SUMMER VISIT 2007

The Vale of Evesham might be best known to people of late because of severe floods; and it was the very day following these floods that we met our 6 mums and children and Valentina, our regular Interpreter, at  Birmingham Airport.  The journey home was surrounded by flooded fields, but, fortunately, none of our hosts was actually flooded and we were able to proceed as planned.  Apart from the first day which was to have been a leisurely trip down the River Avon at Evesham on a boat that has taken us every year, our programme was not affected, and within 3 days the floods were forgotten.

The hosts are scattered around a 12 mile radius of Evesham in villages but we managed to meet up almost every day either on pre-arranged outings or at hosts houses.  Animals featured fairly often, either to look at, or feed, hold, or even ride, and there were several opportunities for swimming in private pools.  A whole day at the Midland Safari Park is always a firm favourite, and we had perfect weather for it, unlike Hatton Country Park, where it rained so much that we gave up and went home! The Mums and Children have to be congratulated on putting up with the appalling weather at Hatton without a murmur.  They must be congratulated also on their culinary skills; at our Party they prepared delicious Belarussian savoury dishes for well over 40 people. 

The children were delightful and so well behaved, taking part in everything with a smile. By the end of the two weeks they were relaxed, happy, and healthy, and eager to have a go at skittles, ride a pony, or canoe down the Avon, and one child, and one mother, could see much better also, having been provided with a pair of spectacles by a kindly optician in Evesham.

We are very grateful to everyone locally who helped make the two weeks of the visit so successful, and gave either their time, or their money for six small children who  had a truly memorable holiday.