It's not that I've never volunteered before - being a member of various netball teams over the years has seen me take on numerous roles from captaincy to club secretary and publicity to coaching, but I guess many of them have been an extension of something I was already doing.
But this time I wanted to do something else, something that worked with the lives of my children and that I know I could do and still fit in with working. So when Joshua's pre school committee were looking for new people to join then I decided it was time to get involved.
The pre school has a committee run approach so are really involved in the day to day management and overseeing of how the pre school runs. With one child just having started and another to hopefully join in a few years I wanted to take an active role in helping the school develop and thrive and provide a positive experience for children in the village.
I've only been to one meeting so far, and don't have a specific role, but will get more to do as things go on, helping with various events and encouraging people to get involved. It's not much at the moment but it's a start and also helping me to meet more mums and get to know more people in the area too.
And if I can do something to help in the education and understanding of other young children then it's not too difficult a decision to take. I hope I can play a part in it growing from strength to strength.
Friday, 31 January 2014
15) Watch five live sports you've never seen
Snooker
Bizarre as it may seem, as a teenager I really loved snooker. Even more bizarre I had a bit of a thing for Stephen Hendry. Well he was probably the closest in my age of the people I watched at the time. Well come on, if you admitted to that you'd look for an excuse!
But for all the time I watched on TV or cut pieces out of the newspaper, I didn't actually ever see a game live. Well ok, people mucking about on the snooker table at the hotel where I worked, but it was hardly what you'd call a game. More, every now and then, a ball may go in a pocket.
So it's been one of those things that I never got round to doing and then Hendry retired and I'll be honest that I didn't see much in the game at the moment that I wanted to watch.
But then I fell upon an event which would answer a number of issues for me - Snooker Legends.
Convinced the hubby to come with me (always helps if you buy the tickets!) as the line up was pretty good - Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White and Dennis Taylor - quite a line up and one you'd have paid good money to get in one room together.
It was pairs and singles competition - so battle to see the first to five wins. The evening was compared by John Virgo, who warmed up the audience with some trick shots as in Big Break and a few impressions of snooker legends - pretty much on the money and very entertaining.
And then the teams came out - the pairs games they took turns at the table and while Steve Davis had a go, Stephen Hendry was pretty shocking - in fact I think if I had watched him during his career he'd never have won seven world titles. Jimmy White however cleaned up and showed how it's tragic that the world title alluded him. Beautiful work around the table.
Then there were singles and eventually Stephen Hendry did win, but I think frankly Dennis Taylor was more interested in telling jokes. Well I say they were jokes.... He'd stop lining up a shot and turn to the audience with another ditty.
Steve Davis is far from the 'interesting' player he was criticised of being in his career. He was very funny, very dry and comes across as a genuinely nice guy - very much as he did in the jungle.
It was a great evening and at the end of it the players all sat to sign autographs (official merchandise only!) Admittedly though I just lined up to get some pics for the blog and was mercilessly teased by Jimmy White for taking a pic of the floor - I got a better side of him in the end.
I was really pleased to have seen snooker in this way. It was a lighthearted night so while the players wanted to win, they were happy to lark around too and be put off by John's commentary! It also shows how class is permanent in any sportsperson - the way they can still put away some amazing shots showed exactly why they were leaders in their game. A pleasure to watch. If such an event is on in your area then I'd definitely recommend it!
Bizarre as it may seem, as a teenager I really loved snooker. Even more bizarre I had a bit of a thing for Stephen Hendry. Well he was probably the closest in my age of the people I watched at the time. Well come on, if you admitted to that you'd look for an excuse!
But for all the time I watched on TV or cut pieces out of the newspaper, I didn't actually ever see a game live. Well ok, people mucking about on the snooker table at the hotel where I worked, but it was hardly what you'd call a game. More, every now and then, a ball may go in a pocket.
So it's been one of those things that I never got round to doing and then Hendry retired and I'll be honest that I didn't see much in the game at the moment that I wanted to watch.
But then I fell upon an event which would answer a number of issues for me - Snooker Legends.
Convinced the hubby to come with me (always helps if you buy the tickets!) as the line up was pretty good - Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White and Dennis Taylor - quite a line up and one you'd have paid good money to get in one room together.
It was pairs and singles competition - so battle to see the first to five wins. The evening was compared by John Virgo, who warmed up the audience with some trick shots as in Big Break and a few impressions of snooker legends - pretty much on the money and very entertaining.
And then the teams came out - the pairs games they took turns at the table and while Steve Davis had a go, Stephen Hendry was pretty shocking - in fact I think if I had watched him during his career he'd never have won seven world titles. Jimmy White however cleaned up and showed how it's tragic that the world title alluded him. Beautiful work around the table.
.JPG) |
| Steve Davis trying to restore some pride for his doubles team |
Then there were singles and eventually Stephen Hendry did win, but I think frankly Dennis Taylor was more interested in telling jokes. Well I say they were jokes.... He'd stop lining up a shot and turn to the audience with another ditty.
Steve Davis is far from the 'interesting' player he was criticised of being in his career. He was very funny, very dry and comes across as a genuinely nice guy - very much as he did in the jungle.
It was a great evening and at the end of it the players all sat to sign autographs (official merchandise only!) Admittedly though I just lined up to get some pics for the blog and was mercilessly teased by Jimmy White for taking a pic of the floor - I got a better side of him in the end.
.JPG) |
| Jimmy graciously posing next to John |
.JPG) |
| Finally I get to see Stephen Hendry play. Just not necessarily win... |
Thursday, 30 January 2014
31) Try a new sport
It's probably become apparent before now that I quite like sport. Ok, like may be falling a bit short. And that's why seeing five sports live is becoming a challenge as I've watched and participated in quite a lot of sports. That would be a downside to living and working at a national sports centre for three years!
As time ticked on I thought what could be practical and eventually fell upon something which fitted into quite a lot of things.
Just Jhoom.
Yes exactly. It went through my mind too. But as I was having a day of Jness within my weekend of being away (see a number of birds and one stone) I felt it was a new physical activity not done before and one I could rope my friends into too. Well it's dull if you take on these challenges just by yourself!
So I roped in the girls. I did forewarn them, then went ahead and booked the class (well I paid so they can only moan so much! But it was something none of them had done before - Just Jhoom is a Bollywood dance class!
We trundled down to the Jardin des Sports at Center Parcs and made our way to the class. The teacher was very nice and even let my mate without a pass join in (although due to her head injury had to keep sitting out!) and took pics of the assembled groups before the class.
We could all don a jingling bell wrap around to get in the move and we got taken through the basic hand moves so we'd know when to do palms or bees and then the moves. Each song we did more moves, and sometimes we even followed them.
It was a bit like an aerobics class to an extent (so no good for me - how can I be co-ordinated enough(ish) for netball but not this!) but with extra moves and hand gestures to get the real Bollywood feel. It was fun, at times I did feel I was doing some vague sort of dancing, but not sure if that was at the time Rachel made me drink some Jinro (like sake) or my own water! It can have that effect! But most importantly we did a bit of exercise and had some fun, even if we did have a dark walk back to the villa afterwards!
Oh and even better, the dance teacher couldn't believe we were here for my 40th and said it was more likely to be my 30th. Fantastic, I'll take that every day!
