27 June 2006 D Day!
-- and so dawned D Day! It was wonderful to witness the excitement at Johannesburg International as parents, grandparents and girl friends gathered to bid fond farewell to their boys. As I observed the various family dynamics, I was once again reminded of the enormous value of overseas school tours. The metamorphosis that takes place within a few weeks, as anxious youngsters transform into confident, mature individuals, is astounding. This is the very first cultural tour for PBHS and in his inimitable style, Deputy Headmaster and acclaimed historian, John Illsley has compiled an amazing 78 page tour brochure, which he presented to each pupil as a memento. Parents have been very generous and the boys were proudly sporting sponsored fleece jackets, money wallets and multi-pocketed back–packs. I await news of their safe arrival in Paris/London tomorrow and would value any input from chaperones and parents, which will help to make this site exciting and interesting.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
28 June 2006 Safe arrival in London
I have been in contact with the Tour Operator in the UK, who reports that the group arrived safely in London this morning, after a pleasant journey from South Africa. They were met by their Casterbridge Escort, Peter Voice, who found them in high spirits and bubbling with enthusiasm. He will accompany the group throughout the tour and his experience and expertise will, without doubt, be invaluable. After having checked in to their Youth Hostel, the group headed for the Imperial War Museum, which covers all aspects of wartime in the 20th century. They then enjoyed a walking tour from Trafalgar Square, past the Houses of Parliament and on to Buckingham Palace, via St Jame's Park. From a mother's perspective, an early evening would probably be sensible to recharge the batteries, but with the resilience of youth, who knows ---!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
29 June 2006 Another full day in London!
Today I received a delightful email from Marianne Scholtz, whose son related that the first day was 'hectic but awesome!' I am thrilled to have just received this 'hot off the press news' from Mrs John Illsley: "All progressing really well with the tour! Weather is hot and clear. Boys are now seasoned travellers on the Underground and we haven't lost anybody on the system – what a relief! Peter Voice, our Casterbridge Tour Escort, is good to work with and has kept things on track. After yesterday's full itinerary, fourteen of the boys elected to go back into the city and did a walking tour up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and finally to Piccadilly Circus. Much purchasing of soccer paraphernalia and gifts for girlfriends! We did all of today's planned events, with the exception of the Globe theatre. The boys had a great time in the ghoulish London Dungeon! The day started with the Tower of London, viewing the Crown Jewels and then many of the boys tried traditional English fish and chips for lunch! We then crossed over Tower Bridge to HMS Belfast, where we had an excellent talk from the educational officer aboard. We are about to leave for an evening walk around Greenwich -- we are all having a wonderful time!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
30 June 2006 A full day in Portsmouth
After having spoken to her husband, Mrs Thea Illsley reported that all is going exceptionally well and that the tour to date has been very successful. Apparently this has been a dream of Mr Illsley's for a very long time and he is delighted that it has come to fruition. I also received and sms from Ryan Engelbrecht who said that the tour is 'amazing' and that 'the sun only sets at 11.30!' With a fond farewell to London, the group travelled by coach to Portsmouth, a city which is rich in maritime history. Here they visited the D-Day and Royal Naval Museums, before enjoying a tour of Admiral Nelson's flagship, the HMS Victory. A visit to the Mary Rose and the HMS Warrior was an optional extra, but strongly encouraged by Mr Illsley! The last night on British soil is being spent in the YHA, Brighton and I hope that they are sensible enough to get a good night's rest to recharge their batteries for all that lies ahead in La Belle France!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
1 July 2006 Dover to Calais
Thanks to another Mum, I have had confirmation that everyone is having a fabulous time and that the Tour Escort, Peter Voice, is a "legend" and contributes enormously to the fun! Today the group made an early start and headed for Dover, where they thoroughly enjoyed a tour of one of the largest castles in the country, Dover Castle. This was a real exercise in empathy as the boys relived, in graphic detail, the worst days of the World War II. At 13h45 they boarded the ferry and crossed the English Channel - bienvenue en France! They arrived in Calais at approximately 15h15 and although they all enjoyed England, after just half a day in France, many of them have commented that France is definitely 'prettier'! As a little aside , apparently the one bus driver was Flemish and the Afrikaans boys had a roaring time discussing the local English girls in Afrikaans, only to subsequently realize that the bus driver understood most of what they were saying!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
