Fantastic France [Part Two]

Tuesday

 

This morning after breakfast, my group had a go at rock climbing.  I had done a little rock climbing when I was younger.  I was really excited and couldn’t wait to have a go!

 

However, the activity was more difficult than I expected.  My legs were numb from the cold weather and I couldn’t find the strength to pull my body up the wall.  Somehow, I managed it.  If I’m honest, I enjoyed the abseiling a lot more.

 

After lunch and a lesson in the classroom, we visited the French town of Fuggiurre (sp?).  We were asked to interview a random French person in the town.  I feel a bit stupid going up to someone in the street, but the individuals were very obliging.

 

Then another task was to go into a tourism office and find directions to a place.  Then we had to find out about an event going on in the town.

 

I thought it would be clever to go into a French travel agent to enquire about a festival.  I walked in, and asked “Qué est supermarché?”  (“Where is the supermarket?”)  Oops a daisy!!

 

The look on the woman’s face was unbelievable.  She was lost of words.  But she was willing to help me as much as she could.  I was in hysterics, I couldn’t talk, LOL!!  That certainly made my day.

 

Tags: adventure, France, rock climbing, team games, travel log, school trip

Hey, hey hippie!

We all had a bit of fun in class today!  It was all for a good cause “BBC Children in Need”.  Each class was given a fancy dress theme and ours was “T.V & Movie Characters”.  I do not like fancy dress at all.

 

 

However, this year I dared to be different and dress as a hippie or as some thought, Neil from the British sitcom, “The Young Ones”.  I have posted pictures of my costume, as promised.

 

 

Other groups of students dressed up as punk rockers, cheerleaders and “Pokémon” characters.  Some even wore their pyjamas!  I will let you all know the total amount of money collected when I find out.

 

 

“BBC Children in Need” is a fund-raising extravaganza held every year in November.  It helps disadvantaged children to have a better life.  These include children who are chronically ill or profoundly disabled, those who've been badly treated by the adults around them, children who live in poverty or inadequate housing, and some who are bullied, excluded or distressed in the U.K.

 

 

Join Terry Wogan, Pudsey Bear and many other celebrities tonight on BBC 1 at 7p.m for lots of fun and frolics, all in the name of charity.  If you would like to learn some more about the Appeal or donate some money, click the link below:

 

Children in Need 2007

 

Following the footsteps of Take That and Led Zeppelin, the Spice Girls have reformed hoping to Spice up the Charts again!  Seven years on since the split, they look hotter than ever.  However, I am disappointed with their comeback, which is the official single of the CIN Appeal.  It seems weak compared to their previous songs.

 

 

How ironic the title of the song is “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)”.  Maybe the ‘girls’ have been blinded by flashing dollar signs so much, they have forgotten about the arguments and bitchiness of yesteryear.

 

“Headlines” (Live on "BBC Children in Need")

 

GIRL POWER (L-R): in their heyday, the Spice Girls reunited in 2007 and are embarking on a World tour.

Tags: BBC Children in Need, fancy dress, fundraising, Spice Girls

More News

 

This morning I received a letter from the hospital stating the new appointment of my mole removal.  I am now having surgery on the 6th December.  I have waited over six months.  Now, the time cannot come quick enough!  The mole is not life-threatening, but it makes me feel very self-conscious.

 

 

My friend Ross has passed his driving test!  He passed the first time on Monday morning.  I am very pleased for him.  However, I feel a little envious.  I have been told that I will never be able to drive a car because of my short sightedness.  I really do want to drive and gain some independence.  It hurts because I will never know what the thrill is like to get behind the wheel of a car and drive on the open road. 

 

 

I try to look on the bright side by thinking of the pounds I have saved having no lessons.  I don’t want to be dependant on people, but unfortunately, that is how the Wheel of Fortune spins.  Oh well…

 

 

 

Tomorrow is “Children in Need Day”.  The Sixth Form fancy dress theme this year is “T.V or Movie Characters”.  I don’t usually like fancy dress, but this year I have made an effort to set a good example to the younger students of the school.

 

 

I am dressing up as a hippie. Or if anyone asks, I’m John Lennon from the movie, “Help!”  I can’t wait; it will be so much fun!  I will ask Mum to take some photos for you all to see.

 

Have a good evening.

