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Messing about on the Water: Canal Holiday 2006.
click here to see our full-size pictures in the Album
The canal holiday this year went really well. It was made extra special by two people on the barge celebrating their birthdays, it was Robs 27th birthday and Roland 64th birthday.
Everybody mucked in and helped with all the locks. The most strenuous being a staircase of 8 locks at Crick (a rise of about 114 foot), just before a tunnel. We went through 2 tunnels; each time we went through we had great fun making as much noise as possible, even to the point of scaring all the other barges out of the tunnel.
Most of the project members had a turn of driving the barge; Paul was especially good at this.
The holiday was certainly eventful, the barge met with the canal side many a time and to top it all we had an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea. When one project member fell ill with the bug, he exclaimed “I’ve got bird flu”.
As there is such a small galley on the barge and cooking meals could be a major task we found ourselves at a pub most evenings.
Center Parcs 2006 : click here to see our full-size pictures in the Album
In March this year, 22 of us set of to Elveden Center Parcs in Suffolk for a relaxing week. We went via Tescos to stock up for the week. The villas we were going to stay in all had en-suite and had a sauna attached and of course maid service - we were on holiday after all!
The first evening we all got stuck in to a Bar-B-Q and all ate far too much, nothing new there then.
The activities we participated in included swimming. golf, pool, cycling, and a group of the lads even entered into the 5 a side football tournament and they won runners up medals. Mind you only 2 teams entered!
The weather was very pleasant and everybody really enjoyed the chance to chill. The hot chocolate was a favourite with many; in fact too many mention were consumed in this week.
As one evening the lads had decided to stay and watch a game of football the girls decided they would have a girlie night full of pampering and chocolate, much more fun than football.
The rest of the evenings were spent socialising in the sports bar or at Chez Pierre's or other restaurants.
The week went far to fast and before we knew it we were on our way back. All who had been had a thoroughly great time so much so, that we have booked to again next year.
Cheers Center Parcs till next year!!!!!!!!!!
Disney 2005: click here to see our full-size pictures in the Album
Look out Mickey, here we come!
Once again the Disney Holiday proved to be a great success. Ten of us went to Disneyland Paris in September, 2005 for four days of endless fun.
We stayed at the Sequoia Lodge Hotel which all agreed was great and had a Character Breakfast. The breakfast allowed us all to meet the main Disney characters up close, in the case of Prince John, a little too close – he is a grumpy old prince!
We went on all the rides and some of them more than twice, and some of us ascended in a hot air balloon over the park and could see Paris and the Effel Tower in the distance – what an experience! The whole holiday was packed with fun, laughter, trying a new restaurant each evening.
And of course lots and lots of shopping – did Auntie Jane really like the poster of King Louis I wonder?’
By popular demand we are once again off to Disneyland Paris in October this year, this time there will be even more of us.
Another shopping trip!!!!!!
St Briavels 2004
This year's Christmas outing was a bit more adventurous than in previous years: we were intending to spend 2 nights in a 12th century castle in Herefordshire. The morning of the 29th November arrived and 50 of us, aboard 3 minibuses (one with trailer full of luggage), departed fromBedford. The air on the buses was one of trepidation mixed with excitement; the thought of sleeping in a real castle built by Prince John did create some strange feelings.
We arrived at St. Briavels YHA via a Forest of Dean lunch stop at 3pm, to be met by our Mike the manager, who was a credit to the YHA as he was fun and bent over backwards to make our stay one we would all never forget.
Supper was planned for 7pm, which gave us plenty of time to unpack and explore. Looking at the photo on the left, the girls were sleeping in the left-hand tower with the boys in the right tower, the rooms were aptly named to create even more of an atmosphere. The boys slept in the ‘Hanging Room’, ‘The Prison’ and ‘The Porter’s Lodge’, with the girls retiring in the ‘Oubliette’, ‘The Chaplain's Room’ and ‘Constable's Room’. The doors were solid, the walls thick 'the stairs steep and spiralling and the floors creaked. History oozed out the walls in every room. 
50 very hungry people eagerly devoured a Supper of homemade Pizza followed by apple crumble. The evening was spent watching videos and playing games in the magnificent throne room, which had a fireplace to die for. Sleep came quickly for a lot of people, although some were slightly wary of sleeping in a castle, myself included! I slept with a light on all night, so we had a few tears but camaraderie took over as everyone was sleeping in rooms of 4 or more people. The sounds of giggling and laughter carried on well into the night.
The next day was purely frivolous and choice was given of games, walking in the Forest of Dean or shopping in the town of Monmouth. I accompanied by 18 others attacked the shops of Monmouth for one of my favourite pastimes - shopping. We spent the morning in and out of nearly every shop and became laden down with carrier bags of numerous shapes and sizes. We had lunch in the buses where I proceeded to nearly kill Brigid by being completely oblivious to the fact that she was choking on her lunch; I even offered her a drink of orange juice, which she threw at me, charming I thought. When I did realise her predicament I did offer my assistance resulting in me saving her life.
All were looking forward to the meal that evening as it was going to be a mediaeval feast which was to be held in the dining room, the castle chapel as it was. The castle was coming alive with knights and fair maidens as all got into the mood and dressed up in fancy dress. The authenticity was such that food was eaten with fingers, the light was candlelight, the mood medieval.
The whole experience was enjoyed by all and the decision has been taken to go back next year and stay an extra night. So now we can all say that we have slept, some with a light on all night, no names mentioned, in a 12th century castle and lived to tell the tale
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