A good night's sleep: check. Breakfast consumed: check. Travel sickness pills administered: check. Bags packed: check (but a painfully long process). Rooms cleaned and beds stripped: check (equally, if not more, painful). 90 children and eight staff on two coaches departing on time: check. And so we bid farewell to Adventure Bude in Cornwall. It's been a week to remember. Occasional tears, the odd fall or trip, heaps of laughter, jug fulls of memories and bucket loads of achievements for everyone. Memories of a lifetime. Thank you parents/carers for giving your children this opportunity - for paying, for  packing and for [...]

For the final shabang of the week, children, tutors and St Mary’s staff shuffled into the large marquee for the final celebrations and shenanigans as the sun set for us for the last time in Bude. After games and fun, it was a chance to celebrate EVERYONE'S incredible efforts for the week - everyone getting a certificate. Following that recognition of everyone in our wonderful group, the eight group tutors nominated two bottlers (those who overcame their fears - wearing T-shirts over their heads); two jokers (those who were a constant source of fun - wearing T-shirts like trousers); and two [...]

We woke up this morning to the welcomed gift of Apollo's warm glow peaking through our windows. We had certainly deserved it! With a high spring tide still hiding the sea pool, everyone congregated for a morning run. Running first thing in the morning isn't everyone's cup of tea but being outside and having the opportunity to see and feel mother nature in all her glory is something to behold. Refreshed, energised and panting, the troops filtered into breakfast for some crispy hashbrowns, bacon and beans - and copious cups of coffee for staff. Then, it was our final day of [...]

Wednesday evening was a chance to show off to the centre staff the abundance of talent St Mary’s School children have on offer. There was a buzz of excitement in the air as children (groups and individuals) practised outside - the stars beginning to glow in the darkening sky. Then, the show began. The audience sat in anticipation waiting to see what delights they would digest. They were not disappointed: singing, dancing, comedy, The David Show, piano playing - they had it all. Today the children's bravery was tested to the max: jumping to a trapeze from 30 feet, climbing a [...]

I woke this morning bright and early ready for my daily ritual of morning yoga followed by facial exfoliation and moisturising (just kidding; I checked BBC sport whilst in bed). However, after a few moments, something struck me - a strange sound that parents may never have heard: silence. The sound of tired, sleeping children whose Tuesday had both entertained and exhausted. Good news for all. No early risers! A peak at the window suggested the sun had yet to rise but on closer inspection, it was in fact the darkest and bleakest day of the week. Fortunately, in a desperate [...]

It's been another fun night at the centre. Sports on the astro under floodlights in the warm evening air and fancy dress and party music inside. While children danced the night away, St Mary’s staff took part in a particularly competitive game of Dobble. The fun must end of course. Before retiring upstairs for a room inspection, everyone gathered for a bedtime story: a true story about a talking duck billed platypus named Eric who found its way to the river in Bude almost 17 years to the day, when it also met its demise. Rumour has it from locals that [...]

We are currently in a weather sandwich. The hot, sunny weather of last week has gone but forecasts predict it to return in all its glory next week. This week, however, we are the filling to that bread sunshine. A filling comprised of rain and wind. They say there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad choice of clothes; that may be true but even more important than appropriate attire is resilience and a positive mindset and this group of Year 6s have that in bucket loads - apt for the beach! This morning the alarm sounded a 7.45am. Most [...]

It's 10.15pm and I'm sat on the floor of a corridor at our home for the week still hearing the excited shrieks of our Year 6 adventurers who 'promised' they would settle down and fall soundly asleep - we'll see... The day started at 9am. Everyone was on time! There's a first - well done parents. Coaches had also arrived on time and off we zoomed to the mind-numbing chorus of 100 bottlesof beer on the wall - singing scars of which some of us still have from the Year 5  trip last year. Four hours in, the songs endured, the [...]

We are very excited to soon be travelling down to the south-west with our wonderful Years 6s. Everyone is itching to get in the sea and have some fun!