2 July 2006 A synopsis of the tour to date!
Tonight I received an email from Peter Voice, detailing highlights of the tour to date. I copy it in its entirety: "On Day 3, we took a leisurely journey down to Hampshire and docked our trusty coach at the historic D-Day museum next to South Sea Castle. Boys were all rather foot sore after two days on a trot in London including night excursions. At the D-Day museum Mr. Illsley gave a brief outline of the scenes depicted in the impressive Overlord Tapestry, which shows the events around D-Day. The rest the afternoon was spent at the Royal Navy Historic Dockyard, where the boys were able to view modern French, Russian and British warships alongside those of yesteryear. The highlight of the visit was going aboard HMS Victory and viewing all parts from the upper gun deck all the way down to the keel. Also very good was an impressive multimedia re-construction of the battle of Trafalgar. We then drove through very pleasant countryside to our youth hostel in Brighton, located in a very attractive old manor house. In the light of the long evening, the boys were able to play soccer on the local common. Day 4 started with a lengthy drive through the lovely rolling countryside of West Sussex and Kent to Dover Castle. Although we managed to see the medieval Keep, medieval tunnels, Saxon church, Roman lighthouse, we were disappointed not to be able to visit the secret World War Two underground tunnels in the white cliffs of Dover, due to the departure time of our ferry. At lunch time our bus rolled onto the 'ro-ro' cross channel ferry "Spirit of Dover". The crossing was boringly smooth (no U-Boats, tidal waves, tsunamis, ice bergs or rough seas) something for which certain boys and certain staff were most grateful! On arrival in Calais we rolled off the ferry and headed for Saint Omer, about 35Km inland. We had supper at a hotel at Saint Omer and while most boys watched the France vs Brazil match, the more cultured amongst us went for a walk through the town's botanical gardens, followed by a quiet one on the lively town square, where amusingly most of the bars are owned by Englishmen! Trying to get to sleep after France won the soccer was impossible as the town erupted by rowdy celebrations, assisted by over enthusiastic hooter-blowing. PBHS boys were not shy to join in the celebrations from the windows of the hotel!! Day 5 began with a long journey across country to the forest of Compienge. This leg did allow the much needed catching up of sleep, including those who barely managed to catch the bus!!! At Compienge, we viewed the site of the signing of the Armistice in November 1918, which also became the site of the French surrender in 1940. The ghosts of history are very evident in this stark setting. The next leg of the trip took us into the Champagne province to the city of Reims. Here after a sumptuous haute cuisine meal at Mac Donalds(!), we visited the school building in which the German forces surrendered in 1945. This was followed by some time at the cathedral in Reims, one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. All the boys spent a bit of quiet time contemplating the beautiful, magnificent interior of the cathedral. Supper at the Hippopotamus grill (seriously), where the boys spent the entire evening trying to tell the waitress that she was beautiful! Everyone is having a wonderful time!"
Written by: Jenny Peddle
3 July 2006 Reims to Metz
Our Casterbridge Tour Operator, Tim Williams, travelled down to Portsmouth on Friday morning and met the group at the Historic Dockyard. He spoke at length to the group leaders as well as to the boys and he reports that they are all having ' a great time!' He commented that the itinerary is packed full and that they are visiting many great sites. There is no doubt at all that they will learn a lot from their experiences over these few weeks. The weather is apparently the best so far this year, with clear blue skies and baking hot everyday. Today the group travelled from Reims to Metz and the day focused on the Battle of Verdun. If you wish to phone your sons, you may contact them tonight in Metz on 09 33 3 87 75 13 11 and tomorrow in Brussels on 09 32 2 331 19 45.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
4 July 2006 Education for life!
Today the group headed for Brussels, where they visited the Bastogne Historical Centre, the National Museum of Military History and the General Patton Memorial Museum. One of our Dads reports that they are certainly having fun and that sleep definitely seems to be at a premium! Apparently the excitement with France through to the semi final in the World Cup Soccer is rubbing off onto the boys and many are learning the French National Anthem, La Marseillaise! Michael Toweel sensibly took his France soccer shirt and wore it the night France beat Brazil! This proved to be very popular with the locals and all the boys are now fervently looking for them! So, your boys are enjoying an educational tour on so many different levels -- !
Written by: Jenny Peddle
5 July 2006 Through to the final!
I have not heard from the group today and can only presume that no news is good news. I watched with baited breath as France defeated Portugal tonight and I am absolutely delighted to see that they have earned their place in the Soccer World Cup final. One can only imagine the hype as the French prepare to defeat the Italians in the finals on Sunday! What a wonderful experience this will be for the boys and should the French win, we can rest assured that there will be no sleep that night!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
6 July 2006 Belgium to France
I have just received this email from our Land Operator in the UK: "The group also spent yesterday in Brussels and with their days being so long and full, two nights in one place was most welcome! They are all still very much enjoying themselves and everything is going well with the tour. Peter Voice is enjoying guiding them and appears to be getting along well with students and teachers alike. They have visited several museums and sites and the tour has been fun and enormously educational – as well as hectic! Today they re-entered France and now find themselves in Lille".
