64. Watch the Eurovision song concert live

NOT DONE.

Well, this was last weekend and won't be around again until next year, so I did not complete this successfully. In fact, from looking around the Eurovision website, I still haven't got my head around how you actually get tickets to the event, and it's very much like Top of the Pops in that you never meet anyone who has watched it live!!

Last year, I was slightly nearer to achieving my goal as I was actually in Oslo the week before it happened, but this year, I didn't actually know it was in Dusseldorf, well, until the day itself!

So, I can't tick this off the list, but I can leave you with one of my favourite Eurovision entries of all time. Sort of...

61. Get another campervan

DONE!
Very exciting, but a bit of an expensive purchase!! MrPBR and I bought a campervan over the weekend for a summer of festival fun! I used to have a T25 which was fabulous fun, until one day it ran no longer. Methinks it was something to do with the fact that I asked MrPBR to drive it home just the one time as I was exhausted. He drove it at 75mph, despite me begging him to slow down, and funnily enough it didn't work after that. We have a slightly newer one now with a bigger engine - so if MrPBR wants to drive it at 75mph, he can!!

40. Gain confidence with public speaking. Go on a course if necessary!

DONE!

When I was new in my current job, I was asked to attend a meeting, not realising that they were going to ask me to do a presentation on what I did and what I wanted to achieve by the end of the year. Totally unprepared, I waffled, stammered, perspired and eventually gave up half way through when I looked up at my audience to see a few people tapping away on their laptops, others texting and the rest looking bored.

I am a writer and am far more comfortable in my area than I am talking to people. Part of this is chronic shyness and thinking that I have nothing of value to share with people and an awful awareness of my high pitched horrible voice.

However, I realised that this was getting me nowhere and making me look like an idiot. When it came to presentations, I was never picked and simply had to sit through my colleagues’ talks (usually written by me), simply nodding. Last night I went on a mini workshop where the idea was that speaking in public is simply a conversation with more people, and we were given the opportunity to try this out.

Many people have the same feelings, and even people who appeared to be good public speakers didn’t enjoy speaking in public and had horror stories similar to mine.

I have of course, had good public speaking experiences, but like most people, tend to remember the negative ones! I have noticed that preparation is the key – when I go through things in my head, I can visualise good outcomes and then they do tend to follow in real life!! Though I’ll never be comfortable, I’m going to stand up straight, smile, glance at my notes and just do it. What’s the worst that could happen?!

50. Keep chickens

Not done!

I have decided that this isn't for me. Which is an achievement in itself, to think that you want to do something and then investigate further and realise it's not what you want. MrPBR and I do live a kind of Good Life; we grow our own vegetables, we try not to use the cars too much, we make do and mend, we cook from scratch (or he does, anyway!). We wanted to add a chicken coop to this, but in the end decided it was more hassle than it was worth. We don't have a lot of outdoor space, we both work full time (and more!). I don't eat meat, and we don't actually use that many eggs....

78. Clear out my parents’ garages

DONE!

I have FINALLY succeeded in clearing out my mum’s garage! She rented some space from one of her friends with the intention of keeping it for about a month. However, she then moved abroad and left me to sort it which I have now done. SIX YEARS LATER!! I know I am useless (my mum’s friend asked me what took so long, and I couldn’t give her a proper answer!), but now mum’s garage is empty, so we’re not paying rent on it and I feel so much better. The downside is that my bedroom is full to bursting with boxes of mum’s stuff and I am sleeping on the landing! I obviously can’t throw/sell/recycle her belongings (which include a box containing a replica of Darth Vader’s head, holiday brochures from the 70s/textbooks from the 60s and a box of brand new CDs – the mind boggles) but it has certainly focused the mind on getting rid of my own clutter which I’ve done with a vengeance.

Which reminds me – would anyone like my mountain bike wheels?!

47. Actually make it to May Morning in Oxford!

My challenge ends in November, so the last opportunity to go to May morning within the 1001 days has been and gone, so I have reprimanded myself for failing to tick this off my list...and what was I doing instead? I was throwing knobs of course!!

http://www.dorsetknobthrowing.com/

85. Get private clients for PR (including music!)

Long time, no blog! I have been so busy with work and life in general that I haven't had time to think about the 101 in 1001 challenge but notice there's only 7 months left!! So, I must crack on with this, and number 85 is one that I've actually succeeded at, although there's always room for improvement! I work full-time (until recently in two jobs) so I've only managed to get three private clients so far through word-of-mouth and networking. That's not a bad start! I am a PR manager, specialising in public relations for small businesses, and I've been successful in raising awareness for three local businesses -all, I note, run by women. As a former journalist, writing is my passion, and while gaining PR for other people is no problem, I am painfully shy and am no good at promoting myself. Being shy, I've found it easier to get female clients on board, so perhaps I should stick to my strengths and pursue women entrepreneurs! This challenge is deeper than it seems! Hope everyone else is getting on well! I read your blogs and find them very inspirational! I have another blog over at www.charity365.blogspot.com which details my journey through a different charity each day throughout 2011, so please feel free to come and join me over there!