13. Do more freelancing/89. Have my own side business

I’ve just realised these are the same! However, it seemed to be worth writing it down twice as I've achieved it and now have my own website. Thanks to that and some lovely word-of-mouth recommendations I have been able to get some private PR clients! It’s fabulous to have more work and that it is varied too!

www.macmabel.com

93. Have someone trust me to look after their dog or child

Oh dear. Well, I did achieve this literally. However, when it came to the actual looking after, it all ended in tears.

What happened was that my sister asked me back in June if I could look after her son for a weekend in September. I was thrilled by this and said yes, yes, yes! He’s a lovely little boy and I hardly ever see him!

However, I emailed her about it recently and didn’t hear back and assumed it was off. She often cancels things as she’s very busy, so I signed up to do something else on the Saturday.

Then she called me and asked if I could do it. I said yes definitely to the Friday and the Sunday. She went absolutely mad, asking what was the point if I couldn’t do the Saturday. I felt terrible about leaving her in the lurch, so said that I would cancel my course. She’d hung up by then. I called back and tried to tell her that I could do it, but she said I’d already angered her and it was too late. She hung up on me again.

No one now feels very good about this, so if I tick it off my list (as technically she did trust me with her little boy!), at least some good has come of it!! I have also noticed that I put "dog or child" in that order. That should have told me something!!

72. More wild swimming (as it’s £4.30 per swim at the swimming pool!)

Much to my shame, I have only recently discovered that there is an outdoor pool in my town! It’s a beautiful 75m long lido which was originally built in the late 1800s and rebuilt in the 1940s. We’re so lucky to have it (particularly as it’s cheaper than the indoor pool), and I have been making the most of it on overcast days when it’s not packed with children and inflatables.

At first, it was a bit of a stretch to swim a whole length as the pool I’d just cancelled my membership with was a mere 15m. However, with a little practice, it’s now doable and it’s a fabulous feeling to get out of it having completed an hour’s worth of swimming.

If you’re into outdoor swimming, I can’t recommend the beautiful book “Wild Swim” highly enough. It’s packed with such wonderful pictures that you’ll want to pull on your bathing costume.

If you live in London try this inspiring, witty and informative blog:

www.swimmingroundlondon.blogspot.com/

95. Sort out home office

I’ve been working from home for a while and love all the time I’ve saved not having to drive to London every day – a round trip that could sometimes take five hours. Originally the plan was to work from the upstairs bedroom, but I’m comfortable with the dining room table as none of my internet/phone wires extend upstairs. I’ve finally found a balance between my home comforts and my work papers, each one threatening at times to drown out the other. I’ve got rid of all the work journals, books, nicknacks, presentations and paper that I don’t need and work from a simple two shelf in-tray and my laptop. I get so much more done and I have time (while my computer is thinking or I’m between jobs) to do a bit of cleaning!