As time ticked on I thought what could be practical and eventually fell upon something which fitted into quite a lot of things.
Just Jhoom.
Yes exactly. It went through my mind too. But as I was having a day of Jness within my weekend of being away (see a number of birds and one stone) I felt it was a new physical activity not done before and one I could rope my friends into too. Well it's dull if you take on these challenges just by yourself!
So I roped in the girls. I did forewarn them, then went ahead and booked the class (well I paid so they can only moan so much! But it was something none of them had done before - Just Jhoom is a Bollywood dance class!
 |
| A vague attempt at Just Jhoom |
We trundled down to the Jardin des Sports at Center Parcs and made our way to the class. The teacher was very nice and even let my mate without a pass join in (although due to her head injury had to keep sitting out!) and took pics of the assembled groups before the class.
We could all don a jingling bell wrap around to get in the move and we got taken through the basic hand moves so we'd know when to do palms or bees and then the moves. Each song we did more moves, and sometimes we even followed them.
It was a bit like an aerobics class to an extent (so no good for me - how can I be co-ordinated enough(ish) for netball but not this!) but with extra moves and hand gestures to get the real Bollywood feel. It was fun, at times I did feel I was doing some vague sort of dancing, but not sure if that was at the time Rachel made me drink some Jinro (like sake) or my own water! It can have that effect! But most importantly we did a bit of exercise and had some fun, even if we did have a dark walk back to the villa afterwards!
Oh and even better, the dance teacher couldn't believe we were here for my 40th and said it was more likely to be my 30th. Fantastic, I'll take that every day!
 |
| Well we gave it our best shot! |
14) Play netball again - even if just once!
Netball is my passion. Actually is that enough? Is it more than that? It's like a part of me, it's always been in me.
Why? Well it started at school and frankly it was the only game I was good at. Being ridiculously tall at a young age helped but I liked it, I made the school team in the second year (thanks to Katie Branigan leaving and a bit of a shift around) and it went on from there. I eventually played for the County U16 in 1989 and went on from there to other county sides, region development and South Region U21.
I went on to university and carried on playing. My uni was naff at sport, we were proudly known as a team who actually won sports matches in the Universities cup and not by default. I changed counties and regions and eventually made it to the big one.
Yep my passion, and more a lot of hard work as I'm not the most naturally gifted player, meant that I played for England. In October 1994 (I can never remember if it was the 21st or 22nd so I have both as my lottery numbers!) I was selected for the England U21 squad. I took in a deep breath of excitement and then burst into tears. My mum did exactly the same. My county coach was so proud too. Thank you to her, Sonia Taylor and so many others who had faith. Sonia is no longer with us and netball and I miss her greatly.
From there I went on and played for the senior squad for three years and won the European Championships too. And then disaster.
I'd moved counties again and I'd played my first game for new side Essex Met. Horrendous, their first loss in about six years and possibly they'd lose the league. Not the best start. I'd driven up to Derby rather than take the team bus as had to work that evening. I got to Wembley Arena in good time ahead of a televised basketball game. Dropped my bag in the box office and went to see my boss.
I took one step down the stairs and woah, the pain. My knee slid out to the side and back in again. I only didn't swear as there were kids playing basketball. But something had happened. Fortunately I only needed to be on my feet for another six hours and then drive home to south London!
Three weeks out from England trials I needed to train but my knee was still painful. I was popping ibuprofen like a mad thing and by Tuesday I decided to do the stadium stairs (not an easy workout) by Thurs still bad so spoke to basketball physio. You've dislocated your knee. Right, so I have trials in three weeks. No you don't - yeah I do. NO YOU DON'T.
I didn't trial. I had a late trial but didn't get in. I rested a bit but played that season and even ended up in the deciding game for the county in the league. Against my old county. We needed to win by five to win the league. We won by 11. I have the cutting where I was named in The Times. Good days.
Won the regional tournament a month later. A week later I was under the knife - patella tendon shortened. Six weeks in plaster. A leg brace, learning to walk again.
I played again. Lots. I had more operations. When I got married I decided it was time out. I needed a big op - my cartilage was to be regrafted. 12 weeks in a brace.
Except I got pregnant between them removing cartilage and putting it back in. Out of retirement when my son was a few months old and playing with a new team.
Coming back after three ops and one child was tough. After two children and five ops? I didn't think it was even going to happen.
Hence the target. But it did. I first did a friendly which was ok but felt my fitness needed some work. Then in the new year I was asked if I'd help the club third team out in their midweek league. Yep but no promises on how I'd go.
Well I made it, played the second half and did ok. It wasn't brilliant but I gave an experienced head to the proceedings and helped give direction to the others and even got a couple of intercepts.
Due to lack of numbers I got signed up to the regional side and played a quarter in one game (though was mercilessly picked upon by the umpire so taken off) and I almost made a sizzler of an intercept - just a finger tip away! I played again for the thirds last night and did a whole game and a lot more intercepts. The brain can read what's going on but the body is a bit slow at times!
But in reality I know that there aren't many games left in me. There is something fundamentally still wrong with the knee and chucking a body round a netball court isn't really going to help it. I have a choice to keep on and on or decide that it's the time to play with my children now and save my legs for their pastimes and being Zurg in the park. Netball has been good to me, it's been an incredible journey, but perhaps this next retirement should really be the last.
Why? Well it started at school and frankly it was the only game I was good at. Being ridiculously tall at a young age helped but I liked it, I made the school team in the second year (thanks to Katie Branigan leaving and a bit of a shift around) and it went on from there. I eventually played for the County U16 in 1989 and went on from there to other county sides, region development and South Region U21.
I went on to university and carried on playing. My uni was naff at sport, we were proudly known as a team who actually won sports matches in the Universities cup and not by default. I changed counties and regions and eventually made it to the big one.
Yep my passion, and more a lot of hard work as I'm not the most naturally gifted player, meant that I played for England. In October 1994 (I can never remember if it was the 21st or 22nd so I have both as my lottery numbers!) I was selected for the England U21 squad. I took in a deep breath of excitement and then burst into tears. My mum did exactly the same. My county coach was so proud too. Thank you to her, Sonia Taylor and so many others who had faith. Sonia is no longer with us and netball and I miss her greatly.
From there I went on and played for the senior squad for three years and won the European Championships too. And then disaster.
 |
| That young England netballer and thin too! |
I'd moved counties again and I'd played my first game for new side Essex Met. Horrendous, their first loss in about six years and possibly they'd lose the league. Not the best start. I'd driven up to Derby rather than take the team bus as had to work that evening. I got to Wembley Arena in good time ahead of a televised basketball game. Dropped my bag in the box office and went to see my boss.
I took one step down the stairs and woah, the pain. My knee slid out to the side and back in again. I only didn't swear as there were kids playing basketball. But something had happened. Fortunately I only needed to be on my feet for another six hours and then drive home to south London!
Three weeks out from England trials I needed to train but my knee was still painful. I was popping ibuprofen like a mad thing and by Tuesday I decided to do the stadium stairs (not an easy workout) by Thurs still bad so spoke to basketball physio. You've dislocated your knee. Right, so I have trials in three weeks. No you don't - yeah I do. NO YOU DON'T.
