I came onto this oft-neglected blog as MrPBR and I have just joined the National Trust. This was something on the original 101 in 1001 challenge, but having reached the end of that, I see that it didn't make it onto my "36 before 36" list!
We're thrilled that we now have a year to visit as many properties as possible to get our money's worth! We started with Basildon Park and I have earmarked Stourhead Gardens as the next one.
Please let us know which National Trust properties you would recommend!
So back to "36 in 36". I now have a very short hair cut and it has been dyed a sort of reddish-purple colour. I don't even own a hairdryer or hair straighteners and normally just tie it up and forget about it. It's a bit of a cliche, but I do feel lighter and it is a huge confidence boost to have your hair done properly, even if it did cost about £30 more than I usually pay!
I have debated with myself whether or not to add a photo. Nah!
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
A new challenge!
I don't feel that I did very well with the 101 in 1001 list, so I've set myself a new challenge called "36 before 36" with 36 much more realistic and banal goals that I must achieve before I turn 36 in June!
Sunday, 4 December 2011
November - time's up!
I actually ran out of time on the 20th November - blimey that 1001 days went by fast! Stupidly, I got pregnant (am due any minute now) so that meant there were lots of things on my 101 list that I didn't manage to do.
So here they are - they're probably the more dangerous ones:
- Learn to ride a motorbike
-Go scuba diving with DH
-Take OH horse riding
-*Learn more patience*
(think I can safely say that I haven't done this one - I lost my temper the other day when a speeding motorist drove at 80mph past my house and knocked my shopping bag out of my hand)
-Stop making jokes
- Read all of the BBC's greatest 100 books. Missed 27 of these!
-Take a hot air balloon flight
-And a sky dive
-Go to South America. Bah.
- Volunteer in Africa. No :(
*-Try harder with novel/short story.*
Haven't touched this - will try again in 2012.
*-Hire a classic convertible for a sunset drive.*
I actually did HIRE the car but haven't been able to find a date to drive it. I look forward to turning up to collect the keys with a baby seat in my other hand.
*-Get fit again*
I have been doing yoga but have pledged with MrPBR to do a 10k next year.
-Have saved £20,000. Only £17,000 short on this one!!
-Do some sort of watersport. No - insurance wouldn't allow!
*- Resurrect my conversation ability in three different languages.*
Can still just about do this in French, Spanish, Cantonese and Japanese. Have been learning German recently - more to be done when I start breast feeding!
*-A charity walk or run - not the Race for Life*
....I did the Race for Life and intended to do the Santa Jog in town, but MrPBR wouldn't let me!
*-Investigate green grants for electricity.*
Government has got rid of a lot of these. I have however found ways to reduce our electricity bill.
*-Use rainwater* - I have done this for the plants.
-*Create a PBR (an award of some sort)*.
Am thinking quite seriously about giving some sort of award to the best charity shop that I visited in 2011 in order to complete my challenge here:
www.charity365.blogspot.com
-*Be an extra in a series or film*
Far too fat at the moment! Hopefully in 2012!
-*Become a finalist in the World Nettle Eating Championships*
The event clashed with something else this year. (Fortunately?)
-*Go to a festival abroad*.
Next year! Isle of Wight? hahahaha!
*-Buy new sofa.*
We are hoping to move house in 2012 so might wait until then!
*Sell one of DH's paintings and get him commissioning drawings.*
Poor MrPBR has been snowed under at work so I've left him alone! I wish I had his artistic talent though - I would definitely make the most of it!
*-Try surfing*.
I was too big by the time the summer came around. Will see if I can take a course in the summer.
-*Stay in a tepee at a festival*.
A mere £900 at Glastonbury - I couldn't justify this so just visited one for a cup of tea while we were there!
*-Sort out memorial bench for relatives*.
I made some progress with this, but the spot I had earmarked required consent from the parish council. They agreed, but then I couldn't get hold of the bench and plaque company by which time my family started to disagree on where the bench should be placed. My idea was to put it by the sea but they thought it might disintegrate. We gave up in the end.
*-Go to a drive in movie*.
I've NEVER seen one advertised. I asked my American friend and she said that in the states these died out because it was so uncomfortable and the sound was appalling. Will keep an eye out though!
