Awesome Adventure 2016: Family Fun Day, Swimming Gala Day and Athletics Carnival

Another busy few days. The Family Fun Day was held on the school oval on Sunday arvo. Sophie and Will both had a chance to run around on the inflatable slides and obstacle courses. Will's favourite was a blow up soccer goal - with freddo frogs as a reward. Sophie's highlight of the day was a pony ride and then taking smaller children around the sports fields on the ponies. It was a great chance for them to have fun with friends before moving on from Terrington Hall at the end of the week. I even had a go in the tug-a-war at Sophie's insistence. David (John's cousin) was navigating in a car rally on Sunday, so we caught up with him briefly in Malton on Saturday arvo while he was doing his preparation. All of the cars need noise, race compliance and safety checks. The car that he was navigating was built in 1972. On Friday, Sophie had been awarded an academic colour - so, I made sure that it was stitched onto her blazer for the week ahead.

The school leaver's service was on Sunday at the local church. Terrington Hall has school years up to Year 8 (13 year olds) and the students then scatter to a wide range of senior schools - in York, Durham and other places, even up to Scotland. We were thinking of a bike ride on Sunday arvo but when the weather looked like it might turn nasty, we opted for a trip to Yearsley Pool. It was interesting to see the different process, compared to Australian pools. Entry is restricted to a specific session e.g. inflatable or free swim and people use little changing cubicles rather than taking their gear into the shower area - and lockers are provided, with a key wrist band.

The house swimming gala day was at Ampleforth College's 25 yard pool on Monday, where the students swam for house points. The swimming carnival had been in York earlier in the year. Sophie was very proud of her ability - with close wins. Many of the others are excellent swimmers and two in other age groups were outstanding, breaking school records. Almost all of the students are capable swimmers which is very impressive for a country school in a cold climate. Will did well but his best day of the week was the following day, where he was awarded age champion (Victor Ludorum) at the athletics carnival. The carnival had been postponed from a rainy weekend and was squashed into a weekday afternoon. It was still very enjoyable and a nice day out for parents to sit around in the sun and chat. The highlight was the 'canon relay' where everyone in the school ran 100 yards in a relay for their house and as the order of ages is mixed, the outcome is completely unpredictable until the last lap.