The Autumn Collection - Part I

In September, we invited a delightful bunch of friendly faces back to the bay for 'Bring A Mate' week. Ah, those rosy, la-di-da days at the end of summer: all homemade ginger beer, crumpets and a little jolly seafaring with Rob, Tom, Ash, Rosaidh, Nita, Baby Una, Amy and Robin. Look at them enjoying the fresh sea air. How wholesome!

...But, this being Camas, it wasn't quite so simple. The ginger beer was alarmingly fizzy and bottles of the stuff exploded at unexpected intervals all through the week. A bit like the aquatron which exploded with something far less appealing. Don't ask. Really. The warm and fuzzy feeling of Bring A Mate week also exploded into a formidable rap battle - Rachel Marshal vs. Hamish Macrae a.k.a. Rach Against the Macrae - a spewed out rhyme-strewn character assassination, most of which cannot be repeated here. Here’s a little taster (can you handle it?):

If you want to run and hide, you wouldn’t be blamed, yo

Cos you’re entering a dangerous zone where only the insane go

Is there anyone better than I...at this rap game? No!

If we were cats I’d be Growler, chilled out in the kale

You’d be Boo, afraid of his own tail

If you’re feeling threatened better call the constabulary

I’m committing rhyme homicide with my formidable vocabulary

Ouch! Fiercesome stuff from MC Macrae. It is healthy to share you feelings afterall and once season's worth of pent-up rivalry had been vented through the medium of rap, Camas staff made-up and celebrated with the end of-season party. There was a feast of gourmet golden slice burgers under a candelabra lighting the banquet hall. Fancy stuff! Guests joining us from the local village and Iona for a bonfire, songs, balloons, dancing and merriment. How very, very fine.

You're positivly GLOWING!

The new members programme was back again this past weekend for the equivalent of 3 jam packed days with their “alternative new members,” which (before you start asking yourself in your head) by NO MEANS means they are the second round draft pick for the community. We did our best to try to fit the full Camas experience into a weekend, but I think that everyone is hoping these lovely folks can clear their schedules for a whole week next year! What could have been SO amazing about the weekend that they would leave screaming, “MORE!” you ask?... Well, besides the joy of getting some much needed maintenance tasks done, we went kayaking nearly every day (with a friendly seal even on one occasion), played some music and sang together while being warmed by cups of hot chocolate and a warm fire in the common room, ate Hamish’s “Anzac Slice” during tea breaks that stretched for well over 30 minutes, and even left time enough for swims and hikes to Market Bay in their free time. The guests also seemed to enjoy some deep discussions during their sessions with Peter, and I know all of us staff appreciated having some bonding time over arts and crafts... including helping Rob create a drum kit out of recyclable tubs and tins.

Even though all those things were amazingly fun, I think everyone would agree that the true high point of the weekend is not listed above. On Sunday night everyone was on a night walk down by the bay, and thanks to a happy (not too painful) accident involving gravity and our dear Autumn, we discovered there was phosphorescence in the water of the bay. Sadly, no pictures could capture the beauty we saw, but those of you reading this that have ever been lucky enough to have experienced this wonder of nature in person will know what a magical experience it was. With a simple brush of a finger or raindrop on the smooth black surface of the water you could release a trail or pinprick of green light, and the splash of a rock turned into a natural firework explosion out in the bay. Some folks even ditched their wellies for wetsuits and went swimming, despite the cold, just to see the trails of light their strokes left in their wake.

There really isn’t much to say after that... just like the tides all too quickly took the phosphorescence out of the bay, Monday morning came and took the guests away too, but we still have some great memories, boxes of dried peat, bits of mended track, and woven plastic windscreens for the garden to remember them by... until they come back next year that is!

this blog post has been brought to you by the letter N

You Can Leave Your Wetsuit On... Please.

Good day friends. I am afraid I must start this blog post with an unreserved apology to all members of a truly wonderful group, who graced us with their good company for a very special week. An unfortunate set of events lead to me writing most of the blog, and then going on holiday for a week with Josef. Sorry about that. But we did have a lovely holiday.

This week saw the return of a bunch of hardened Camas veterans, along with a few new faces, visiting our wee spot all the way from the midlands; somewhere between Birmingham and Stoke apparently. It was a delight to see their gleaming faces emerging from the bus at the end of the track, perhaps owing to the fact that Bowmans had not left them in Craignure this year, but I’m sure they were also looking forward to their walk to Camas. Much fun was had as old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances made.

