PGL Trip

PGL Trip - Friday 9th - Sunday 11th May 2008

Year 3 PGL Log

Friday, we arrived at Boreatton Park to cheers as we saw the Centre for the first time. We met our group leader Nathan and were soon singing very silly songs. Our favourite was the Banana Song - that Miss Sutcliffe hated - which made us sing it even louder! We arrived in our cabin that was called 'Nuthatch'. Some of us thought our room smelt of sweaty feet!! The Dining Room was enormous but none of us got lost. We didn't get too lost playing 'Snap Shot' either!!

In Room 7, Friday night ended with a game of 'murder in the dark'. We are pleased to report that everyone survived. Room 2 had their 'midnight feast' a bit early. We think that Room 4 was having a Karaoke - it was painful to listen to. Miss Sutcliffe checked on Room 6 and heard some very loud snoring. She thought someone was being silly but it was actually Jack who was fast asleep.

Saturday morning's first activity was Quad Bikes. The only really spectacular moment was when Raj tried to do an impersonation of Lewis Hamilton and took off. The bike flew through the air and then got stuck in the tyre wall. We are pleased to say that he survived unharmed.

Next we went Abseiling which some of us expected to involve boats! Jessica was surprised to find out that it meant climbing backwards down a high wall. Mini-Milo (aka. Matthew Wilkinson) was brave enough to try some jumps. He looked a bit like James Bond. Everyone made it down in one piece including Jessica who is really scared of heights.

Kayaking started on dry land where we learned how to sit in the boat and how to get out if it capsized. When we entered the water we wobbled a lot but no one fell in - at least not straight away. Matthew Bowness spent a lot of time going round in circles but eventually got the hang of it. Matty got stuck under the branch of a tree whilst he was trying to raft up with Jessica and ended up toppling in. He pulled quite a scary face and Kat the instructor came to the rescue though. Two minutes later Mini Milo found another branch to get stuck under and in he went. Andy the instructor heaved him out. At the end of the session we played a game -The Big Fat Gorilla. Matty, Raj and Connor had to get out of their kayaks and rub noses with the end of it. Matthew Bowness had to stand up and sing 'Heads, Shoulders Knees and Jump' - with the jump splashing his neighbours!! Connor fell out of his kayak and it filled with water so he had to walk back to shore!!

We didn't really understand about the 'Drying Room' - which was like a Sauna - and thought that our clothes would dry even if they were left inside the plastic bag. Clearly we were missing our Mums who usually deal with our washing!!!

On Saturday night Miss Sutcliffe caught Room 2 in the middle of a pillow fight - Last Man Standing - when we were supposed to be going to sleep. We were not expecting her!! Meanwhile in Room 7 they were using Ellie's new torch to hold their own 'Disco in the Dark'. Room 6 had their own Security Man (Matty) who was busy shining his torch around the room and generally annoying everyone else. Room 2 had planned another 'midnight feast' but fell asleep!!

In Room 2, Sunday morning started with a dance competition. Mini Milo and Matthew B kicked it off. The rest of the room were the judges. Mini Milo was the eventual winner.

The girls plotted to lose the boys during the Orienteering exercise but everyone was quite good at map reading and made it back. The Sharks (Matty, Joe, William and Matthew B.) managed to win.

Giant Swing was next. Two people sat in the swing and the rest of the team had to pull them high into the air. Connor and Mini Milo were the first who were brave enough to go to the very top. The scariest part was pulling the 'release cord' at the top. Their screams could be heard for miles around as they flew through the air!! Two of the 'Pretty in Pink' ( Victoria and Ellie) gang were also very brave and screamed even louder!!

In the afternoon we went off to be Ninja Squirrels on the 'Low Ropes' course. We had to make our way across a tricky obstacle course with wobbly bridges, wobbly planks and the 'Elvis' rope. We went one at a time with our friends ready to catch us if we wobbled too much.

Trapeze was the final activity of the day. We had to take it in turns to climb a tall pole and balance on the top and pose for a photograph. The idea was you had to leap to catch a trapeze and swing. (We were on safety ropes!) It was tricky to hold the trapeze because it was slippery plastic. Matty, Victoria, Connor, Ellie and Joe managed to grab hold of it. Miss Sutcliffe had a bit of a panic when Jessica got to the top, quite easily, but then wouldn't come down. We decided she could not have her tea up there so eventually she was brave enough to close her eyes and jump for it!

We were sorry that we had to leave on Sunday evening and would recommend anyone who has the chance to go on a PGL holiday to go. We are all hoping that we will be allowed to go again next year and hope Annabelle will come along with us too.

Posted 12/05/08