Good afternoon,

We've had a very enjoyable day. Hopefully you have been following a few updates on twitter-I got a little excited earlier, as we were in a French restaurant having some crepes and the wifi connection was actually working, a stark contrast to the centre!

Dinner last night was bread, mixed salad (or bread for the children as they continued munching), ravioli, bread, cheese, bread, ice cream and then if anyone still wasn't full up there was an option of bread.
Dinner has finally become the civilised affair it was meant to be from the start. The children sit at tables and the food is brought to them and they serve each other. Scenes reminiscent from Oliver in the orphanage still occur when the bread reappears on the table. We managed to successfully negotiate 60 children through the showers in just over 30 minutes.

After dinner the evening activity was mini olympics. It lived up to my initial billing of not very olympic and not very mini with 60 excited Y6's involved. There were some winners, which were just about established through the mist. There was then some free time on the field, where I am pleased to announce that the extra paperwork in piriton has not really come in useful- the grass seems to have calmed down this year. We left the field at 10.10 with a lights out time of 10.30pm. Ridiculously optimistic, some boys were still wondering if they had to brush their teeth at 10.50pm or indeed why they had to remove their jeans in order to sleep.

Breakfast followed its usual routine and I managed to restrain my frustration! I have to give an update on Mr Powell's 'captains' regime for room points. He has now morphed into Richard O Brian from the crystal maze " Captains, I trust you enjoyed your sleep, your next task is......" I am hanging around each time just to catch a glimpse of this wonderful routine. The girls are now really trying to entice Miss Stout, with some even desperately asking at shopping yesterday if they could buy some ribbon. Why? To decorate their rooms!!

I didn't report yesterday on the amount of French that is being spoken. Lots of children are diving in there in and around the shops to great effect and should be very proud of themselves. Although one child has been taking it a bit far. "Do you know Mr Holmes, I am the only person who is saying merci to the bus driver, everyone else is speaking in English."
"That's great, but unfortunately he is from Birmingham".
 We have just been to the potential banana skin that is the cheese farm, however I think we just about kept our heads above the water- the lady who owns the farm speaks entirely in French and the children have to translate. We ordered a fair few heart shaped cheeses to bring back.

The blue hoodies have proved very useful on the excursions, as we have been able to easily spot those trying to escape our mits! Thanks to the parents who organised them. However, they may come back in various states-hot chocolate, breadcrumbs and I don't think some have taken them off yet.

We went to Dieppe this morning for a short tour and a crepe in a restaurant. Mr Campbell finally managed to have a coffee outside of the centre, but alas the rest of his staff were surrounding him, so he didn't quite have the peace and quiet he craved.
The tour in one group was unfortunately interrupted this mornng, by a man walking over with a mischevious smile on his face whilst one of the kingswood staff were talking and offering " Don't believe a word he is saying it's all .............." in a wonderful cockney accident. You can never escape the English..........

Children are just at team tech (making things out of giant mechanical pieces-a bit better than lego) and French games before we go for dinner. Then this evening we have archery and fencing with children swopping tomorrow to have a go at the other activity. Aiming for a bit more tiredness tonight, so that when that light goes out, the children go out!
Weather today was a bit cloudy with the sun breaking through-hoping for a bit better when we are around the centre tomorrow.