I didn't trial. I had a late trial but didn't get in. I rested a bit but played that season and even ended up in the deciding game for the county in the league. Against my old county. We needed to win by five to win the league. We won by 11. I have the cutting where I was named in The Times. Good days.
Won the regional tournament a month later. A week later I was under the knife - patella tendon shortened. Six weeks in plaster. A leg brace, learning to walk again.
I played again. Lots. I had more operations. When I got married I decided it was time out. I needed a big op - my cartilage was to be regrafted. 12 weeks in a brace.
Except I got pregnant between them removing cartilage and putting it back in. Out of retirement when my son was a few months old and playing with a new team.
Coming back after three ops and one child was tough. After two children and five ops? I didn't think it was even going to happen.
Hence the target. But it did. I first did a friendly which was ok but felt my fitness needed some work. Then in the new year I was asked if I'd help the club third team out in their midweek league. Yep but no promises on how I'd go.
Well I made it, played the second half and did ok. It wasn't brilliant but I gave an experienced head to the proceedings and helped give direction to the others and even got a couple of intercepts.
Due to lack of numbers I got signed up to the regional side and played a quarter in one game (though was mercilessly picked upon by the umpire so taken off) and I almost made a sizzler of an intercept - just a finger tip away! I played again for the thirds last night and did a whole game and a lot more intercepts. The brain can read what's going on but the body is a bit slow at times!
But in reality I know that there aren't many games left in me. There is something fundamentally still wrong with the knee and chucking a body round a netball court isn't really going to help it. I have a choice to keep on and on or decide that it's the time to play with my children now and save my legs for their pastimes and being Zurg in the park. Netball has been good to me, it's been an incredible journey, but perhaps this next retirement should really be the last.
30) Have a weekend away
Well when you have two small children, getting a weekend away with adults is a truly rare thing and probably only achieved when I've had some netball kit to wear!
So, it was a definite one to strive to and in the end I thought, what better way than to have a girlie weekend to celebrate my birthday!
So off to Center Parcs we went, as a proposed team of six (although one of my mates came down ill just the day before and had to pull out) with much fun and madness on the agenda and no entry to the villa unless carrying a bottle of champagne.
I toyed with looking at us having a break in a town or city and staying at a B&B but actually the beauty of being at Center Parcs was we had our own little pad, en suite rooms and fab leisure facilities. While we were miles from the car park or the main facilities, through some cunning, walking and cadging lifts, somehow I managed to avoid having to use the land train all weekend. Thanks ladies.
My friend Ellie and I rocked up early on the Friday and made great haste to get to the Subtropical water paradise. It didn't disappoint. We discovered the outdoor pool and almost congratulated ourselves on being outside in a pool in January. And then I found the white water rapids. OMG. Basically fling yourself from the warm pool into a cold waterfall and then get yourself swept along a path of water up and down and over and around - so much fun! We screamed and laughed and said 'again, again' like kids. I only went on it twelve times over two days. Brilliant. We also took in water slides and had general merry fun. And then brought the rest of the crew into the madness the next day!
We drank, we ate, we laughed, we sang, we had a ball. We saw a rabbit outside our apartment, and as one of my favourite animals ever I was touched he came along too. I made sure I made a note of the wildlife I'd see for him.
We also made sure that the weekend embraced a day of J'ness (see no 38) but I'll talk more about that in another blog post. We had four or five of the foods I hadn't eaten, so that list is pretty much there as well and we started on the 10 languages for hello and goodbye but need to complete that (where is the list Melissa!)
On the Sat night we took in our Just Jhoom and the whole J ness in food, drink and costumes. Much late night drinking and chatting too.
Sunday morning spent watching Aussie Open tennis final and naturally being hungover ate lots of rubbish food. And I still have that wedding dress to fit into! More sit ups I think!
All in all it was a fantastic weekend and I can't thank the girls enough. Well I might if more of them got onto twitter and helped me with the 400 followers! And while I missed my babies the cuddles were great when I got home.
So, it was a definite one to strive to and in the end I thought, what better way than to have a girlie weekend to celebrate my birthday!
So off to Center Parcs we went, as a proposed team of six (although one of my mates came down ill just the day before and had to pull out) with much fun and madness on the agenda and no entry to the villa unless carrying a bottle of champagne.
I toyed with looking at us having a break in a town or city and staying at a B&B but actually the beauty of being at Center Parcs was we had our own little pad, en suite rooms and fab leisure facilities. While we were miles from the car park or the main facilities, through some cunning, walking and cadging lifts, somehow I managed to avoid having to use the land train all weekend. Thanks ladies.
.JPG) |
| Rachel looking 'pensive' - in explorer mode |
My friend Ellie and I rocked up early on the Friday and made great haste to get to the Subtropical water paradise. It didn't disappoint. We discovered the outdoor pool and almost congratulated ourselves on being outside in a pool in January. And then I found the white water rapids. OMG. Basically fling yourself from the warm pool into a cold waterfall and then get yourself swept along a path of water up and down and over and around - so much fun! We screamed and laughed and said 'again, again' like kids. I only went on it twelve times over two days. Brilliant. We also took in water slides and had general merry fun. And then brought the rest of the crew into the madness the next day!
We drank, we ate, we laughed, we sang, we had a ball. We saw a rabbit outside our apartment, and as one of my favourite animals ever I was touched he came along too. I made sure I made a note of the wildlife I'd see for him.
.JPG) |
| Bunny comes to say hi! |
We also made sure that the weekend embraced a day of J'ness (see no 38) but I'll talk more about that in another blog post. We had four or five of the foods I hadn't eaten, so that list is pretty much there as well and we started on the 10 languages for hello and goodbye but need to complete that (where is the list Melissa!)
On the Sat night we took in our Just Jhoom and the whole J ness in food, drink and costumes. Much late night drinking and chatting too.
Sunday morning spent watching Aussie Open tennis final and naturally being hungover ate lots of rubbish food. And I still have that wedding dress to fit into! More sit ups I think!
All in all it was a fantastic weekend and I can't thank the girls enough. Well I might if more of them got onto twitter and helped me with the 400 followers! And while I missed my babies the cuddles were great when I got home.
 |
| The message board - with a few to the housekeeper too! |
 |
| The pad of 40 year old madness! |
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
25) Get Josh a passport
Does a child need a passport? Well not if you don't have much money and going abroad on holidays is not really an option. But you know, one day a long lost rich uncle may come along and demand that we travel extensively and if we don't immediately go away he'd be most disappointed. Well a girl can dream.
No, it was something that just wanted to do so that, if we could or should ever want to go away, even if not that far, we could do it. But I wanted to get mine updated first so that we'd have ones with the same surname.
So we went off and had our passport pictures taken at a photographic shop so that we could get the perfect pictures, and Josh didn't disappoint - he knew not to smile, look as miserable as possible, and frankly create a pose that could work on a wanted poster!
A few hiccups with the forms (I know my friend Caroline reads my blog so she knows what I mean with her different personas!) but eventually all signed and off they went.
And this week it arrived back and Josh finally has his 'plane book' as we've been calling it. And as an added bonus (ie wasn't on the list) Freya has one too. Well we couldn't leave the littlest Ineson out.
Clearly for security reasons I'm not adding any pics, but we have three very shiny passports. Now where's that uncle.....
