Hellooooo Jezza!

How are you ol' fruit? It's lovely to see you on here. How's tricks? When will we see you on the Challenge again?

Oh - and Perfect Advice (and the capitals are important here) Every first timer should take note.

Get back to me!

Cheers
Alan
:grinning:

Good to hear from you too, Al.

Assume that my teaching career will last another 15 years, and that I shall not be on another Challenge until that is done and I have retired for a second time.

That having been said ... my school is very keen to get me heavily involved in their Duke of Edinburgh programme (it's not every day, after all, that a NQT pops up with ML(S) on their c.v. and a desire to get involved in the expeditioning ... ) and once we have a Gold group up and running, I'll try to make sure that they're doing something in the Challenge area every May, so I might be able to catch up from time to time.

Here is a report of a conversation with my Principal in the second week after I started at the school. I think it might amuse you.

Principal: We want you to help on the DofE, so can you find yourself a BELA course and get booked on it.

Me: Why?

Principal: Because BELA is the award you need to lead the expeditions.

Me: Um ... Steve. I don't need BELA at all. I'm an ML ... and I think you'll find that means I'm qualified to TEACH the BELA course ...

Principal: Oh!

Brilliant!!:joy: