I Think I May Have Alzheimer’s..........

I went to Tescos today for the last minute bits for our NYC trip. Mr M wanted a miniature shower gel. I came back with two mini deodorants. It took me a while to realise why he looked so perplexed, when I gave them to him. Oh well, at least he will smell sweet on our trip!

Today I Grew Old

There comes a time in any girl's life, when she suddenly realises she's growing old and today was that moment. Recent temperatures in NYC of -7 degrees C to -11 degrees C, have called for desperate measures....Yes folks, I've had to finally buy my first pair of thermals, in preparation for my trip to New York! Husband didn't get off lightly either, he got his own pair. Thankfully they are not matching his and hers, that would be too freaky. In fact, I'm sure the image of me and Mr M in our thermals, is enough to freak most of my readers out, so apologies, but hey at least we will be warm!

New York, New York

Well, I've only gone and done it! The New York trip is well and truly booked. The hotel accommodation and flights have been booked for a while, but we have now booked the boring stuff of travel insurance, airport parking and sorted the transfers to and from JFK. I'm excited! In fact, I'm more than excited - I'm super, super excited!

Going to Times Square on New Years Eve is going to be a nightmare though. Viewing places start filling up from mid afternoon and by 10:30pm last year, everywhere was full. A million people are expected to attend this year, so it's going to be a tight squeeze there! Wonderful rules and regulations state no public toilets or food vendors are available within Times Square. Back packs and any bags are also not allowed, which is going to be fun - guess we will have to eat before we queue!

I've decided not to do the Trapeze School. I injured my back about ten years ago and damaged my disc. It repaired itself over time, but unfortunately I managed to injury it again this Summer and I don't want to risk doing any further damage to it, before it's had time to repair itself again. I'm not too bothered though, as we are only there for four days and we are already packing in quite alot.

I can't wait to do this, but most of all, I can't wait for next year and a whole host of new tasks to complete!

Christmas Hats And My Lost Mojo

Well both of my Christmas parties have come and gone, the latter being only Friday, when I decided to treat my co-workers to glow stick bracelets and comedy hats which included, Smurf, Sailor and Pirate! Didn't really feel in the mood for this one at all - I kind of lost my mojo as entertainment consultant that night, so I let the party carry on around me and I was more than happy when I got home at midnight.

Now that Christmas is nearly upon us, it gives me chance to reflect on what's happened this year, blog wise.

I'm more than happy with my profile at Radio Nottingham at the moment, so the fact that it's increased this year was pretty great.

Task wise, well I could have achieved more, it has to be said. I lost my mojo on this one, a little bit in the year, but I have promised myself that 2009 will be the year to complete a dazzling array of tasks (watch this space!)

Organisational skills - well it has to be said that most of my tasks this year have been organised last minute and I've gone into them at a hundred miles an hour, I've promised myself that next year I will a) put more thought into the whole task process and b) not get so stressed in doing them!

And finally, getting to meet some wonderful people this year, has been a definite bonus. I met Caroline, Trousers and B at Caroline's book signing and hopefully I will be meeting Heather - my 40 things American counterpart in New York over the New Year.

So I'd like to wish all my readers a very Happy Christmas and I promise I will comment more on your blogs next year!

Charity Begins At Home

A little while ago, when I first started this blog and Radio Nottingham wanted me to make my first appearance live on air, they asked me if I could choose one task out of my list, what would it be. I opted for the work in Africa task, fresh from watching Mission Africa, I naively thought volunteer work would be just that, you volunteer to work and someone happily accepts. Unbeknown to me, they had a couple of surprise guests on the show, one of which firmly put me in my place. Unless I had a 'skill' to take across to such a country, I wouldn't be much use and I would have to apply for the volunteer work, as I would for any normal job, which meant there was quite a risk in not getting the work that I had applied for. When I mentioned that I would happily take two weeks leave from work to volunteer, they told me of the people that had been working out there six months, to a couple of years and even those that had given up their lives to work out there.

Since then, I came to the conclusion, that in order to be of any help to anyone in Africa, I would have to take at least six to eight weeks to volunteer and unfortunately that would mean going either on a career break or having to quit my job, neither of which I can afford to do at the moment, which brings me to our friend A. A doesn't like Christmas and has just broken up with his partner, so thought he would put himself to some use and volunteer to work in a homeless shelter. So he made enquiries, only to find he needs a police search done, before he can work there. The searches can usually take anything from two to eight weeks, so chances are he won't get it back in time. So he offered to work away from the homeless people and clean the offices for them, bearing in mind he will volunteer to do this and won't get paid, but he was told he still needs a police search done to do this.

One of my friends, also told me about the time, she was at a previous employer and they decided one year, not to send out any Christmas cards, but instead donate the money to a nearby Children's home to help them have a better Christmas. Three hundred pounds was collected, but no Children's home would take the money, due to red tape. In the end, the money went to a Wish Upon A Star, a worthy charity indeed, but not the one, it was intended to be.

Which makes me think, after hearing all these things, you can understand where the phrase, Charity begins at home, comes from. Is it better to look after the ones, nearest and dearest to you, then to help those that aren't?

One day, I will work in Africa and give them any help that I can. 'A' will no doubt find a way round the red tape and charities will benefit from the fact that others will not take a gesture of goodwill.

It's a funny old world that we live in, isn't it?

Radio Nottingham And The Three Things That Went Wrong This Morning

Remember how I blogged about my superstitions over the number three, a little while back? Well this morning was a classic example of this. I had to be at the BBC studios for 7:30am ish, so I had to move faster than I usually do in a morning. Considering I usually move at a snails pace, then it wasn't too hard. So, I tripped up coming out of the shower, said a few choice words, went to get something from the bathroom cabinet, it promptly fell off the wall. Got ready, went to the car, threw some stuff in the boot and then banged my head on the boot. Not a great start to a Monday morning at all.

