… JAN R has continued to develop her talent in role play and impersonations this year.  One thoroughly entertained the class during our re-enactment of the Royal Wedding,  which resulted in One being selected to be head of the Royal Fan Club by One’s peers.

It is my hope that Jan will be able to expand upon these talents by taking the lead in the school production of ‘ Fanny by Gaslight’ in the Spring Term.

Jan plays well with others but must make certain not to be led astray by mischievous classmates such as Stuart and Andrew.  After they encouraged her to take an aperitif of ‘medicinal’ compound she found herself quite undone and incapable of participating in wake and shake with the class the following morning! It is my hope that she has learned her lesson and now understands that even though it smells like medicine,  looks like medicine and tastes like medicine it is not necessarily going to be good for her.

…PAUL B, is a very sociable boy,  who is never happier than when he is playing dressing up with his friends.  He enjoys dance and drama and is always an eager participant in those lessons.  With a bit more practice sand a better understanding of ‘left’ and ‘other left’,  I am certain that he will soon reach the next level.

He is an extremely safety conscious boy and can often be found clutching the odd bottle of anti-freeze or screen wash.  However for the comfort of himself and his friends, he needs t0 take heed of the ‘fill levels’ as he has a tendency to over fuel,  which  has at times resulted in an inability to coordinate himself or even locate his dormitory.

…JUSTIN L, is a hardworking and conscientious boy.  His success as class milk monitor last year resulted in him being given the responsibility of ‘key holder’ this term.  He took this duty very seriously.  So much so that at times it was extremely difficult to get him to relinquish the key. When his tenacity resulted in the caretaker nearly being arrested for breaking into the classroom,  the Head teacher felt that Justin would do better directing his passions in a more academic direction.

This is when Justin developed a keen interest in Chemistry.  Although not all of his experiments ended quite as well as he would have liked.  On a recent field trip to Newquay,  his research turned somewhat combustive.  This new area of his learning required him to work with highly volatile substances such as Tequila.  He found that when this chemical is mixed with the equally volatile Cider,  the unpredictable ‘Jack Daniels’ and a wide range of unstable elements the results are positively explosive!

… FRANK S, has been trying hard this year and his behaviour on the carpet has improved slightly as a result.  However I have had to continually remind him not to wear his questionable headwear in class!

I cannot find the words to explain the calamity that ensued, when during a recent lesson, he was asked to approach the whiteboard.His friend Justin nearly lost more than an eye and i am sure you can appreciate the time it took to reassure Sally’s parents that she will in time recover and be able to sit properly again.

On a positive note,  Frank has been working hard in Maths and Geometry, mastering the ‘angle of the dangle’ with great precision.  This proved useful during an inter house ‘conkers’ championship where it was found that little boys who aim properly are always an asset.

He continues to display an extraordinary interest in the female anatomy and in truth it is during these lessons that is he is most alert.

…SPECIAL MENTIONS go to GREG and COLIN for their enthusiastic and energetic wake and shake performance to ‘Cotton Eyed Joe” and the Home Economics class for their baking contributions for the school canteen, for which they received GOLD STARS.

The Xmas party was another hoot,  with fine food and much fun and laughter.

Frank and Justin were particularly festive. Frank was hilarious, doing an impromptu sketch, in a German accent,  extolling the virtues of owning a BINI,  wearing a plastic moustache from a cracker, with  a comb over provided by a deflated torpedo balloon!

Talking of balloons.  Never before has such a simple thing provided so much joy,  fun and laughter. Those long ‘Torpedo’ balloons have it all. Double entendres and inuendo ensued as the girls pursed their lips around the end and blew hard, making them  become ever longer and  more erect. Jayne was particularly good at blowing hers.  She looked so good in jodphurs, that mine inflated itself!

We ended up with a 21 balloon salute,  launching them all at once to provide a cacophony of noise as they raced insanely around the room!

Our favourite teacher, Jan, provided an end of term report for some of the Clubs pupils. Have a look at the “Some say’ section of the site.

Jan and Stu are once again to be congratulated on organising the event. They really are ‘Jolly Good Fellowes’ and so say all of us!

Have a GREAT CHRISTMAS everybody!

….that Kevin keeps appearing on the News.

Trouble is he is always standing on the same spot.

No wonder it is taking so long to fix the damaged wall at Bridgwater!

… that Sarah has a ” Darkside”

writes Bas

Three cars set off on the annual run to West Bay and Portland. It was a shame that it was so few, after all the hard work that Roger and Carole had put in, organising the event.

Let’s hope that next year more members join in the fun!

Roger led us through Sutton Bingham- the reservoir was incredibly low-through the lovely villages of Halstock, Corscombe, Beaminster, Maperton, Melplash, Pymore, Broadoak, and Symondsbury, where we had never been before.

On route we meandered through lovely leafy lanes and hedgerows adorned with vibrant berries and autumn colours. Fallen leaves danced in the breeze almost as if they were glad to be untethered from their trees.

At one stage Roger swerved violently right. Was it to avoid a pheasant? -No

a rabbit? -No

a fox?-No.

What could it be? I hear you ask.

A giant pile of horse shit! The biggest that I had ever seen. Two more and they would have given the Pyramids a run for their money!

Talking of horses, Mandy had spent the morning riding one. No it wasn’t in the desert and the horse did have a name. And it wasn’t called Colin!

They caught up with us at THE CROWN, Bridport, where we had a fantastic roast with six different vegetables. Eight if you include two different types of potato!

We had the usual banter and a good laugh.

Before setting off along the picturesque coastal road to Abbotsbury, we could not resist doing a few laps around the MINI roundabout at West Bay! You have to don’t you?