No, it was something that just wanted to do so that, if we could or should ever want to go away, even if not that far, we could do it. But I wanted to get mine updated first so that we'd have ones with the same surname.
So we went off and had our passport pictures taken at a photographic shop so that we could get the perfect pictures, and Josh didn't disappoint - he knew not to smile, look as miserable as possible, and frankly create a pose that could work on a wanted poster!
A few hiccups with the forms (I know my friend Caroline reads my blog so she knows what I mean with her different personas!) but eventually all signed and off they went.
And this week it arrived back and Josh finally has his 'plane book' as we've been calling it. And as an added bonus (ie wasn't on the list) Freya has one too. Well we couldn't leave the littlest Ineson out.
Clearly for security reasons I'm not adding any pics, but we have three very shiny passports. Now where's that uncle.....
Sunday, 19 January 2014
35) Take in five cultural experiences
3) Santa Cruise
Christmas 2013 was probably the first of my son's Christmases where his excitement was without compare. He totally got it, he learnt his songs for nursery and pre school nativities and was very aware of Father Christmas and that you did need to be good.
He probably got to meet the big man himself about six times over the festive season, I just couldn't resist seeing his face each time. But one thing we really wanted to do for him was something I had never heard before - a Santa Cruise!
No, not in Hawaii or other far flung warm places. It was less than a mile from our house (and we live in exotic Buckinghamshire). Since becoming home owners, we have been fortunate to live very close to the Grand Union Canal. In our first home, our road actually owned a part of the canal (well we had a residents committee and funds so that we could pay for it's upkeep - you probably got more from it if you lived at that part of the road, not higher up the hill like us!) and now we also live close to the canal.
But, it's been a while since we've been on the waterways themselves so when I saw the Santa experience advertised by our local company Grebe Canal Cruises, I decided we had to get involved!
On the Saturday before Christmas, we boarded our boat and set sail down the canal. The elves brought around mulled wine and mince pies for the grown ups (mulled wine was lush) and soft drinks and choice of biscuits and lollypops for the children. Happy toddler already.
Each child was called in turn to Santa's grotto. Joshie was starting to fear his name wasn't going to get called as they were obviously picking things out of the sack one by one and his present was down the bottom, but he was very patient and worth it for his bus in the end! We had a lovely sail down the canal including going through a lock to turn around and come back which we all enjoyed watching the boat rise up and the walls magically disappear!
Christmas 2013 was probably the first of my son's Christmases where his excitement was without compare. He totally got it, he learnt his songs for nursery and pre school nativities and was very aware of Father Christmas and that you did need to be good.
He probably got to meet the big man himself about six times over the festive season, I just couldn't resist seeing his face each time. But one thing we really wanted to do for him was something I had never heard before - a Santa Cruise!
No, not in Hawaii or other far flung warm places. It was less than a mile from our house (and we live in exotic Buckinghamshire). Since becoming home owners, we have been fortunate to live very close to the Grand Union Canal. In our first home, our road actually owned a part of the canal (well we had a residents committee and funds so that we could pay for it's upkeep - you probably got more from it if you lived at that part of the road, not higher up the hill like us!) and now we also live close to the canal.
But, it's been a while since we've been on the waterways themselves so when I saw the Santa experience advertised by our local company Grebe Canal Cruises, I decided we had to get involved!
 |
| Our Santa boat awaits |
We were told that they had heard from Santa and he was currently in Leighton Buzzard and would be with us in about fifteen minutes. Mmm, we thought, wonder where he actually is. Not long later we were told he can't pick out our boat from the others so could we start singing Jingle Bells. So we all did, Joshie very excitedly so. The next thing we heard was a thud on the roof and lots of banging of footsteps and hooves. He's arrived! Joshie was squealing with excitement, as then a pair of boots arrived from the roof through the gap and in walked Father Christmas.
 |
| Someone is a little excited! |
It was a 45 minute sail in all and it was a thoroughly fantastic experience. The team really put the effort in, we got to have a sail which they hadn't done before, and all got their own time with Father Christmas without a lot of standing up and queuing which we'd done a fair bit of already at other events. The only downer was the weather and that Granny wasn't well enough to come but nothing the organisers could control. And they managed to warm us up with seconds of mulled wine so I think my hubby is booking for next year already!
 |
| Freya weighing up the present from Father Christmas |
33) Sell five things on eBay
I've been buying things on eBay for years. I think pretty much since I met my husband in 2005 trying to find him nutty little gifts such as bizarre Halifax Town memorabilia or Panini World Cup football albums. No he has been appreciative of most of these things.....
But never sold anything. Keep talking about it, never quite got round to it. Money on eBay was all one way traffic. I've lined plenty of other bank accounts but never balanced it with money back to mine. The intention was good, I've put things aside to sell, heck we even moved house with a box of 'items for eBay', but never quite got round to listing things.
So it seemed a fairly sensible thing to put on the list. I know there's a game of chance that someone (or five somebodies) may actually like the same mad stuff that I do, but I thought priced relatively attractively that someone might bite. Well take a nibble.
Well they did! From a gift from an ex boyfriend 10 years ago, to a scarf previously bought for my son on eBay, I have achieved five sold items. As you can see I haven't made stacks of cash, but I have managed to rid ourselves of things we no longer needed, or wanted in the house (well I haven't wanted a lot of ex boyfriend stuff for a while but I knew someone would buy it!) and I've loved watching the things mount up, seeing people make their bids and now I just need to wait until my funds are released. And then of course, spend it straight back on eBay......
But never sold anything. Keep talking about it, never quite got round to it. Money on eBay was all one way traffic. I've lined plenty of other bank accounts but never balanced it with money back to mine. The intention was good, I've put things aside to sell, heck we even moved house with a box of 'items for eBay', but never quite got round to listing things.
So it seemed a fairly sensible thing to put on the list. I know there's a game of chance that someone (or five somebodies) may actually like the same mad stuff that I do, but I thought priced relatively attractively that someone might bite. Well take a nibble.
Well they did! From a gift from an ex boyfriend 10 years ago, to a scarf previously bought for my son on eBay, I have achieved five sold items. As you can see I haven't made stacks of cash, but I have managed to rid ourselves of things we no longer needed, or wanted in the house (well I haven't wanted a lot of ex boyfriend stuff for a while but I knew someone would buy it!) and I've loved watching the things mount up, seeing people make their bids and now I just need to wait until my funds are released. And then of course, spend it straight back on eBay......
Sunday, 12 January 2014
11) Make something for the house
So, I may be a writer but I'm not a great craftswoman. So this is a bit of a challenge. Especially when I realised that I also don't have a sewing machine and I would have practically been banned from our textiles classes at school. It wasn't pretty for anyone concerned. And here's a confession. That day when I got 80% for beautiful stitching of press studs and hook and eyes? It was Rebecca Surman, my best friend at the time who did them. Not me. I was appalling.
But in time I found that I quite liked doing things and making things but they will never be things I can sell. So I do them in the hope we can find them some place to live in our home. So far the only thing was a Winnie the Pooh sampler which took a mere seven years to make. Yes, seven years. Now, do you see this is a challenge.
But in the run up to Christmas I decided to make a Christmas decoration for my little daughter. I followed a pattern of course, but still had to get things done. I was a bit pushed for time so it won't actually get onto to the tree until next Christmas, but it was completed on Christmas Day itself.
