A weekend away

We left on Friday night. We got back on Sunday evening. We were away from Hillingdon for a shorter time period than 48 hours. And yet, we did so much. These are some of the highlights of our trip.

--

While on a night hike around 'the common', one of the girls from the Minchinhampton youth group idly muttered that if there was a power cut, all our torches would go out. One of our youth group, quite concerned, fell in step with me and asked if it was true. I can assure you I attempted not to laugh. It should also be noted I failed miserably.

--

Same hike, same child. I mentioned that he was quite pessimistic, and in response, he asked what that meant. I told him that it meant he was quite negative and didn't trust anyone. The reply was fantastic, considering it came from a thirteen year old child:

'Well, you just can't trust anyone in this day and age.'

--

On Saturday, we went to place that involved a maze, a butterfly house, and crazy golf. Not the most thrilling of days out for a bunch of city kids, but they actually had a really good time, although slightly embarrassed to admit it. However, I was unaware of the potential of teenage boys being scared of butterflies. One of the most amusing things I have seen for a while, aside from the owner of the place, who was wearing a straw hat that I associate with punters of the Oxbridge kind, and was so well-spoken and knowledgable, he was on the verge of seriously creeping out our youth group. A demon the diablo,though, which atones for it.

--

A thoroughly enjoyable weekend, topped off by the confusion of young people on Sunday afternoon. All weekend they were picking on a small lad called Ben, who after lunch on Sunday was being chased. He ran outside, with the rest of the youth group following. He managed to avoid them and run back to the door, where I let him in and locked the others out. Someone then let them in, and Ben hid in the disabled toilet. While they were waiting for Ben to come out, I slipped round the back of the church, and helped him climb out of the window, and helped Will, a rather larger boy, climb in. The look on the faces of the youth group as Will sauntered out of the disabled toilet was hilarious. One girl even checked the toilet, like we folded him up and shoved him under the seat.