Open Writing

Have you been time travelling lately? One day last week I felt as if I've hopped into a Time Machine instead of my car and spent a few hours away from the 21st century - not always a bad thing.

My time warp trip came about when I finally volunteered to help out on a school visit, not something I make a habit of, as I hate travelling on coaches and haven't much patience with large groups of small children.

So what motivated me to exchange the delights of a quiet house, a sunny garden and a buzzing computer for the company of Only Son and 28 other assorted eleven-year-olds for the day? Well, I must admit that guilt played a part. Guilt and the realisation that this was my last chance to participate in a school trip, as Only Son makes the terrifying leap across the great divide between primary/middle school and 'Big School' in autumn and parent-helpers are not required on 'Big School' trips.

I must also admit that the forecast of sunshine, the prospect of some adult company in the shape of other mums and teachers and the fact that the trip was to one of my favourite local destinations - Oakwell Hall in Birstall - played a part.

Once again Oakwell did not disappoint. We had a great trip with no accidents or emergencies and I managed not to lose anyone - although I was tempted to volunteer the services of Only Son to remain in the Hall's kitchen - doomed to forever turn the handle of the spit inside the giant fireplace.

The conducted tour included a very convincing ghost story, but it wasn't that which scared me, it was the story of an old chimney pot crashing through a roof and ceiling during a storm (although this was linked to the ghost story, as some said this accident was the result of upsetting the ghost)

No, I got scared when we went outside and gazed up at the old chimney pots identical to the ones in the story. Yep, just as I thought, they're identical to the ones perched on top of castle Codman. No prizes for guessing who'll be wide awake worrying about flying chimney pots next time there's a storm!

Other highlights of our visit included hands-on encounters with artefacts found under the Hall's floorboards and in the walls when restoration work was undertaken. It was like opening a present, unfolding the tissue parcels and guessing who'd used these items and for what purpose - and no, I'm not going to reveal what they were. Go and help on your own school trip!

Anyone with a literary bent (they can't touch you for it) may have heard of a newly-released book entitled 'Home - the story of everyone who ever live in our house' by Julie Myerson which traces the life and times of previous occupants of Julie's terraced home.

Julie, I've got news for you. Oakwell Hall's previous occupants were traced years ago and I'll bet they were a lot more interesting!

Other highlights of the visit included an excellent session in Oakwell's barn, making coil pots. I had a happy, messy time rolling coils for other people's pots. I knew better than to try and make my own and be shown up by a group of 11-year-olds.

We also enjoyed a session on the 'Archaeological Dig' site - despite the fact that our most interesting finds were a large lump of red rock, bits of coal and an old-style Coca Cola bottle.

The opportunity to hack away at a patch of dirt with a large, dangerous-looking hybrid pickaxe of a tool, more than made up for the lack of any historically revealing finds, at least in the eyes of the lads in my group.

Then it was a case of back to the future to the world of cars, computers, T.V. and whatever is invented next. It was great to travel back in time for a few hours but I wouldn't want to remain stranded in a time warp in Oakwell's old kitchens with their open fires, candles and every drop of water to be carried from an outside well.

Some 21st Century women may well be concerned about 'breaking through the glass ceiling' but I was left reflecting that I was grateful to be born in the era of modern plumbing, electricity and automatic washing machines.