I hope it will adorn our tree for many years and for my daughter's too when she's older. Our son has one too and one day, who knows there will be grandchildren to make them for. As long as they give me plenty of notice of course!
But in time I found that I quite liked doing things and making things but they will never be things I can sell. So I do them in the hope we can find them some place to live in our home. So far the only thing was a Winnie the Pooh sampler which took a mere seven years to make. Yes, seven years. Now, do you see this is a challenge.
But in the run up to Christmas I decided to make a Christmas decoration for my little daughter. I followed a pattern of course, but still had to get things done. I was a bit pushed for time so it won't actually get onto to the tree until next Christmas, but it was completed on Christmas Day itself.
I hope it will adorn our tree for many years and for my daughter's too when she's older. Our son has one too and one day, who knows there will be grandchildren to make them for. As long as they give me plenty of notice of course!
 |
| The finished decoration |
Thursday, 9 January 2014
15) Watch five live sports you've never seen
1) Darts
I love sport. Just love it. Participating (am somewhat competitive but we'll leave that for now) when my wrecked body allows it and watching. I have sports that I love to watch but frankly I'm of the mindset that I'll watch anything once. I may not watch it more than once but at least I can say I've watched it.
Which does make this challenge quite a challenge! As I've watched so many sports! So trying to claim one I haven't seen before isn't as easy as you'd think.
But darts was one. Darts is one of those sports which traditionally had the idea of big men, drinking lots of beer and smoking and chucking little metal things around. Ok, there's probably still some larger men, but not all of them are like that, and they're not allowed to sup booze at the oche. But it's something that always appears as a real place of entertainment and one that would be good to get on the list.
So roping in my younger sister we travelled to the Lakeside on Monday to take in the Darts World Champs. Hang on I hear you cry, hasn't that happened already? Er yes. And no. Long and short of it - big split, two bodies - PDC and BDO. And they both have a world champs. You can't be in both. If you move from one to the other there's a stand down period. One is on Sky and one on the Beeb. We were at the Beeb one. Which makes it the poor man's darts I guess.
Anyway, with our banners at the ready we settled down to our darts. Admittedly both driving wasn't the best plan as about 90% of people there were drinking. And heavily. Particularly the lads at our table who were on their annual massive drinkathon! The early games involved a first round for the womens title which was a bit heavy going (and Rachel thinking she could probably do alright) and a qualifier. Our 180 boards weren't massively troubled.
As the games went on though there was more action and more drinking from those around us! The darts was good but there were other things that make the Lakeside so unique. Darts still has that feeling of the stars are still one of us. The WAGs table is in amongst the paying public - close to the players entrance so can see them or head back stage. No glitz or glamour, just there. As a result, players come out to meet family and meet their supporters, and they're happy to have pics taken or have a bit of a chat. So many sports now have stars isolated and that isn't something you can accuse the BDO of.
I love sport. Just love it. Participating (am somewhat competitive but we'll leave that for now) when my wrecked body allows it and watching. I have sports that I love to watch but frankly I'm of the mindset that I'll watch anything once. I may not watch it more than once but at least I can say I've watched it.
Which does make this challenge quite a challenge! As I've watched so many sports! So trying to claim one I haven't seen before isn't as easy as you'd think.
But darts was one. Darts is one of those sports which traditionally had the idea of big men, drinking lots of beer and smoking and chucking little metal things around. Ok, there's probably still some larger men, but not all of them are like that, and they're not allowed to sup booze at the oche. But it's something that always appears as a real place of entertainment and one that would be good to get on the list.
So roping in my younger sister we travelled to the Lakeside on Monday to take in the Darts World Champs. Hang on I hear you cry, hasn't that happened already? Er yes. And no. Long and short of it - big split, two bodies - PDC and BDO. And they both have a world champs. You can't be in both. If you move from one to the other there's a stand down period. One is on Sky and one on the Beeb. We were at the Beeb one. Which makes it the poor man's darts I guess.
Anyway, with our banners at the ready we settled down to our darts. Admittedly both driving wasn't the best plan as about 90% of people there were drinking. And heavily. Particularly the lads at our table who were on their annual massive drinkathon! The early games involved a first round for the womens title which was a bit heavy going (and Rachel thinking she could probably do alright) and a qualifier. Our 180 boards weren't massively troubled.
As the games went on though there was more action and more drinking from those around us! The darts was good but there were other things that make the Lakeside so unique. Darts still has that feeling of the stars are still one of us. The WAGs table is in amongst the paying public - close to the players entrance so can see them or head back stage. No glitz or glamour, just there. As a result, players come out to meet family and meet their supporters, and they're happy to have pics taken or have a bit of a chat. So many sports now have stars isolated and that isn't something you can accuse the BDO of.
Curiously someone also went round with raffle tickets. I thought I was back at county netball. This is a world champs and there are raffle tickets? I'm not sure what the prize was I just thought it was a tad random. Many people dress up, costumes galore, we saw lederhosen, crayons, lions, fifties gear... actually that might not have been a costume.
And we got to meet a legend of the game - Martin 'Wolfie' Adams. He's a 3 time BDO World Champ and former captain of England as well as making his 21st consecutive Lakeside appearance. If you know your arrows, you know who Wolfie is. I think he was quite surprised we did but happy to oblige with a photo!
 |
| Wolfie meets the Mann sisters - presumably inspiring his win the next day! |
It was random but we thought it might be, but it was a really entertaining night out and one I would absolutely recommend. Will certainly book again but next time I'm on the beers too!
16) Read five classic novels
I've always loved reading - my mum talks of me learning to read, recognising things from the TV and repeating them back. Once I started school I loved the monthly book clubs and was so disappointed the time we couldn't buy me a new book as we were moving house and my teacher lent me a school book to take home. I wanted books that much. Needless to say our house is crammed with them and I will always buy my children books - you just need to look in their rooms.....
But when you're a working mum of two, me time is scarce and finding time to read, well anything, is hard. And I figured, there are a few gaping holes in my reading which a challenge like this would help address. Don't fret these aren't the first classic novels I read - my English teachers at school made sure of this and I also have A Level English Literature. That's fairly hard to pass without brushing past a few classics (I could have avoided Chaucer though...)
So, it's done - and below are the five consumed and a brief 'book club' overview!
1) The Great Gatsby
I read Tender is the Night (or Tittin as we shortened it too) for my A Level and found how terribly sad it was. Now having read TGG I realise this may be a Scott Fitzgerald thing. All the glitz and the glamour but it all has to unravel. A very good read though and quite compelling to say the least. I hope the recent film lives up to the novel.
2) Oliver Twist
Yep sung at school, watched the film, never read the book. Well I have now. The classic film with Ron Moody seems to have a different ending to the novel which I'm not going to spoil. Needless to say they wanted to give something else to the audience. It's hard to read as of course written in the style of the time which shamefully as my first Dickens, I had yet to find out, but it is good to read the whole story rather than rely on the film.
