I have recently been to Guide Camp, to relive my youth and help out with my daughter’s guide company. It was not very far from me, Sharpthorne to be more precise, in the East Grinstead area….on a site I had been to before. Now where is this all going I hear you ask, dear reader? Maps, that’s where.

I am ashamed to say that, although I am not your stereotypical “woman”driver (I know how to reverse park, I am interested in cars, know where to check the oil and how to change a flat tyre without calling the RAC!!) - I am however your typical woman mapreader. You’ve seen them, we are the ones who have to hold the map to correspond with the direction in which the car is going, even if it means turning it upside down...sad or what! I can’t help it. Something to do with poor spatial awareness apparently.

So what has this to do with Guide camp,? Well what should have been a 25 minute journey from home to campsite, ended in a two hour plus road rally epic. I now realise I was driving in ever deceasing circles around my final destination, armed only with a black and white map printed off the internet.

I have to say two things in my defence:

1. West Sussex has the poorest road signage and street name markings I have ever known...probably something left over from World War II, they forgot to put the signs back!

2. I was on my own without my navigator and boy did it show.

Thank goodness for mobile phones and a quick phone call to Ralph at work revealed that I was actually extremely close to my destination (about 400 yards– bah!)

I bet Chin, on reading this, is rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of another recruit for his Rally School. Sorry Chin, but even your experience and kind words will not be able to help a hopeless case like me. However I am sure that there are many of you out there who would love the chance to have the mysteries of Eastings and Northings and grid refs made clear. The time and place is Rally School, 4th Wednesday of the month at The Bell in Kemsing. Ring Chin to let him know you are coming along.

The month of the Golden Jubilee Ball is finally here and it is time to get on your glad rags and step out for the function of the half century. I am looking forward to a good night celebrating the club’s achievements and a chance to look forward as well to the coming years.

The Jubilee sub-committee have been starting plans for the next event we are organising which is something a little different. Put Sunday 12th September in your diaries as we will be holding a Family Fun Day at Sevenoaks member Ian Wright’s Activity Centre in West Malling. The event starts around 12 noon and will include use of the Apache buggies, quad bikes, off road course etc. There will also be bouncy castles and a barbecue and all for £10 per family. Regs and entry form follow in June’s Acorn with yours truly as Entry Sec for this one.

I must just mention two Croydon Motorclub events, notice of which dropped into my inbox very recently. Croydon are putting on a PCT down near Leeds on Sunday 6th June. Hopefully interesting and dry conditions for those of us who have really enjoyed the events put on by B19. It would be nice to try a different venue.

Then for those of you who like some gentle but still challenging fun Croydon are organising a Treasure Hunt on 22nd June, starting from Whyteleafe Football club. Contact details for both events are in the Competition calendar at the back of this issue.

We will be back in action at the PCT for definite as we missed the B19 April round. Clive Cooke provides a report to that event within these pages.

Better sign off now or you will not get this on your doormats! Here’s to a good night on the 22nd. See you there.