Norfolk 2025
Memories of Norfolk Lakes 2025
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Day Five
You'll be pleased to know that packing went well and there were no items left behind for me to collect, so 10/10 everyone! Their bedrooms were spotless when we left so no excuses when they get home. 😉
Well had a great time this morning, we challenged ourselves physically in our fencing session and then our brains had a workout in the initiative exercises.
Lunch was very popular, fish and chips or chicken nuggets and chips.
We are now on our way home, sad to say goodbye but looking forward to seeing you all.
A huge thank you from all the children and me to Mrs Findley and Miss Foster for agreeing to join me this week, I couldn't have done it without them. We also want to let Mrs Bellingham and Mrs Crawford know how grateful we are for all the paperwork and phones called that took place before we left.
We have struggled with the lack of WiFi to post photos but we will collate all the many, many photos taken this week and upload them early next week.
See you soon.
Mrs Bellingham will keep you updated of our progress and provide you with our estimated time of arrival when we are further along.
Day Four- afternoon
We shall be packing tonight ready for for our trip home tonight. 🤞
We will bring everything home and hopefully everyone's belongings will be in the correct bag, if not please bring it to school next week and we'll do our best to get it to the correct owner.
We have the Camp Fire session tonight and we are all hoping the hail from this morning doesn't make a repeat appearance.
Mrs Findley, Miss Foster and I have been so impressed with how well the children have not let their enthusiasm be dampened by the weather, making the most of every session. We are so proud of each and every one of them.
Day Four
As we wake up on our last full day, you guessed, it's raining again. These showers don't last long but they are scattered throughout the day. We're all praying the sun makes an appearance after breakfast.
Another packed day ahead for us all. Survival skills, orienteering, blind trial (another messy one but great fun) and the much anticipated camp fire this evening.
The instructors look forward to this one too, probably hoping I've brought extra marshmallows with me for then to toast with us!
Speaking of instructors, they are great. It had amused the children that most have the same names as some of our group or someone very close. We've met Alice, Charlie, Harry, Will and Jess. They are very supportive of our children and encourage them enough to succeed their personal best and with great care know when to let our children step back from something when they have met their limit.
Today's room inspection is next, this can be as delightful as it is shocking but always interesting.
The rain has eased but it was a heavy shower, the blind trail will be fun today... Wish us luck! 🤞
Day Three
Well we’ve passed the half way point and are still having a great time despite the weather not being particularly friendly.
As you would expect the number of children who require some encouragement to get up in the morning is growing! However, going to sleep is getting easier as the days pass.
We’ve had a packed day full of activities the most memorable (according to all three groups) was the giant canoe session. All three groups did this activity together. Lots of singing, splashing and plenty of fun. The ducks, geese and swans made a speedy departure from the lake when our tuneful sailors took to the lake.
We also had the next session together, Manor Olympics, not sure the events we tried will make it to Los Angeles in 2028! If so, we must put welly throwing on our curriculum and quick. The talent shown this afternoon was exceptional!
We’ve just finished our dinner and again plenty of hearty appetites particularly for the chocolate eclairs. You’ll be pleased to hear the optional salad bar and fruit bowl have been very popular with the children.
Very soon we are off to the last session of the day, bouldering, low ropes or archery. 
Day Two - part 2
This morning my group and I were busy braving the rain (and not complaining at all) during our outdoor activity, low ropes, as the other two groups were in the warm activity centre enjoying the caving and bouldering sessions. However, we realised how lucky we were when during the second session with Miss Foster’s group, on the obstacle course we had hail! Meanwhile, Mrs Findley’s group were warm and dry playing aeroball.
Lunch was lovely and all ate well again, the fresh air is stimulating healthy appetites.
I did share at the meetings with you that on occasion the children would get muddy, I didn’t quite expect them to enjoy the process quite so much. There were many muddy knees, shoes, socks, leggings, waterproof jackets and trousers, hoodies (not their leavers’ ones), hair and even faces. I advise you to open their bags with extreme caution when we get home.
Ironically, the weather is now sunny and dry just in time for an afternoon and evening of indoor activities for all groups.
We are all having a great time and it is a joy to see the children challenging themselves and being successful in ways they didn’t think possible. We’re very proud of them all.
Day Two
You'll be pleased to know that all slept well last night, although going to sleep early means you wake early! 5:30am, even the birds hadn't had their first coffee of the day.
Smiles greeted the instructors this morning after we had all enjoyed the lovely breakfast prepared for us by the generous catering staff. Mrs Quinlan, the children wanted me to let you know, the hash browns are just as lovely as last year. :)
We are off to our first set of activities this morning. A packed morning of low ropes and the obstacle course for Mrs Claffey's group, Miss Foster's group will take part in bouldering followed by the obstacle course and finally Mrs Findley's group will be caving and then aero ball!
Day One
Well, it's been a long day and the children have been very busy as have the adults. The roads were kind to us and we arrived in good time. It was a bit chilly when we ate our packed lunches but the sun shone beautifully until we got off the coach here in Norfolk, when it began to rain! (Thankfully, only for a few minutes.)
The children were very quick to get the cases into the houses and their rooms. I've never seen such excitement over bunk beds. Once all the beds were allocated, we each went straight to our first activities. Volleyball, the Lake Walk and the obstacle course. Mrs Findley's group drawing the short straw with the muddy obstacle course, lots of mud but even more smiles!
Next, came our first meal here in Norfolk. The head chef remembered us from previous visits and as expected complimented the children on their manners. Everyone ate something even the most particular of our diners. The chocolate brownie for dessert was a hit all round.
The final activities for the day were archery, caving and low ropes. Again, everyone enjoyed themselves.
As I write this the final challenge of the day is underway, bedtime! Wish us luck.
Attaching photographs has been very difficult as it's so slow. I will try tomorrow in a different part of the site.
Goodnight from us all.