Branch Outing Report 2006

On Saturday 1st April 2006 Mummy & Daddy got me dressed and into the car much earlier than usual. We drove through a few villages (because some big road had nasty roadworks on it or something), and stopped in Islip, by the river.

Daddy had printed out the old version of the itinerary (I'm not sure what that is, but that is the title on the piece of paper with the times on it!) so we had quite a wait until a few more people arrived (who seemed to know my name.. strange.. I didn't tell them who I was), and then a big coach arrived.

I didn't want my seatbelt on so I screamed a bit and Daddy gave up trying to put it on and I went to cuddle Mummy instead. Mummy tried to put the belt on too so I screamed again and she gave up too.. screaming does seem to be the best way to get what I want. I went back to sit with Daddy, and thanks to all that screaming and the coach movement I fell asleep.

When I woke up we had stopped by a huge garden with a pond and church in it. After a little bit of walking towards the church I was tired so I stood still until Daddy picked me up and put me on his shoulders - I can see things much better from up there. Daddy thinks it is fun to run or skip with me on his shoulders so I laughed a bit to keep him happy and then we arrived at the church.

The church had a big spire and there was a big cannon by the buildings next to the church. Daddy went upstairs to ring the bells whilst I ran around the church and played climbing up the steps to the church keyboard - this church had a much bigger keyboard than mine, and had funny pipes too. Unfortunately I couldn't find the 'on' button so I wasn't able to play on it. Daddy came back and I let Mummy go upstairs to ring.

We got back into the coach after walking back the 10 miles to the coach (.. Mummy thinks I am exagerating a bit, whatever that means). We drove off to the next church where there was a room with glass doors and toys hidden in a cupboard. Mummy got some toys out for me to play with. Daddy went up to ring and when he came back he said that the tower swayed and that the bells must have been on different levels because they sounded funny sometimes.

We got back in the coach and went to Wokingham for some lunch. I was hungry so I had some 'appetizers' on the coach. We walked past a number of pubs before we finally decided on one in Wokingham town centre. We had our food and then Daddy and I played running round a bit of wall that you could run all the way around.

Eventually everyone decided it was time to go and ring again so we walked back to the church to ring. I found some toys to play with at the back of the church. Gina Hadfield came and played with me so I let Mummy and Daddy out of my sight to a few minutes. They told me the ropes were stretchy (a bit like my socks I guess - they always seem to get much longer when I try to pull them off). I think Mummy and Daddy rang some Plain Bob Major there, but I am sure it's just a made up name for 'having some time to themselves' so I decided to scream a bit and put a stop to their fun - I can't let them thinking they can spend lots of time away from me - it's their job to play with me all day, after all.

We got back on the coach and went past the place I played last summer (Oakwood Youth Challenge) and past the entrance to some place where bellringing courses are held. We carried on and came to the next church in Easthampstead. There was a Jumble Sale or something going on, but they were just closing when we arrived so Mummy didn't take me in. Instead I ran around the church whilst the adults went to ring the bells - Daddy told me the bells were a bit light and some of the bellringers were having problems with them.. certainly sounded interesting downstairs! Jeremy Adams came down to play with me for a few minutes, but I didn't like him much so I screamed and went to find Daddy (who was hiding upstairs with Mummy.. honestly, they seem to run off whenever I turn my back!). Daddy took some pictures of the bellringing just to prove they weren't just having a party upstairs when I was playing downstairs:

I decided to have a drink when we got back to the coach - it is thirsty work keeping track of the parents!

At the next tower (Warfield) they must have had some accidents in the past - their whiteboard had some really nasty pictures of the accidents!

Mummy found some toys for me to play with in a big treasure chest which was nice. Daddy went to ring (there were 10 bells in this tower, similar to Bicester, so the grown ups aren't used to that many bells as they hardly ever ring all 10 at Bicester!). They tried hard, and it didn't sound too bad. Gina came in to play with me again. Unfortunately when she did this I turned my back to show Gina one of the toys and .. yep, you've guessed it, Mummy ran off up the tower to join Daddy again! Honestly! I let her go for a couple of minutes, but it was getting close to my dinner time so I wasn't going to let her stay away for long.

As soon as the ringing finished at this tower, Mummy found me my dinner which cheered me up lots. The coach then drove us back to Islip (I had a nap as it was quite a long way) and then I said goodbye to the bellringers, and Daddy drove us home.