Log by the Yellowhammer, Hawk, Peregrine and Goldfinch Patrols: On Friday the 30th we all met up at Mayors Walk at 4 o'clock and got on a bus and went to Duncannon Fort for the Halloween weekend. It took approximately an hour and a quarter to get there. So finally we got there and it was kinda raining and windy but we were shown our dorms, The girls dorm was a nice room, it had a fireplace. The boys dorm was kinda like a hall and was also used as the main hall.

Above: The 3rd De La Salle on Duncannon strand.

That night we played different games like dodge ball, quizzes, games with straws, malteesers, musical chairs, manhunt, fruit salad and from each game the winning patrol got points. David was on fire with the quiz.  Then we had dinner of wedges, mini pizzas, hot chocolate and tea which Emily cooked. After that we went to sleep (or we tried as there was jelly beans flying all over the place and to be honest we didn't go asleep until 4 o'clock).

We woke up on Saturday and got our breakfast which was fruit and cereal (coco pops) and toast. Calvin from our patrol ate 32 bananas. Then we went to the beach and Colm, Conor and Jack went digging for bait as they were going fishing later on. We did a couple of different races on the beech. We all (as patrols) had to draw signals in the sand and had to draw our PLs face (also in the sand). After that we went over to an old rusty goalpost and people started chin ups and climbing up it. David bet everybody in chinups, then climbed up a wall. In his words, he is "tuff". When we got back from the beach we went to the shop and at the fort we made gadgets. Ginter was upset because somebody bought round teabags. Back at the fort we had lunch of either tomoto or chicken soup with sandwiches.

Above: Digging for bait on Duncannon Strand.

At 2.00pm we went on a tour of Duncannon fort and it was very interesting. There has been a fort at Duncannon since the 13th century and as part of the tour we visited the old dungeons and the Croppy Boy Cell.

Above: A strange Ireland shaped moss growth.

On Saturday afternoon we did bases including Sudoku and a triangle puzzle with John which was very good. The fastest patrol finished it in 8 minutes.  It took us a while but Ruairi was good at it. Him and Bill cooked dinner as part of their Chef's merit badge. We had to shoot a cannon which was good but quite hard. Dean was helping at that base. With Colm we did the bucket lift where we had to lift a bucket using ropes between four corners and add water at each stop. At the Saw base with Paschal we had to cut a piece of wood with the saw and rope without our hands being on the saw. The fifth base was with Ginter where we had to lift more buckets. 

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We also played Boules which was tricky and we did this by ourselves.

The last base involved stopping water escaping from a tube with a load of finger sized holes in it which was pretty tough and we all got soaked.

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After Colm, Jack and I (Eoin) went fishing (no big fish were caught) we had dinner that Ruairi and Bill made. Dinner was spaghetti bolognese.  Then we got into our costumes and headed to the beach where we let off a few fireworks. In the fancy dress Jaydeen came 4th, Eva got 3rd, Shaun got 2nd and Adam got 1st. The first prize was a survival kit.

Above: The winners of the fancy dress competition.

Then we had sketches, told ghost stories which were a bit freaky, Ginter got possessed, we had supper of hot chocolate and went to bed.

On Sunday we woke up at 8 o'clock. It was a very windy day but sunny. Everyone was messing until Jim came in and told us to pack up and get the room ready for breakfast. After the PLs told us what to do the room was soon ready. We sat down and ate the cereal, fruit juice, toast and sausages. After breakfast we washed our plates but most people forgot tea towels. When we were all cleaned up we were told to write this. We also did a treasure hunt using the GPS (Global Positioning System). Part of the treasure was tins of tomotoes which we then used to make a 3rd DLS logo at the 1798 Sundial.

Above: The sundial which commemorates those who died in the 1798 rebellion at Duncannon Fort.

David's Jokes: What's the difference between an apple and an orange? You can't clean a window with a shovel. What's green and invisible? This cabbage. "Who bought the round tea bags?" Famous quote from David Collins aka Ginter. What's Pink and Fluffy? Pink Fluff. I'm red, I'm wobbly, I'm jelly - what an I? Jelly.

The Patrols of the 3rd 2009

Above: Bill with the Hawk Patrol. The winners of the Patrol Challenge.

Above: Ciaran with the Goldfinch Patrol.

Above: Ruairi with the Yellowhammer Patrol.

Above: David with the Peregrine Patrol.

Above: Lauren's Angels?

Above: The ladies of the 3rd.