Tower and Town, March 2016 (view the full edition)A Bucket List From Some Of Our ReadersKeith Fryer: Graceland I have a rather eclectic taste in music - some might say jumbled; I'd prefer to say varied. This mix has always brought me back to tracing the roots of music. Many of the modern hits hint at or directly steal classical pieces, but one of the Kings of modern music has to be Elvis. Whether you're a massive fan, or like me an occasional listener to his work, you have to admit that he had an enormous impact. So, Graceland is right up there on my bucket list - it's just got to be done. The Jungle Room and all the other slightly cheesy elements are a strong fascination - I just hope it's as good in the flesh as it is in the dream! Pam Tulloch: Whale-watching I have once, in 1995, been very privileged to watch some Right whales in their breeding bay off the coast of Argentina. It was a remarkably spiritual experience, quietly watching a mother whale cruise slowly by, with her playful calf nearby (dodging across the front of the boat!) - so huge, so graceful, so gentle..... impossible to think of man hunting these beautiful creatures. It really stilled my soul with a sense of "the presence of the Lord" as I had a precious meditative half-hour walk along the beach afterwards. Before I die I would love to visit Quebec one summer, to see the many species of whale (blue, humpback, minke, beluga and many more) off the east coast of Canada. Sarah Musgrave: Special moments One of my bucket list items would be more ‘special moments’ - moments of real meaning that alter one’s outlook on life. This might arise through sharing an instant of deep connection with someone, or through a totally new insight into a difficulty - a realisation from an inner voice, or reaching somewhere deeper in one’s prayer life. There is something beyond the visible on these occasions - something even sacred. Very occasionally, these moments hold a fleeting glimpse of God that offer us a tiny taste of something much bigger than all of us put together, and for me they hold a sense of mystery and wonder. Pepita Hurd: Cricket in Mongolia Something we are working on before we die is to help our son give Mongolia its first cricket pitch* on the edge of Ulaanbaatar. This site is preserved in perpetuity because it supplies their water, and other sporting facilities are planned on it. The benefits of team sport to the nomads have been shown to be important, and income from the ground will support outreach programmes to kids from difficult parts of Ulaanbaatar. The first and only coach, Battulga Gombo, has been on the case since 2007 and has some very keen apprentices - they invite visiting XIs to plan a trip for 2020! *to support please see the Mongolian Cricket Seed Appeal facebook page. Mark Philps: Tolstoy's country estate I first read Tolstoy as an undergraduate studying Russian. On a visit to Russia three or four years ago I managed to arrange a visit to Tolstoy’s Moscow home. It’s not grand: just a fairly modest wooden structure with a good sized garden, but you can see where Tolstoy did his writing, where the family ate and slept, and the children had their lessons. Ever since then I have wanted to see his country estate, Yasnaya Polyana (“Bright Glade”), which was originally bought by Tolstoy’s grandfather. Now nationalised, it is still managed by one of Tolstoy’s descendants. From the photographs it looks quite a lot grander than the Moscow home. Jeremy York: Weather Forecasting I never cease to marvel at the pinpoint accuracy of so many BBC TV weather forecasts. So, before I fall off my perch, I am resolved to spend a couple of days at the BBC Weather Centre to learn just what goes on before that amiable man or woman finally appears on my screen with intriguing news of El Niño, the Gulf Stream, the Jet Stream, warm and cold fronts, and shifting isobars. Then perhaps I shall understand how Carol Kirkwood manages to look so pleasant whilst delivering the direst of weather warnings! Ann Yates: Land's End to JohnO'Groats Six years ago I completed a 1,100 mile pilgrim cycle ride to Santiago de Compostela with my friend Jennifer. We thought that was it for long distance rides, but Land's End to John O' Groats kept beckoning so now we plan one more cycling challenge setting off on May 1st from Cornwall. We are approaching this again as a pilgrimage starting with a blessing from the local clergy at Land's End and calling in on various churches on the way. Not for us a ten day sprint, but a six weeks "scenic route" with time to enjoy the sights, visit friends and to "stop and stare" as we journey. Michael Reynolds: Climbing "Wainwrights" My ambition is to ascend all 214 of the so-called “Wainwright” fells in the Lake District – as featured in A W Wainwright’s classic guides. I love the Lake District – the incomparable scenery, the fine routes to the summits, the less well-known areas where you can be on your own in the fells, and the multitude of small tarns providing the opportunity for swimming in the most spectacular of settings. Although I have been visiting the Lakes almost all my life I was surprised to discover that I can only be sure of having climbed about 70 of the 214 fells. So this coming summer I will be making a serious start on the remaining 140 or so! Henry Pearson: Cricket at the MCG High on my list is a trip to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) on Boxing Day when England are playing Australia in an Ashes Test Match. Fifteen years ago, at Eden Gardens Cricket Ground in Calcutta, I witnessed India beating Australia in front of a crowd of 80,000, when India had had to follow on 271 runs behind. In overhauling the Australian 1st innings this was an extraordinary victory grabbed out of the jaws of what seemed to be a certain defeat. Why the MCG? Well the crowds there can reach 80,000 plus, and what better needle match to watch with thousands of others than that between the “auld enemies”! Sarah Knight: Disneyland When my brother and I were young my parents took us on a very memorable holiday which included Disneyland. Disney was magical. We loved every minute of it – from knuckle-blanching roller coaster rides to the magnificent firework displays and parades. I’ve wanted to go back for years but somehow returning in my early twenties didn’t seem credible! Now I have children of my own, I think I have the best excuse - the prospect of seeing something that was special for you through your children’s eyes is exciting, and I can’t wait to watch my boys delight and excitement when they visit. Keith Fryer, Pam Tulloch, Sarah Musgrave, Pepita Hurd, Mark Philps, |