Monday 22 March 2010

12. Step up volunteering


After a lot of faffing, I am back with the local Alzheimer's Society branch. I used to volunteer as a befriender and spent a couple of hours a week visiting and talking to the most incredible woman who sadly suffered with dementia. The pleasure was all mine. She was such an inpiration; she was quite a well-known author, she painted, she could speak at least four languages and she was a total joy to be around - witty, intelligent and vivacious. Sadly, I moved away and lost touch. Four years later, by chance, we moved back to the area with Mr PBR's job and I decided that I would see if I could go and see her again. Sadly, what with procrastinating and trying to find the time between my full time job and my second part time job, I never got round to it and was devasted to read in the paper that she had died. So after going to her funeral, I came home and got back in touch with the local branch and said I would help out. They (unlike me!) wasted no time at all and I am now fully back in the swing, this time working on the admin side of things which suits me timewise.

I am really enjoying it and I feel it is a much better use of my evenings than watching TV or heading to the pub! I probably would have continued to procrastinate if I hadn't put it on my list. Vive la 101 in 1001 project!

Sunday 7 March 2010

54. Go to the top of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth


After a bit of a long break between 101 in 1001 items, I can finally tick off another! We went to Portsmouth to see some friends yesterday, so I persuaded Mr PBR to come with me to the top of the Spinnaker Tower! I was on a course in Portsmouth about 7 years ago for 6 months when the tower was being constructed and it always struck me as a bit of a waste of time and effort. However, having seeing the finished item, I have to admit that it looks fabulous and is a great signature building for the city. Thanks, as ever, to MSE Martin Lewis for his wonderful site, I did a bit of a search with the forum and also google and managed to get a 2-for-1 voucher so Mr PBR and I went to the top for just £7.25. Like the CN Tower in Toronto, there's a brilliant view and a glass floor so you can see the ground 100m down below your feet. Unlike the CN Tower, it doesn't revolve and the restaurant is at the bottom rather than the top!