Our heroes' first day in die Huchtingschule!! They congregated in the staff room, where the first morning started with quite a surprise for Alan (I) - suspected of kidnapping. The Earls' reputation had obviously arrived before them when, standing innocently in the staff room, he was accosted by an irate German mother who demanded, "Give me my daughter back!"

While recovering from this excitement they were treated to a further example of Teutonic thoroughness. Gabriele brought the school menu for the whole week so that they could order their meals in advance. (Trouble is everyone spent the rest of the week trying to remember what they had ordered.)

Eventually it was time to go down to meet the class (late - typical Earls). To their amazement there were about 30 girls, only about 14 years old, and just a few boys, but they were a nice lot. They formed a semi-circle to listen to Len's lecture on Morris; from the side it looked like the classic homely scene, Granddad telling his grandchildren about the good old days - all he needed was a rocking chair and slippers.

Then on with the first dance - Brimfield stick. Len put on a fine performance of stepping and playing at the same time. When he explained something the kids often didn't understand, but when he showed them comprehension was demonstrated by gleeful cries of "Ach so!" (Yes - they really do say it!!!)

Chapter 4: Monday September 26th, 1977
SCHNEEMOUSTORTE UND BIER, BITTE!!

And they made quite a good job of it, considering they had never seen it done before (come to think of it neither had most of the Earls).