Saturday and Sunday were straight down to business; making the most of the good weather and calm seas to get everyone out in the kayaks or over the edge of the abseil wall. The kayakers in particular were treated to some very memorable sights; the dramatic sinking of leader Ted’s kayak is bound to stick in the memory of those who witnessed it. One group were also treated to a demonstration of ‘Captain Adams Very Interesting Self-Rescue Techniques’ (which may have resembled yours truly flailing around in the water whilst trying to blow up an airbag and not let the kayak float away). Nonetheless, nobody drowned or fell to a horrible death.

Monday night saw the ever popular Camas invasion of Iona. The younger folk set up camp at the Macleod centre, whilst the older folk established their own camp a few miles away at the campsite where they even cooked their own dinner. Reports suggest that they can cook pasta. The two groups rejoined that evening to show Iona just how a Ceilidh is danced. Although I was not there in person, I have heard through a reliable source that everybody danced and got very sweaty. Well done Camas, that’s how it’s done.

After a slightly soggy journey home, the rest of the week seemed to swim by. Shelters were built, cricket played, treasure hunted, cricket played, rafts raced, art made and, well, more cricket played. Oh and also lots of Articulate! One highlight in particular was Thursdays boat trip on the B. Marie; with a beautiful sunny day and not a wave on the ocean, conditions were perfect for lazing and fishing (perhaps not so good for sailing though).

With literally a few mackerel caught, preparations were soon underway for the evenings Camas challenge. The decorations team ensured that the common room was looking very swanky indeed. The kitchen team excelled themselves to produce a choice of three beautifully cooked Curries from the hatch, with high praise going to the fish option I must say; all creating a rather memorable dinner.

After a very well planned reflection we all enjoyed (or at least watched) the evenings entertainment. Hosted by a dubious looking Jeremy Clarkson, Strictly Come Camas was packed with many memorable dance routines, all with helpful feedback from a select judging panel. In true showbiz fashion, the show was interjected with a commercial break and a news, sport and weather bulletin offering a helpful roundup of the week’s events and nearly resulting in a fire!

You may also be relieved to hear that after much anticipation, Robs mum visited at the end of the week, bringing with her two monkey suits. Now Josef and I can join Rob in pretending to be wild animals and behaving suitably disgracefully. Thanks Robs mum!

Overall I speak for all still at Camas in saying that this week was much fun, and shall be fondly remembered for some time. We are looking forward to seeing you all again!

Captain Adam.

"I asked the man in the shop for a cup that would keep me brew warm"

Feeling inspired by our fantastic guests last week, Rosie, her brother and I went in the sea for a pre-breakfast swim today and by heck was it cold. It has also inspired me to write this and let you all know about the brilliant fun that we shared with the crew from Macc last week.

We welcomed them all after their epic all night drive from the middle of England just after lunch. We were looking forward to catching up with some old Camas friends who were leading and young leading the group as well as getting to know all the new faces too, and what lovely faces they all were, old and new!

The week was full of all the usual Camas activities with a nice northern English twist. We kayaked and capsized (a lot) in the bay, abseiled the quarry wall (including some impressive climbs too-I've never seen anyone get as high as some of them last week!), constructed sturdy shelters in the garden, built the most impressive (and successful) rafts (which I'm sure had absolutely nothing to so with the 2 past, abseiling Camas staff on the teams...), a trip on the B Marie brought home a couple of fish and we had a record breaking round of "The Pirates of the Hebridean" the treasure hunt. We also spent a brilliant afternoon competing in Camas' very own Highland Games. Four teams (including a Camas staff team of Autumn, Rachel, Hamish and Adam) competed for honour in four different events including the classics: welly throwing, a sheaf toss, a tug-of-war and a special relay race to dress a blindfolded team member in kayaking gear and guiding them to sit in a kayak ready to go. The event was won by the aptly named "We are top of the league" (closely followed by Team Camas I might add...we need to work on bulking out our tug of war team me thinks).

We were impressed on many counts: firstly by the bravery of the early morning swimmers and a speciall congratulations to the "Iron Persons" among you who made it in the sea EVERY morning; secondly we've never haad so many "brews" consumed, some were enjoyed in special mugs and some in not so special mugs (we'd never thought to go and ask a man in a shop for a "cup that would keep me brew warm", inspired, we will now though); thirdly by the amount of fish caught off our own island by a team of very dedicated and skilled fishermen-we definitely enjoyed the steady supply of Camas Bay Mackerel, thanks guys! I have also never witnessed (or taken part in) such competitive and vicious games of jungle speed and articulate but they were a brilliant way to end the days around the fire with some beautiful guitar playing and singing in the background.

The week was perfectly finished off with delicious food in a dazzling common room, followed by a lovely chapel of the nets' reflection and rounded off with the most amazing candlelit ceilidh with a fantastic band, who knew you could dance the Gay Gordons to "Rocking all over the world"? We do!

It was a pleasure to have you all and we are already looking forward to you all coming back. We are very grateful for the one you left behind who has been super useful around Camas before he disappeared off to Iona...

