Sunday 16 June 2013

A Girl Guide's guide to the Galaxy - a guide!

OK, I'll admit it. In naming this blog, and this post in particular, I have tried to include the word 'Guide' as many times as possible. This may be a challenge - how many times can I use it? 

But anyway, welcome! Whoever you are. I hope you are having a good day. If not, well, perhaps it's nearly over. Try chocolate.

I would love to know who you are, but in the meantime, let me introduce myself. I'm Katie, and you may have guessed from the title of this blog, I'm a Girl Guide, Girl Scout, Pfadfinderin, which name you choose. I am one of the 10 million in the biggest organisation for girls and young women worldwide.  Yep, I'm blue through and through.

I know that seems like an odd way to introduce myself - I could have started with the fact I live in Derby, or come from Norfolk, or speak French and German. But somehow, being a  Guide defines me better than any of those things (except the Norfolk thing. That explains a lot). That's probably for 2 reasons: 

1. Last year, I was awarded the highest awarding in Guiding, the Queen's Guide. It was by far one of the hardest things I ever done - harder than moving abroad, my degree, anything. And, in a roundabout way, it lead to the fact that... 
2. I work with Guides, as part of my (new-ish) job. I work for a company that organises tours for Scouts and Guides, which is both brilliant and frustrating at the same time. It also allows me to travel to some amazing places - France, Switzerland and Glasgow (well it can't all be glamour), this year alone. I fully realise how lucky I am - my passions are my job, and it's something I remind myself of every day. 

So, I guess that it was this blog is really all about. But it's not just all about my Guiding - it's about this mad thing we call life in general. I don't have all the answers yet... but then finding out is half the fun. Join me, won't you?