Its all go at the moment.

This week seems to have been a hard slog, lots going on and lots to do. Carl is going to Lourdes with the school as a RedCap helper for the Arch Diocese of Westminster. Beth and I went on Tuesday night to hear all about the preparations and what the arrangements would be.
He will be leaving school at 5am, I say again 5am (Yes that's the one in the morning!!!!) They have to be at Stanstead airport early as they have been specially selected to accompany some of the more seriously ill pilgrims, who will be travelling with medical staff and will be staying in hospital once they arrive in France. I think that the Redcaps will be offering their 'brawn' in assisting to move people around. This year is a special year to visit as it marks the 150th anniversary of the apparitions seen by Bernadette Soubirous in the Grotto in Lourdes.

They have packed days planned starting with Breakfast at 7am followed by mass and then trips to the grotto, back for lunch, more trips to the basilica and grotto. Followed by dinner and then trips to the moon light procession. Also along the way they are attending Benediction. They will get free time but its looking like that will be around 10pm onwards!! While undertaking all this activity they will work in pairs and look after their allotted 'Malade'.

On the last day they will have a group afternoon, last year it was a trip to a climbing forest which Carl has done before when we have visited France. I am hoping that he will find this a great experience a change to help people less fortunate that yourself and to have fun with friends at the same time. (with the added bonus of 3 possible mass' a day, snigger, snigger!)