What we cleaned up:

Used needles by the front door.
Again.
A grim reminder of what our estate kids walk past every day.

And by the fire exit?
A pile of… something.
Food?
Once-food?
Food-adjacent matter?
Unclear.
Unpleasant.
Removed immediately.

This is the reality of where we meet and exactly why we do meet.

---

Best excuse of the night:

“I didn’t cheat… I was just being cleverer.”

Hard to argue with the logic.
Wrong… but confident.

---

Best moment:

The leaders stepped up,
the Pack had a blast,
and I wasn’t even there.

That’s actual progress.

---

I Was Ill… And the Leaders Took Over

For the first time since we started this wild, wonderful council estate Cub Pack,
I wasn’t there.

I was at home ill, wrapped in a blanket like a Victorian child recovering from “the vapours.”

But the BEST thing happened:

The leaders ran the night.
Successfully.
Brilliantly.
Together.

No panic.
No stress messages.
No collapse into chaos.

Just a team stepping up and saying,
“We’ve got this.”

And they did.

---

Games Night Chaos With Purpose

The Cubs walked in soaked from the rain (ALL of them),
the leaders already looked damp,
and the hall smelled like wet coats and determination.

Tonight’s games included:

1. Dodgeball (Obviously)

The unofficial religion of Cubs.
Every child becomes a gladiator.
Every leader becomes a target.

One Cub said,
“It’s not dodgeball unless someone falls over dramatically.”

Accurate.

2. Buzzy Bees (Courtesy of Kush)

Kush ran a game involving buzzing, flapping, and a surprising amount of screaming.

The Cubs LOVED it.
Leaders pretended to love it.
Neighbors probably heard it.

3. Stuck in the Mud

Classic.
Chaotic.
High cardio.
Low success rate for escapees.

One Cub managed to get stuck three times before the game even properly started.

---

Cubs Have Spoken: Games Night Every Half Term

At the end of the night the Cubs announced:

“We want a games night EVERY half term!”

Unanimous.
Loud.
Non-negotiable.

So that’s happening now.

Because when the kids ask for something wholesome, joyful, and active?
We say yes.

Even if it means leaders needing physio.

---

Estate Reality Check

It’s important to be honest about the backdrop we operate in:

• Used needles by the door.
• Someone’s food (??) by the fire exit.
• Currently in a “Special Measures” zone to combat antisocial behaviour.
• So far two Cubs have paid their subs….

This is why this Pack matters.
This is why the leaders show up.
This is why the Cubs keep coming back.

We’re a bright, noisy, joyful space in a place that doesn’t always feel safe or cared for.

---

Tommy’s Ankle Incident

Tommy attempted what he described as “a sick move” during dodgeball.
Gravity disagreed.

He went down dramatically Oscar-worthy holding his ankle.

Cold compress applied.
A few minutes of rest.
Back in the game.

Tommy resilience score: 10/10
Tommy acrobatics score: 0/10
Tommy enthusiasm score: infinite

---

**The Rain.

Oh God, the rain.**

It was raining when the leaders arrived.
It was raining during the session.
It was raining when the Cubs left.
It is possibly still raining as you read this.

Every Cub looked like a damp gremlin.
Every coat weighed 4 stone.
One Cub announced,
“Our roof leaks into my bedroom.” So we are going to see if we can help.

One said “I had enough where’s summer?”

Same, mate.
Same.

---

Week Eleven Verdict

• Leaders ran the Pack like absolute heroes.
• Cubs had a brilliant night full of movement and laughter.
• The estate threw its usual challenges at us and we handled them.
• Tommy survived his stunt work.
• We all got rained on.
• And we learned something important:

We’re not just a Cub Pack now.
We’re a team.

A team that can run the session without me.
A team that supports each other.
A team that keeps showing up, rain or needles or chaos or not.

Week Twelve… let’s go.