The weekend just gone was the Crinken Youth Weekend Away, down in Ovoca Manor (near Avoca, Co. Wicklow - a very beautiful part of the world). Now I realise that 1 co leader and at least one yoof will read this so I have to be careful what I say ;-) S wasn't there as she was still recovering (officially).

We went down there on Friday evening - I'd taken the day off so I could spend as much of it in bed as possible, although ended up helping S with displays for Uganda during the afternoon. Most of the teens seemed to arrive early but we just about got organised before they all piled in. In general they are a really good bunch. Their idea of pranks is to sheepishly ask the leaders if whatever they have planned is OK before doing it - which is fantastic if you ask me! The lads kicked off on Friday by attempting to subtly steal all the girls pillows and put them in the freezer (sadly the freezer was turned off at the time).

We had a guest speaker, an Aussie currently living up near Malahide, who was very good. After the first talk on Friday we watched a film then everyone was meant to go to bed. Lights out at 1ish was fairly reasonable and it took about an hour to before they finally gave up and were quiet. Their idea of messing about in secret was very funny - a room of girls and a room of boys were texting each other. As leaders sitting chatting in the hall we could hear "beep beep" from one room, then "beep beep" from the other. So one of us stands looking outside and one looking down the corridor. Sure enough some girls climb out the window and look actually shocked that we're standing there watching. It was hilarious.

The rest of the weekend went well. Pranks were fairly tame, food was good, teaching was good, discussions were good and activities fun. The boys main other attempt at a prank was to get up at 7am on Sunday to wake the girls up early. I would have bet money on them failing miserably, but no, they took some balloons, got up early, opened all the doors, burst the balloons then played music and had flashing lights from torches. When it was pointed out to them that now they were up they may as well do something useful they seemed a bit upset but had nothing else to do so they did. Only other point to note is for C, that if this weekend has taught you anything, it's to learn to play pieces in the same key as the rest of us!! Good effort though at a quick transpose!