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The Dorset Youth Marching Band will be returning to France in May/June 2010! This will be the forth trip to France in five years. Following the massive success of our return in 2006, we extended the trip for 2007 and 2008. The diary from the 2008 trip can be found below. If you want to read up on the trips prior to that, click on the relevant year in the menu on the left. |
DYMB are on their way to Saumur, France!
We left Corfe Mullen at about 8.30pm and arrived in Portsmouth at about 9.45pm with no problems. We boarded the Ferry at about 11.45pm and were shown to the area where we would stay the night. It was a lounge with reclining seats on which we could sleep. |
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Day 1 - Saturday 24th May 2008 |
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The lights came on in the lounge at around 4.50am. We had to be ready to leave the ferry for 6.15, so this gave people time to go and grab some breakfast and freshen up. We departed the ferry at 6.30am, BST. Now we are on French soil, all times mentioned in this diary will be based on the French time zone. We loaded onto the coach and headed down toward Saumur at 7.35am. We made one stop on the way for some food to keep us going along the way.
We arrived on site around noon and started quickly unloading, as it was pouring with rain. The rain stopped and we started organising the site an getting all the kit indoors. Everybody was given their rooms to stay in and all the members headed off to set up.
At 2pm we all sat down to some lunch, which consisted of hot dogs and soup. Once everybody had finished their lunch, we started to get ready for our meeting with L'Elan Saumurois. Soon enough everybody was ready, we loaded onto the coach and headed out to meet with L'Elan Saumurois. We met with them at their head quarters and followed them and their coach to the area in which we were going to play. We started at a shop and marched to the old town hall where we performed in a concert. We played a few tunes, followed by L'Elan Saumurois playing some tunes.
We were then invited in for some food and drink, which we were very grateful for. We headed back to the site at about 11.45pm and promptly went to bed!
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Day 2 - Sunday 25th May 2008 |
We woke up this morning the glorious smell of baked beans, cooked tomato's and eggy bread. Today we met with our old friends Avenir Allonnais. At about noon we arrived at the hut at which they used to play. We were directed to their new hut at which we listened to them play and then played a few tunes ourselves. We played a rendition of 'The Swing March', which Allonnais played with us. Then we were directed to some refreshments and snacks. We chatted to the acquaintances that we have made in the past two years and were then shown in to the hall were we were given lunch from Avenir Allonnais.
We finished our lunch and then most of the members headed out for a game of basket ball, England vs France! Due to the friendly nature of the game, we don't know who won! There was also one or two water fights, which the French clearly won! We then played through a few tunes and swapped instruments with Allonnais. Hopefully we will have some photos for the galleries when we get home. We were then shown back into the hall, then we were served a very nice dinner. Following the dinner, we unfortunately had to pack up and head back to the geits. Once we arrived back at the geits, we were given some hot chocolate, biscuits and cakes and went to bed. |
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Day 3 - Monday 26th May 2008 |
We all had a lie in this morning. At around 9.30 we were woken up to the smell of cooked breakfast. Everybody shuffled out out of their various bedrooms and queued to get some breakfast. Once that was finished and we had cleaned up, some of the members headed out to the coach to pack away the instruments that we had left on the seats from the previous day. Once the coach was clear, we loaded on to it and headed out to the Doue Zoo.
All the members have been looking forward to going to the Zoo. We were supposed to go last year, but because of the bad weather we were unable to. As the weather was so glorious today, we thought it would be ideal for the Zoo.
We arrived and headed into the Zoo in our separate groups. All the animals were out and about and they were all highly impressive. The members particularly liked the Giraffes, Lions, Rhinos and some White Handed Gibbons that were very excitable, as we arrived at feeding time. One of our members held a branch for the giraffes to eat from. One of the groups were able to perform some heroics, when they freed a goats head from the bars of the gate leading into the pen!
When the members had finished we met at the restaurant area where we had a couple of drinks and some ice cream. This area is right next to to Giraffe and Zebra enclosure, so we were able to watch over them as they were feeding and wandering around. Some of the members went into the shop whilst others just watched the animals. At about 5pm we loaded back into the coach and headed back to the geits, stopping for a bite to eat on the way back. When we arrived back, out came the frisbee and the footballs! Everybody had a kick around and a play around. One of the members thought he would try getting one of the leaders wet. We think he regretted his decision in the end!
The games began to die down and the hot chocolate was made. The members drank their chocolate and headed off to bed. This was an incredibly successful day for all! |
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Day 4 - Tuesday 26th May 2008 |
This morning everybody was up and out of bed by 8.30am as we had a busy day ahead of us. Today we were playing to the Mayor of Saumur, looking around Saumur and hosting a BBQ for our new friends from L'Elan Saumurois. We had a quick breakfast of fried bread and beans and started to get ready for today's event. By 10am we were ready to leave. We loaded onto the coach and headed out to Saumur. The weather looked cloudy and overcast, we were just hopeful that it would clear for the BBQ.
We arrived in Saumur at about 10.40am, put our instruments and kit on and fell in ready to play. We played an array of tunes and were then invited up for a drink and some snacks. Whilst upstairs we were given a tour of a couple of the surrounding rooms and had the significance of these rooms explained. Simon then handed over a engraved glass plaque as a present from DYMB, thanked them for allowing us to play in their city and we were given something in return. We said our goodbyes and headed back to the coach.
After getting into a change of clothes, we were taken to lunch in a local restaurant. Everybody polished off their plates and then had some time to go shopping around Saumur. We split up into various groups and headed out. Some members went into food shops, some bought ice cream, others were spending their time in the shoe and handbag shops. Whilst we were shopping, the heavens had opened and a lot of the members ended up soaked. Despite the rain, everybody seemed to have a great time and all are in high spirits.