*Walking holiday/weekend*
Never got around to this.
*Cycle from one end of the Kennet and Avon Canal to another*
Next year!
*Punting*
Next summer!
*Try real tennis*
Forgot about this one! Not sure where I can do this?
*See the Northern Lights*
Went to Norway but didn't go far enough north!
*SPonsor a little girl in India*
I have given a lot of money to charity this year. Will see if I can do this before Christmas.
*INvite people round for tea*
When we moved to this house, MrPBR's brother told us that our house was "****" so I have been far too embarrassed to invite people round. I did invite my friend who is not rude for tea and scones though.
*Pier-to-pier swim for charity*
Never got around to this but hope to do some sort of swimming challenge in 2012.
*Do an Open University qualification*
No time or money! Will look into this more thoroughly in 2012.
*Do a mini triathlon*
Never saw any advertised but ANOTHER for 2012!
*Go on a cycling holiday*
Sold my bike -eeeeek!
*Try a raw food diet*
Will try this again in 2012 to help me lose all the weight I've put in.
*Become a member of the National Trust*
Money!!
*Look into franchise opportunities*
I did buy "Franchise" magazine and had a good look through before wondering if I should actually start my own business. I've given up my job so perhaps will have more time to work out what my passion is and what I should do business wise. I will also have a more realistic view of what time is available once you have a baby....
So there we are. This challenge has been great for making me do things but I think another is required!
This week I shall unveil the items from the list that I will carry out before June 2012 when I am 36 aka the "36 before 36" challenge!
Thanks for reading and best of luck in your challenges. A special shout out for Dannie who has achieved lots on her list and has proved to be very inspirational!
So here they are - they're probably the more dangerous ones:
- Learn to ride a motorbike
-Go scuba diving with DH
-Take OH horse riding
-*Learn more patience*
(think I can safely say that I haven't done this one - I lost my temper the other day when a speeding motorist drove at 80mph past my house and knocked my shopping bag out of my hand)
-Stop making jokes
- Read all of the BBC's greatest 100 books. Missed 27 of these!
-Take a hot air balloon flight
-And a sky dive
-Go to South America. Bah.
- Volunteer in Africa. No :(
*-Try harder with novel/short story.*
Haven't touched this - will try again in 2012.
*-Hire a classic convertible for a sunset drive.*
I actually did HIRE the car but haven't been able to find a date to drive it. I look forward to turning up to collect the keys with a baby seat in my other hand.
*-Get fit again*
I have been doing yoga but have pledged with MrPBR to do a 10k next year.
-Have saved £20,000. Only £17,000 short on this one!!
-Do some sort of watersport. No - insurance wouldn't allow!
*- Resurrect my conversation ability in three different languages.*
Can still just about do this in French, Spanish, Cantonese and Japanese. Have been learning German recently - more to be done when I start breast feeding!
*-A charity walk or run - not the Race for Life*
....I did the Race for Life and intended to do the Santa Jog in town, but MrPBR wouldn't let me!
*-Investigate green grants for electricity.*
Government has got rid of a lot of these. I have however found ways to reduce our electricity bill.
*-Use rainwater* - I have done this for the plants.
-*Create a PBR (an award of some sort)*.
Am thinking quite seriously about giving some sort of award to the best charity shop that I visited in 2011 in order to complete my challenge here:
www.charity365.blogspot.com
-*Be an extra in a series or film*
Far too fat at the moment! Hopefully in 2012!
-*Become a finalist in the World Nettle Eating Championships*
The event clashed with something else this year. (Fortunately?)
-*Go to a festival abroad*.
Next year! Isle of Wight? hahahaha!
*-Buy new sofa.*
We are hoping to move house in 2012 so might wait until then!
*Sell one of DH's paintings and get him commissioning drawings.*
Poor MrPBR has been snowed under at work so I've left him alone! I wish I had his artistic talent though - I would definitely make the most of it!
*-Try surfing*.
I was too big by the time the summer came around. Will see if I can take a course in the summer.
-*Stay in a tepee at a festival*.
A mere £900 at Glastonbury - I couldn't justify this so just visited one for a cup of tea while we were there!
*-Sort out memorial bench for relatives*.
