I’ve started to realise there will be a lot that I will miss at camp when I get back home. Some of the people and kids here are just so funny. This session I am absolutely LOVING all of my classes! The kids are so engaged and focused, and really talented too. It means I can give them more challenging things to do, which is just awesome. At the moment I’m working on ’05058′ (So we’ve gone from Alice, in Wonderland, to Wendy, in 05058… don’t ask!) and I’m just prepping the kids for their auditions. In singing, we’re working on ‘Breakaway’ by Kelly Clarkson, some musical theatre and The Chain by Ingrid Michaelson as well. On closing day of the last session, I had the singers perform the aforementioned songs to their parents, demonstrating what they’ve worked on etc. At the end of the parent-camper class, one of the mothers came up to me and told me about how Ingrid Michaelson lives in their town and that she’s really good friends with her mother and their family!
…I’m so glad I only found that out afterwards otherwise the pressure might have been too much! Luckily the class went really, really well. Some of the parents and younger siblings were all joining in with the class, and they all came up to me afterwards and were so impressed with how far they’d come in the space of a 2-week performance class. I was very proud of them all, as they’re not the easiest songs to perform (especially ‘The Chain’)!
Things have been good here overall, apart from one instance but we won’t go there for now. Most things except the weather, of course. It hasn’t stopped raining this week! And on my one and only day off it was grey, chilly and drizzly, and I left my purse in my cabin so couldn’t even buy a coffee in town! I also ate so much food at lunch time that I had food baby-twins. I also, let’s say, slightly over-indulged at Weds night cookout. I had no shame.
I seriously regretted it the following day.
So, what has been happening at camp that I’ve not mentioned yet? I’ve lost track… oh yeah, my BIRTHDAY!!! 22. I had an awesome birthday this year 
I woke up to the juniors rustling around on my porch, stamping and banging on the walls? I couldn’t help but lie in my bed and grin at them ‘silently’ setting up something outside. I imagined they were laying out cards or something. But, when I came outside, they had plastered my cabin with homemade cards, posters and banners, and even balloons and presents! I couldn’t believe it. Amy and Grace were the partners in crime. It was such a lovely gesture and I’ll never forget it! I also had a stampede of children come out from their cabins and bolt at me when they heard me come outside. They all ran into me, headbutted each other, and then fell out. It was so funny.
And THANK YOU Steve and Claire for getting me this massive box of Jelly Belly! It made my day! I’m trying to make them last… trying to.
I headed out for dinner that night too, to Molly’s. I had one cosmo and felt drunk – clearly deprived of a good drink or two at camp! It was so strong as well! I also got enough free dessert to feed six people! Me, Allie, Abi, Morgan C, Amy and Kyra all got a good share of hot chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream… sooo good! They never even checked to see if it really was my
birthday!
Kyra, Me and Amy… and a cosmo!
Mmmm cake.
Free brownie!
<3
So my birthday was awesome! What was also lovely is all the cards and messages I received from back home. It was odd being in a totally different place and not having a party with all my family and friends. You were all definitely missed a lot on this day!
Happy Birthday to meee
Before the second session campers arrived, we had a staff meal up in Highland where everyone made and exchanged gifts for one another. I made a camp newsletter for Caitlin (who was in charge of the camp news activity), and I got a bracelet and an awesome card from Emily P as my gift! We had a cut of meat, some sauteed potatoes and veg for dinner and cake for dessert. Not complaining! 
We all got dressed up too:
Abby, Amy, Me and Abi
Abby Teetor et Moi!
So tonight is Sunday 29th July and it was my job to put together, and run, Sunday Night Campfire. This is a really big tradition at Lochearn and has been going on for 97 years…! Everyone dresses in their Lochearn blues and whites, and heads up to Campfire Hill from The Point after dinner.
For tonight’s campfire, I’d arranged a speech for myself to do, and for two others as well as Rich and Ginny. I also took a massive risk in getting the whole camp involved in singing ‘I Like The Mountains’ in a 4-part round, and somehow… somehow… we pulled it off. Rich & Ginny also had two of their friends at this campfire tonight, as well as their daughter, so pressure was on! The other two performances, ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Hallelujah’ also went really, really well. Thank you guys! I think overall it went just how I wanted it to, and actually when I started getting into it I wasn’t really nervous at all. So all is well on that front!
It feels like camp is drawing to a close now. After this 3rd set of Middlers go home we really are on the home stretch! It’ll be weird, but I’m definitely looking forward to hitting the road down to Boston; it’ll be a really welcome break.
As always, missing you all back home! I managed to Skype Mum, Dad, Oscar, Jules, Nan, Grandad, Claire AND Steve today. Boom! Hello home! Can’t wait for one of your BBQs Dad
Loads of love, your #1
xxxxx
