alt_sinistra | Good afternoon from the camping trip!

Our students seem to be settling in, though managing the larger number of rising second years has a few practical challenges - we gave up on cooking over a campfire last night due to both the drizzle and the problems of getting food ready for everyone fast enough. Instead, we retired to three of the larger tents and their kitchens.

It’s been a little more damp here than we’d like, but the rain held off long enough yesterday to get the tents up, and it’s cleared part of this morning, allowing for some of our nature walks. Highlights included a nest of puffskeins, two wild (but quite friendly) kneazles, and most exciting, signs of a mooncalf (there’ll be an expedition tonight to see if we can spot it dancing.) My thanks to Mr Wright and Mr Kenrith for their expertise.

Also a large number of sheep, and a herd of ponies, which lead to a fascinating conversation. It’s apparently quite a new discovery that the not only are Exmoor ponies distinct from the Dartmoor as we’ve known for a while, but the Exmoor ponies are in fact magical beasts. We ended up talking a great deal about similarities and differences between apparently closely related species. So much we’re finding out now that proper magical research can be done under the Protectorate.

This afternoon, we’ve some Herbology workshops. Tomorrow, we look forward to several workshops on charms and other skills useful for camping (we’re already all getting quite good at drying charms), and of course Thursday is the day we transfer to near Tintagel.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Much thanks for offering to help Leopold out after we realised two groups would be far better than one given the weather. If you don’t think it was too awkward, you’d be quite welcome again. Leopold’s lovely, and very good with students, but I hate to impose too much on any one person.

I'll definitely let you know if we have luck tonight. (Though whether the rampaging horde will frighten the poor thing before we get a chance is an excellent question.)

I’m sure Mina Grubbly-Plank would be most interested in your notes and observations, if you’re truly willing to share. You needn’t use me as a go-between (and I’m all over the place this summer anyway) but an owl to her saying I thought she’d be interested would be quite welcome, I'm sure.

On the more personal front: it was good to catch up after so long, however briefly. I've thought a lot about Wales this year, and learning to let go of some assumptions. (Much thanks for that.) As to your other news, I’m truly glad you’re happy and found someone who appreciates your wanderings and obsessions. (Also, I still can’t believe your eldest is nearly five. Where the time goes... )

Do take care,
A.

Things are going well enough. (When I'm not being pestered with questions, rained on, or listening to people whinge about the rain, I am actually enjoying myself.) I’m looking forward to the move to near Tintagel, though. At least there, we’ll have access to indoor space if the weather continues dreary.

I'm pretty sure we've another surge of bullying, but they’re being careful enough it’s hard for me to spot anything in action. Not much I can do other than try to keep the usual lot of culprits well separated. Which does not work well when you’ve got 20 grumpy people jamming into a tent to make supper, let me tell you.

I don’t suppose you’ve had a chance to ask around a little more about what on earth Stint might be angling at now? He’s very clearly frustrated by Poppy (good on her!) but the meetings last week were... Well. Still mulling over, but trying not to dwell.

Speaking of meetings, Madam Umbridge does not camp, thank you, but she was here from when the counsellors arrived yesterday until everyone was in tents for bed, and showed up again first thing today. It did not improve my morning.

Having my own tent (well, borrowed) was also obviously the smart thing. Salve to my mood, and handy when two of the counsellors needed to pop in last night. (One nightmare, one mild reaction to a plant.) And if Umbridge is going to ask me persistent questions - “And why did you choose to do it that way, dear?” - I’d much rather be somewhere other people can’t overhear.

Miss you, though. If that needed saying.

(Do let me know if supper with the family might be doable sometime next week once you've an idea of your own obligations. If not, Mum understands, but she wants to be very clear you'd be most welcome. I need to go regardless, since Mum wants to go over a few family things quicker done in person.)

Mum -

Do thank Uncle Sylvanus and Auntie Tremella for the loaned tent again when you see them this week. It’s just the thing. (I’ll thank them myself, too, of course.)

Could you do me a favour and look up three charms for me? I know they’re all in your Bilford’s Big Blue Book of Nature Charms, and I couldn’t lay hands on a copy of my own last week. (Can’t imagine why the thing’s out of print, as I’d not think it was particularly political, but there you are. And the new version’s not due out until November, which is unhelpful timing.)

The ones I want are that one that helps illuminate a particular plant by name so you can avoid it (we had an unpleasant reaction I’d rather avoid in future), that one that identifies plants that have thorns or stings or whatever, and the one that helps you locate creature dens and nests. Thought I remembered the last, but I think I’ve forgotten something in the wand movement.

I should be able to come for supper sometime next week with as much of the immediate family as is handy. (Though I don’t know about Raz’s commitments yet, and it might just be me.) Maybe even to help you with the berry jams, if you want to try for that.

There's one of those worrisome student noises. Later.

Good afternoon from the camping trip!

Private message to Cadugan Kenith

Private message to Raz

Private message to Mum