Day 7 - Army Day
The morning started with a bang - literally! Though Mr Starke had set reveille at the leisurely time of 09.00 the HQ assembled in the small marquee put camouflage paint on their faces and launched themselves on the Troop at 08.40 with smoke bombs, horrifyingly loud bangers and blood curdling screams.
It's all too much for my delicate system first thing in the morning. So I made a pot of coffee and watched the carnage from a safe and discreet distance!
Soon boys were running around the field, still in their pyjamas, before being issued with compulsory green army t-shirts and having their faces painted green, black and brown. Field-Marshall Starke barked out instructions for the day. Thus our peaceful haven in a little corner of Somerset was transformed into a snarling, barking, hard-nosed army base!
All sorts of military themed activities took place after inspection that involved stealing bombs, being kidnapped by masked assailants, walking across the countryside in groups and hills protecting a precious cargo and avoiding the vigilantes!
It was all quite exhausting but a great way to draw a line under the first week.
We now move to the weekend and the pace of camp changes. Saturday will see the mid-camp party followed by a sleepy Sunday and then the start of the APLs competition. Before we know it, we will be well into the second week and camp will nearly be over.
For now, however, it's time to enjoy a cream tea!
