St Patrick's Picnic Group A DAY AT THE TRIP STATION TO THE SEASIDE

The long train journey to the coast is finally over, sweets and drinks are all finished and water pistols have been confiscated or are now done (apologies to the train cleaning staff for the wet seats!) Class leaders are getting everyone off the train and are checking registrations to make sure everyone is accounted for. Bemused travellers on the rail network look on wondering what invasion has now taken over this quiet coastal train station that they are in. Everyone is once again lined up behind their class banners and Boom Boom strikes the big drum to let everyone know we are good to go. It is roughly 10.30am on a Sunday morning and most people living here are still asleep or very gradually coming round. The signal has been given, the band strike up and we are off! This procession will take us through the coastal town to the seaside. Some of the parents have come up from the beach to walk down with us and everyone is waving madly at those they recognise. The sound of the band has awoken many from their slumber and blinds and curtains are twitching and opening in all the local houses along the route some have even come out on to the pavement in their pyjamas to acknowledge the joyous procession weaving through their town. As we get closer to the front the crowds waiting to greet us get bigger, many parents/guardians signalling to the children where they are located once they have been fed. Like on arriving at the station in shotts to depart to come here the band separate into 2 and all the procession walk through between them - it is so loud! A welcome party are there to greet us and show us to marked out spots to coincide with our class numbers. Once everyone is in the enclosed circle the band move to the front to play some more music and entertain the crowd. Meanwhile volunteers and helpers are bringing to the children hot pies and sausage rolls along with trip bags of goodies. Class helpers are reminding all the children of that days timetable and where they have to be and at what time, this is a hard task because outside the circle is calling. A village, A town, A city of Gazebo's has been built by the invaders from St Patrick's Shotts.
A huge park stretches out before them all - this will be great for football, tennis, rounders races and of course Tug - O - War!!
Beyond this is a massive beach leading to an even more massive sea and this is the direction parents want kids to face all day long but inevitably they look the other way and there they are, The Shows! Time to locate the aunties and uncles and get spending money, The shows will be open soon.
Everyone enjoy your day at "The Trip"