I made some progress with this, but the spot I had earmarked required consent from the parish council. They agreed, but then I couldn't get hold of the bench and plaque company by which time my family started to disagree on where the bench should be placed. My idea was to put it by the sea but they thought it might disintegrate. We gave up in the end.
*-Go to a drive in movie*.
I've NEVER seen one advertised. I asked my American friend and she said that in the states these died out because it was so uncomfortable and the sound was appalling. Will keep an eye out though!
*Walking holiday/weekend*
Never got around to this.
*Cycle from one end of the Kennet and Avon Canal to another*
Next year!
*Punting*
Next summer!
*Try real tennis*
Forgot about this one! Not sure where I can do this?
*See the Northern Lights*
Went to Norway but didn't go far enough north!
*SPonsor a little girl in India*
I have given a lot of money to charity this year. Will see if I can do this before Christmas.
*INvite people round for tea*
When we moved to this house, MrPBR's brother told us that our house was "****" so I have been far too embarrassed to invite people round. I did invite my friend who is not rude for tea and scones though.
*Pier-to-pier swim for charity*
Never got around to this but hope to do some sort of swimming challenge in 2012.
*Do an Open University qualification*
No time or money! Will look into this more thoroughly in 2012.
*Do a mini triathlon*
Never saw any advertised but ANOTHER for 2012!
*Go on a cycling holiday*
Sold my bike -eeeeek!
*Try a raw food diet*
Will try this again in 2012 to help me lose all the weight I've put in.
*Become a member of the National Trust*
Money!!
*Look into franchise opportunities*
I did buy "Franchise" magazine and had a good look through before wondering if I should actually start my own business. I've given up my job so perhaps will have more time to work out what my passion is and what I should do business wise. I will also have a more realistic view of what time is available once you have a baby....
So there we are. This challenge has been great for making me do things but I think another is required!
This week I shall unveil the items from the list that I will carry out before June 2012 when I am 36 aka the "36 before 36" challenge!
Thanks for reading and best of luck in your challenges. A special shout out for Dannie who has achieved lots on her list and has proved to be very inspirational!
Friday, 2 September 2011
96. Become more adept at refurbishing furniture
Done!
I had a couple of chairs that I bought in a panic once from a junk shop as I had lots of people coming round to dinner. They don’t really match anything in my house, so I painted them in that Farrow and Ball paint, so beloved of home and interiors magazines!
I am terrible at painting - I always get bored so my strokes become a bit haphazard, but since it always makes such a mess, I like to do it in one go. Fortunately, the paint is so expensive that it's got some sort of special ingredient in it which makes it look good. You can't really tell when a fool like me has been at the DIY.
The chairs, a table and a chest of drawers that I’d painted in the same colour, went on eBay, with a massive disclaimer from me. Despite that, they all sold for a good price, with one of the buyers telling me how much she loved them when she came to collect!
I’m thinking about saving up to buy some more paint (it’s about £34 a pot – so if I don’t eat for a week, I should manage it, haha!) and will be looking around the house for more things to paint. MrM said no when I offered to paint all of the floors after an inspirational week in Norway!
www.doorsixteen.com/2009/01/26/white-painted-floor-back-room/
I had a couple of chairs that I bought in a panic once from a junk shop as I had lots of people coming round to dinner. They don’t really match anything in my house, so I painted them in that Farrow and Ball paint, so beloved of home and interiors magazines!
I am terrible at painting - I always get bored so my strokes become a bit haphazard, but since it always makes such a mess, I like to do it in one go. Fortunately, the paint is so expensive that it's got some sort of special ingredient in it which makes it look good. You can't really tell when a fool like me has been at the DIY.
The chairs, a table and a chest of drawers that I’d painted in the same colour, went on eBay, with a massive disclaimer from me. Despite that, they all sold for a good price, with one of the buyers telling me how much she loved them when she came to collect!
I’m thinking about saving up to buy some more paint (it’s about £34 a pot – so if I don’t eat for a week, I should manage it, haha!) and will be looking around the house for more things to paint. MrM said no when I offered to paint all of the floors after an inspirational week in Norway!
www.doorsixteen.com/2009/01/26/white-painted-floor-back-room/
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
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
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!!
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!!
Sunday, 14 August 2011
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/
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