3) Sense and Sensibility
What drove me to read this novel in particular was hearing the news all Jane Austen's works were to be rewritten by modern day writers. I admit that above I said some old books were hard to read but having previously read Pride and Prejudice I strongly felt that we should remain with the original. It's bad enough that classics are hard enough to come by (my village library hardly holds classics and I had to order this in from another library) but rewriting them? Anyway, with that in mind I plumped on Sense and Sensibility. It's like many other books of this time and young women finding suitors to obviously marry and settle down with and of course secure the futures for their families. With that in mind there is always a slight sense of predictability, and you feel fairly sure of the ultimate outcome, but I felt in this case Austen seemed to get bored and suddenly rush to the end.
4) Howards End
I read this one over a week at my in laws when raiding my mother in laws book selection. I was going to go for A Room with a View but as it had been one of my sister in laws study texts, like my books it's covered in handwriting making it impossible and distracting to read. So I plumped for this and really enjoyed the book - with a number of twists to the tale but essentially a happy ending. Definitely worth a read.
5) Alice in Wonderland
Well as the clock was ticking a bit I thought it might be an idea to find a relatively short classic! And Alice did not disappoint certainly in terms of length! It's written in such a way that it's almost as nonsensical as the characters within and you race around at about 100 miles an hour. However it gets a fifth ticked off quite nicely indeed!
So there you go, definitely a good challenge as made me put time aside to read. And pleased to have it done as it means I've freed up some time to read the books that I've got stacked up in a pile but not allowed to read as they're not classics, and also time to write one of my books so it does become one!
But when you're a working mum of two, me time is scarce and finding time to read, well anything, is hard. And I figured, there are a few gaping holes in my reading which a challenge like this would help address. Don't fret these aren't the first classic novels I read - my English teachers at school made sure of this and I also have A Level English Literature. That's fairly hard to pass without brushing past a few classics (I could have avoided Chaucer though...)
So, it's done - and below are the five consumed and a brief 'book club' overview!
1) The Great Gatsby
I read Tender is the Night (or Tittin as we shortened it too) for my A Level and found how terribly sad it was. Now having read TGG I realise this may be a Scott Fitzgerald thing. All the glitz and the glamour but it all has to unravel. A very good read though and quite compelling to say the least. I hope the recent film lives up to the novel.
2) Oliver Twist
Yep sung at school, watched the film, never read the book. Well I have now. The classic film with Ron Moody seems to have a different ending to the novel which I'm not going to spoil. Needless to say they wanted to give something else to the audience. It's hard to read as of course written in the style of the time which shamefully as my first Dickens, I had yet to find out, but it is good to read the whole story rather than rely on the film.
3) Sense and Sensibility
What drove me to read this novel in particular was hearing the news all Jane Austen's works were to be rewritten by modern day writers. I admit that above I said some old books were hard to read but having previously read Pride and Prejudice I strongly felt that we should remain with the original. It's bad enough that classics are hard enough to come by (my village library hardly holds classics and I had to order this in from another library) but rewriting them? Anyway, with that in mind I plumped on Sense and Sensibility. It's like many other books of this time and young women finding suitors to obviously marry and settle down with and of course secure the futures for their families. With that in mind there is always a slight sense of predictability, and you feel fairly sure of the ultimate outcome, but I felt in this case Austen seemed to get bored and suddenly rush to the end.
4) Howards End
I read this one over a week at my in laws when raiding my mother in laws book selection. I was going to go for A Room with a View but as it had been one of my sister in laws study texts, like my books it's covered in handwriting making it impossible and distracting to read. So I plumped for this and really enjoyed the book - with a number of twists to the tale but essentially a happy ending. Definitely worth a read.
5) Alice in Wonderland
Well as the clock was ticking a bit I thought it might be an idea to find a relatively short classic! And Alice did not disappoint certainly in terms of length! It's written in such a way that it's almost as nonsensical as the characters within and you race around at about 100 miles an hour. However it gets a fifth ticked off quite nicely indeed!
So there you go, definitely a good challenge as made me put time aside to read. And pleased to have it done as it means I've freed up some time to read the books that I've got stacked up in a pile but not allowed to read as they're not classics, and also time to write one of my books so it does become one!
Sunday, 5 January 2014
35) Take in five cultural experiences
2) Peppa Pig World
No, stop laughing straight away. Seriously, one of the best days out I've had in a long time. Ok, that might say a lot about me....
Any parent of a young child knows about Peppa Pig. She rules the TV. She's quite a bossy boots for a young pig but the kids love her. And so do those who created her and the opportunity to make the most of merchandising.
I'd heard some good things about Peppa Pig World and with my three year old son a bit of an addict, it felt the right place to go for a shared birthday excursion for him and the daughter of one of my closest friends.
Like most sensible people with children of non school age, we went during the week. It was a fairly grey October day but we didn't let it dampen our spirits, even if we had to queue a long while for Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Ride!
Peppa Land is actually part of Paultons Park, down near Romsey on the south coast. But for most people if you're there for Peppa you see little else. There's lots of rides, which the children want to go on again and again, and if it's not a busy time of the year then they certainly can. My son and I went on the dinosaur ride three times in a row, by getting off and running round again. Mind you that's nothing compared to the gang going off to go on a car ride while I fed my baby daughter. I'd thought they'd got lost but they just kept telling the guy they were going round again and not getting out of the car! It's ok - there were plenty of free cars.
There was a great indoor play place too which they raced around when it got a bit blustery and my son and I climbed into some of the bits together too. I loved the rides, but loved watching my son's reaction more. Getting him on my shoulders so he could touch the huge George Pig, and seeing his picture when he ran into the school room and posed with the characters just made my heart melt. Times like this are precious and I just loved watching how he beamed and laughed at the different things. Birthday money was spent in the shop purchasing his own Mr Dinesaw, and a happy boy for many weeks to come.
No, stop laughing straight away. Seriously, one of the best days out I've had in a long time. Ok, that might say a lot about me....
Any parent of a young child knows about Peppa Pig. She rules the TV. She's quite a bossy boots for a young pig but the kids love her. And so do those who created her and the opportunity to make the most of merchandising.
I'd heard some good things about Peppa Pig World and with my three year old son a bit of an addict, it felt the right place to go for a shared birthday excursion for him and the daughter of one of my closest friends.
Like most sensible people with children of non school age, we went during the week. It was a fairly grey October day but we didn't let it dampen our spirits, even if we had to queue a long while for Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Ride!
Peppa Land is actually part of Paultons Park, down near Romsey on the south coast. But for most people if you're there for Peppa you see little else. There's lots of rides, which the children want to go on again and again, and if it's not a busy time of the year then they certainly can. My son and I went on the dinosaur ride three times in a row, by getting off and running round again. Mind you that's nothing compared to the gang going off to go on a car ride while I fed my baby daughter. I'd thought they'd got lost but they just kept telling the guy they were going round again and not getting out of the car! It's ok - there were plenty of free cars.
There was a great indoor play place too which they raced around when it got a bit blustery and my son and I climbed into some of the bits together too. I loved the rides, but loved watching my son's reaction more. Getting him on my shoulders so he could touch the huge George Pig, and seeing his picture when he ran into the school room and posed with the characters just made my heart melt. Times like this are precious and I just loved watching how he beamed and laughed at the different things. Birthday money was spent in the shop purchasing his own Mr Dinesaw, and a happy boy for many weeks to come.
 |
| Meeting George Pig! |
 |
| Granny and Joshie ride on Mr Dinesaw |
 |
| The excitement of the boat rides |
 |
| Mr Potato charms the ladies |
34) Go to an auction
There are lots of programmes on TV where people buy tut and try and sell it at an auction, get tut out of their attic and try and sell it at auction, or people take their tut to be valued in the hope it's worth a billion and sell it at auction.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the morning - a great way to spend a couple of hours and who knows what you could end up with. And if I can sneak out again I'm definitely going!
