Deep into the end of year run down we're up to all sorts to fill our days. Today we had a Talent show. I got together with Lola, Sasha, Amelie and Elsa. It was a big time event, in the main hall and everything. We got four votes for our cheerleader inspired dance routine which wasnt enough for the win but was very respectable compared to others.
Had a trip to twon with Mum and Dad to pick up some cards (Ambers birthday and a thank you card for Mrs Rance)
I took a well earned rest in Parkway:
Wednesday
Our ongoing for quest for worthwhile activities continued at school. Today was more like some sort of Victorian workhouse while we moved earth from the trim trail area up to the garden bit behind the storage containers. It was actually a lot of fun, racing the wheelbarrows up there.
We also practiced singing a million dreams (from the greatest showman film) for our leavers assembly. Mrs Rance cried....I hope our singing wasn't that bad?
It was Ambers party in the evening, a trip to the new Redkangaroo trampoine park in reading. It was great fun, we got very hot and sweaty but had a great time. We also had pizza.
Thursday
Jess gave herself three knees on the ladder bridge in the school playground today when she trapped it beteween the rungs it was so swollen. We thought she'd broken it. Sasha was doing a sponsored day in a wheel chair so that was lucky, we turfed her out and pushed Jess back to the school buildings to get her checked out (she was on the whole).
We got to carry out our sports day victory lap of honour today so that felt good!
Friday
So it was finally here, my last day at John Rankin. It's been looming on the horizon for so long and now it was actullay here. Mum made sure I had a shower and did my hair properly so I looked presentable for the leavers assembly.
I went in as normal and we waited until it was assembly time. We went into the hall in front of the upper school and a sizeable contingent of parents taking to the benches at the front of the hall.
The presenter double act of Mr Rayner and Mrs Watkins (back from maternity leave for a special appearance).
The baby photos were grat fun of course, some more so than others. I was pleased with the one Mum and Dad submitted for me, despite my friends thinking that was chocolate in my nose when it was actually a scab:
It took a while to get through nearly 60 of us leavers on an individual basis and presenting us with our pen and pencil set, but it was so entertaining it was actually a shame when we were all finished. We sang our song, huge swathes of the grown ups were reduced to tears and there was a slideshow playing of various photos from around the school, a trip to the park and of course our Rhos trip.
The rest of the upper school filed out and we broke ranks to cuddle our friends and our parents, I might have had a few tears myself at this point in all honesty despite maintaining all along that I wasn't bothered about it. I gave Mum and Dad a cuddle, it was nice to have them there.
We went out for lunch time, played for a bit and did the customary signing of shirts with sharpie (I took 4 colours of course).
We came back in to the classroom for one last time, all together, 6 Birch. The end product of a few class mix ups over the years but i'm glad we all ended up together, a real good mix of personalities that for the vast majority of the time got along splendidly.
Then it was out onto the field for the traditional whole school end of term picnic:
By the time Dad came home I was half asleep on the sofa binge watching Hetty Feather on the Iplayer. He convinced me (quite easily) to go to Mr Moo Juice for an Oreo shake.
We had a quiet evening, going through my exercise books I had bought home,it was nice to realise just how much progress I had made in the last year, so a massive thanks to Mrs Rance and of course Mum for their efforts. I know they are very proud of me and my efforts and achievements.
I am seriously looking forward to going to Park House though....I certainly feel ready and know it's time I moved on.
Saturday
So after a few false starts over the years we finally took a Camping trip with the Halfords (and Andy).
We left at a very civilised time in the morning and as we were only going to the Witterings we were soon pulling into the campsite. It was already a very warm day so setting up was a sweaty endeavour. It was a good job Dad had bought his new industrial strength tent pegs as the ground was like concrete.
The Halfords transformer-trailer-caravan 'Dolly' was seriously cool and watching them set it up was really interesting, a very ingenious piece of equipment.
They also bought Hartley along which was brilliant, I got to fuss him loads and loads, he's so laid back and lovely.
So once we'd set up camp we needed a swim to cool off, so down the beach it was:
We left at a very civilised time in the morning and as we were only going to the Witterings we were soon pulling into the campsite. It was already a very warm day so setting up was a sweaty endeavour. It was a good job Dad had bought his new industrial strength tent pegs as the ground was like concrete.
The Halfords transformer-trailer-caravan 'Dolly' was seriously cool and watching them set it up was really interesting, a very ingenious piece of equipment.
They also bought Hartley along which was brilliant, I got to fuss him loads and loads, he's so laid back and lovely.
So once we'd set up camp we needed a swim to cool off, so down the beach it was:
It was low tide so there was plenty of sand which was far easier on the feet. The sea itself felt really warm, nit at all like down West where it always feels a bit chilly. We splashed about and threw the vortex about, making ever more elaborate and dramatic catches.
We pumped up the kayak and took it for a few trips out and back but it was pretty choppy which only made it more fun. It was lovely to all be in the sea together.
We headed back to camp for a barbecue, some gymnastics, and a lark about for the evening:
Any hopes of a lie in were soon quashed by the several thousand noisy kids from an adjoining group getting up at 7am for a number of noise based activities, so thanks a lot to them for showing such consideration to their fellow campers.
We had a nice breakfast, sat out in the morning sunshine which made a pleasant change from hiding within the tent like we normally do on our more climate-challenged camping trips.
We got our gear together and headed off to East Head Spit, which was a short walk from the car park but certainly worth it to get away from the crowds at West Wittering. It was like being abroad, hot, cloudless blue skies and beautiful blue sea.
We swam. A lot.
The sea was really weird, you could go from ankle deep to over your head deep in about two steps:
We pretty soon worked out that you could take a running leap into the deep water which lead to all sorts of nonsense:
Our signature move was the 'Silly Salmon' which was sadly undocumented.
We played cricket with the Falkland Cricket Club's Players Player of the year (Emma) and one of her coaches (Dean), we took Hartley for a paddle and we dug of course:
And then we went back to base for a siesta:
Once we were rested, we were hungry so it was a walk along the beach:
To the Boulevard restaurant, to revisit the Boule Buster:
Ned ate his half, I picked a few bits off the top and declared myself full. Dad had wisely cancelled his pudding order when he got wind of what we were up to and gamely pitched in to help out.
Both he and Ned completely overdid it and moaned and groaned the whole way back to camp.
We bid Andy a fond farewell as he had to be back to work on Monday which was a shame.
We wandered along the moonlit beach, caught a bit of an aerobatic display in the distance with fireworks seemingly attached to the aeroplanes and then put ourselves to bed.
Monday
So mum and dad had a day off, meaning we could stay for another day of sun soaked beach fun. Back to the Nerf throwing and trying to body surf on the waves that were trying their hardest to form up.
We had a picnic on the beach, searched for those rounded little bits of coloured glass you can sometimes find amongst the pebbles and did more swimming.
We couldn't deny it any longer though, we had to pack up and head for home. It didn't take too long and we were soon saying our goodbyes. It was great to spend a whole weekend with Leo, my new classmate come September. We got on so well and really enjoyed our time together.
Then it was home to several hundred Whatsapp pings and all the inter-secondary-school rivalry that's infiltrating all our group chats......shame.
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