I-Spy

And now for something completely different…

I was giving the dog a short walk the other day and thinking what to do for my next post. As I walked, I started to take note of everything around me: the grassy bank replete with violets, the trees just coming into blossom and even the cars roaring past. What a fascinating world we live in and how often we barely acknowledge it.

This thought led to the next one. Walking and observing our surroundings is an easy to adopt and reliable form of meditation. But what if we took our observations a little further and challenged ourselves to really focus and perhaps learn?

The old fashioned I-Spy books above ask you to identify specified items. My version is going to be rather looser. All that is required of you is to take a twenty minute walk in your neighbourhood and see what you find. You may want to bring a phone to take pictures, or you may want to take a notebook to identify things later, or you many just want to mosey along keeping the general idea in mind.

Here are a few things to consider that can make your daily stroll more interesting. I’m sure that you can think of many more.

Which wild flowers do you see? My walk today didn’t include violets, but is did have some very cheerful daisies.

Animal magic Even the most suburban neighbourhoods have a fascinating array of wildlife from foxes to domestic cats. Which did you encounter?

On the buses Buses form the most invisible traffic. Note if you see a bus, and if so, what number? Those car buffs can find the most appealing car.

Weather maps Describe as accurately as you can the weather conditions as you are walking and for extra points, identify the clouds in the sky.

Historic post boxes There is something about post boxes that I find endlessly appealing. I love the big red iconic ones, but I love the tiny ones set into walls even more. Whenever I see one, I register the reign of the monarch emblazoned on the front and think of all the people who have posted missives there. If post boxes could talk, what stories they would tell! When was you local box put in?

This one dates from the reign of King George the VI or possible George V.

Tree time I am ashamed to say that despite being a lover of trees, I am absolutely hopeless at identifying any more than the most obvious. (Perhaps I need an I-Spy book on that one.) Trees are also rather easy to see as just – well – trees rather than the infinitely varied species they are. Here are two from today’s walk.

Look up! When walking in very urban areas, I especially like to look above my sightline. I am invariably rewarded with the most gorgeous architectural embellishments that are lost on pavement watching pedestrians. Clock towers, weather vanes, unusual chimneys and roofs all provide interest and joy to the upward looking observer. Below is the clock tower of my old school.

Nature notes This category is almost endless. Which birds do you see and can you distinguish or even identify their call? Which insects are about? I saw a beautiful cabbage white butterfly this morning and a large bumble bee has just flown past my window! How many shades of green are there? Can you create names for them? Snooker table baize, boy scout green, tennis ball … etc.

Man made joys For those more interested in human creations, there is much enjoyment to be had from spotting unusual signs, graffiti and road names. Often street names are signals of the past and may guide you to more research about your neighbourhood. Saxon Place, near where I live, was the site of an extensive archaeological dig which uncovered substantial Saxon artefacts. Windmill Close no doubt marks the spot of one of Eastbourne’s eighteen windmills. (Though none stand in the town today.)

Before bedtime One of the pleasures of having a dog is that you need to let them out at night. Sometimes they dawdle or run about to scare off the fox and so you stand outside with nothing to look at but the night sky. And it is magnificent and addictive. Once you start watching the phases of the moon and begin to see some pattern to the constellations, it is a hard habit to break. If you have not experienced this joy recently, go outside this evening. See if you can name the phase of the moon and even a constellation. If you can’t, make up your own names or invest in an astronomy I-Spy.

The Night Sky by Lucasvphotos on Unsplash

This rather fanciful blog has a more serious aim. The world about us is truly magnificent and I would love everyone to enjoy it as much as I do. With so much distressing news and life’s inevitable worries, we need an antidote to soothe and reassure us. And it is there and free to all.

I hope that you will enjoy your peregrinations this Easter and come home refreshed and marvelling at all this amazing world has to offer.

Happy Easter everyone!