So, we made it and we survived, well the children did anyway! Staff are powered by numerous cups of tea or coffee and running on around 6hrs sleeps for the total duration of our trip! The children however are bright and cheerful, as the pictures will show and have had the time of their life! With comments like, ‘Wow, what a view”, or “This is the best week of my life”, we feel safe in the knowledge that as always, Hothersall has delivered.
Once again, we got the glorious sunshine making our trip thoroughly enjoyable. We have climbed, canoed, and ridden mountain bikes around the beautiful Lancashire countryside. We have scaled trees and mountains (well more like hills but the children will tell you differently!).
Being able to mix with the other Y6 bubble has been a total highlight and feeling like Covid (even if only for 48 hrs) is a million miles away has been a breath of fresh air.
The activities have been amazing, for some it was the canoeing and others it was “THE EATING!”
The food has been good, we may all be crammed with carbs and fit to burst but no morsal has been left to spare and there will be a definite need for some veggies this weekend!
We have overcome fears, learnt to make our own beds, tie shoelaces and most satisfying for some, they have mastered riding a bike!
The staff are bursting with pride when we realise what a ‘Big Deal’ this trip has been as for many, this is our first time out in 18 months; for our children, it’s the first 2 night stay away from their families.
We have laughed, oh how we have laughed, and yes there have been some tears but ask any of our Hothersall guests if they would like a repeat and the chorus shouts of ‘YESSS!!!!’ can be heard all the way from the Ribble Valley to the inner centre of Ribbleton.
We have missed you, but we will see you soon and we will tell you all about it, for now it is goodbye, we have breakfast to eat, rooms to clean and for the teachers…BREWS TO DRINK!!!!
So, this morning I was tasked with writing my first ever blog with the clear instruction that I had to make it interesting! Perhaps even FUNNY! Over time, we will be adding to this blog and thinking about it, I’d like to think that this space will become another welcoming part of our school community where we can begin to highlight what makes our school the wonderful, unique, and friendly place I love.
This week I am thinking let’s make it all about our quirks or in my case…OBSESSIONS!
Those of your who know me as Mrs Nickson, will know that I have worked across both schools in Ribbleton since 2013 and have most likely taught your children. Some of you may have had more contact with me than others but hopefully all of you know who I am…the tall lady with the blonde hair and I don’t mean Mrs Gaitens (our School Business Manager).
What you won’t know about me, but that the children will, is my obsessions…ask any child or staff member in this school and they will tell you about 2 things I am mad crazy about…the first being Sharks and the second being Christmas! This week however, I also revealed my 3rd obsession and I don’t think they quite realise how BIG this obsession is yet!
This weekend some of you may have celebrated ‘Halfmas’ or ‘Junemas’, the 25th June being the half way point to Christmas. In the Nickson Household this is a long held tradition and Mr N and I both put on our Christmas attire, cook a turkey and watch Christmas films in our shorts and festive jumpers. Alas, ‘Halfmas’ is on hold until 25th July 2021 and this is the reason WHY…
Over the weekend, I was instructed by Mr N that we were going on an epic adventure, therefore forgoing my usual Turkey eating celebrations (Cue Mrs N grumbles!)
As it turns out, the hubby did well as I was going to spend my day at Downton Abbey! For quite some time I have had a love of all things Downton Abbey. I have watched it through from start to finish 6 times…6 times people, a grand total of 312 hours..hmm that’s not including the films!
I never get bored of it…and there is a new film out at CHRISTMAS…Can you see how these obsessions keep being fed!
To visit such a beautiful place, surrounded by nature, wonder and privilege got me thinking, (brace yourselves this could end badly!)
As I wandered rooms adorned with the finest silks, famous artwork and awe inspiring architecture, I wondered what it is that makes me like it so much?
I think I would have to say, the people (OK so I know they aren’t real but to me they kind of are…)
I am invited into their lives, I see their ups and downs, the highs and the lows and get to watch them grow…much like I do daily in my job as Head Coach for Team RAMJS.
The main character I aspire to be is Lady Mary Crawley, (she’s like a BIG deal on the show). Lady Mary isn’t without her own drama and can comes across as a little scary (perhaps a bit like me) but at her heart and core she is wonderfully kind and never gives up on her dreams of a better world for those around her! Her hopes and aspirations are to maintain Downton Abbey for the future generation, providing employment and sustainability for her community. Ok, so I don’t have a big house to run but I like to think that RAMJS is like Downton Abbey because of the way we work together, through our own highs and lows to help our children grow into the adults who will be the future of our community, the leaders of change, the ‘sustainers’ of tomorrow. That’s to me is a PRETTY BIG DEAL!
Just like Lady Mary and all the other wonderful DA Peeps, Our RAMJS family never give up on our community. We dream of ‘Brighter Futures’ for all and whilst it we might not be granted a Lord or Lady title or live in Downton Abbey, it doesn’t mean that we can’t try and make those dreams come true…after all, ‘To dream is to believe!’
For now, that is enough about me. Give me a platform and you will struggle to shut me up! I suspect you can guess the themes you’ll be seeing from me in future blogs but what about you?
What little school quirks (or obsessions) do you love? What dreams do you have for your children? What dreams do you have for yourself?
Let me know in the comments and we can call this post our first collaboration. 🙂
ramjsblog.com 