Upon our return to the geits, the members split into three teams and took a quiz. Well done to the winners! Whilst the members were doing the quiz the leaders were setting up for the BBQ. Some were in the kitchen, some were outside. When the members had finished their quiz, they helped to set up the tables and chairs. Our guests from L'Elan Saumurois began to arrive at about 7.45pm and we started to meet and greet. The food started to go down a treat. The meat and Cheese was especially popular, it  seemed to just evaporate as it was put onto the table! Some members from Dorset Youth and some from L'Elan Saumurois started up a game of football, others were playing on the swing. The rest were around the BBQ area chatting and mingling. After a while both bands picked up their instruments and played few tunes with one another. The Bell Lyres from Dorset Youth tried to play along to their rendition of Ticket To Ride, also we discovered that both bands play a version of Funky Town, which seemed to go together quite well. Both bands played a few of their own tunes as well. Once the playing had finished we all packed our instruments up, started saying our good byes and L'Elan Saumurois headed home.
This BBQ was a great success, and the rain held off for the entire evening! Thank you to all the cooks for laying on such a great meal for both Dorset Youth Marching Band and L'Elan Saumurois. We just have to hope that tomorrows BBQ is as good of a success as this evening was.
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Day 5 - Wednesday 28th May 2008 |
Today we will be having a tour of some wine caves, going shopping and hosting our second BBQ of the week, this time for our friends from the first France trip in 2006, Avenir Allonnais. We emerged from our rooms at around 8.30 again this morning, to have breakfast and head out for the the Bouvet Ladubay Wine Caves. We had cereals and toast for breakfast then had our washes and got ready for the tour. We departed the geits at about 10am and arrived at Bouvet Ladubay at about 10.20am. We were shown around the cave, presses etc and the tour guide explained how all of the processes worked. When it came to the end of the tour, the adults had a little taste of the wine and made their purchases before heading out for a bite to eat.
After lunch we arrived at Decathlon and a Hypermarket, to allow everybody a chance to buy some gifts, souvenirs etc. When the members emerged from the shops at around 3.30pm and were coming out with various chocolates and sweets etc. The weather has become noticeably sunny and hot.
When we returned to the geits the frisbee and football came out and everybody headed up to the upper field for a kick around. Meanwhile, the cooks were busy in the kitchen getting everything ready for the upcoming BBQ. The seats and tables were set up and the BBQ was fired up. As we waited for Allonnais to arrived, the Sun disappeared behind a black cloud and the rain started. Luckily, the rain stopped as Allonnais arrived. We marched and played a few tunes to them and then watched as they played a couple of tunes as well. We headed down to the tables and tucked into the spread that had been laid on by the cooks. As always,  this went down without any hesitation and everybody seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. The language barrier proved to be no problem at all as the French/English dictionaries were in heavy use.
As some people were polishing off the food, others were playing a friendly game of football and some were playing frisbee. Gradually, everybody filtered back down in the direction of the food and picked up their instruments. It wasn't long before we were belting out the tunes at one another. We tried to play along with some of their tunes whilst they played along with some of ours. We all played a rendition of Swing March and packed the instruments away to finish off the food and have some desert. Gradually our guests headed home and we started to clear up. This BBQ was another huge success and our relationship with Avenir Allonnais can only become stronger because of it.
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Day 6 - Thursday 29th May 2008 |
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Today is a "Free Day" for us. We haven't made any specific plans to do anything. Everybody got up for a lovely breakfast at about 10am and then proceeded to have washes, showers etc. People filtered up into the upper field for a game of football, frisbee etc. As it wasn't raining and was fairly mild. We decided to use the swimming pool. Almost all the members jumped in for a  swim/splash. Although the pool wasn't the warmest ever, everybody had a great time using it. After everybody had finished in the pool, the rain began to pour. It was decided that the best thing to do would be to head out to the Hypermarket and Decathlon, as we had done yesterday. Due to the size of these Hypermarkets, there was still plenty to see and buy. At about 4.30pm everybody got back onto the coach and we started our trip back to the geits. During our time at the shops the Sun had come back out and graced us with it's presence again! When we got back to the geits, some of the leaders began loading the instruments, while the rest of the band went back into the pool. As the Sun was out this time, those who weren't in the pool were sun bathing next to. Everybody spent longer in the pool this time round, so by the time everybody was washed and changed, dinner was being served! Everybody munched down their lovely pasta and salad, then headed out to play a few games. Before everybody gets into bed tonight, they will need to pack everything that they won't need tomorrow, as we will be setting off fairly early, so won't have much time to get ready. Be sure to check the diary again to find out how our day goes tomorrow!
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Day 7 - Friday 30th May 2008 |
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Everybody was up for breakfast at about 8.30am this morning, ready to finish off packing and head home. Everybody piled their things into Dave's car and trailer, which he then kindly took down to the coach for us. Once all the personal kit was loaded, everybody piled onto the coach and we began our journey back to England at about 10.15am. This has been a truly amazing trip. Every single person who has been here this week has mentioned how much they have enjoyed it. This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for Joyce and Dave for their incredible hospitality, so thank you to you both! Of course, we can't forget Richard, our coach driver for getting us to where we need to be. The cooks, who made us all delicious meals and kept us going all week! A huge thank you goes to France for the spectacular hospitality that we've been receiving all week long. Last, but not least, Simon, for making this entire trip possible. Thank you from all who came on the trip! |
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