare me each week, so I am keeping a private list and I’m planning to get that up to the full twelve by the end of September, even if it isn’t a scare per week. Now that I have the book, I have decided to complete the Moneysaver Badge for Clause 2, and Camper for Clause 3. I had a bit of a debate with myself about the choice of a second ‘Wild’ badge, Stargazer and Code Breaker both appeal to me. However, Stargazing tends to be easier in the late summer to early autumn. Warm enough still to sit out, but darker earlier. So I’ve chosen Code Breaker.  As a new Rebel I haven’t had the book long enough to have put off anything or be scar...

I've decided to Blog the progresss of my Rebel Badge journey The book arrived yesterday and I have already looked through it and decided which Badges are achievable and which are never going to happen.  Looking at you Dancer...