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This project is my attempt to inject a small dose of adventure into every day (more background here!)  DAY 1 - Make the most of a 'business trip.' I was due to give a talk in Sevenoaks. Instead of getting the train there, followed by a taxi to the venue (and then repeating the process to get home) I took my bike, arrive a few hours early and went exploring. A full morning of pedalling backroads and lanes around Kent was just the ticket. The UK is just full of these public footpaths and through ways - I'm ashamed at how few I have explored to date. I arrived at my destination a few minutes early, feeling very ready to give a talk about adventure! (Lesson learned for next time - perhaps go exploring AFTER the talk. Sweaty and muddy isn't the best look...)  DAY 2: Read a book in a day. I was on and off trains constantly on Day 2. I also needed some literary inspiration for my book writing, and for once I had time on my side to read. So I read. I love the idea of covering an entire book in one day (even a short and abridged version like this one!) What greater writer to choose that Sir Wilfred himself? "Hunger, thirst, heat and cold: I had tasted them all in full..."  DAY 3: Do as many press-ups as possible! Okay this is silly. Even by my standards this is silly. But this was a busy day- I was at my desk from 8am-7pm. I needed something, something different, something I could fit into my coffee breaks. I did pressups. The aim was to reach 500, but I only hit 375. My arms were pretty sore nonetheless (writing this hurt, for example.) But it was fun! It broke up the monotony of being chained to my computer, gave me a regular boost of endorphins as I did a few pressups each hour, and ultimately it was a new experience. Silly, tiring, fun. A good combination...  DAY 4: Go somewhere I've never been before. Today I was giving a talk in Hampshire, so I took an extra 90 minutes (not long!) to explore the market town of Petersfield. It's easy to forget, living in London, than only 50 miles away are beautiful towns like this, set in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Petersfield feels like a sleepy town, but the setting is beautiful. A welcome break from busy city life, and I'm very glad I took the time for a mini-exploration...  DAY 5: A late night cycle tour of North London (on a Saturday night!) London is a different place late at night. I love nothing more than pedalling through areas designed for hoards of people, and instead finding them empty. Last night I rode for 10 miles across North London, past mosques, synagogues, churches, housing estates, mansions, parks, railway lines; right past Wembley stadium and through areas I didn't even know existed. Conclusion: London is enormous! I often forget just how much of the city I've never been to...  DAY 6: Find an apple tree in London, and load up! (NB. In a public place...not just stealing from someone's garden!) This was a lot of fun on a sunny Sunday morning, hunting around various parks looking for telltale signs...eventually I found one, the perfect tree (not telling where) and filled my pockets for the walk home. Apples for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's something ultimately satisfying about picking and eating anything straight from the earth (assuming it's edible.) The smaller, bitter apples are the best...  DAY 7: Two hours of intense Chinese lessons. This doesn't need much explanation, other than to point out how relevant the phrase on the page is...  DAY 8: Accept freelance camerawork job, rent a car and drive to Glastonbury Abbey! King Arthur's grave, mystical goings on, the underworld, mysterious Avalon, parallel worlds...all in a day's work in Glastonbury...  DAY 9 : Broken Toe...
This was not the plan...and even worse that I broke my toe not during some wild and terrifying adventure, but rather in the kitchen of my house. Here's the thing- it's still possible to have adventures with a broken toe (just going to the shop has become an expedition of sorts...) I still plan to inject some adventure into my everyday, as per the purpose of this project. However, I think it will make a better project overall if I postpone the sharing of it until I'm healed. Wild camping, long walks, almost anything outdoors - all are currently out the window. So, consider this a hiatus...I'll begin again when I'm back to a full compliment of digits!
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