An invitation to a treasure hunt

Call me frothy, call me whimsical, call me light-hearted (don’t call me nice), I’m sticking to my guns — I think adults don’t play enough.

I’m not talking the playfulness of running around in playgrounds, acting like idiots, or enforced-game-time playfulness (“You will have fun!”), but just good old-fashioned playing. A sense of lightness to our days, a readiness to laugh, maybe even a step back from the Urgent Matters That Occupy Our Days and an appreciation of the smaller things in life.

What am I on about? I was sitting in the garden the other day and I heard children playing in the pool and laughing — that kind of happy laughter that comes when you’re so caught up in the game that you’re terrified it’s going to end. I miss that! I miss treasure hunts and make-believe and carefree afternoons spent in nature. And I know, I know, everyone has to grow up, but I’m not so sure I prefer being grown-up. I find myself feeling serious, and spending less time daydreaming, watching TV and having discussions about current affairs.

Yikes! Terrifying.

But now I’m aware of it, and I’m going to start implementing some changes … Nothing drastic, I’m not bringing Twister to work or trying to regress to my childhood days or anything; I’m just going to try to regain some of that freshness and vitality towards life. Sigh less. Smile more. Greet people I don’t know. Maybe even skip, on occassion, when there’s nobody around. Hell, I might even build a sandcastle on the weekend! Imagine.

To encourage others to adopt this spirit of playfulness, I’ve teamed up with Have2Have (www.have2have.co.za) again to bring you a brand-new competition. This time you can win a copy of my novel, Strange Nervous Laughter, by engaging in a bit of a treasure hunt. There’s an image of my book hidden in the many products on Have2Have, and every second day I’m going to release a clue, on my daily blog (www.blog.bridgetmcnulty.com), that will lead you to the image. The first person to find it wins a copy of the book. There are eight clues altogether.

Ready?
Set?
Go!

CLUE #1:

One Split up, one join up.