Then the rain came.

It's held off up to now but just as we started our pony ride the heavens opened. The children who were riding didn't really notice or mind but it was damp for the spectators. It was the fine rain that gets you really wet! Mr Hill managed to tag on feeding the lambs to the end of his farm jobs, yet again! It backfired when the lamb did it's business on him but that's animals for you ( the lamb not MR Hill).
We've all had a really busy day and were ready for our tea. Everyone ate their Shepherd's Pie so they got to eat a scrummy marbled chocolate sponge that Bradley and Abigail had helped to make. You could have forgiven us for thinking they might have been so full they would sit still for 10 minutes. Don't be silly! They are now running around again having been fully re-fueled.
We can't play on the field tonight so we are off to the woodland to design the ' The Spirits of the Forest" using anything we can find on the woodland floor. We'll take lots of photographs to show you when we get back. Fingers crossed that it will be dry tomorrow. Onwards and upwards. We are British and won't let the weather spoil our fun.

What a morning!

It was a ten o'clock start for the farm tour and we got there in plenty of time having already cleaned the house before we left. Mum's and dad's please note that we had a queue of children wanting to introduce themselves to Henry the Hoover. We had a great time looking at and learning all about the animals but the highlight had to be one of the student farmers, a girl, wrestling in the hay with a large ewe. The student won and the ewe went into a pen with her baby. Off horse riding now.

Day 2 for Y4H

 Everyone slept well eventually, no tears just chatter. The Barn children had an early riser in Katie who couldn't contain her excitement at going for a pony ride later in the day. The showers were very busy before breakfast in both houses. What good appetites these children have. They wolfed down  a hearty cooked breakfast to give them the energy they need for a very busy day ahead. We all have the farm tour to come, along with the farm jobs. We'll have to keep a beady eye on Mr Hill to make sure he doesn't smuggle a lamb away as he is quite taken with a little speckled faced baby. Mrs Ward is already up and off with her children doing farm jobs. It's all go!

1st night for Mr Hill's class

Well tea went down a storm. It has to be said that this year's children are the least fussy with their food. It just goes to show that if they are hungry enough they will eat what's on offer. After tea we had a rendezvous on the playing field where the children played football or just ran around and expelled all their energy. Next it was back to The Barn for refreshments and we all sat and watched Shrek 3 together. There were lots of belly laughs especially from the staff as they hadn't seen it before. The Barn then said their goodnights to The Farmhouse children who set off back across the field home. Next came supper, during which we had a circle time and all shared our thoughts on the day, before we cleaned our teeth and started to settle down to sleep.  Hope you all sleep well without us. Will post more in the morning. Goodnight.

Round 2

Here we go agin with round 2. The children have arrived safely and are very excited. The first group of children have just done their farm jobs and an extra treat when they got to feed the lambs. Bradley was, apparently, a natural. We are about to sit down to tea - pizza and garlic bread followed by jelly. Delicious!

Peace that won't last!

It's very quiet at The Barn without the children. They are on their way home and though some of them are ready to see mums and dads again I think they have all had a thoroughly enjoyable time. They have behaved impeccably with farm staff commenting on their politeness and manners as they have come into contact with them around the farm. You should be very proud of them and children, if you are reading this, you should be proud of yourselves. Mrs Ward and Mrs Mapplebeck at The Farmhouse and Mr Hill and Mrs Forshaw at The Barn have all enjoyed your company. Thank you.  I am sure Mr Hill's class will step up to the mark and make us proud too.

At last a photograph. Minibeast Magic

Day 3 Coming and going or should that be going and coming?

Another early start but no knocking on Mrs Forshaw's door last night. Children have all packed and cleaned their rooms, yes parents, they can do it! We've even got photographic evidence of the boys being introduced to the hoover. It's a bit cooler this morning but the sun will hopefully break through later. Games on the field this morning followed by a picnic before our journey home, and back again for the staff with a new crop of ,no doubt, very excited children. Keep watching.

Day 2 Why do animals smell so much?

We were all up bright and breezy - well the children were anyway! A cooked breakfast of choice was eaten by all. Very nice. Today was the farm tour. we have been coming to Whirlow for a number of years now but have never managed to fit in the farm tour. We are so glad we did this year. It was wonderful. There are lambs galore. We all managed to stroke one and see them being tended to by the farmer, Pete. Did you know that during lambing season the farmer is up from 3a.m. most days. Rather him than us. The piglets were adorable but the calves were very smelly indeed. We all had our lunch together in the Farm House garden in the glorious sunshine. The rest of the day was split between farm jobs - oh yes we have to work!, and a lovely pony ride. The farm jobs included grooming the horses, guinea pigs and rabbits, and collecting the eggs before boxing them up and delivering them to the farm shop to be sold. We have all had a ride on Bracken the pony. She is a very gentle natured pony who is only just short of being a horse. She seemed very high to us when we were sat on her. We all had to wear a helmet and there was some wincing,  in expectation of trapping our skin, when the chin straps were fastened.
It was shepherd's pie for tea followed by a beautiful home made jam sponge and custard. It was back up to the field for games after tea and then we all went back to The Barn to watch a dvd before retiring for the night. It has been a very full and tiring day today and we have all really enjoyed ourselves.
Wonder what's for breakfast in the morning.

Day 1 Minibeast Bonanza

A wonderful time had by all. We arrived at our homes for the next few days and were all very excited. We had lunch and settled into our rooms before starting out on our minibeasting adventure We collected record numbers of minibeasts today. At this point we would like to show you a photograph of our adventures but we seem to be having a technical hitch. Sorry. We'll just have to tell you our of our adventures.
We had a lovely tea of pizza and garlic bread, yummy, followed by rice pudding with peaches. Real gourmet dining! After tea we went up onto the field and played games, mostly football, to tire us out. The idea was that we would then watch a dvd before going to bed but guess what? More gremlins. Mrs Ward's dvd player just would not work so the children in The Farmhouse played other games whilst the children in The Barn went home and watched Charlotte's Web. It was off to bed, after a nice warm cup of drinking chocolate, to recharge for day 2.

Here we go!

The blog is now up and running so watch this space.