Rachel goes to Durham
Sunday June 1st
Ahhhhhhh Well! Our girls have left us without a backward glance to explore the depths of Durham! Despite their slightly late start, they arrived earlier than expected at 3.15 this afternoon, have unpacked (having previously agreed on the complicated process of who was sharing with whom!!!) and had time for a run around outside before supper at 6pm.
Monday June 2nd
Spoke with Catherine this morning. Everyone had a good supper. The girls have lovely big rooms (with their own sinks!) plus bathrooms close by with 15 showers between them! Needless to say they all had showers last night – so we could get them back much cleaner than we left them!
The night passed peacefully. A few chins wobbled but Didi’s hugs banished any threat of tears! They all slept well and woke up this morning to partake of a hearty breakfast of boiled eggs plus other delicacies. Catherine asked the girls if they wanted a proper cooked breakfast tomorrow. Majority decision was in the affirmative and so there will be bacon and sausages tomorrow for those who are that way inclined (just so long as they don’t come back expecting us to do the same at home!!!)
When I spoke, they had just arrived at Bede’s World for a day of learning about the Anglo-saxons and life in a monastery. The sky is overcast but mild, so hopefully raincoats won’t be needed. In
Tuesday June 3rd
According to Catherine, the girls have been wonderful – a lovely group of girls to be with. They have been generous and supportive and very kind to each other (they may descend into anarchy by the end of the week – but let’s just take a moment to bask in the reflected glory of our little darlings!) No comment about the boys, who may be re-enacting scenes from Lord of the Flies by Friday, but Catherine doesn’t seem too concerned as she says there’s plenty of food around!!!
They spent the day in Bede’s World and saw the oldest stained glass window in Northern Europe! Painstakingly reconstructed from fragments found in the church grounds of St Paul’s at Jarrow this small window is stunning because it was there during the time that Bede was alive and ministering there. After many activities in the afternoon, they returned to USHAW for a good run around and are nice and tired and will soon be ready for an early night!
They have a large conference room for the children to be together and after supper, they are going to spend some quiet time there, drawing and writing their diaries. Then upstairs for a shower, a story and then early to bed tonight, because they have a 7.15 start tomorrow morning. They will be going to Vindalanda for a look around the site and a talk at the Roman Army museum or a visit to Hadrian’s wall.
June 4th
I rang Catherine this morning and was greeted by a huge cheer from all the children on the coach! Now I know that lots of people are reading this and enjoying my inane ramblings, but surely not the children!!! However, I was once more humbled when I heard the Mr. Bedford’s voice over the coach tannoy telling the children that they were driving past Hadrian’s Wall on one side of the coach and the most breathtaking English countryside on the other!
As I chatted with Catherine, I listened mesmerised as Mr. Bedford pointed out a section of large Oak trees and told the children that this was the location that was chosen as the backdrop for “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves”. And I thought to myself “Mr. Weigall may have competition for the Best Drama Teacher in the World award! Mr. Bedford had those children eating out of the palm of his hand (not literally, I hasten to add!). They were completely rapt in his conversation as he told them amazing historical facts as they sped through the countryside. Whilst doing all this, he suddenly turned to Catherine and asked, “Is that Geetha on the phone? “When answered in the affirmative, he added, “Please tell her that the boys are VERY good!”
Suitably chastened, I continue ……… The St. James Clan will be spending the morning at Vindalanda and will be given an amazing talk by an archaeologist who started excavating at Vindalanda at the age of 15. He is now in his late 40’s and is still there – now that’s a shining example of job satisfaction and dedication!
After lunch, if the weather is good, they will spend the afternoon walking by Hadrian’s wall – up close and personal, rather than just viewing it from a speeding coach. However, if the Great British Weather decides to rain on their parade, they will spend the afternoon at the Roman Army Museum which has great models and reconstructions of the wall + a gift shop that has unpainted wooden roman swords and shields!!! I feel an idea for a display coming on Mr. Davids!
It hadn’t been that wet, just drizzly all day. They had a fantastic talk by the archaeologist who had been excavating that sight since he was a boy, who showed them cloth that had actually been worn by the Romans in ancient times. Apparently the soil in that area is so acid that cloth is perfectly preserved over so many centuries. Awesome! He also told them of the famous Roman tablets that were found there and were recently voted Britain’s most prized treasure!
I rang Catherine at lunchtime and she was sitting with the children on the small wall just outside the Cathedral, happily eating lunch and admiring the fantastic carvings and architecture of one of the most amazing cathedrals in England, bathed in warm sunshine! Mr. Moss came up to Durham and met the children at the cathedral and has spent the day with them, to their great joy! They had a tour of the cathedral and a talk by one of the wonderful and very knowledgeable lady volunteers that give such added meaning to the experience of visiting such an important part of history. They watched a short video about the building of the cathedral and will see a film about the cathedral and another about Cuthbert’s world after lunch.
Catherine was away from the group for a little while and a man approached her – a visitor to the cathedral, and asked if she was part of the children’s group. She said yes and he said that he just wanted to tell her how beautifully behaved and respectful the children were and how they were asking really wonderful questions of their guides – an amazing group of children. She just smiled her serene smile and said simply, “Yes, I know. Thank you” Shining examples of a St James education!
June 5th
Catherine said they all had a great time there. Although she refused to go in those tubes and happily paddled at the water’s edge (well someone had to keep any eye on the children!!!) , Mr. Bedford, Carl, Didi, Mrs. Bonnell and Mrs. Thabet did and enjoyed themselves tremendously! We’ll hope to see the pictures to prove it!! Lots of girls and boys rode on the Abyss (you can just picture the ones who would have gone on it several times!!!) and all the children had a wonderful time, getting braver and braver as the hours went by. They even managed to shower and wash the hair of all 40 children whilst they were there a feat too awesome to even think about!
Thursday June 5th
The weather was lovely, but quite misty when they arrived at Lindisfarne. However the boatman felt that this wouldn’t prove a problem when crossing over to the Farne Islands. So although it was too misty to see the shoreline on the boat trip, the children saw seals, many different sea birds (including those gorgeous puffins!) , were attacked by arctic terns and thoroughly enjoyed their visit to this beautiful sanctuary for birds and wildlife.
Supper at The Pinnacles Restaurant (sounds posh doesn’t it?!) consisted of Fish & chips, Pizza and chips, Sausage and chips, Chips and chips ……….The least said about this the better, though I’m sure the children thought it was fantastic!
When they got back to USHAW, they had a good hour of play to work off all those calories, then a cup of hot chocolate and biscuits rounded off a perfect day. They gathered in the conference room to finish off their diaries and then each child took it in turn to speak about what they liked most about their trip. They all spoke beautifully and all had different things that were their favourites. All finally agreed that they had enjoyed everything!
As we finished speaking, the girls were trailing into Catherine’s room with pillows, blankets and teddies for their bedtime story (I asked Catherine to get a photo taken of them – a real Kodak moment!) As she surveyed the group, she said that it looked like they were planning to stay the night! Amidst much giggling, the girls, with one voice chorused, “Good night Geetha!” and I left them to enjoy their last night together.
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