After a day visiting the Skoda factory, waking at 6am to go for a run, testing dodgy KFC meals and impersonating palace guards, we arrived in an isolated jazz bar somewhere in Prague (only Mr Smith really knew where we were), settled ourselves into comfortable seats and waited for the music to start. Unfortunately we were quite early and so had a somewhat awkward wait whilst the rest of the audience filed in. Since it was a few flights of stairs below ground the temperature rose rapidly and we were soon sweltering, the drinks (non-alcoholic) kept coming however and the jazz band appeared fairly quickly... after a while.

Since they were a jazz band the music was, jazzy and managed to lift many a spirit. A few of us, not naming any names perhaps got slightly over-enthusiastic and cheered very loudy after each improvisation by the main pianist, who incidentally probably deserved such an audience, but other members were not so amused, namely Mr Kitzinger whose embarrassement forced him 'to leave as soon as [he] was given the chance'.

It may be recalled that this was the date of Maddie Parr's birthday and consequently excitement levels were at an all time high. This, coupled with the nostalgia created by a live Jazz band meant Maddie and an accomplice stood up and proceeded to dance in front of the whole club. No one, bar those from King's, was vaguely phased by this, showing the level of acceptance those in Prague really had for foreigners...

After some 2 hours' sipping drinks and bearing the heat, music and dancing, it was decided that we would make our way back to the hotel. As was custom on these late night walks we stopped to replenish our stores at a local corner shop. Although the prospect of cannabis-infused chocolate, lollipops and Absinthe was sorely tempting, we (Mrs Cashmore included) kept ourselves at bay and merely refilled on what was necessary; chocolate, sweets, maybe some hand sanitizer and some 'other' souvenirs.

Returning to the hotel at a time unthinkable in the back streets of Taunton and the surrounding countryside, many of us collapsed into bed. Mr Smith, however took many hours to return. When he did, nothing was said, suspicions were raised, but they were instantly dismissed. One thing was sure, Mr Smith was not here for a mere scholars' trip...

Oliver Fox