What a journey!  As soon as we had crossed the Channel, it started to rain. The  motorway in Belgium was pretty busy but we got through alright.   Arrival in Würzburg:  about 2.30 in the morning.

Almost there. Near Dover.

Dover Castle

On the ferry.

Gino says we won’t arrive in Würzburg before 2 in the morning. Have to find out about the A3.

See you tomorrow.

If possible – i.e. if I’ve still got reception – I will post our ferry times.  We have just learned that the A3 in Germany has also been closed.  So we really don’t know when we’ll be back.

As was to be expected, the suitcases couldn’t take all the things bought at Primark’s.

This is only part of the stuff!

We left Poole at 6.15 this morning but, unfortunately, we are stuck in traffic at the moment. The M25 is closed between junctions 8 and 7 and as  far as we know traffic is diverted off the M25. Progress is very slow. Will keep you posted.

Today was THE DAY. The students presented their projects from the drama and poetry classes and there certainly are some real talents among them.

Phenomenal Woman

The Lantern and the Fan

Pyramos and Thisbe

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

PRIZES

Chris Roberts’ class:

Best effort and achievement in drama & poetry class : Paula Schäfer

Best team effort: Johanna Goeß

For trying really hard: Rachel Wagner

Ted’s class:

Best diaries: Lena Steinbrecher,  Ann-Kristin Prozeller

Best work and effort: Luise Med

Ann Marie’s class:

Best work and effort: Katharina Schmid

Best diary: Rebecca Baunach

Lloyd’s class:

Best diary: Anna Winkler

Best work and effort: Sofie Geiger

We have been really blessed with the weather. Off we went to do some very last minute shopping (or go to the beach) in Bournemouth.

Before:

After:

It was pouring with rain in the morning  – nice, warm English rain – but it stopped before lessons finished at three in the afternoon.

The rest of the afternoon can be summed up as follows:

How is all this going to fit into their cases?

To get to Beaulieu where the National Motor Museum andPalace House (home of the Montague family) were waiting for us, we went through the New Forest.  One has to drive carefully because it isn’t just cars which use the roads but also ponies and cows.

Miss Clark, the governess, took us round the Palace House. She insisted on good manners and tried very hard to make the girls see what life was like for a housemaid in Viktorian times. She was wondering whether the students could actually speak because, however hard she tried, only two were prepared to answer her questions.

The kitchenmaids had to start work at 5 in the morning to scrub the table and the oven.

Is the saucepan very heavy?

How to stand or walk upright:

At the National Motor Museum we learned about the history of cars.

At th beginning, someone waving a red flag had to walk in front of the car warning the other people on the road that a car was coming.

Honking the horn:

Driving in the olden days:

The good old Routemaster

Finally: Seeing the grounds from above on the Monorail:

According to the weather forecast today was going to be the warmest day of the week and temperatures would start to go down on Thursday. So we decided to make  a change to the programme and do the Dorset Tour today.

We always get dropped off at a campsite  from where we walk down to Durdle Door.

Some chose to spend the morning break at Durdle Door ….

…others preferred to go swimming in the Man-of-War-Bay.

The four mermaids

Unfortunately we couldn’t stay there all day as there were lessons in the afternoon.

After school we went to Sandbanks Beach for the last time.

Pyramids on Sandbanks Beach:

Before I start, I would like to thank the parents who have written a comment on the blog. That really keeps me going.

Today was another brilliant day: warm – even hot – and sunny throughout.

The journey to Oxford took about two hours and we could have visited the Ashmolean Museum – if it hadn’t been Monday (museum was closed).

Waiting for the guides:

Above: Bodleian Library          Below:  Bridge of Sighs

New College:  Cloister with ‘Harry Potter Tree’

The Cake Shop in the Covered Market where you can watch as cakes are being decorated.

Lunchbreak at Christchurch College.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  to Regina and Karolin

Although some of the students had complained that they had to walk too much during the guided tour, their feet had no trouble getting them to the shops after our lunch break.