Written by young person, Nikki, from Primrose Cottage

It was the 17th August, the cars were packed and we were ready to go to Henley. None of us were looking forward to the drive as it was going to take us four hours. After two hours in the car, we stopped at a service station to get a few drinks. When we came out and stood outside the car for a few minutes we all got chased by wasps. All of us were running round screaming and everyone was staring at us. We then carried on with our long journey.

When we got there the first thing everyone looked at were the pigs. We then had an attempt at putting the tents up. We thought we had lost the wasps at the service station but obviously they had followed us. Two hours later we finally had both tents up, but we then had to unpack everything out the car.

The next morning we all got ready nervously wondering what the day had planned for us. We were all exited when we parked up at the rowing club as we knew we would get to see our mate Reece. Two minutes later when we saw him pull up we all went screaming to him and gave him a big hug. Once everyone had arrived we had to go inside to register and wait for the organisers to tell us what they had planned for the day ahead. Everyone apart from me went on the rowing machine to practice for getting in the boats.

We all got put into two groups and after the first group got back it was then our turn to get in the boats. We didn’t have the slightest idea how to get in them but eventually we got there. At this point I wish I’d got in the rowing machine to practice. In the afternoon we went to a museum on a boat and we had to do a quiz. On the way back from the museum me and Mercy had a nice chat with David Rae.

On the way back to the tent our car broke down and it started to smoke, so Kelly ran over to Mill House’s car and told them and everyone gathered round. All the girls had to push the car as Wayne sat in the driver’s seat steering it for us. After all that rowing we got ready to go out for a meal with Mill House to Wetherspoons. When we got there we all had good meal and then David Rae joined us and bought us all a lemonade to congratulate us on the hard work we put into the event.

On the second morning we did the same routine. I loved the second day as we all had a brilliant time. We all got the choice to go in the boats but most of us went swimming in the Thames. At the end of the day we all went inside and collected our t-shirts and medals.

When we got back we went to the supermarket again to get some food for that night. When we had said our goodbyes to Mill House we all started to play games. We played sleeping lions and did races: a wheel barrow race and a bunny hopping game. Once we had eaten our burnt burgers, we all got ready to go to the swimming pool, but by the time we got there it was closed. Just our luck! We then all went to bed as we knew we had to get up early and had another long day ahead of us.

In the morning when we had got all of our things into the cars we waited outside reception for the AA man to come and tow us back to Primrose Cottage. We all had a giggle in the car as we were dancing to our favourite songs. When we got home we all chilled out and caught up on all of our phone calls.

All of the people at Primrose Cottage would like to say a big thanks to Dave Rae, Mill House, the Upper Thames Rowing Club, the Holt family and everyone at northerncare. We had a great time and can’t wait for next year!