Our first duty today was to finish the sports activities we didn't manage to complete on Monday: the water relay and the skipping. At snack time we added another Hazelhutter to the team. Then the day continued with one group doing survival activities with James and another making soap with Ottavia and our new helper, Giulia. The children worked really well in their groups and the soaps they produced were not only beautiful, but also sweet smelling, so our parents have a very special gift coming their way.... We had another picnic lunch in the shade, with delicious home made sandwiches and some very refreshing cherry lollies made from our own cherries. After lunch we relaxed indoors, playing games and enjoying the cool, before the pool was in action in the afternoon. The children had made bamboo chopsticks during their survival class (a good way to avoid getting ill from using dirty fingers for eating!)... so today we saw who could eat their snack using them. It turns out they were almost all rather good. In the evening we lit the bonfire and enjoyed some songs, conversation and especially burgers around it.
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This is a picture of the children arriving at the equi-centre, 'La Martingala' for our weekly appointment with the horses. The ponies today were Dolce Nera, Nocciolino and Gino and the children made a great job of preparing them for the day. On the field they listened for the rules to stay safe and also to understand the ponies better. Then it was time to try out the saddle..... It turns out that the children are super little riders and despite the hot sun, they were well behaved and didn't moan! That's not to say that they weren't very hungry at lunch time.... Thankfully Rita, Irma and Giada's mum had made some delicious food for us to enjoy! Back at the Hazelhut the children headed straight for the swimming pool. Later in the afternoon they helped James to dig up some potatoes for dinner. Some of these photos were taken by the children - nice job. Later we sent them further afield to find objects for a scavenger hunt leading to .....treasure! They worked in teams with walkie talkies and everyone tried hard to use English over the airwaves - good work kids. Chicken cutlets with our freshly dug potatoes and some delicious spinach was just the thing for dinner. There will be nine tired satisfied Hazelhutters going to bed tonight.
What an unusual day! What should have been our sport's day ended up with 3 sore tummies, one child being sick, 1 grazed knee and a ball in the face! We still started it in sporting fashion, but after a while it was clear that the children were better indoors. So we headed to everyone's favourite spot - the art room - to finish the furoshiki in time for lunch: one thing lead to another and soon the kids were opening all kinds of boxes and making cushions too. The children are the neatest Hazelhutters at mealtimes and clearly good chefs too as all the sore tummies disappeared and they enjoyed their home made sandwiches very much.... The boys were on jobs today - they collected the eggs, laid the table and were generally pretty helpful: well done, boys. The kids were a little restless in the afternoon, so we had a walk in the grounds, a game of 'Go fish' and a game of 'Header, Catch'. Despite all our ups and downs, bumps and scrapes, we have had a good day and these little characters have already become super Hazelhutters!
Look at this lovely bunch! The temperature has finally dropped and a new group of Hazelhutters has come in with the fresh wind. We kitted them out with sticks and headed out on a walk to be sure that they understood where they could and couldn't go. Some kids were brave enough to test the water in the swimming pool, but they soon jumped back out as it was CHILLY! Later in the afternoon, some of the kids made their furoshiki ready for tomorrow's picnic. Some of them used the art room and others played in the games room. The boys made a delicious ice cream from this year's Hazelhut apricots, which all the children enjoyed after dinner. We can tell it's going to be another great week at the Hazelhut!
Through thick and thin we made it to Friday and here are this week's 14 Hazelhutters, just before the trip to town. They sang virtually the whole way there and turned some local heads! By the time we reached the city, these dry throats needed whetted! Then all they could think of was spending their pocket money on some treats to take home. Our meal at the 'Corte dei Prefetti dei Vico' was delicious - as always - and we were glad to be out of the hot sun. Back at the Hazelhut we played the hat game and it was even right up to the line, but in the end the 'Star' team won. All too soon the families arrived and it was time for certificates, prizes and songs. So we have tidied up the house and gone about our chores; the lack of noise is bordering on eerie, but we can't stop returning to this unique group, who needed so much, but gave so much too. All the best, Hazelhutters, and come back soon!
We had a date with the fishing lake this morning, but before we went, the children helped to do some of the chores like picking fresh vegetables. Once at the lake, the children wasted no time in dropping their lines and catching some fish. Despite the hot sun, they were very hungry and the top groups caught 20 fish each!!! Lunch was much appreciated - even more so as it was served in the breezy shade. Here we are playing a game to stave off our hunger before lunch. Back home it was time to bake for tomorrow - boys were on flapjacks. The next group chose macaroons - with our own organic hazelnuts of course! Finally a rather fine set of fruit cupcakes.... All that cookery made us very hot, so the children had an extra swim, from which it was not easy to extract them! But if one thing gathers together a group of kids, it's pizza!!!! It has been a tough week - the temperature has been well over 30 each day and there has been a lot to work through with these impulsive youngsters, but they really are a special bunch and everyone has something to be proud of: well done, team.
Highs and lows today.... the first was a low: the art room looked like a bomb had exploded in it this morning and EVERYONE had to get busy and tidy it up! Followed by a high - the creativity of these kids in the T-shirt workshop. Step aside Giorgio Armani! Followed by another high with the survival groups; all Hazelhutters are now able to sling a hammock, make knots, create fire and use a catapult. Meals have often been a bit of a low as the children find it hard to always wash their hands, stay seated, share food, eat in a polite way..... BUT we ARE seeing improvements now and our picnic lunch was probably a high and Ottavia's homemade burgers certainly hit the spot for dinner! Another definite high was the karaoke where we heard some comic and angelic singing, of course there was a smattering of arguing over the microphone.... but overall this was a magical moment! The crystal clear pool is always a high, unless, like one child, you fall in fully clothed! Then it can fairly be described as a low! Being with your brother and sister is not always fun, sharing space, resources and time with others needn't always be easy or enjoyable either, but sometimes friendships have special moments and these are life's true highs.
Here we are arriving at the horses and the children are listening carefully to Irma's rules. This is a picture of Irma leading the children around the course. Here they are meeting and saddling up the ponies. And finally getting the chance to ride! This is the group at the end of their morning ride - Irma was very impressed with their ability and their very charming characters.....! Lunch was completely delicious, which was just as well as the kids were very hungry! Daniele had cooked a vegetarian lasagna and Irma's mum accompanied it with very tasty extras. The kids enjoyed their time so much that they even sang for the staff - the Hazelhut song of course. Back at the Hazelhut, there was swimming and art room activities. Some children helped James to dig potatoes for dinner - delicious!
Yes it is the moon.... we all had a slightly rough night's sleep, but there was still a scattering of smiles at breakfast! And plenty of enthusiasm for sports. But boy has it been hot, so we had lemon lollies at break time AND ice cream in the evening! For lunch the children made their own sandwiches and we had a picnic by the campfire. Some of the kids were able to try their furoshiki for the first time. In the afternoon we did the pool olympics - an excuse to cool off and burn some calories..... A shout out to our evening veg pickers and courgette cutters. We are now ready to watch the film, then, EARLY to BED!
What a team we have this week! 10 girls and 5 boys bristling with energy and excitement for a week of Hazelhut fun....! We did what we could to help them burn that energy - a swim in the pool, a game of football, a walk around the grounds? But still they bubbled and fizzed with energy! Perhaps it was all the delicious food they ate.... They are mostly quiet as mice now, watching the film 'Robots', but as I peer through the shutters, I can see the reason for all this wild behaviour - a big, round full moon! What will the night bring??!!!!!
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