thirtyb4thirty

30 new experiences before I'm 30!

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Twenty Six Cross the Thames by Cable Car

It was a very windy day but off we go across the Thames in a cable car! This is included in the price of your Oyster or travel card which is really good value. There's a little TV inside telling you stories in very Landan accents about past ways to cross the Thames and about the build. It takes five minutes or so and it was a rainy day but I imagine in the summer that the views are beautiful. Definitely worth a detour next time you're in town.

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Twenty Five- Worlds Fastest Zip Wire

Well that was scary! Probably on par with the snake experience! I just flew at 100mph down Europe's longest zip wire which is also the fastest in the world! You do a "mini" zip wire first to get used to the kit and how to become attached to the device. Then you hop on a wagon bus which carts you up to the big zip wire! It was raining so we had the added fun of stingy cheeks and wet bottoms! But we had an amazing two hours and the staff were brilliant considering they were soaking wet! Definitely recommend a trip to Wales to do this!!

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Number 24- Climb a Mountain!

This is the hardest challenge yet. I really struggled at the top with my dodgy knee! But we all did it and touched the top! We took the Rhyd Ddu path which started fine, got a bit rocky and then got very hilly. Lots of cows and sheep and beautiful views. Obviously we could have got the train but decided to make it more interesting!! Very very sore legs last night and this morning!!!

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Twenty Three- Watch a Court Case

My Dad has worked for the police since I was about seven and has always had to go off to court so naturally this was something I was interested in. Perhaps fortunately, I have never had to visit a court myself so have never seen a court case or hearing in action, I only had what I had seen on TV to go from. So off we go to the Old Bailey in London- if we're going to do this we might as well do it properly- to see what we could see. I don't know what I imagined but the building was huge. You're not allowed to bring your phones,(fortunately my Dad was able to leave them in the Police Room). He met a lovely policeman called Kevin who said he would show us around later. We went through security into the gallery of court 16 and looked down upon a court case for "wounding with intent". The victim was in the witness box explaining his story and the defendant was in the “dock”.The Prosecution Barrister first questioned the victim, allowing him to give his version of events. This was followed by the Defence Barrister cross – examining him. He challenged the victim regarding the street number that the attack happened outside. He had estimated number 100 but it was argued that he should have known the numbers on that side of the street were all odd, as he had lived there so long. This appeared to be a weak attempt to undermine the victim. The victim was very articulate and to the point at explaining his account , which was very impressive. The case was then halted for lunch and we went to look around the building. There are two parts to the building, old and new, with the entrance to the public gallery that we visited, for the old part, being on Newgate street. This building contains Number One Court which has witnessed some of the most notorious defendants in history. We visit this court later with Kevin but start our journey walking down one of the large staircases. In the wall, very high up, is a chunk of glass left over from the building being hit by an IRA attack in 1973, just a somewhat quirky fact. We continue to a large room full of marble and high dome ceilings with beautiful paintings. The paintings had to be redone after the damage to the building and if you look closely you might be able to see the face of the artist (Gerald Moira) in them. Kevin explained that lots of sayings that we have today could have generated from events in history at the Old Bailey. For example, being "pressed for answers" could have come from those people tortured by pressing to try and get them to reveal information. The phrase "hanger on" could have come from when someone was hung the family involved could go underneath and hang on the legs of the person to speed up the death process, and as politically incorrect as it may be now the phrase "black as Newgate's knocker" comes from the original knocker at Newgate which when you touched would make your hands black- they still use it sometimes today. We went down stairs to look at an original (now unused)cell- they were tiny! And we also saw part of the original City of London fortified wall(known as a Bailey) ! We of course visited the famous Number One Court and had a look inside. It was kind of cool if not a little eerie and perhaps morbid, to see the steps down where all the notorious villains of the past had stepped and the dock where they once stood. Another quirky fact is that there is a room directly underneath the Lady Justice figure that tops the building where the Lord Mayor and officials carryout their secret business, one of the only rooms that Kevin can't access. I had a lot of fun learning the secrets of the building and urge anyone to go and have a look at a court case- it's not like how it is on TV! Just remember if you go to the Old Bailey leave you phone at home (or take my dad) and have the ability to sit still and quietly!

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Number 22 Fire Breathing!

Okay so a massive don't try this at home first! I was with my boyfriend who has been skilling with fire for years. I've played with the fire poi before but never tried fire breathing. You have to put the paraffin in your mouth- just a tiny tiny but, the smallest you can! And then spit it out as a fine spray. We practiced with water for a while first and we were on the beach surrounded by sand just incase we needed it- which luckily we didn't. So that was that- I was a dragon for an evening! Eight more to go!!

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Twenty One- Perfect a Craft and Teach it to Someone Else

I've been perfecting the art of dream catchering recently and whilst searching for cheaper blog experiences (my birthday ones will cost a lot!) it was suggested that I learn a craft and pass the skill onto someone else. So we spent a lovely afternoon, Lissie, Mila and I, playing with beads and ribbon and learning how to make dream catchers. Mila particularly enjoyed playing with the different colours and shapes and didn't once try to eat one (but we were of course on the look out just incase!). I have put together a photo diagram for how to make a dream catcher but there are loads of videos on YouTube if you get stuck. Dream catcher in seven steps! Step One- find a hoop- from eBay or The Works- they are about £1. Step Two- cover the hoop in a ribbon and secure both ends with double sided tape. Step three- get some waxed string and wrap it loosely around the hoop about 15 times. It's really important not to do this too tightly. Step four- keep going around the hoop looping through the loops you have already made. Keep going! Remember not to make it tight! Step five- add beads or buttons!!! Step six- keep looping! Until you get to the middle and then pull everything as tight as possible. Then secure the middle. Step seven- add ribbons!!!!!

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