09/06/2026
Day 1 on residential
After the bus driver played an elaborate game of Tetris with the suitcases and sacrificing the whole of the back row to bags, we set off in the pouring rain. Luckily, and very weirdly as those fortunate enough to have visited Wales before will know, the sun came out as we crossed the border and it has been a cracking day weather wise.
As is tradition, we stopped at the services – which I am adamant is the highlight of the week for some of the children – and boy howdy did we eat! WHSmiths’ owners will be pleased with the off-loading of a variety of terrible plastic toys and sheer volume of crisps and sweets purchased.
We arrived to sparkling sunshine and some heat! The children were disgusted to find the adult tents had real beds and a lounging area but they soon got over this – probably, as there was no way I was swapping anyway.
The children had their safety talk and unpacked…their snacks as if they haven’t been fed for weeks.
Then we set off on our first activity – a hill walk. You would have thought we were at Everest Base Camp with all of the moaning about the gradient, the sheep poo, the lack of wild horses, the nettles, the bracken, the water, the mud, their shoes, each other, Mr Evans, the inconveniently placed rocks on the path (nature how dare you!), the wind, the sheep again, the temperature, their failure to bring a jumper, the gradient again but this time downhill, where the buses were parked, why dinner was so far away (5:30pm!!!), why the hill was there anyway and why is the sun out!
However, as you can see from the pictures, it was totally worth it when we reached the lowest peak! This area sure is beautiful!
Dinner was sausages, mash and gravy (I would say and veg but you can probably guess why I left it out). Plates were licked clean – literally in some cases – before diving into a pudding of traditional rice pudding. All home cooked by Doris (63 years at Longtown and no signs of slowing or stopping – she’s a feeder that is for sure).
This evening we have been conducting some team challenges which has been some of the funniest teamwork I have ever witnessed. Parents of the boys I have Christmas sorted for you – a traffic cone! Not one single boy could possibly leave the cone alone during the team challenges even when the cone had nothing to do with the game.