For some reason I thought actually going to an auction was shrouded in some sort of mystery; that you needed to know someone to get in or have a red or blue fleece like in Bargain Hunt (actually I have a red fleece why did it take me so long?)
There is an auction house in the nearest town to us, so with a little research, mainly trying to work out what to do, I was ready to try my hand.
I rocked up early on the Sat morn to have a look at what was available. The middle room was the first room to get kicking at Tring Market Auctions and one where, judging by the catalogue, I was likely to be able to get some things without breaking the bank.
 |
| With my number at the ready! |
As advised, I watched some of the more regular bidders get in the first bids, before I took the plunge. I had spotted only once viewing had stopped some Arsenal prints, so I dived in but having not viewed them up close I wasn't sure how much they would be worth so didn't push it. A lesson to look up next time!
There were some real random things there and it was a bit like people had really brought out their junk. Seriously pretty much most things sell. To the extent I may well have a good clear out!!! I had thought about the novelty duck decanter but even I have sense to pull out when it goes for £18! It wasn't the prettiest thing in the world!
I bid a few more times but pulled out when I thought things were getting pricey. But in the end I did get some goods! Admittedly all my goods were ones uncontested - the desperation of the auctioneer - does anyone want this for £8? Actually, yes I thought, I like that picture which I hadn't noticed before! And I'm a proud owner of a print of the Solent which actually when I collected is much bigger than I thought, but also much nicer and one which actually could look nice in our room. I also got a dish for a fiver - that really was a steal and then a random box of Italian pottery. I don't know what I was thinking - but I think I may well be gifting or reselling at a boot sale sometime soon!
 |
| My fabulous wins! |
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the morning - a great way to spend a couple of hours and who knows what you could end up with. And if I can sneak out again I'm definitely going!
Thursday, 2 January 2014
35) Take in five cultural experiences
New cultural experiences of course - I'd hate to sound as if I've never had a cultural experience before, and this is someone who's organised two classical music concerts!!!
I'll be revisiting this a few times as I update my cultural experiences but here's the first:
Pitstone Green Museum
This may not be too well known and to be honest I only learnt about it last summer when we were house hunting and saw signs come out around the time of bank holidays.
Pitstone is a small village between Tring and Leighton Buzzard, and probably not very well known, more so for the cement works that were closed back in the 1990s.
The Museum is run by volunteers in the grounds of an old farm dating back to the 19th Century. As a result it tends to open on bank holidays and certain Sundays in the summer months only, which, being a largely outdoor museum, seems a sensible approach.
We decided to head for the first time for their first opening in 2013 which was on Easter bank holiday Monday. It was quite a cold day, and as a result not many people attended and some things weren't running but it meant we could wander happily between the various displays and rooms.
For my son who loves vehicles, it was great to see some vintage vehicles on display. A number of old tractors could be viewed or sat on and when we returned later in the summer after our daughter had been born, he and my husband took the tractor ride to Pitstone Windmill. Much excitement to ride the tractor!!!
But there is so much more. Using the outbuildings of the old farm, there is an old Victorian kitchen, a 1940s kitchen and memorabilia, a plumbers shop, a blacksmiths, many steam powered tools, a carpenters, and lots of various craft things to try your hand at. Many people with old vehicles bring theirs along too to view and Joshie loved seeing 'Sarge' an old army jeep on his first visit.
The jewel in the crown is the cockpit of the Lancaster bomber which we got a chance to look inside and see the simulator where the guide pressed various buttons to hear it 'start up'. This was within a further WWII room with lots of communication devices as well as other rooms which seemed to display computers from our school days - am I old or were they collectors items?
It's really inexpensive - £6 for adults and £2 for children and on a nice day there's room to sit out with the family on the grass and take as long as you like enjoying the different rooms. For us, it's a mere stroll down the road which makes it even more attractive and we'll be determined to get more people to enjoy our special little museum in 2014.
I'll be revisiting this a few times as I update my cultural experiences but here's the first:
Pitstone Green Museum
This may not be too well known and to be honest I only learnt about it last summer when we were house hunting and saw signs come out around the time of bank holidays.
Pitstone is a small village between Tring and Leighton Buzzard, and probably not very well known, more so for the cement works that were closed back in the 1990s.
The Museum is run by volunteers in the grounds of an old farm dating back to the 19th Century. As a result it tends to open on bank holidays and certain Sundays in the summer months only, which, being a largely outdoor museum, seems a sensible approach.
We decided to head for the first time for their first opening in 2013 which was on Easter bank holiday Monday. It was quite a cold day, and as a result not many people attended and some things weren't running but it meant we could wander happily between the various displays and rooms.
For my son who loves vehicles, it was great to see some vintage vehicles on display. A number of old tractors could be viewed or sat on and when we returned later in the summer after our daughter had been born, he and my husband took the tractor ride to Pitstone Windmill. Much excitement to ride the tractor!!!
But there is so much more. Using the outbuildings of the old farm, there is an old Victorian kitchen, a 1940s kitchen and memorabilia, a plumbers shop, a blacksmiths, many steam powered tools, a carpenters, and lots of various craft things to try your hand at. Many people with old vehicles bring theirs along too to view and Joshie loved seeing 'Sarge' an old army jeep on his first visit.
The jewel in the crown is the cockpit of the Lancaster bomber which we got a chance to look inside and see the simulator where the guide pressed various buttons to hear it 'start up'. This was within a further WWII room with lots of communication devices as well as other rooms which seemed to display computers from our school days - am I old or were they collectors items?
It's really inexpensive - £6 for adults and £2 for children and on a nice day there's room to sit out with the family on the grass and take as long as you like enjoying the different rooms. For us, it's a mere stroll down the road which makes it even more attractive and we'll be determined to get more people to enjoy our special little museum in 2014.
 |
| Joshie enjoying the tractor! |
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
The list - updated
So, here is how the list is looking - if it's struck through, then no prizes but it means I've done it.
2) Have a baby brother or sister for Joshie
3) Get the holiday scrapbooks up to date
4) Learn to play the piano
5) Finish writing a book - any of them!
6) Lose weight - attempt to be under 11 stone!
7) Fit in my wedding dress
8) Do an assault course
9) Have a pampering day
10) Win the lottery - preferably big but a small win will do
11) Make something for the house
12) Cook a roast dinner
13) Get upto 400 followers on twitter
14) Play netball again - even if just once!
15) Watch five live sports you've never seen
16) Read five classic novels
17) Knit a scarf for someone who loves you and will wear it!
18) Eat 10 foods I've never eaten before
19) Keep a plant alive
20) Go and eat/drink in the university refectory
21) Learn some sign language
22) Finish 'This book will change your life'
23) Go to Jane Austen's house
24) Change my passport
25) Get Josh a passport
26) Get a tattoo
27) Get a family portrait done
28) Walk the amount of steps equivalent to the hours I'll be alive
29) Learn Hello and Goodbye in ten languages
30) Have a weekend away
31) Try a new sport
32) Get rid of the clutter and be ruthless over things we don't need!
