Today was a little bit misty and drizzly, but nothing could dampen our PGL spirit! We started our morning off with a cracking breakfast of bacon, grilled tomatoes and scrambled egg (with all the usual sides of cereal, yoghurts and fruit). A big breakfast to deal with a big day.

Our first morning sessions involved going to the challenge course and trapeze. The challenge course is essentially a giant adventure playground, and the children loved it – even when they were challenged to complete all the activities with a cone on their head or all holding on to the same piece of rope. Interestingly, we discovered that a gravelled assault course still has lots and lots of mud, especially if we approach challenges by crawling underneath them. Be warned – there are some seriously muddy children in the photos you will see. The trapeze was excellent as ever, with lots of children pushing themselves to heights that they would never have expected of themselves – this activity truly is a leap of faith.

For lunch, we had pasta in various forms (tomato, garlic and basil, tuna ___ bake). We also used this opportunity to make sure that we de-mudded and layered up for the elements – some of the class were introduced to the might sock glove!

In the afternoon, we were on the sensory trail and Jacob’s Ladder. Jacob’s Ladder is an excellent activity because the children are required to work as a team to support each other up each rung of the ladder. I was really impressed at how well the children supported each other in this activity – some children even reached the seventh rung, which I can’t remember happening with a residential group before. The sensory trail also relies on communication and teamwork – blindfolded, the children have to work their way around an assault course, telling each other about obstacles and communicating when the group gets split up (made even harder with a teacher giggling behind them).

For dinner, we had a choice between chilli and paella, with rice pudding for dessert. Our evening activity was, in a weather-affected change to proceedings, ‘Splash’ – the groups had to devise a safety net for a water balloon out of cardboard boxes; if the balloon survived a drop down a flight of stairs, the children would be able to throw the water balloon at our rep, Kenny…

Luckily, Kenny stayed dry to help another day (apparently cardboard boxes don’t cushion particularly well from the top of an accommodation block). We’re all heading to bed now, but first making sure that we have our suitcases packed ready for our return journey…

Mr George

Our second full day of activities! We started off with a breakfast of sausages, baked beans and mushrooms (cooked in some kind of salt and pepper sauce which was amazing!). A hearty meal before another full on day.

This morning, our Lydiard groups were on abseiling and climbing sessions – the two walls were so close that each group could wave at each other! There was some amazing bravery and perseverance on the abseiling tower; lots of children that didn’t think they would be able to handle the heights proved to themselves that they could. The climbing wall is always excellent fun – some children seem to climb faster up walls than they walk on land!

For lunch, we had a choice of wraps or buns with a chicken filling or sloppy joe filling (which I can’t say I’d ever tried before, but would thoroughly recommend). Just the thing to give us the energy we needed to enjoy our day.

This afternoon, our groups went on the crate challenge and archery course. The crate challenge was great fun as it always is – Mrs Morrison knocked over her team’s tower before they finished, and at least one person managed to sit on Mr George’s head as they were lowered down! Archery was a wonderful session, not just for the access to bows and arrows but because of all the new songs they learned from the instructor!

For dinner, we had a choice between chicken curry, vegetable cannoli or pork steaks. I’m promised that all the food was delicious (though I always choose a curry when given a choice…).

This evening, we had a new entertainment activity – the photo challenge! We’ve not had this activity before but, judging from the grins plastered on faces as they were going to bed, we may need to book it in again next time…

All asleep now, ready and set for another day of activities tomorrow!

Mr George

Our first day of activities! We started off with breakfast options of bacon, veggie sausages, hash browns and tomatoes (or cereal) (or a mountain of toast), before heading off to our morning activities.

Both Lydiard groups spent the morning going on the giant swing and then in a fencing session (though not necessarily in that order). We had some amazing poses on the swing and lots of children pushing themselves even further than they were expecting – some staff were pushed out of their comfort zone as well! Fencing was very exciting (real fencing foils!) and the children were able to showcase lots of their talent from last term in a new and interesting way. Plus they got a chance to pose in the fancy fencing gear…

For lunch, we had a choice between a sausage roll (excellent), sheperd’s pasty (excellent) or a vegetarian pie (excellent). It gave us just the energy we needed for our afternoon’s activities!

In the afternoon, our two groups went on the vertical challenge and had a go at orienteering. We had lots of children, across both groups, reach the top of the vertical challenge, a difficult climb across four sets of apparatus. Some children shot up so quickly we weren’t even sure that they’d been on! Orienteering is always fun, and a wonderful opportunity to explore the PGL centre – several times if you are unlucky enough to be in a group with Mrs Tidy…

For dinner, we had a choice between lasagne (excellent) and a vegetarian alu gobi (also excellent) with chips and apple crumble for desert (although apparently I’m strange for not liking custard…).

Our evening activity was Ambush, which is essentially a group game of hide and seek in the dark. One team was particularly stealthy and disciplined and one team had Mr George frantically shushing people while hiding in a ditch – my favourite activity of the week! We ended our day with nominations and then quick showers before heading to bed, looking forward to tomorrow’s activities.

Mr George

An exciting first day full of coaches, tours and team games! A wonderful start to PGL 2020 and all the children really getting into the spirit of the week.

We started off by posing in our Leavers’ Hoodies (some natural posers there it must be said…) and then moved on to some problem solving activities at school (including Mr George’s personal favourite – the Leaning Tower of Hippos). By the time 1.30pm came around, we were ready and raring to go – I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a group of Y6s so organised getting onto the coach!

On arrival at PGL, we met our instructor Kenny who gave us a guided tour of the site, which included all the usual sights and activities, along with some new songs to sing. We got settled into our rooms and then headed down for dinner – lots of options were available. I went for a superb sausage casserole, but I’m informed that the vegan ragu, plum chicken were pretty fantastic as well (as was the leftover pizza from lunch…).

This evening, we have played ‘Wacky Races’ which included some amazing impressions of animals (I was shouted down for confusing a sidewinder snake with a rolling worm, which apparently isn’t a real thing). We then had our first set of values nominations and have now gone to settle down in our rooms, ready to sleep (fingers crossed!).

Only a few select photo highlights for today – lots more to come in the rest of the week! We’ll keep you updated (when the wi-fi’s working!).

Mr George