From digging down to starting to build up

This week, for the first time, the building has moved from digging earth out to beginning the process of building up.  Trenches have been dug for all the exterior and load-bearing walls, and for the base of the lift shaft, and these have now been filled with concrete ready to build on.

Load-bearing areas concreted ready to build on

You can see the base of where the lift will take people to the first floor, front and centre in this picture.  Entrance hall to the left, meeting room to the right, changing areas and galley behind, with the boat store at the far end.

Also this week, members of The New Forest Rotary Club visited the Sea Scouts on Thursday evening to hand over two new kayaks they have donated.  We'll get the full story and pictures posted to the Sea Scouts website.  The new kayaks have the Rotary Club logo on them, and a spare logo sticker was also put on the temporary boat store container to mark their contribution.  It is great to see the "Aquativity - Testwood Lakes" name on a sponsor's logo like this - if anyone else wants to see their name or logo associated with us, let's talk.

Of course, the big event coming up for us is the Donkey Derby on 2nd July.  Preparations are going well, with programme selling occupying time over the weekends for quite a few volunteers, as well as Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers (and their leaders and parents) all doing their bit to sell as many programmes as possible.  Outside Argos in Totton was the main selling venue yesterday - thanks to those who helped there and to everyone involved.  To find out more about what our Donkey Derby is all about, take a look at this site dedicated to the event and its organisers and helpers.

What with Totton Carnival on 25th June, the Donkey Derby on 2nd July, and selling tickets for the Grand Draw (to be drawn at the end of September), the usual Sea Scouts sections' activities every week, camping plans for August and of course the building project progressing day by day, we're certainly having a very busy summer, and that's only mentioning a few things that we've got going on.  If anyone is wondering how they can do more to help, please email aquativity@gmail.com, we'd love to hear from you.