33) Sell five things on eBay
34)Go to an auction
35) Take in five cultural experiences
36) Do the weekly food shop and not deviate from the list
37) Go to a casino
38) Have a day of J ness
39) Get my watch fixed
40) Take on a voluntary role
There are a few which have been put in italics. Essentially they are in progress and ones I can get done without too much trouble. For instance I've read four out of five classic novels so it's in hand. And I've filled out the paperwork for Josh's passport and just needs to be countersigned.
I have also lost weight. I've set myself a pretty tough target to be under 11 stone although I've lost a heck of a lot of baby weight and over a stone since September. But I'll be in better shape that's for sure!
1) Move to a bigger house
4) Learn to play the piano
5) Finish writing a book - any of them!
7) Fit in my wedding dress
8) Do an assault course
9) Have a pampering day
20) Go and eat/drink in the university refectory
22) Finish 'This book will change your life'
26) Get a tattoo
34)
37) Go to a casino
There are a few which have been put in italics. Essentially they are in progress and ones I can get done without too much trouble. For instance I've read four out of five classic novels so it's in hand. And I've filled out the paperwork for Josh's passport and just needs to be countersigned.
I have also lost weight. I've set myself a pretty tough target to be under 11 stone although I've lost a heck of a lot of baby weight and over a stone since September. But I'll be in better shape that's for sure!
27) Get a family portrait done
Every year I look forward to the time when my son's nursery plan their "school" photos - the chance to get some really decent shots taken of our fabulous boy.
This year, his pre school offered the chance to have not only the children taken, but by arranging on a weekend, the chance to have family pictures taken too.
With us a fairly recent family of four, and of course being on the 40 list, I couldn't resist taking this opportunity. It wasn't the greatest of timings - the same morning my son had been tearing around an indoor play centre for his third birthday and daughter due a feed/sleep but we got some done.
When it came to selecting we really only had one shot of the whole family where we were looking and smiling but I'm pretty happy with the results. My fabulous family who I love with all my heart and make me smile every day.
Hope you think so too - needless to say the Granny's liked it as Christmas presents and it will be adorning our walls for quite some time!
This year, his pre school offered the chance to have not only the children taken, but by arranging on a weekend, the chance to have family pictures taken too.
With us a fairly recent family of four, and of course being on the 40 list, I couldn't resist taking this opportunity. It wasn't the greatest of timings - the same morning my son had been tearing around an indoor play centre for his third birthday and daughter due a feed/sleep but we got some done.
When it came to selecting we really only had one shot of the whole family where we were looking and smiling but I'm pretty happy with the results. My fabulous family who I love with all my heart and make me smile every day.
21) Learn some sign language
When I had my first child I heard about baby signing just before I went back to work. And the classes clashed with being in the office so I couldn't go.
Ever since the early stages of both my pregnancies I've spoken to my bumps and then to my babies - poor things they never hear the end of it. But naturally before they can talk back it's hard for them to be able to communicate back.
When I saw that there would be a Little Signers Club course at the local childrens centre I jumped at the chance to go. At the taster Freya was one of the youngest but I was determined to learn some essentials so she could hopefully communicate back.
And for six weeks we went along and picked up some helpful tips. My girl is still quite young and not quite showing signs back to me but she seems to respond to the actions I show her - milk and food always get a big smile and a giggle or squeal so we're making some progress. And she certainly likes the songs with actions, and as my toddler came along to the taster he's good at showing the actions to Tiny Tim too!
Ever since the early stages of both my pregnancies I've spoken to my bumps and then to my babies - poor things they never hear the end of it. But naturally before they can talk back it's hard for them to be able to communicate back.
When I saw that there would be a Little Signers Club course at the local childrens centre I jumped at the chance to go. At the taster Freya was one of the youngest but I was determined to learn some essentials so she could hopefully communicate back.
And for six weeks we went along and picked up some helpful tips. My girl is still quite young and not quite showing signs back to me but she seems to respond to the actions I show her - milk and food always get a big smile and a giggle or squeal so we're making some progress. And she certainly likes the songs with actions, and as my toddler came along to the taster he's good at showing the actions to Tiny Tim too!
24) Change my passport
Before anyone starts panicking this isn't as random as it might seem or suspicious!
I needed to renew my passport just before I got married as needed to have six months left on it as a minimum to get to the Maldives. I could have got it changed into my married name, but as I was away with work a great deal I couldn't risk changing it too close to the wedding so changed it a while before.
So I had no choice other than to change it to my maiden name and since then I've had a very shiny passport in my maiden name much to the annoyance of my husband! Not that it's been that well used since I got married and less so since I had our first child. And frankly I was a bit put off that I had to pay the full amount even though I was changing it for a legal reason!
But, I added it to the list as realised I've left it long enough and frankly the next time I go away it will be wth my children and I'd want us to have the same names in our passports. So, filled out the forms, wrote a big cheque and a few weeks later my passport finally matched me. Now it's time to do the childrens! And yes, that will be another tick on the list!
I needed to renew my passport just before I got married as needed to have six months left on it as a minimum to get to the Maldives. I could have got it changed into my married name, but as I was away with work a great deal I couldn't risk changing it too close to the wedding so changed it a while before.
So I had no choice other than to change it to my maiden name and since then I've had a very shiny passport in my maiden name much to the annoyance of my husband! Not that it's been that well used since I got married and less so since I had our first child. And frankly I was a bit put off that I had to pay the full amount even though I was changing it for a legal reason!
But, I added it to the list as realised I've left it long enough and frankly the next time I go away it will be wth my children and I'd want us to have the same names in our passports. So, filled out the forms, wrote a big cheque and a few weeks later my passport finally matched me. Now it's time to do the childrens! And yes, that will be another tick on the list!
Six weeks to go....
Oh heck - it's 2014. And in exactly six weeks time I will be 40.
So of course the mind is on the list. A lot. I've completed about 10 of the things, have some in progress but am dramatically behind in some. Have I a tattoo yet? No. Do I know what I'm going to pick yet? No.
I have the weekend away booked for the end of Jan with some of my girlfriends and they are challenged to help me complete some of the list. They are more than keen to help me with the food - apparently my best friend is 'going to stitch me up' and mentioned something about crickets. Mmmm - I'll get it done.
So,I think it'll be daily updates until I get the list complete. I need motivation, I need help, I need followers on Twitter - oh hell I need a lot!
Right, better crack on - at least I only have one more classic novel to read!!!
So of course the mind is on the list. A lot. I've completed about 10 of the things, have some in progress but am dramatically behind in some. Have I a tattoo yet? No. Do I know what I'm going to pick yet? No.
I have the weekend away booked for the end of Jan with some of my girlfriends and they are challenged to help me complete some of the list. They are more than keen to help me with the food - apparently my best friend is 'going to stitch me up' and mentioned something about crickets. Mmmm - I'll get it done.
So,I think it'll be daily updates until I get the list complete. I need motivation, I need help, I need followers on Twitter - oh hell I need a lot!
Right, better crack on - at least I only have one more classic novel to read!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)