Portland was a sight to behold with the waves crashing against the shore, throwing up tons of spray. The sea was awash with foam or as Mandy said “someone had put too much washing up liquid in it!”

The wind was blowing a gale but it was exciting and breathtaking to see.

Next up was tea.

Upon entering the Cafe, the place was pretty full and we needed a table for eight. I wandered about looking perplexed and was just about to approach a waitress when I spotted right next to me Jan, Greg, Roger and Carole and four empty seats.

The buggers had been their all along but Jan feeling playful decided to keep quiet to see how long it would take before I spotted them!

It was the first time that she had been quiet in her life!

Anyway we all had a great tea and another good laugh about Roger’s windswept look.

Incredibly stupid as I recall it!

I was up for ridicule next when I spilled tea all over the table.

For my next cup, Mandy kindly told me that I had overlooked the tea strainer, after I had filled my cup! So I sloshed it back in the pot and the table became awash with more tea!

Mandy was particularly playful. She and Colin had found a Blow Hole and suggested that I had to take photo of it. She knew the perfect place where I could stand to get a great shot!

So Gullible Gordon followed her and waited, with camera poised for the blow hole to blow!

When out of the corner of my eye I noticed that Mandy had scarpered.

Smelling a rat, I too legged it just before an avalanche of water hit the very spot where I had been standing! The little rascal!

I had the last laugh though. The Blow hole had gone very quiet. Mandy said that the tide had gone out. Inspector Chaffey and Harvey,his hound, went to investigate.

He peered over the hole and nothing happened, so he got closer and peered some more, when with an almighty whoosh, the geyser erupted and drenched him. And as he retreated for good measure a second spout drenched him some more.

His woe didn’t end there as Mandy then bollocked him for nearly drowning her dog!

So ended a great day,with beautiful scenery, much banter and laughter and a day spent in good company. Many thanks to all concerned.

This year’s Mini World Action Day at Castle Combe was a bumper event with 97 Club Stands from as far away as Liverpool, Brighton and Redditch.

There were over 50 traders too and most people seemed to be carrying round bumpers,  looking like they were on some kind of ski-ing holiday!.

Our very own Sarah and Kevin, were seen carrying lots of parts as Kevin gave Sarah a crash course in buying replacement parts for her stricken mini!

Daleks, Storm Troopers and other sci fi characters were to be found mingling with the crowd.

Frank exterminated the opposition in the H4H conker championship, proving that his nuts really are made of steel!

H4H deservedly won the best Club Stand award with their fine display.

Frank was their Private Dancer!

A giant cruise of over 200 minis took place but  none from YMM.

Thanks to Justin and Rob for organising the tickets, and to all those who turned up.

… Love is in the air

Others say…

… Air is in the chair!

Mouth to Mouth Run Sunday 18 September 2011

writes Bas

Gary and Brenda, Roger and Carole, Stu and Jan, and Bridget and Bas set off with threatening skies as black as tarmac.

We drove through waterspouts, floods and tempests. (OK heavy rain!)

Watching windscreen wipers winking, blinking- swish-swash-swish-swash- swish-swash- bish-bosh- swish- swash on and on and on and…

On arrival at Weymouth our noses soon led us to The Pavilion Cafe, for a bacon bap and coffee. Cheap and with lots of bacon!

Afterwards we met up with Mark, Tina and Emily, who had  ’overnighted’ at Weymouth.

We left at 10.30am and on cue out popped the sun. Did he have his hat on? – No. It rained again.

We drove in convoy via Portland and had a pitstop at Chideock, the first village in England to have two speed cameras installed. Not a lot of people know that!

After a great roast served in fine surroundings by excellent staff we wended our way to Exmouth Rugby Club.

Where the sun shone on us in more ways than one, with a glut of raffle prizes coming our way.

We only needed a few cabbages to play Crackerjack!

We all went for a spin around the Esplanade, being greeted with waves, flags and smiling faces and youngsters saying “mini” as we drove by.

At one stage we passed some girls on ponies and one was heard to proclaim ”I love minis” and she was right. Most people do and despite minis’ tantrums and annoying habits we all do don’t we?

They are like your children. They play you up and drain your pockets but you wouldn’t be without them.

We drove home through Devon’s glorious countryside bathed in super sunshine and were grateful for the day and all the hard work that Tim Pedder and his pals put in, raising money for the RNLI.

Sunday 4 September 2011

An early start thanks to a cock up by Bas, saw us setting off for Bovington at 7.30a.m.  An 8.30a.m. start would have been fine.

It wasn’t a good start for Bas, who cursed loudly when he pulled back his curtains and saw RAIN!

That put paid to his 63 mini joining in the fun.  He cursed even louder when at the event the sun came out at 10 and remained for the duration! DOH!!

We set the cars up in an attractive display, organised by Stu and Roger, and the girls adorned the Coopers with balloons celebrating its 50th anniversary.

There was plenty to see and great bacon, mushroom and onion baguettes to be munched. You can never get an egg nowadays!

We settled down to do our customary quiz which is great fun, especially if you are winning. Carole gets incredibly excited when she answers a question……..wrong!

Next was an entertaining bird display.

Things went downhill when Bridget won a prize that never was in a raffle. Apparently they had two pink raffle books with the same numbers on the go at the same time!

Then none of our glistening cars won an award and we didn’t win the Best Club Stand.

But the half glass full gang said “It is not the winning but the taking part that matters”

The half glass empty crowd left feeling thirsty!

All in all, though another enjoyable day spent in good company.

… that Colin, Mandy and William were seen trying to win a BMW Mini at Bovington.

Others say…

… Surely not?

Bas says …

… the camera never lies!