After our very successful holiday in Avon Tyrrell last year we know we had to go back.
We loaded up the minibus
and a couple of cars
We needed plenty of luggage!
Here we are parked outside our chalet in Avon Tyrrell !
Category: Holidays
Phab holidays
Phab South East Fun Weekend – Sunday
After breakfast and an optional, but well attended and inspiring Morning Worship session, we went into a Team Building activity.
We worked in teams, Oxford Phab had the assistance of the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association, and given supplies of cake, swiss roll, chocolate buttons, fondant icing, icing sugar and similar ingredients and told to construct something related to a season.
So what can you make from cake ?
This is not a snowman – once coloured in this will be a maypole dancer !
Here is the final result – there is a maypole, complete with dancers – one in a wheelchair, a cake stall and a coconut shy – for added realism the coconuts are glued to the stands !
Other groups made a bonfire, a snowman, a ski scene and other seasonal themes, but after much deliberation ours was declared the best !!!
For added realism our spring fête ended in a washout !
We finished the event with presentations and lunch, and then went home on the minibus.
Phab South East Fun Weekend – Saturday
After breakfast and an introduction session we split into groups. I went for Food !
Morning Workshop – Cookery
Paul taught us to cook a range of tasty dishes, using simple ingredients and – for the cooked dishes – a single ring portable gas cooker.
Simple deserts – cheesecake and banoffi pie
Paul also cooked Chicken in mushroom sauce, a Paella, and a Chorizo, New potato and Haddock One Pot – all within 2 hours on a single ring, from scratch.
Unfortunately I had eaten most of the One Pot (and all of the Paella and Chicken), before I remembered to take a picture !
This was followed by a buffet lunch – people who had other sessions were probably hungrier than I was.
 Afternoon Workshop – Amazing Animals
The guy from Amazing Animals brought a range of animals for us to see, or – in some cases – touch.
Anyone who wanted to could hold a Hissing Cockroach
This is a giant stick insect
This is a Cane Toad – which we were not allowed to handle, as it secretes a toxic fluid.
And this a giant bullfrog.
Here is a friendly Boa Constrictor
and a very friendly parrot !
There were also hedgehogs, a tortoise and a giant rabbit.
Wine tasting
As well as the Cookery demonstration Paul ran a most informative wine tasting session – he took us through six wines from a light fruity white to a full bodied red, and we were all surprised at what good value his choices were.
Evening Dinner
Our evening meal was accompanied by a raffle, party poppers, gift bags and balloon rockets – most of which were aimed at our good natured entertainer, who encouraged the various tables to take their best shot.
There was also wheelchair dancing and a disco.
Phab South East Fun Weekend – Friday
Off in our minibus to Chichester for a Phab South East Fun Weekend
Going round Oxford and Abingdon, loading
Lunch at MacDonalds
We checked in to the hotel, and unpacked in our rooms, and then it was time for the ice breaker activity.
Mingling in the bar, trying to find people Chelsea supporters and people who are allergic to cats. A good icebreaker as there are people from all over the South East here.
During the meal we were entertained by an excellent singer.
The meals at the hotel were good – here we have reached the coffee stage, still enjoying the entertainment.
This was followed by more chatting and entertainment until people drifted off to bed.
Oxford Phab Holiday at Avon Tyrrell 2015- Highlights
We had a great time in Avon Tyrrell – everybody got on well, and all being in the same cabin, and doing most of the activities together made the trip very special for me.
Here are links to the posts about what we did.
- Setting off from Oxford on Friday morning
- Archery – the first thing we did when we arrived
- First Evening
- Cooked breakfast – on Saturday morning
- Treasure Hunt – after breakfast on saturday
- On the Watercress Line – we took a picnic and then went on the train
- Climbing Wall – Sunday morning – shortly after 9 !
- Swimming – later on Sunday morning
- Crabbing at Mudeford – Sunday afternoon
- Packing up – Monday morning
- Marwell Zoo – Monday
Marwell Zoo
On the way back to Oxford we stopped off at Marwell Zoo.
where we watched the penguins
and took pictures of animals
The Curios Coatis were a hit
Very photogenic
as you can see
The snow leopard was a hit
Darren being eaten by a hippo
Back to the penguins for an interesting talk
Mosaic near the shop.
Packing up
We were sorry to leave – it had been a great place to stay- but holidays have to come to an end at some point.
Our chalet, in its lovely woodland setting.
Luggage being packed into the minibus
There is a large room at the end of the chalet, with a kitchen area for cooking
Continue reading Packing up
Crabbing at Mudeford
A trip to the seaside was very much appreciated
We went crabbing
without much success at first
Simon has caught a crab !
Helen giving it some welly
Max and Carol have caught another crab.
Soon we a bucket full – which are returned to the sea for someone else to catch tomorrow.
Appetites enhanced by the sea air we visit the pub
That is what I call a tuna melt !
Swimming
The pool at Avon Tyrrell is outdoors, but is heated by a heat pump
so nice and warm in the water
but cooler in the open air
Some of us thought it wiser to spectate
but those who went in had a great time !
The staff at Avon Tyrrell were very good. We had two people supervising the swimming – one very experienced and one – still very good, but learning on the job – so that Avon Tyrrell not only provide great holidays, but trained staff through an apprenticeship scheme too.
Climbing Wall
We went on the climbing wall – it looks very high !
especially from up close
but, undaunted, we get kitted out with helmets and harnesses.
John going up !
Trisha preparing to climb
She is fearless !
On the way to the top.
Sarah is enjoying the experience
Sarah on her way up too.
Kelly getting ready to go up.
The staff who supervised the climbing were very good, and not only had the slings and other equipment to enable an inclusive climb, but knew how to use it.