Our Final Idea: Go for a Paddle…
If you’ve been playing along, we hope you’ve got a full house or even a line or two. When you’re stuck for ideas in the warmer weather, why not flick back through and see if something else takes your fancy? Or you could print out the Springo Bingo card, put it on the fridge, and see what everyone else likes the look of.
Spring is a beautiful time to explore the UK, with our particularly gorgeous greenery and pleasant brand of fresh blooms and warmer weather. What a wonderful, simple pleasure splashing barefoot in shallow water is—I can’t think of anything else that hits both the refreshing and relaxing spots on a warm spring day.
Here are some tips to make it more special:
Check the Weather Forecast Before You Go
Spring weather can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to get caught in a storm or a flood.
Wear Appropriate Clothing and Footwear
I have friends who go all-in with river swimming in wetsuits. It wasn’t what I had in mind for this, but maybe it’s something you fancy! If you are going to actually get in rather than just dangling your toes, it might be an idea to pack a Mac and water shoes.
Choose a Safe and Shallow Spot to Enter the Water
Avoid fast-flowing rivers, deep pools, weirs, dams, and bridges. Look out for rocks, branches, debris, and other hazards in the water. Children (and grown-ups) can get into trouble in even a mild current, so never leave them unsupervised. I know I’m being a Miggins, but better safe than sorry.
Never Go Alone
Always have someone with you who can help you in case of an emergency. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. It’s water—it’s always worth being careful.
Enjoy the Sensation of the Water on Your Skin
Enjoy the sensation of the water on your skin, the sound of the river flowing, and the sight of the wildlife and plants around you. To make it more enjoyable, you can also bring some snacks, drinks, games, or music. Maybe a little net to see what minibeasts you can catch… then put carefully back.
Oh, and bring a towel and some talc for next-level dry feet!
So that’s it for Springo Bingo.
This is an interlude from our official Elements, with some simple ideas for enjoying the brighter weather and a chance to step away from the screen for a while.
How many did you score?
A line?
More?
Full house?
Definitely something you can keep coming back to.
As always, try to beat your score next time.
Note:
A Miggins / Being Migginsy / Mrs Miggins is my family’s generic ‘boring old person’ name.
You will be called a Miggins for suggesting that someone might want to think about taking a jacket or for insisting on feeding them overly often.
Or when you refer to an interesting article about marmalade that you heard on Radio 4.
(To be fair, that last one was a fair cop and pretty Migginsy. It was an interesting article, though. In case you were wondering, Seville is still the best orange for marmalade. You weren’t, I know. But if you were…)