Well, two days down and three to go. Another great day and the weather was almost ideal… although Mrs Stephen’s group may disagree as they had two water based activities and they had to have a lot of stamina and determination to do Canadian canoeing and siling in the same day.
We were up bright and early and I know that the boys from Strichen had to be woken up as they were all fast asleep when we knocked on their doors at 7am! We were all ready togo down to breakfast before eight and they were quite subdued at first bit they soon came to life after a brisk walk down to the boathouse. They had a choice of a lot of things for breakfast and everyone was able to get plenty to eat. As they had their breakfast they went out in groups to make their packed lunch. It would take too long to list all the things they had a choice of for making sandwiches. They also had a biscuit, a bag of crisps and fruit. After breakfast we went back up the steps to get the juice sorted out for them to take on their first activity.
Mrs Mitchell’s group went for a walk round the site and found out about some of the native plants and animals in the area before heading out on the loch for a cruise in a large boat. They enjoyed the chance to have a seat and used the binoculars to look at all the things they could see round the loch.
Mrs Stephen’s group went Canadian Canoeing in canoes like Native American’s would have used. This was a challenge but they had great fun. Miss Ingram’s group were ‘cool’ for the morning and turned their hand to snowboarding which is no easy activity!
Back up the hill to the hall for lunch before making our way back down for the afternoon activity. Mrs Mitchell’s group went skiing on the dry slope and after a hesitant start some of them were soon flying down the slope at great speeds. It highlighted the importance of learning how to stop or turn at the bottom of the slope as one or two required the padded fence to help them come to a halt! Mrs Stephen’s group ventured out sailing in two boats and were buffeted about the loch for a couple of hours. However, they came back smiling and disappeared back to their rooms for a shower afterwards to warm themselves up! Miss Ingram’s group went walking and then they too had a tour round the loch in the big boat!
Then came the opportunity for two groups to visit the shop. This allowed them to do their maths for the week as they feverishly went round the shop adding up the totals of what they wanted to buy to make sure they did not go over their £10 budget! If only I could get my wife to practice the same restraint!! So after 30minutes or so they had their bag of goodies and this meant having to listen to a chorus of ducks and other birds with the wooden ‘whistles’ a number of them had bought!
Soon it was time for tea and we were back down the hill again before 5pm. The menu was very popular today….. beef burgers in a bun and baked potatoes or vegetable kebabs and pitta bread. Some needed convincing to try either the mushroom or carrot and coriander soup – but most tucked in to the ice cream and jelly for pudding!
Back up the hill once again after tea and they had 20 minutes to get ready for their room inspection. After some frantic tidying up the rooms we checked were very good! It’s amazing what they can do when set a deadline – although we did not look too closely in the cupboards!
The evening activity was ‘games’ and we set off to the local shinty pitch with three instructors for games of rounders and shinty!! I bravely joined in with the rounders while the ladies had a nice walk round the park a few times! Everyone had great fun and soon it was time to pack p and return to the centre once again.
We allowed them some free time in their rooms before getting everyone together to do their diary and to get them some juice and a biscuit.
Everyone is now fast asleep (except me!!) and we are looking forward to another packed day tomorrow! Look out for tomorrow’s blog to se how we got on!
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