Hoping you all survived the loooong trip home-I'll be seeing you there very soon!

Rachel

Hogwarts Express

The mission to find the dubious Prof Lockheart has been completed. All Hogwarts staff can step down from stilts and discard their long, shaggy beards to reveal...more beards, but at least recognisable ruddy camas faces.

Thanks to the visiting Community Kids we have had a particularly magical week. Spells were fired from the island to the newly constructed shelters on the last night. Other than that brooms have been used mainly for sweeping, bogs for jumping into, or singing in, and the glockenspiel mainly for practicing the Potter theme; so much so that by the end of the week it had dissapperated itself to the staff room and could be heard no more. Peace for the challenge kitchen crew who filled the star bound hall with yummy food.

“Floating in a kayak, on a windy day, looking for some seaweed games to play

Jelly in the face, y big disgrace, waving that paddle all over the place

Singin... we will we will kayak....”

Could be heard through the dreecht by any walkers heading down the track, and passing our particularly musical peat digging session, as more verses were added to the famous ‘We will Dig You.’ Plenty of chocolate cake and tea were consumed and we even managed to fill 5 peat drying panels – strong workers!

As the song suggests, the weather blew a gale, but that didn’t stop a blustery boat ride on the B Marie, and all the usual activities. We now have stones covered in clouds where blackbirds fly, and detailed camas scenes, painted whilst sheltering in the art room. We also have enough plate spinners to make our own side-show at the circus.

Piñatas were crashed apart exploding popcorn through the room, and many party games were played for a Birthday during the week. Indiana Jones visited the group at market bay- and completed every challenge they set for him. So with that completed – I will sign off.

Your Muggle correspondent: Rosie Speaken

A Quick Word about the Bunessan Show!

It would be impossible to talk about the last week without adding in a brief word about the Bunessan show on Saturday. The sun was shining on the white tents strewn about the fields surrounding the Bunessan Primary School, and everyone was in good spirits as they milled around eating cake, looking at the livestock and horseriding, watching duck herding, perusing the craft stalls, listening to the Mull Pipe and Drum Band, and watching the men compete in the tossing of the sheaf. Camas made a fair number of entries to the show this year, but while we spent the day congratulating some of our friends for winning awards for carrots, scones, and lemon curd cakes we sadly didn't have any awards of our own to celebrate this year. Oh well, next year's entries planning will commence ASAP, so watch out 2012 Bunessan Show!
The day capped off with an AMAZING ceilidh in the Bunessan village hall, so we all put on our dancing shoes and literally danced till we dropped about 1:45am. Needless to say, it was a LONG walk down the track in the dark at 2am, but well worth the amazing day that was had by all.

Remembering the Old and Celebrating the New...

New Members that is! This past week we had a lovely bunch of eager adults in their first or second year of the New Members Programme for joining the Iona Community come down the track for a week of joining together to share in food, fellowship, reflection, and the common task!

As George MacLeod used to say, “A demanding common task builds community,” and let me tell you we had some demanding tasks for the new members to tackle as they spent their mornings working alongside the Camas staff to give the centre some MUCH needed TLC. No task was too great for this lot... no stove back plate stuck on too tight (given the right tools and blowtorch), no track planks too rotted (thanks to the amazing wood scavenging skills of a select few), no wetsuit too torn, and no garden bed too wild. Paintbrushes and weeds were flying until Thursday afternoon when we were still pulling folk away from their tasks to get packed up and ready for Camas Challenge.

We were able to pull a few folks away from their “demanding common tasks” in the afternoons throughout the week for all the usual Camas activities of kayaking, abseiling (in the rain no less), and raft building (best not ask the boys how that went). A surprising number of the New Members were early risers, so many spent their free time in the mornings before breakfast going for walks to the Trig Point, Market Bay, and various other hilltops as well. A few brave souls even went for a swim or two!

Evening sessions with Peter MacDonald were reported to have been deep and meaningful, and the staff enjoyed having a bit of a light evening work schedule for a change. Hot Chocolate, live music, and chatting filled the common room in the evenings, and the company was as warm and inviting as the candlelight!

The week finished in style with a Camas Challenge that resembled a Christmas feast! Banquet style tables and a four course “A La Carte” menu left everyone overstuffed and only fit for remaining seated to enjoy the entertainment which flowed in around the meal and evening reflection. It was fitting to end the week with such a celebration... for the community that we formed over the week, the community that brought us all together (either as members or staff), and for the second year New Members who would be going across the water the next day to be welcomed as full members of the Iona Community. We as staff wish them all the best during the “Deathly Hallowing” service, and look forward, as ever, for next year when we will again join together for a week with the 2012 New Members.