Written by: Jenny Peddle
7 July 2006 Lille to Abbeville
Our Tour Operator spoke to the guide, Peter Voice, as they were arriving at the Newfoundland Park for a visit. He reported that "the boys were all in high sprits and thoroughly enjoying the tour. They are apparently really looking forward to Paris now, especially since France is in the world cup final on Sunday! The days are packed full and they are doing a huge amount of sight seeing in northern France. There are absolutely no problems to report and the time is going very fast. They have been following the itinerary closely and enjoying every minute". Tomorrow they join forces with the boys who have spent a week at the language school in the south of France and the group of 40 will enjoy the weekend together in Paris!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
8 July 2006 History and French groups unite
Today the History and French groups united in Paris. I received this sms from a History Dad: "The boys on the bus are really excited. They saw the top of the Eiffel Tower on the day they arrived and now are going back for the Full Monty for 3 days! The bus was so noisy we could hardly hear ourselves talk!" An sms from the French group reads: "Having a relaxing TGV journey to Paris, through beautiful countryside – the sunflowers are magnificent. Most of the boys are sleeping after an exhausting week in Antibes!" The two groups met at the hotel at about 2.30pm and were delighted with the clean, comfy en suite rooms. They went off almost immediately to explore the Champs Elysees and the evening will be spent in the Montmartre area. Bonne soiree!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
9 July 2006 Allez les Bleus!
It is unbelievable that your boys are in Paris on the night that the French play the Italians in the World Cup final. We can only imagine the hype as they gather with the locals around big screens and I am sure that there are a lot of envious parents out there! I think that I am being particularly brave/incredibly foolish in accepting an invitation to watch the match at an Italian restaurant! I will have the French flag nonchalantly draped around my shoulders, so if there is no diary update henceforth, you'll know why! Throughout the tour, the boys have been complimented on their behaviour and I trust that they will all act sensibly tonight and thoroughly enjoy this historic moment. Allez les Bleus!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
10 July 2006 Last day in Paris
Whilst the French were subdued and sombre today, following their defeat to the Italians last night, the boys were in fine spirit as they set off on their final day in Paris. I received a lovely sms from Mme Heather Gioia, written whilst they were all enjoying a cruise on the river Seine. Apparently the weather today has been superb and the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower was stunning. She commented on the guide, Peter Voice, saying how incredibly organized he is and what and a huge help he has been. She reports that the metro is as chaotic as usual, but that it has been an invaluable experience for the boys. They are all well and looking forward to their tour to Normandy tomorrow. Should you wish to contact your sons tonight or early tomorrow morning, may I remind you that the telephone number of the hotel is 09 33 153 90 40 00 and that they are registered under the name CASTERBRIDGE TOURS.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
11 July 2006 Paris to Rouen
The combined groups greeted their new driver and boarded their 50-seater coach early this morning. They started the day with a guided tour of Versailles, before continuing on to Rouen. Our Casterbridge Operator has just spoken to Peter Voice, who reports that the group has arrived safe and sound, albeit a little tired from the very full itinerary. Everyone is apparently really happy and thoroughly enjoying the tour. If you would like to chat to your son later tonight or early tomorrow morning, the number to call is 09 33 2 35 15 25 25
Written by: Jenny Peddle
12 July 2006 Normandy Beaches
The sun goes down so late and after dinner last night, everyone walked back to 'la vieille ville' to watch a sound and light show, which was projected onto the facade of the 13th century Cathedral. This was amazing and gave it a whole new range of different appearances, from the impressionist artist Monet to modern pop art. This 'son et lumiere' spectacle was such an unusual experience for our South African students! They made an early start this morning and today was devoted entirely to the Normandy beaches, which included Sword, Omaha and Utah beaches. They will be spending the evening in Caen and should you wish to contact your children, the telephone number for the hotel is 09 33 2 31 95 87 00.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
13 July 2006 Last night on French soil
With so many months in the planning, it is difficult to believe that this is the last night on tour. Today the group visited Le Mont St Michel, the second most visited tourist attraction in France and they are spending the night in the beautiful seaside resort of St Malo. I have not received any 'hot off the press news', so presume that all is fine. Should you wish to contact your children, the telephone number is 09 33 2 99 40 89 52. Bonne soiree et bonne nuit a tous!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
14 July 2006 Bastille Day!
What a day to end a tour to France, amid all the celebrations and festivities of Bastille Day! I am always left with such a warm sense of fulfilment and joy when a tour draws to a close and when I am satisfied that it has been successful. Your boys have been afforded the most wonderful opportunity and all praise to the accompanying chaperones and Peter Voice, who have taken such good care of your sons over the past few weeks. The group is due to depart Paris, Charles de Gaulle at 23h15 on AF 990 and scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg at 09h40 tomorrow morning. No need to remind you to be there, I'm sure! It's always good to get home and I am sure that they are all looking forward to taking it easy for a while. They will no doubt be tired after their very full itinerary, so don't expect all the tales to unfold at once. I know from experience how new stories continue to surface for weeks and months later! I wish to thank Pretoria Boys' High School for the privilege of orchestrating its very first cultural tour and I hope that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. So, 'au revoir et a la prochaine!'
Written by: Jenny Peddle