The challenges which failed and why: failing to get on the boat to Flatholm Island; water pistols at sunset; resorting to bubbles on a cold, dark, wet night; and wearing big boots.
155 – Failing to get the boat to Flatholm Island…
Wednesday 30 July. Sun and cloud. 22°C
Flatholm is a small island in the middle of the Bristol Channel which is home to a large number of seagulls. Also rabbits, slow worms and other creatures. B and I went last year to see the chicks. We were a bit too successful. The Island was covered in baby seagulls and angry parents. B had a fabulous time cooing over them and getting too close and the parents responded by hitting me on the head… Twice. This year we’re going back 5 weeks later. I don’t want to get hit again and I went many years ago when the seagulls were fledging and had a brilliant time. There’s nothing quite so funny as a large seagull chick standing on a post pretending it CAN fly… it just isn’t sure it wants to. I want to show it to B.
Unfortunately getting to Flatholm is not the easiest endeavour. It’s hard to land there due to the tides and positioning. There is a boat designed for it but it’s very old and isn’t always available. If not available, the local speedboat used to go over very quickly. I tried to take B over on this when she was 4 and unfortunately she wasn’t the sort of 4 year old who enjoys speedboats. She’s still recovering.
Last year, however, the Flatholm boat was back and took a leisurely 90 minutes or so to cross, depending on the tides. We went on a warm balmy afternoon and came back in the evening, A warden on the island found us some baby slow worms to coo over, we spotted baby rabbits and we even bought B a drinking glass with a straw in the small shop. Then we clambered back down the hill to the landing point and made our way back.
When we get to the boat to try again it’s not the same. There’s a new boat. I say new. It’s definitely not new but it’s cool. It’s got a front pull up flat which enables it to beach itself on the shore and cool speedboat type seats… we’re invited to put on lifejackets and clamber on…
It’s the seats that do it I think. Too like the speedboat before. I ask if it goes fast and am assured it doesn’t but we’re not convinced… B disintegrates into something resembling a puddle and we retreat apologetically, removing the lifejackets and clambering back up the steps to think sadly of the chicks unspotted and the slow worms unfound. Hopefully the other boat will make a return again sometime!
Last years photos:
264 – Looking at the sky and water pistols at sunset
Friday 11 April. Sunny. 21°C
It’s been a lovely sunny day and B and I have been out and about with my mum in London for her birthday… and we forget to do a challenge. We were thinking of doing something by the Thames but we were late and rushing so didn’t get there. Now it’s hot and almost sunset and I am running low on ideas.
Me: “Do you want to go out and see if we can find a fox?”
B gives me a look of complete incredulity. We have been walking all day. “NO!”
Me: “Well, shall we look at the sky for a bit and see the sun setting and count the number of birds versus the number of planes”.
B: “Ok-a-a-ay”
I can feel and understand the reluctance but she heads out onto the balcony. The sun is going down and it’s a lovely evening. We spot a plane and a seagull and a crow and she’s already bored. There are midges flying around and she’s not sure about them. Then we both remember we’ve got some new water pistols…
It’s not really a nature challenge but it is fun. B makes a 264 by dripping them and then tries to hit the midges. I keep trying to draw her attention to other birds and planes but it’s really not going to compete.
328 – Blowing bubbles in the cold and the dark
Friday 7 February. Rainy. 2°C
I’m counting this as the second failed attempt of the challenge. I should clarify that failure doesn’t mean we didn’t get outside and do something with a picture of a 328. I hope we’ll always manage that much somehow. The issue is that it wasn’t really a nature play challenge and was born of desperation.
It’s been a difficult week for the challenge. After some very short challenges early in the week (see 332 – chalking the plant shadows and 331 & 330 – 5 minute nature challenges) we finally got out for a long challenge yesterday (329 – looking for wands in the woods) but B wasn’t happy and I don’t want to push her too far. We had a vague plan about playing with frost first thing in the morning but it wasn’t frosty and after school I let her have her sofa time. I think she needs it. We head out for a swimming lesson and still haven’t done the challenge. I ponder finding something in the car park but mind is blank. Finally, driving home, I think of bubbles.
Now, I wouldn’t really describe bubbles as nature play but it does get B outside cheerfully despite the dark, the cold (it’s about 2°C with a nasty easterly wind) and rain. We shelter under the garden tree (see challenge 356) and dig out the bubbles…
…and it’s rather lovely. There’s something magical about seeing them speed away in the dark and the wind makes them go in different directions each time. We can’t predict it. Then the cat comes out nosily to see what we’re doing and loves them too. We blow them at him in the tree and he chases after them. In the photos we take the dark makes the bubbles come out as rainbow coloured streaks of light.
We write the 328 on the garden swing in chalk and try and get bubbles to land on it. Then we go inside, happier than we were when we came out, which is as it should be.
327 – Playing with fire (carefully) in the back garden >
< 329 – Looking for wands in the woods
358 – Big Boots
Wednesday 8 January. Heavy rain. 2°C
Our first disastrous failed attempt. We have a big plan for early tomorrow (see challenge 357 – Sunrise on the beach) and, in the process of getting that ready, forgot to think about today. By the time we got there it was dark outside and pouring with rain. I turned to my best resource of ideas:
Me: Argh!!! We haven’t done 358! And it’s raining. What shall we do?
B: (thinks for about five seconds). I know! I’ll put your wellies on and go outside.
Me: Ok. Wear a coat! And don’t forget the number.
B: I’ll do it in tally marks.
Job done. Mummy failure!
I’m sure it won’t be the only time we get caught out. The weight of feeling that we have to do something every day is already heavy and I’m guessing it will get worse as we go. I’m hoping we’re going to learn some good fall back options and also be helped a lot by better weather and lighter evenings. This one was mainly due to neither of us being used to remembering yet. We got distracted by birthday preparations.