 

Tags: BBC Children in Need, car, dermatologist, driving, fancy dress, fundraising

Fantastic France [Part One]

If I had to describe the trip in one word it would be “Amazing!”  I loved every minute of the trip.  Below is an extract from a journal I wrote while in France.

 

 

Sunday

 

I don’t remember much about the ferry crossing from Portsmouth as I was sleeping for the majority of the time, with a little help from a sea sickness tablet and a travel pillow.  A teacher commented:  “Every time I glanced over, you were sleeping like a log.  Nothing could wake you.”  Even when I was awake, I felt sleepy.

 

On arrival in Normandy, it was fine, but boy, it was cold!  Despite that, I had never been so glad to see a place as much as this one.  I had never seen so many people in one place at one time.  The entire village had come out to welcome us. 

 

I don’t know where I gathered the strength from to smile and wave back, I was so tired.  It must’ve been a side-effect of the sea sickness tablet.  All I wanted to do was sleep in a nice, comfortable bed.

 

 

Monday

 

We were woken up at 7:00a.m, to be ready for the day ahead at 8:00a.m.  Then breakfast was served.  It consisted of cereal, yogurt and fruit, followed by croissant and jam, with a cup of tea or fruit juice.

 

Later on that morning, we visited the French town of Mayenne.  Here, we were split into three groups of ten, and then set a challenge.  This morning’s task was to go into a café, then order some food or drink in French.  I ordered a hot chocolate – a French speciality.  Then I went into a baker’s and was brave enough to buy a pain au chocolat (literally translates to ‘chocolate bread’).

 

After lunch, my group had a go at abseiling.  I had a go… twice!  I was unwilling to have a go at first.  I had to pretend to sit on a toilet, but there would be nothing behind to support my back.  This scared me the most, the fact that there was nothing there – just me and a black rope.

 

Once I gained confidence, I started to abseil down the wall.  It was nineteen foot high, taller than a house.  As I got the bottom, the sense of achievement was immense, it was overwhelming! 

 

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my body, blotting of the coldness.  I was raring to have another go!  Mrs. Cooke, my helper, grabbed my arm and said “Leigh, please don’t have another go” because I was terrified first time around.  But I’m glad I did, because I was much more confident, and we got some wonderful pictures.

 

Abseiling for the first time! (Filmed by Mrs. Cooke.)

 

Tags: abseiling, adventure, archery, France, travel log, school trip

In Remembrance

 

On the Eleventh day on the Eleventh month in 1918, the First World War came to an end.  On the eleventh hour, please give a thought to our fallen heroes.  Not only those that have fought in World War One and Two, but those who have fought in conflicts since then, who have paid service for our country, and died for our freedom.

 

Tags: Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday, Veteran's Day

An Almighty Task (200th Entry)

Hi again, readers.

 

Last night, I went to a celebration held in honour of “Youth Work Week”.  “Youth Work Week” is to celebrate all the things Youth Centres and Youth Workers provide for the community.

 

Gareth and I (Joint Chairman of Rhondda Youth Forum) and Mitchell (Vice Chairman of RCT Youth Council) along with  Councillor Ward were asked to judge displays made by all the Youth Centres and then decide which one was the best in the Rhondda, Cynon and Taff areas.  Then the winners would each receive a prize of £100.

 

We had to mark each club based on the activities held at the club, what they had done throughout the year, and the presentation of the boards.  My, it was hard work… I think I can now empathise with the “X Factor” judges!!

 

I have included photos from the evening, enjoy!

 

Guy Fawkes Day

It is November 5th, and people in the U.K are celebrating a holiday called Guy Fawkes Day.  Although, there were many celebrations over the weekend.

Nearly four hundred years ago, in 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes tried to blow up a government building. He wanted to kill King James I and the king's leaders. Fawkes was one of a group of men who felt that the government was treating Roman Catholics unfairly.

The king and his leaders were to meet on November 5th. So, the group placed barrels of gunpowder in a cellar beneath the building where the king and others were to meet. Guy Fawkes was to light the fuse that would set off the explosion. But the plot was discovered before he had a chance to do this. The king was saved, and Fawkes was hanged.

Ever since, Guy Fawkes Day has been a time for merrymaking. It is a holiday that both children and grown-ups enjoy. The best part comes as darkness falls. Then, straw dummies are tossed into huge bonfires. Amid cries of glee, firecrackers pop and "the Guy" goes up in a blaze of fire.

Tags: Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Day, family, fireworks