Next time you're in
Williamstown with a few of your mates, it's after dark and you still don't want to go home, seriously consider a game of hide and seek at the
Williamstown Botanic Gardens.
Try not to be discouraged by the seemingly spooky appearance of the trees and other surroundings. Instead, look for the nearest lonely tree. That's the epicentre of your game of
hide and seek.
Set up some boundaries for your game. This will prevent members of your group from getting lost in the gardens. A larger group of people will mean wider boundaries, but don't get too carried away. Ensure that everyone has a mobile phone just in case.
Choose someone to be "it". Perhaps decide this by
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. You'd be surprised to learn that such a rhyme has been in popular circulation since the early
19th Century.
Whoever is "it" must close his or her eyes and count to sixty, resting against the selected tree. Everyone else must find a hiding place within the set boundaries. Once the person has stopped counting, he or she has to call out, "Ready or not, here I come!" The last person found is the winner.
It's been a while since I played hide and seek in the Williamstown Botanic Gardens. A couple of my favourite hiding spots were among shrubs and in trees. Local
council regulations might have changed in the passing years, so be aware that climbing trees could no longer be an option. Plus, you don't want the horrific experience of disturbing any bats. The place can get creepy enough as it is.
A Beautiful Complement to Hide and Seek
