A bright and early start promises a good day as we assemble in Oxford, before boarding our new minibus to go to Heartbeat Hike.
‘Characters from Musicals’ was the fancy dress theme this year.
We drove to Hyde Park.
and assembled near the bandstand
Where we were greeted by Alain Paver and Ed Stewart who announced the start of the walk.
This is not a race, but an opportunity to walk, or wheel, or whatever, around the Serpentine with friends.
Some of Oxford Phab on the move
Stopping for refreshment at Checkpoint C
They had ice cold squash – lovely on a warm day !
Back to the bandstand – where the winners of the ‘best female’ fancy dress are announced. The one on the left looks – apart from being a bit green – quite like our Trisha, but who is the Ogre on her right ?
It is Kelly ! – Congratulations to both of you !
We also had musical entertainment from The Scallywags, the ‘Just Go With It’ band …
and Helen from Oxford Phab !
Connect 4 Tournament
Meal at Oxy
Sharing a meal together is always popular at Oxford Phab and Oxy Oriental is a favourite because they have a wide selection, mostly Oriental – as you would expect from the name, but varied enough to be able to avoid very salty or spicy food – and a reasonable selection of vegetarian dishes.
The problem with blogging about going for a buffet meal with Phab is that by the time you have fetched food for those who can’t fetch their own, and eaten yourself, everyone has finished and there is no sign of the food we have enjoyed.
However you can tell we enjoyed it.
Only a little desert left
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.
