Our last day at Edge Grove Very sad !!!

We cannot believe that it is our last day at Edge Grove School. It truly has been an honour for us all to have been here and as we have said we have been so spoilt in many ways. The school has been fantatstic. The girls have enjoyed the lessons,making new friends,boarding school food!!, sport in the afternoon and mixed activities.From rugby to football,badmington and table tennis .Plus the way boarding schools operate. Their host families have taken our girls everywhere. Whatever the girls  requested ,they were taken to. !!
Last night, a lovely fairwell dinner was organised for us ,the hosting parents and the boarders. Fantastic spread.Plus we were all given a soft Edge Grove Teddy Bear.
We will be leaving Edge Grove this afternoon at about 15:00 and then on our flight to leave at 19:30
Although we are sad to leave this wonderful school and fantastic staff ,we are looking forward to coming home and being with our families again. A wonderful wonderful experience for us all.






 Now comes the big problem PACKING UP and Fitting everything into the same suitcases we brought.


























  

All done !!!

 

I bid you all farewell from Edge Grove and hope we have managed to fill you in aon most of our experiences and fun .

Here we are back again- Sorry been missing for a few days!!!

Sorry we had some technical problems,but we are back again.We have done so much and are having so much fun. Learning about so many different and exciting things.On Tuesday we set off for a Harry Potter experience. That, it certainly was. Even if you are not a Harry Potter fan, it is a defnite visit if ever you are in the UK. The girls were fascinated by all the props,costumes, moulds of faces ,millions of different wands ,the animals that  were trained and used in the film .The list is endless and the information astounding. An amazing and very interesting experience.

 And guess what was right next door to the Warner Bros Studio--  STARBUCKS. So latte's and iced coffees were ordered.
On Wednesday believe  it or not , was a full school day. Three of our  girls were selected to play for Edge Grove netball team and travelled to Belmont school to play a  match in the afternoon. I umpired the game. The team played so well, but just lost. It was pouring down at one moment,but the game continued. I am still amazed that as soon as the match was over,all the players went off to the dining hall and were given a plate of pasta and a sauce,muffin and juice. The girls  happily ate it all.
When we returned to Edge Grove our girls raced back to the activities session where they are now into badmington and table tennis. The challenges happening amongst all the children was fantatstic. Our girls even went to a rugby session and literally had a ball.
Today, Thursday we left Edge Grove at 09:00 and set off for Oxford where we were treated to a fabulous tour of the Cathedral .It is absolutely beautiful.Sadly we were too late to see the Hall as students were about to have their midday meal. Fortunately we just made the visit to the Cathedral before it was closed to the public. The buildings are something to behold. Built in 1863and still standing . We then went Punting . What a lovely relaxing time we had been punted down the little stream,with ducks nad swans all around us. Really beautiful.

 We were fortunate to have some time to wander around the streets and even go to an Indoor market. Butchers,cake makers,bakery- pastries  and all sorts of little shops. Fascinating.
Then to Weatherspoon for a super evening meal. It was a lovely family pub. We sat upstairs and had a super meal. We could order whatever we fancied. Value for money it certainly was. From Roast of the day to Salmon fillet,curries to chicken salads all was eaten.So we set off back to Edge Grove and  got back at 20:00. A very full day ,very worthwhile and  happy outing. The girls will have school tomorrow and then it is an exeat weekend.So no-one stays on in the boarding house.Our girls will spend their last weekend with their host families.Where I know,they will be thoroughly spoilt.
So now it is count down time.

All the girls seemed to have had a wonderful weekend with their hosts.

HI All
We are back again ,that is the girls,having been out with their host families for the weekend after the Interhouse netball matches.. They all seemed to have been taken here ,there and everywhere.Which is wonderful. They are already looking forward to the next weekend when they will be back with their host families who have organised more exciting outings for them. Heather and I went to this amazing school, Haileybury.Enormous grounds ,500 acres.  A staff of 100 who all stay on the property.Plus a resident doctor.24/7.We even met a member of staff who came from Fort Beaufort and owns a house at Kidds Beach. Heather and I nearly did our nuts as not many people know where Kidds Beach is!! My parents lived at Kidds Beach and Heather has very dear friends there.
The girls had a full day of school. I think they will be exhausted. As from 14:30- 18:00 they went from one sporting activity to the next.
 We are off  on a Harry Potter experience tomorrow,which I believe is fantastic.Edge Grove have set up a new website.
www.edgegrove.com  So have a look. it is very good.

Saturday 22 September Girls back for Interhouse Netball!!

 

The girls ,as we said, had gone out with their hosts last night  and were brought back this afternoon for Interhouse Netball . The teams are made up of  girls from Grade 4 - 7. There are 5 houses.They play a Round Robin  and at the same time the boys play Interhouse football. After the matches everyone ( players and parents) go to the front of the school for a prize giving and tea. Once that was over , the girls went home with their host families and  are now ,we hope going to be treated to some  famous British touristy spots.Our girls really played some super netball.They all played - all six and were a huge credit to their new houses!Gills,Churchhill, Hedgerows,Sarnsfiield,Stratton.

 

 

 

Pictures I could not download yesterday 21 September

So much to see so little time to buy £££ and see.

We were fortunate enough to get a lift to the station with the school bus. ( saved us a couple of pounds!!) Off we set for Oxford street hoping to hit one end of Oxford to the other,plus Regent street etc.We got off the tube at Oxford Circus and as we got to Oxford Street GAP was seen !! So a lot of milling around  only to realise it was really expensive.So PRIMARK here we come . All the way down we walked popping into little shops. Well an hour and a half later we were now setting off back Oxford street to try and get to Harrods and Hamleys. Needless to say we didn't get there as we spent so much time in M&S, Cellphone cover shops etc etc and we  had to be back at school as the host families were coming to collect the girls.
We did get back in time. The girls have all gone off to their families. They will be back for Interhouse Netball tomorrow Saturday that is from 2-4 then they will only come back to the boarding house  on Monday morning for school.
 If you are wondering whether they are doing any work. Yes they have been to lessons. I manageed to catch them at ART and a Science lesson.
 For some reason I can't download any photos . I will try later .Sorry. I put one in of  two of our girls during tea  break of the school day. Such a lovley setting.

20 September our day in London sightseeing

 

Today was the day the  South Africans used British Transport---!!! to its utmost! From the Circle line North to the Piccadilly Line  and then back again to Waterloo station and then Overhead trains to Radlett where we picked up two taxis back to school !! How well we managed !! So well that we are off to London tomorrow again to hit the shops.£££!! Marvelous visit to the Tower Bridge and then a water taxi down the Thames to catch a Duck Tour around London Central. Fabulous all round.!One minute we were on land and the next second - in the same vehicle  we were travelling  on water travelling further down the Thames. Amazing . What a lovely outing.