Open Writing

The house was amazing and we just stood
Tucked deep in an English blue-bell wood.
Excitement mounted as we viewed its vine-clad walls,
The Victorian splendour and elegant halls.
High ceilinged with panelled stairs
Stuffed full of 200 years of prayers.
“Are we really sleeping here tonight?
It’s like a palace big and bright.’’
We were greeted by our beaming host,
Davina looked as if she’d seen a ghost.
Our new friend explained the rules of the place
Fire regulations, where things were, the use of space.
Rooms allocated, the children unpacked
I checked every one and already was whacked.

Teddy bears and furry cats
Had all emerged from haversacks.
Disney pyjamas and some even in satin,
Big animal slippers and some with a pattern,
Fresh bars of soap and pristine flannels,
“Miss, we’ve got a telly, but there’s only two channels.’’

“Miss guess what, we’ve got a book
in the bed-side drawer, come and look!’’
“It’s a Bible Miss, we’ve all got one
it’s all about Jesus, he were God’s son.’’

“Do we have to read it all tonight
I’m a slow reader, I’m not very bright.’’

Tea was served in an elegant, panelled place
With elaborate cornice, carvings and fireplace
With gold-rimmed china and lots of knives, forks and spoons
And coloured paper napkins patterned with stars and moons.

There was awe and wonder on every face
We stood in silence and said grace.
Then excited chatter about starving bellies
As they eyed up gateaux and jibbering jellies.
The chef had pandered to childish taste
But nothing had been prepared in haste.
The sausage well-seasoned and carefully garnished
And twisty chips all quickly vanished.

“Miss why have we got all these forks and knives?’’

“Eh, yer know Henry the eighth, him with all’t wives
Did he live here? It feels like he did
And through them panels that’s where they hid.’’
“I bet there are ghosts, ‘specially in Kevin’s room.
Eh, watch it Kev! You’ll have to sleep there soon.’’

“Bet there’s a witch with a spinning wheel,
Or a giant in the attic, there’d be gold to steal.’’

So we ate in animated conversation,
Good, writing session next, no problems with creation!

They wrote with excitement until quite late,
We had atmospheric candles and a fire in the grate.
Then, pyjama clad, with hair well brushed
We curled up by the fire waiting and hushed
And we read our stories of myth and of magic
Some were amazing! Some funny, some tragic.
We laughed and we cried, listened to what everyone said
Then warmed with hot chocolate went straight off to bed.

Staff positioned on every floor, not much fun
But it helps curb bouts of knocka-door-and-run,
Dirty joke telling, hiding other folks’ shoes,
Pillow-fights and homesick blues,
Bleeding noses, being sick
Seeing whose got the biggest d…
Apple-pie beds
bumped heads
Seeing who can make the rudest noises
Wailing and howling in venomous voices.

“Miss, Miss it isn’t fair.
Miss she’s pinched my teddy bear!’’
“Sir Simon’s made an awful smell
And now Dan’s doing it as well!’’
“Good night Miss, sleep tight…mind the bugs…don’t…bite…’’

A restless night some ups some downs
Nightmares, wet beds, silly clowns
But as dawn breaks they’re raring to go
It’s only half-past five and so…

We go for a walk through the bird-brimmed woods
Identify trees
Marvel at bees
Then stand silent and listen
Watch the dew on the grass making everything glisten
Then… through the meadow there leaps a hare
We hold our breath, can’t believe it’s there.
Over our heads an owl swoops home
Who knows what creatures round us roam.
A frog hops across our path
A bullfinch takes a leisurely bath
Puffing up feathers and preening
And all the world is wakened and gleaming.

A hand slides in mine
And an awed voice cries
“Miss, is it always like this, every morning?’’
“You mean while you’re in bed grumbling and yawning?
Yes… it’s always like this.’’

All day we were active, according to our planning
Making wood sculptures, pressing flowers, cramming
Each moment with learning and wonder
Delving deep in nature’s plunder.
Then there were poems and plays and songs by the fire
Violin and recorders, we were all in the choir.

Then a walk in the dark to look at the stars
Spattered on velvet. “Look I can see Mars.’’

“No you can’t. I can see the Milky Way
I read all about it in the library today.’’

“Miss why are they all named after chocolate bars?’’

“Eh isn’t it quiet. I can’t hear any cars.’’

“How come the sky here is so black?
Bet ours isn’t when we get back.’’

Later we practised being quite still
So out of the woodland wildlife would spill.
They tried very hard, just an occasional whisper
About pins and needles, and the odd little blister.
Bats flew low and a hedgehog shuffled
And a bevy of beasts in the undergrowth rustled.
A fox in the distance stalked its prey,
We came to the end of a perfect day.

At the end of this precious time together
We watched from the coach, the hills and the heather
And made the most of ant bites and stings
Then snuggled and chatted about our favourite things.
Shameem who is quiet and usually shy
Shed tears because we had said goodbye.
“I used to think Blackpool the best place in the world
Now I know it’s that wood where the squirrel was curled.’’
Simon said “That fox was cool!’’
Wayne wailed “Do we have to go back to school?’’

And James, whose behaviour usually drives us sore
Said “It were the breakfasts, never had one before.’’