Day 3

We are pleased to share that we were much more successful with our sleeping arrangement last night. The children were exhausted after a jam-packed day of fun and one room was asleep even before lights out. We did have a few giggles but the alarm signal didn't cause a peep as they were all sound asleep by that point (well, mostly). 

Apart from a 1am wakeup for Mr Ben, Miss DaCosta and Miss C and a quick search for more bedding in the dark, it was snores and heavy breathing until 6:45, where an alarm clock gracefully fell from the top bunk, hitting each and every step on the way down. ⏰ 

Breakfast this morning consisted of a wide variety of cooked options. Much pondering held up the line as we made the difficult decision between veggie or chicken sausages or a McMuffin style patty with the usual sides: beans, potato gems, eggs, English muffins ......and...... Croissants 🤔

Full and happy, we set off for our first activity- construction 🚧.

Firstly, we learned how to lash the logs together and then we were given the challenge: build a bridge to cross a small gulley. Mr Ben pondered if it was really a bridge or more of a flat ladder. In our sleep deprived state, we spent far too long discussing what makes a bridge a bridge and how is that different to a ladder 🪜! The consensus was, a bridge shouldn't have big gaps.

Each team successfully created their bridge (with a teeny amount of adult intervention) and crossed over and back. There were no reports of trolls shouting about "trip-trapping" and we all got safely to the other side 🐐 🧌.

We then had a bit of free time of barrel-balancing and the more traditional football and cricket. 

Lunch today was any-combination-that-you-could-make rolls: chicken, tuna, ham, cheese and cucumber. There were shouts of "we've got the good crisps" (their exact words) and lunch was scarfed down. Rolled, crisped and fruit barred, we headed to activity 2 for the day: Gladiator!

Now, we had been envisaging podiums and giant cotton buds, but the actual activity was even more ambitious. Poles with steps, tyres, uneven logs and netting. 

Apparently a record of 23 seconds was set last Friday but honestly, we have no idea how. Children (and David and Ben) persevered to different heights, with shouts of encouragement and cheers. The children are great with each other, no matter the achievement or height they've met. Everyone has their own limit and they're equally supportive of those who scamper to the top as those who get a bit teary and stop earlier. That being said, each day, children are getting braver and pushing themselves even more. 

Behind every achievement is a great team, not only do they get to go up, but they also take turns supporting the ropes and harnesses. 

And now we're having a team sing-along whilst hauling the ropes, to tunes of The Little Mermaid and Moana 🎶See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me🎶 as well as some group games.

* It was at this very moment, I managed to delete the whole blog entry for the day*  🫣

Afternoon break was oranges and custard creams, clapping hands and more running around (where do they get the energy?)

It's a good thing it wasn't apples, as our next activity was archery and axe throwing! 

Hhheeeeaaaaadddddsssssss up!

No children, teachers or animals were harmed in the making of this blog. 

Dinner tonight was the one we had all been waiting for, outdoor BBQ!

 Followed by our fun evening activities!

That's over and out from team Cuffley for the night. Miss C has swapped over with Ms Sikkens who is looking forward to getting stuck into the Cuffley fun.