Seedling Magazine

ookshops will tempt you with preloved paperbacks for less
than the price of a latte. If you want one to get you started,
then how about Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain?
probably wake up to the sound of birdsong and a different
perspective on the weather and your day.
Have a picnic
I love picnics! Not only does packing your own food save you
money, but it means you can take your lunch break anywhere.
Recently, I was working near the coast. I took my box of
leftover roasted vegetables and pasta to a beach, had a quick
swim and ate my food with a cliff­top view ­ and all within
my breaktime! Look on a map to find a green patch nearby, or
any old bench will do. Urban people­watching is fun too.
Getting more ambitious
Walking an extra 20 minutes from the bus stop is a nice start,
but you’re ready for something more. Here are three ways to
enrich your life without taking time away from your hobbies
and friends.
Run or cycle your commute
Get changed before you leave work and you can have a
shower when you get home, or take the train halfway and run
the rest if it’s a bit too far. You’ll feel so pleased with yourself
when you arrive home at a similar time to normal but you’ve
already worked out. For example, Marble Arch to
Hammersmith is about 30 minutes by public transport and
about a 30 minute run (it’s about 6km).
Meet your friends for a walk instead of a
coffee or lunch
I’m a London cyclist, and I love using the Cycle Super
Highway through Hyde Park. It took me a while to build up to
longer journeys, and I recommend trying new routes when
you have plenty of time to avoid getting lost when you’re in a
hurry.
Don’t want to invest in your own bike? Cycle hire schemes
are now available in many of the UK’s cities on a pay­as­youride
basis so you can get a feel for city riding without
investing. (Although good quality second­hand bikes are
cheap enough on Gumtree).
Sleep in the garden
Most cities have riverside walks or circular tourist routes. In 1
hour, you can cover about 3 miles, so in a lunch break you
could manage one of these walks in Norwich city centre and
learn things too.
I adore following walking directions and informing my
friends of where we are, what we can see and where we’re
going next. On my recent Peak District trip, my friends and I
had just enough time for a 3 miler in and around Buxton to
Solomon's Temple before heading back down south.
Ready for more
I recently celebrated Midsummer by sleeping in a bivvy bag
in the garden. I wasn’t able to get away at all, but still wanted
an adventure. Borrow your friend’s tent or hammock, and
know that you can go inside if you really don’t like it. You’ll
We’re at Alistair’s level now. We’re ready to put a little more
time and effort into our adventures. But we still don’t want to
spend a ton of money, and our friends are still reluctant to join
in. Well, I think I’ve got the answer.
seedling magazine | 45