Holiday at The Oakes

Sophie, my 12 year old grandaugher, has Dyspraxia, including verbal Dyspraxia, and so with the support of Jean and Andrew we encouraged her to go to The Oakes Holiday Centre, with me going as her carer and support network.


Monday 27^th August

This morning I went to work, I left early at 2pm, to get ready to take Sophie to the Oakes Holiday Centre.

Andrew and Jean Holland, collected us at 3.30pm in the Docking Community mini bus, with Courtney  (Monica Burtons Granddaughter) and Jude and our only boy JJ, we stopped at Wisbech to pick up another girl Lucy.

After an uneventful journey we arrived at The Oakes just past 7pm.   We were shown our room,  Sophie had a bunk in a 6 bed en suite room with Courtney and Jude.  I was the only person in a twin bedded en suite room complete with kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits, as well as ear plugs.

We unpacked and the girls introduced themselves to other room mates, then we went to the dining room  and enjoyed Pizza for tea.

The theme of the holiday is the Olympics, surprise surprise, where they could win Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals, they were put into teams.

There were 4 teams

Spain

Brazil

Australia

Canada

Sophie was in Spain, they were given lanyards with their ID on.   The leader of their team was Chloe and Holly.

After tea, they got into their groups to get to know each other, then followed an Olympic quiz. I thought quiz was a quiet activity but oh no, the noise you wouldn’t believe.

It seems the tradition during meal times that they all sing a song to a team leader, changing the name each time,

Sing a song Chloe

Sing a song

Sing a song Chloe

Sing a song

We won’t shut up

Till you stand up

Sing a song Chloe

Sing a song

This gets louder and louder, until the leader in question stands up and sings a short song, if the song is a popular one they chant

Encore

At 10.30 I went up and said good night to Sophie.

Tuesday 28^th August

The day started with CBS (Campers Bible Study), complete with hot chocolate to go with it.

Then we had Breakfast of cereal and Bonus Breakfast Pain au Chocolat.

We then had a bible meeting with Andy, which was very noisy and vibrant, where there were bible readings, songs and prayer.

They then split into five activity groups, 

Beijing

 Sydney

Barcelona

Athens

Atlanta

 Sophie was in Beijing.

They then went off to take part in 5 activities

Rope Course

Climbing Wall

Rafting

 Archery

Craft

Sophies first activity was the rope course, I didn’t stay with her , because I felt she needed the challenge, I later learned that she took part in some of the course and was so proud that her trainers got muddy.  Sophie was introduced to a young man named Pete who was a volunteer, and he had dyspraxia, dyslexia and was blind in one eye, and he told Sophie he had done all the  activities.

After a short period of free time we had lunch of  Wraps, chicken, salad, and crisps, with a chocolate bar.

This after noon they had Dorm Time which is where the dormitorys got together in a group to fill in a workbork called Jesus Lives discuss and ask questions of the bible.

Then came Activity Two this time Sophie’s activity was the Climbing Wall, when I spoke to her later, she said it wasn’t too high and she did some and enjoyed it.

Then they played a game David and Goliath, which consists of them running around and avoided being hit by soft frisbys, it was nice to watch Sophie joining in.

Then we had Tuck Shop in the Cellar, where they could spend pocket money on sweets and drink.

Shortly after that we had tea of Fish Fingers, peas and chips followed by ice cream sundae.

Then there was another bible meeting time, with some more noisy bible study, followed by Water Balloon Volleyball, and a variation of the game, rock, paper,  scissors.  We then had a bonfire with songs and stories, accompanied by hot chocolate and marshmellows, it was a lovely night for a bonfire, a clear sky, full moon, and bright shiny stars.

Camper of the day’s prize was to choose 4 leaders, who knelt on the grass in a row , the winner had a bucket of water and a cup and from behind could pour water on the leaders by sprinkling with fingers, using the cup or the bucket.

Then at 9.45pm it was bedtime.

Wednesday 29^th August

We started off with CBS (Camper Bible Study), then we had breakfast of cereal and Bonus Breakfast of Pancakes and Toffee Sauce.

It was then time for the Bible Meeting, then was supposed to be Activity 3 which for Sophie was Rafting, but because of torrential rain this was halted, and substituted with indoor games.

We then had lunch of DIY Sandwiches and yoghurt.

This afternoon we had Dorm time to discuss and ask questions of the bible.

Followed by the postponed Activity 3, where Sophie  took part in Rafting, she wasn’t keen on the canoeing, so paddled in the pond and was proud of getting wet.

Then the game Diving 4 Gold was played, there were 4 paddling pools with gold medals in that they had to try to get, and they all got extremely wet.

However, after rafting, Sophie disappeared, apparently she was having a shower and couldn’t get out.

Then came FREE Time  with Tuck Shop and Ice Cream for sale.

This was followed by Workshops, there was a choice of 5 sessions

2 Ways 2 Live

Suffering

Bible Overview

Active 4 Christ

Peer Pressure

Sophies choice was 2 ways to Live, which explained about Why to follow God, they were given a booklet Who will be King,  after the session Sophie went into question mode and was asking one of the leaders, how can she speak to God and hear him, then somehow it moved to what Heaven and Hell is like.

Then we had Dinner which was Pasta Bolognese and Mars Bar Mousse.

Then being our last night this followed with Party Games and a Cocktail Bar, with fruit drink concoctions.  They went to bed about 11pm, and then had a Midnight Feast!!!!

Thursday 30^th August

Once again the day started with CBS (Camper Bible Study), then we had breakfast of Cereal, Toast and Breakfast Bonus Chocolate Donuts!!!

Then we had our Final Bible Meeting.

And moved on to Activity 4, which for Sophie was Archery, which she had looked forward to doing, and she managed to hit the target.

Then it was time to clean up, pack our bags and take downstairs.

We then had lunch of Hot Dogs, Potatoes and Salad followed by Ice Lolly.

After lunch, the children all filled in a postcard, which asked them to fill in,

Who to pray for (Sophie said Uncle Steven)
What did they like best (Sophie said Food and Rafting)
What did they learn about the Bible (Sophie said That Jesus is King)
What friends did they make

This postcard will be posted in about a month to Sophie.

Then they had another Dorm Time, followed by Looney Olympics Competition.

Then came the time for Goodbye, the competition winners were

Australia

Spain (Sophies Team)

Brazil

Canada

We visited the shop and Sophie bought a Purple T shirt and a book called Sophie’s World.

And another safe journey home with thanks to Andrew and Jean.

We got home at about 8.15pm.

During the holiday i decided to give Sophie some space and interfere as little as possible thus challenging her out of her comfort zone, Sophie succeeded in tackling some of her gremlins while i caught up with lots of cross stitch and did some reading

It was a good holiday all the children including Sophie thoroughly enjoyed it, and i have to sincerely thank Andrew and Jean for making it all possible.

About 9.15pm this was posted on Facebook by Sophies Mum - Sophie Smith has just got back from the oakes i think she may have enjoyed herself she hasn't stopped talking yet.