francene--blog. Year 2013
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July 28th

7/28/2013

 
And so the summer peace begins. Sure, supermarkets might be packed with jostling children amongst the shoppers, but the roads outside are free of backed-up, idling traffic and the noise level has decreased. And all because of the summer school holidays.

Two schools dot the single strip of cottages along the road here in Elstree Hill North. St. Nicholas Primary school is a five minute walk away from my home, as well as a pre-school Montessori school at the top of the hill. Parents need to drop their children off each morning and pick them up each afternoon—hence traffic jams.

The narrow road outside our home serves as an artery out of Borehamwood and as a short-cut for trucks and transports between major roads. Added to that, two bus services operate along the route and two separate schools—Haberdashers Aske's boys and girls schools—are situated close by.

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Haberdashers Boys School, Butterfly Lane, Elstree
Surrounded by trees and fields, the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School is a British independent school, or public school, for boys aged 4–18. The fees are around £15,000 a year. The prep school is located on the grounds of Aldenham House, a minor stately home. Although the house is used by the school for various purposes, teaching takes place in a number of buildings that have been built on the grounds, most situated around a central Quadrangle.

About 15 years ago, I attended my catering job interview inside the main reception of Aldernam House. I wish I could have found a picture to share the splendor with you. The walls in the spacious area were painted in the colors of Wedgewood—pale blue and white. However, during my job of serving food, I found the boys behavior rude and boisterous. Their attitude is typified by the recent news leak that some pupils considered Victoria and David Beckham's boys too 'common' to be allowed entrance.

A private bus transported the catering staff to and from work along the narrow route through Elstree.

But during the school holidays, remove school-runs from the frenzy of getting to and from work, and Elstree is left with relative peace. For a month. In summer.

How do the school holidays affect your area?

Sugandha
7/27/2013 07:01:09 pm

It is sunday and read your point about no comments yesterday so dropped by..
Interesting post. There is a school opposit my home and I only get happy in case of holidays because that means no traffic and easily available auto ricksaw from the nearby stand.

francene-wordstitcher link
7/27/2013 11:51:19 pm

A touch of the exotic. An auto rickshaw sounds wonderful

Author Bek Mugridge link
7/27/2013 07:23:57 pm

We recently came off our school holidays. I just love them, mind you my kids are little so to me they are a great treasured family time X

francene-wordstitcher link
7/27/2013 11:52:40 pm

I remember the days when my children were little. I used to take them to the beach a short walk away. Lovely time.

Francene Stanley link
7/28/2013 03:32:43 am

Enjoy your time with them. Everything passes.

Amy link
7/27/2013 09:57:58 pm

Francene,
Do your students only have a month of summer vacation? (I won't tell you how long my kiddos get!) That seems hardly long enough to get enough summer play in, but perhaps they don't forget as much over the holiday as mine do!

francene-wordstitcher link
7/27/2013 11:54:00 pm

They probably have six weeks. I'm a bit out of touch. They're staggered now so some are on holiday while others are still at school.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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