Son-in-law made a very simplified one, added some clues and hid treasure at certain points along the route...
It was a birthday party with a difference and the children all enjoyed it immensely.
We had cleared wide pathways, not all children are as aware of nettles as my grandchildren are, we didn't want to spend the whole afternoon tending wailing children, soothing nettle stings and drying tears.
They had a whale of a time charging around, trying to find their bearings, look for the symbols, then race on to the next place. Fresh air, exercise and fun.
It was lovely to hear their excited voices - wouldn't want it every day, but now and again it is fine!
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| SiL's map of Owl Wood |
Which brings me around to maps. I love them!
Whenever I hear the radio programme "Desert Island Discs" (clickable link) I spend more time thinking about my choice of book than the music or luxury item.
I have decided that I would like a book of maps, but not just any old book of maps.
It would be a vast volume, but this is Desert Island Discs, so anything is possible... In common with everyone else who is sent to an island, I would be in possession of the Complete Works of Shakespeare and the Bible, then I am given free choice on another book.
Given that I am not a great fan of rereading books, I have decided that the best thing would be this volume of maps, then I could study geography, have fun with the wonderful place names, remember journeys that I have made, family history, make future travel plans - a whole world of adventures to keep me entertained and lots of fresh input.
So, this book of maps. It should cover the whole country, including all of Ireland. I would like it to be mapped right down to Ordnance Survey level, so that I can see all the interesting features, follow footpaths, bridle ways, etc.
It should also have a section of regular road maps.
Best of all, it should contain the earliest Ordnance Survey maps, for comparison to the modern version...
Another one of my habits revealed. I love maps, always have.
The final section would be filled with maps of the rest of the world, not down to such detail though.
I would like this book so much that I would be happy to forgo my luxury item for it.
Have you got a book which you would take with you to your desert island?
The rest of my weekend is going to be spent working on trying to decipher the final half a dozen, or so words of the Crusader's poem.
For anyone new to this blog, this old letter was found in an attic. It refers to a crusader's effigy, which is to be found in a local church. At the time of writing (1837) the writer felt that it wasn't being afforded the respect and care it merited, indeed it had been left propped up in a dusty corner and forgotten.
The writer felt so strongly about it that they penned a long poem and sent it to whoever was the vicar at that time. (Note to self: check the list.) The letter was torn, stuck back together, then stored in the attic of the local 'squire' where it remained until recently.
I just have a final few words to decipher, then I can hand it over.
Another lovely post Elaine. I love maps, I have a huge old map of ‘ Map of the Grand Union Canal showing its communications with other canals and navigations’ price 7/6d. And yes that is its title! Can’t see the date as it is hanging behind my large palm at present. Building work, don’t you know! Just thought of someone who would love this.
ReplyDeleteBack to what I was going to originally say... We have an old cupboard in which our shoes live, until now it has stood in the hall. It’s new place will be in front of the glass wall in the new dining area of the kitchen. Are you still with me? Probably not! As a consequence the back of it will be seen from the reduced hall. My idea is to paper the back with some of the old maps collected by me over the years. So far, so good, only trouble now is find them in the loft!
LX
Goodness only knows where he is on the canal network right now, I must have a catch-up with him soon! He could well be off gallivanting with my other brother, he lives over that way.
DeleteNo doubt there will be map-lovers who will be wincing at the idea of papering a cupboard with an old map - just make sure you are not pasting over a rare one...
I'm wondering what to do with Col's collection of OS maps - the ordinary ones- of almost the whole country. They were collected secondhand for when we went travelling - but we didn't!
ReplyDeleteI wish someone had told me back in the 1970s that if I went to uni I might have got a job working with maps - that was the bit of geography I loved best but we had no careers advice back then and I probably would have still left school at 16 anyway just to be awkward!
You little rebel! Your adventures through life turned out just fine without university, didn't they? The school where I completed my final three years of education was awful, not educationally, but in ways which made me live in a cloud of anxiety. I hated every moment and left school age 17, because that happened to be when we left the Scottish Island, an opportunity I grabbed with both hands.
DeleteAs to the maps - I know that a few years ago they had a scheme where you could have returned them to OS in exchange for vouchers, but that is now defunct. Perhaps someone else will have a bright idea. I am truly sorry he didn't get to use them. xxx
How many of those wonderful children have tumbled over from the first Owlwood Dimension?
ReplyDeleteTwo of them. The boy with the blue top, in the first photograph is 10 years old now. The Amazon in the stripy top and blue skirt is his younger sister (remember the Christening which had to be held in the churchyard because the church was locked and the churchwardens were all away..) she is six and a half. Time passes so quickly!
DeleteWhat a great birthday party! I would have had fun too. Sometimes when reading a book, I've taken to looking at a map to picture the locations of the action. Which reminds me I'm now reading a mystery set in the Shetlands and need to look that up. I'm sorry we didn't get that far north when we visited Scotland last fall.
ReplyDeleteThey had such fun, Marica. Is your book by Ann Cleeves, I wonder. She writes some very good books, they have been turned into an excellent television series. It is a shame that you missed out on Scotland, truly a beautiful country.
