My week by Francis gay

MY week Once a Scout, always a Scout... so Craig can cope with anything

Craig is one of those people who are never put out by a thing going wrong or an obstacle being put in their way; one of those who seem to be able to find good in almost any situation.

The other day, I asked if he had always been like that, or…

Without hesitation, he explained it stemmed from his days as a Boy Scout. He told a story of being out with the pack, on some adventure or other, and when they

Around this time of year, mums are traditionally telling children it is too early to be thinking about Christmas.

But five-year-old Amelia has started – and her mum doesn’t mind at all.

You see, Amelia has been saving up spare change all year. Some of it even her own. She was promised that, at Christmas, she could break open the piggy bank and half of the money would go to something for her, with the other half buying something for a child who is less fortunate than her.

This week, Amelia heard the local foodbank was taking donations of toys. They want to make sure no child, in any family struggling to buy food, goes without a Christmas present. And Amelia wants to help.

She’ll donate a toy, but I think her mother has already given her an even greater gift – the gift of a sharing heart. returned they found their Scout hall all but burned to the ground.

The boys all stared at their “Akela” who, after a small hesitation, sent two Scouts to the shop to buy a big bag of potatoes. Then they had a cook-out, baking the potatoes in the embers of their hut.

I said I wasn’t sure I believed that. He smiled and said, “Well, hey, at least you got to hear a good story.” He’d done it again. And I was just a little bit more convinced.

Around this time of year, mums are traditionally telling children it is too early to be thinking about Christmas.

But five-year-old Amelia has started – and her mum doesn’t mind at all.

You see Amelia has been saving up spare change all year. Some of it even her own. She was promised that, at Christmas, she could break open the piggy bank and half of the money would go to something for her, with the other half buying something for a child who is less fortunate than her.

This week Amelia heard the local foodbank was taking donations of toys. They want to make sure no child, in any family struggling to buy food, goes without a Christmas present. And Amelia wants to help.

She’ll donate a toy, but I think her mother has already given her an even greater gift – the gift of a sharing heart!

Thanks to some faulty wiring, Katie’s house was suddenly without electricity.

Just before dinner-time, when she had four children to feed and get ready for bed. The engineer said he would be out some time that evening. But, in the meantime…

Thinking she would be glad of it, I stopped by with some emergency supplies. She was grateful – but she didn’t let me over the threshold! She took the supplies, just in case, but asked me not the mention them to the little ones.

You see, she was making the most of the chance to teach them how many children live, without power, all around the world. And they were loving making-do and hearing the stories by candle-light.

So, I left, quietly, amazed at Katie’s ingenuity in turning a black-out into a bright-shining opportunity.

Childhood magic does not last, But will never fade away, Recalling memories of the past, Just as if it were yesterday. Relating with nostalgia, The laughter, tears and jollity, Those precious times of childhood, Within our hearts will stay.