I have noticed in recent days that the air has that distinct hint of autumn in it and leaves on the trees are just beginning to change from greens to copper and orange. Today however the sun was shining brightly giving me the perfect opportunity to visit Attingham Park.
This weekend they were holding a food fair with local produce, I couldn’t resist picking up some more of the delicious beans shown in my previous post. They are grown in the Attingham Park walled garden. Those who have been following my blog for a while will know that the walled garden in one of my favourite parts of Attingham. So after enjoying a lemon and sugar pancake at the food fair I set of on the short walk to the walled garden to see how it is progressing. The photo above is taken in the garden and there are more photos to follow soon…
One of the things that the National Trust have been promoting this year is a campaign called ‘50 Things to do before you’re 11 3/4‘. You can watch a delightful video that promotes the campaign here.
I have highlighted in bold on the list below the things I have done (not necessarily before I was 11 3/4). Some of the things that I haven’t done I am never likely to do unless forced into them 
The list:
- 1. Climb a tree
- 2. Roll down a really big hill
- 3. Camp out in the wild
- 4. Build a den
- 5. Skim a stone
- 6. Run around in the rain
- 7. Fly a kite
- 8. Catch a fish with a net
- 9. Eat an apple straight from a tree
- 10. Play conkers
- 11. Throw some snow
- 12. Hunt for treasure on the beach
- 13. Make a mud pie
- 14. Dam a stream
- 15. Go sledging
- 16. Bury someone in the sand
- 17. Set up a snail race
- 18. Balance on a fallen tree
- 19. Swing on a rope swing
- 20. Make a mud slide
- 21. Eat blackberries growing in the wild
- 22. Take a look inside a tree
- 23. Visit an island
- 24. Feel like you’re flying in the wind
- 25. Make a grass trumpet
- 26. Hunt for fossils and bones
- 27. Watch the sun wake up
- 28. Climb a huge hill
- 29. Get behind a waterfall
- 30. Feed a bird from your hand
- 31. Hunt for bugs
- 32. Find some frogspawn
- 33. Catch a butterfly in a net
- 34. Track wild animals
- 35. Discover what’s in a pond
- 36. Call an owl
- 37. Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool
- 38. Bring up a butterfly
- 39. Catch a crab
- 40. Go on a nature walk at night
- 41. Plant it, grow it, eat it
- 42. Go wild swimming
- 43. Go rafting
- 44. Light a fire without matches
- 45. Find your way with a map and compass
- 46. Try bouldering
- 47. Cook on a campfire
- 48. Try abseiling
- 49. Find a geocache
- 50. Canoe down a river
How many have you done?
I missed out on 13 of them. Maybe too late now. (Please note my current blogsite and blogging identity change, for several reasons, none of them too serious).
You fared a little better than me I failed on 15…
Some of the nature ones I can see myself trying if the time comes. But abseiling, canoeing etc… NO!!
Thanks for the new link
I did wonder what had happened when I finally got chance to catch up with you and you weren’t there…
I missed #10 (had to google it), 17, 29,33,38,44,45,46,48,49 (have no clue what bouldering is and geocache, after googling I know
)
This was fun checking of the list…. I don’t know what age I was doing what. Let me say I did this all in 58 years, does that count too.
One thing left, I like to go to the Golden Gate Bridge (this is already as long, as I know of its existence) and walk half way and spit into the water….. My ‘thing’ is, to spit from bridges, I cross by foot, to some great embarrassment to some people
Bouldering is I think rock climbing without rope. It certainly does count, whatever age you did them.
It sounds like you have fun on those bridges
I have never seen to the golden gate bridge but my brother has.
Fun stuff. I did 38 of the 50. Oh for the joys of youth
Life was so simple then wasn’t it?
In reply to an unpublished comment.
I have read your comment. I hope you will understand that this is not an appropriate place to publish it though.
The comment only remains unpublished because it is talking about another person which is something I am not happy with on my blog, although it does happen from time to time when I post something that is deemed controversial. I hope that reassures you?
The name you have been called, I find quite offensive and I can see why you do too especially in light of the additional information that you have given me about yourself.
Yes I believe you are right in saying that.
You can also be reassured that you haven’t upset me in the slightest
I read this quote over the weekend which I think you might like:
Thank you too for understanding me
I don’t support the views or behaviors of the person you mention.
*hugs* xx
Strange names they give to what , in my younger days, was just playing out side.
Haven’t done 49 – it seems rather pointless.
Have done all the others – maybe not in the extreme way some of them are done today. Even built my own canoe to go canoeing and our raft was 4 oil drums lashed to poles on the Norfolk Broads.
Some of them do have some strange names…
As to 49 it a rather fancified (is that a word?) version of orienteering in my view.
Your rafting experience sounds like great fun
I was talking about the late 40s early 50s when we had to make our own entertainment. Yes I did several if the things on that list after I was 11 3/4, like 28. Climb a huge hill which I did on my 70th birthday – Canigou 2784m – I hope that was enough to count as huge.
It was the 60s for me, but even then we had to make our own entertainment. I think things were so much better then, people were more self reliant and more creative.
As to your hill that is definitely huge!! My hill climb was my local hill the Wrekin, which I climbed many times over the years a mere (1,335 ft). But I have also climbed up Snowdon and that has many peaks. I am not sure what height I reached on the path I walked.
I bet walking up Canigou on your 70th birthday was a wonderful experience. I am just imagining the scenery and the view
48 is ambitious.
That is one of the things on my ‘Not to Do’ list!
I counted 24 that I had done before I was 11 3/4, and a couple more that I had done before I was 12 1/2, and there are a few others I have done much later — the first time I saw snow to throw it was when I was 22. And some, like abseiling, never.
Abseiling is most definitely on my ‘Not to do’ list
Yes I saw this list given out by the NT. So essential in today’s world. I love that gentle and mellow air that precedes Autumn.
It is a nice time of the year for walking, when it isn’t raining like it is now.