DeleteMaps are a good choice, I have the whole of GB on my laptop though I can't find Little Bunting. I could not handle having the works of Shakespeare's of the Bible but there are a few other books I would have
ReplyDeleteSorry, Bill! I made the name up. In fact I renamed everyone in the family, the pets, places, local sights. My original blog of many years ago was chugging along very nicely when i discovered that someone had lifted the entire content and there are fraudulent blogs out there with all my old posts, photographs, etc. Why? I have no idea.
DeleteThe photo of the children in Owl Wood.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I have asked before, and then forgotten to return, to see your answer. But I will return to see your answer, this time!
Do you have ticks???????
So far, Luna, I am happy to say that we have not had any ticks in Owl Wood, nor anywhere I walk the dog. I am ever vigilant.
DeleteThe children had enormous fun, wore themselves out quite nicely.
Wonderful... But you still check...
DeleteThank you for the answer, probably 'again.' :-) But I did remember to check, this time.
What a delightful idea, for a Birthday Party!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour love of maps, is another delightful facet, of your personality. Love your sharing new-to-us ones, with us.
Best of luck with the continuing deciphering, of the old, old, old letter. Such a sense of accomplishment, when you are done!
I have just completed the work on the poem. There are three words which have disappeared completely, thanks to the tears and the tape. I have sometimes had to make an educated guess at some of the others. The task is complete and I am thankful, even though it was fun. It was very hard on the eyes!
DeleteI can imagine how hard it was, on the eyes!!!!
DeleteAnother question.... Yes, I am particularly nosy this morning! ,-)
ReplyDeleteI ask with trepidation, though...
-sigh-
In the past, you have left blogging in the summer, and gone just to IG. And that was your choice, to make.
But....
It would be lovely, if you continued blogging this summer. Because I am stingy and don't want to miss a whole summer of your posting. :-)
IG is much quicker and easier. I know. I know. But it's also, just not the same.
Your choice. Just asking. :-)
No, no plans to return to IG. It is quick and easy but I have too many words which want to tumble out. I prefer the blogging medium.
DeleteFor better, for worse, I am back.
xxx
-clapping hands- Yessss!
DeleteHooray!!!
Words... Ideas...Random thoughts....Etc....Etc....Etc......
Long live blogging!!!
Hooooooray!!!!!!!!!!
:-))))
Oh gosh, as a new reader of yours, I am so glad you aren't about to depart to IG for the summer!
ReplyDeleteI love maps too - I think there is so much history in them, and the best ones are the places you know so well and then look back at old maps to see how they developed through time (like where I grew up). We have stacks of old maps from my collecting, and from OH's military career - we need to go through them, tbh. We are very unlikely to need any of the Scottish ones again for starters.
A perfect birthday party for the children - it is good for them to explore and learn and be outside.
I have thought about my Desert Island book a good few times - I think it would quite possibly be the complete diaries of the Rev. Francis Kilvert - including the ones that were burned by his "You will think that I have been very naughty, Mr . . ." relative. I return to the ones that survived and were printed and dip in again and again, and knowing the areas (Clyro, nr. Hay, and Wiltshire - he grew up in Langley Burrell I think it was), can see it all in my mind's eye, and I still wander round Clyro wondering which wee cottage the old soldier might have lived in.
Well done with deciphering that poem too.
BB, You are such a bad influence - I checked out Rev Kilvert, liked what I read, found a 1p and have sent off for it - not the complete diaries, but enough to give me a taster.
DeleteThe grandchildren and their friends loved it, they would like another one as soon as possible. I think their mother has plans for some of the older ones to have a spooky, torch-lit one, later in the year. Sounds a bit too spooky to me, but I won't be the one trying to get them all to sleep afterwards...
Did you live in Scotland?
The poem is now as complete as it is ever likely to be, I handed it over yesterday. No one else was able to add anything, I had hoped that fresh eyes would be able to spot what I couldn't, but no. It still lacks four words, but the bulk of it is there. Wish I knew who wrote it and why it was so badly torn up, then why someone rescued it and stuck it back together. There is a story in there! I must check the list of vicars, see who was in residence at that time, begin by padding it out that way.
I organise a treasure hunt for my kids and send them all in very the neighbourhood. They love it of course and the last clue sends them to the freezer for ice-cream or the fridge for a chic bar.
ReplyDeleteAs for books..not sure but I think one would probably be Patrick Leigh Fermours book about his walk across Europe . I've read it a couple of times already.
Linda, that is a brilliant way to end things. A sweet treat and a cool down. I must mention that to my daughter - the kids are clamouring for another one soon.
DeleteThe book is yours, now you need to think about what luxury you would like to take with you! The book sounds interesting, I haven't checked it out yet, that is my next job.
I sometimes wonder how anyone understands my comments. Spell check and my mistakes turn them into riddles without any rhyme!
DeleteThe Fermour book is actually 3, the last one printed after his death.
Then you shall have them complete and unabridged, no problem!
Deletetoo love maps - and books about maps and their history. The big Reference Library here in Toronto had a bit exhibit about a year ago with old maps from all around the world and through the ages. It was fascinating and I went back at least 3 times! I know that a GPS system can be useful at times, but give me a paper map any day of the week!
ReplyDeleteIf it's an old (and not rare) map then I seen no harm in mounting it as a print or using it to paper a room - I would find it fascinating.
Hello Margie, I would have been right there with you, sounds an interesting exhibition. Maps are brilliant, in whatever form, but I agree with you about paper ones.
DeleteI am all for finding a way to make use of some of the many old maps which we all have lying around.