FRIDAY - Reflections on a great trip 

It's always good to review things sooner rather than later. I will go first and then I will meet with the pupils early next week to get their thoughts. Here are some of my musings 

Having done 3 nights/4 days away for year there is no doubt that 2 nights/3 days is a very good option. It is action packed, there is very little hanging around anywhere and the tiredness never really gets too much to impact their enjoyment of anywhere we visited. 

Edinburgh is perfect - not too far away, some excellent stop off activities in Glasgow and so much to do in Edinburgh itself. 

Travel Solutions in partnership with Logan's were superb. Our driver Gordon was really part of the team and couldn't have bene more helpful. 

We just didn't have time to do everything that we thought. Executive decisions were taken at various point to leave out things like Stirling Castle, Forth Bridge, Talent Show etc because we just ran out of time or it was better to be outside than inside. 

The children's behaviour and manners were excellent. There wasn't one argument, tantrum, fall out or cross word. I didn't have to speak to any room or group seriously throughout the trip. A real credit to you all. 

The hotel was perfect. Small numbers in rooms is more relaxing for the children, we had 2 distinct corridors which were very easily policed and the food was brilliant. 

Finally I hope you enjoy the presents / gifts, ask them loads of questions over the weekend but don't expect too many answers ( just yet ) and let them rest up ready for Monday morning. 

Over and well and truely out

AS

THURSDAY - PART 2 - Life Lessons by The Anahilt School Trip 

We have just walked up the Royal Mile and this is what we have observed

1. The boys group and girls groups visited very different shops 🙄
2. All of them said that all the shops sold the same things - they just got more expensive the closer you got to the Castle 
3. Neither of the bagpipers were as good as Henry 
4. There was nothing to prove that the Worlds Most Pierced Woman was actually just that !
5. Check your change before you leave a shop OR get your Principal to march back in and argue for you ( and win ) 
6. Wait until you leave the shop before announcing to the group that ‘it’s a rip off ‘ 😂

Having said that we had a wonderful morning exploring Edinburgh and are now heading towards the boat with a few stops in between ! 

Thursday - Part 1 - Homeward Bound 

Morning 

Another great night in Edinburgh with more Sunshine on Leith this morning. Everyone slept well last night - not a sound from anyone after about 11:15pm. Considering we walked over 14km yesterday it is no surprise! 

Bags were packed last night and squashed down to be zippped up this morning. Breakfast was as hearty today as it was yesterday. I think Anahilt like the self service food options ! 

After a final room check we headed for a Smyth Bus Tour of the city and have now arrived at Dynamic Earth. With the weather being so good we have decided to walk from Holyrood to the Castle and visit all the sites of interest and (tacky gift) souvenir shops on the way 😂

WEDNESDAY PART 2 - What a day ! 
 I have been coming to Blair Drummond with school trips since before Elton starting warbling on about a Lion King but today was the best of them all. The sun was out, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and there was hardly another school there. We were there from 10am - we saw lions feeding, rhinos, giraffes, sealions, tigers and even a runaway goat ! We also saw some rare faces pulled on the slippery dip ( including Mrs Hanna ! ) and also some furious shopping taking place in the gift shop. Unfortunately Stirling Castle and Wallace monument were sidelined as we stayed on into the gorgeous  almost summer

evening to watch the Bird of Prey show. It left it’s mark on some of us more than most 😂

Our dinner turnaround tonight was 40 mins before heading out again now to bowl. Then back to the hotel to pack (!) tonight before heading off at 8am in the morning. It has been a real whirlwind of a day but a really really good one. 
I will try a quick zoom tonight but have no idea of timings just yet and priority is packing up etc. probably about the same time as last night details below

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78338473301?pwd=rlQDJ38vI79aL3riKiS282FbMP9ES0.1

Meeting ID: 783 3847 3301
Passcode: N8DFfC

WEDNESDAY -PART 1 - Wild Animals ! 
Mrs Hanna’s corridor won the sleeping contest - the whole corridor asleep by 10:55. Mine were a wee bit later at 11:25 but once we had lights out it was literally lights out. No issues, no tears, no sickness so we have all had a good nights sleep. 
It was a breakfast of champions this morning. It was self service….which we most definitely did. There were plates stacked high with FULL fry ups, pancakes, toast, muffins, cereal, croissants etc….and once again clean plates all round.

We are on the bus and heading for Blair Drummond Safari Park….maybe we might leave a few on monkey island 😉

Tuesday - Part 3 - Jammed packed !

WOW what an afternoon and evening. Following the Science Centre we made our way over to the Tall Ship  at PointHouse Place. We had a fantastic tour around and is something that we would all definitely recommend.

By 5pm we were wilting with tiredness and the heat so it was back to the bus to head for Edinburgh.

As always the arrival at the hotel causes great excitement but everyone was happy with their rooms and we eventually got unpacked. Whilst dinner wasn’t until 7:30 it was well worth the wait. I have honestly never seen so many clean plates on a school trip and it just kept coming and coming. More of the same is planned for tomorrow night ! 
We didn't get finished from dinner until 9pm and we headed out to see the Royal Yacht Britannia which is now behind a big metal fence and gate!  However we did manage to do an impromptu Zoom call to all the parents who I think made more noise than the kids….lets get MUTE on for tomorrow night 😂

Everyone is tucked up in bed and the corridor is quiet….this is my view for the next few hours and then some sleep !

Over and out 

Tuesday Part 2 - To Infinity and Beyond

First Stop today was Glasgow Science Centre. We were there for the Planetarium show and it didn’t disappoint. We had bit of time exploring the floors of the science centre afterwards before experiencing first hand the power of the sun that we had just been hearing about. It’s absolutely gorgeous here and the sun is shining brightly. This is of course due to the fact that Mrs Cunningham has packed a hat and scarf and puffa jacket 😂

Next stop The Tall Ship in the sunshine ! 

Tuesday - Part 1 

It seems like we have half the day done already. Everyone was on time and we arrived at the Stena terminal to be greeted by countless other schools all with the same plan. Some are off to Edinburgh, some to Glasgow and some to Manchester. After a full fry up on the boat we have a full belly and we are now ready for a snooze as we set off down the road to Glasgow. Once I know timings better I will send a Zoom link for later tonight.