Thankfully the radio went okay. I had to sift through all this morning's newspapers and find three stories that I could talk about on air. I chose the X Factor one, with Diana going out etc, a deodorant that will slow down the growth of women's under arm hairs and the Irish pork story. I went into a few details about the stories, which I think made them more interesting and I liked the diversity of the ones that I chose. The presenter and producer seemed pleased with my contribution, so a happy bunch all round really!

Not sure when I will be on again, will probably be after I've come back from New York and they have mentioned possibly getting involved in some different programmes on the Radio, so I will keep you posted on that!

The One Where I Deleted A Blog Post

You may have noticed I got rid of the dancing elves post. For some strange reason since I'd put the blog post on, Blogger wouldn't allow me to gain access of my main blog unless I created a new post. So I decided to delete the post, thinking that was the problem. It wasn't! I'm still having problems with it, in fact I can never seem to get my blog posts right. The paragraphs never work and always join up together. If I find the time, I really must get round to emailing them to sort it out.....

On the task front I've only managed to complete two out of the six, I set myself for November. I still need to direct a video, I only managed around 6,000 words this month and I didn't get round to sending a proposal to a TV company or listening to the breakfast show. Not very good, I know, but I blame Christmas - I've been too busy getting everything organised. On the positive side, I did manage to knock another three books off the BBC Top 100 list, so I did manage to do something!

This month - I've set myself a target of completing 10,000 words, reading 4 x books for the BBC top 100 reads and sending a proposal to a magazine for a possible column.

And right now, I'm watching my boys on ITV, thinking where on earth did those people get the tickets from for that show? I could have been on it, and fulfilling my snogging task!

PS I'm on the Radio again tomorrow doing the paper review. If you listen to Radio Nottingham from approx. 8:15am onwards, I will be on the Breakfast show.

I'm scared

As part of my job, I occasionally have to travel. If I'm honest I don't really like to do this, I'd rather spend my days in the office, which in fairness is a chore in itself to get there in rush hour traffic. But I like to show willing and when the opportunity came, where branch visits had to be made, I pushed myself to book them in this week.

I wish I could adapt the same philosophy for my task list! I've sort of semi known for a couple of weeks, that we will be going to New York at New Year now, which is great, I'm really excited, but there is one task that I have lined up to do there, that I'm a little nervous of - the trapeze. The company in New York are now taking bookings for the time that I'm available, yet something has stopped me from booking it so far. I'm thinking of the heights, I'm thinking I hope I don't pull my back out. I'm way nervous of dropping onto the net (you have to do this - I've read the write up on their web site!)

Like the visits, I know I will have to book this at some point, but for now I'm hesitating.......

See A Shakespearean Play At The RSC In Stratford

It has been nearly twenty four hours since I completed this task, yet the mesmerizing performance I witnessed still lies fresh in my mind.

It was a cold winter's day that brought us on a return trip to Stratford Upon Avon. We visited two years previously, then just having time to do the usual tourist stops. Since the visit, I promised myself that I would come back some day, to see Shakespeare performed at the RSC and this weekend I managed to do it.

For some reason, I never covered Shakespeare at school, or if we did, we must have covered it so fleetingly that I don't remember. It wasn't until I did English A level at night class, some years later, that I came into contact with Hamlet and instantly fell in love with the plays.

The hotel, that we stayed at was within walking distance of the Courtyard Theatre, so after a little shopping and a bite to eat, we arrived at the theatre to watch Romeo and Juliet.

The main theatre in Stratford is undergoing major renovation and the Courtyard theatre, which is just down the road from this, looked very much like a work in progress as well. However, once inside, the theatre was reminiscent of Shakespearean times, with the semi circle, tiered effect seating encapsulating the stage.

Our seats were at the front of the theatre, next to the stage and from there we watched the performance, as a scene reminiscent of 1920's gangster New York unfolded before us.

Everyone I guess, knows the story of the two star crossed lovers and their ill fated deaths, but what I didn't count on was the passion and emotion you felt from the actors, being so close to the stage. It felt a little dangerous at times, as flick knifes and glasses came exceedingly close to our seats, but the professionalism of the actors in their perfect timing, meant we were never in any danger.

The whole play lasted just over three hours. As well as the rival families being depicted as gangsters, we saw the infamous balcony scene being played with Juliet on a wrought iron bed and a very passionate Romeo, brimming with emotion in almost every scene. The actress who played Juliet was in her first season with the RSC and certainly with the performance she gave, I doubt it would be her last.

The lighting and emotive acting throughout the play was so amazing, it left me breathless and wanting more. The RSC has definitely recruited one more fan on the back of this performance and as I walked out of the theatre, I was already planning to return!

One of my favourite tasks so far that I've completed!

The One That Deserves A Whole Blog Post To Itself

I could tell you how gigantic this novel was to read. Or how my hand ached just holding the book, to complete all 1444 pages. I could say I actually enjoyed reading this book and to finish it, felt like the equivalent of climbing Ben Nevis. I could tell you all of these things, but I doubt whether you would fully appreciate this book, until you actually read it yourself.

Forget Jane Austen, Tolstoy gives us an interpretation of society that far outweighs anything Austen can muster. His wonderful observations of aristocratic life leave you amused and entertained and his commentary on life in the trenches, portray the harrowing life soldiers endured.

It was by no means easy reading this book. The sheer volume of pages, I'm sure has put many people off trying and at two thirds through, the plot began to lose me. But it was the character of Pierre that drove me on, to find out if he survived and weathered society and then the conflict of war, of which thankfully he did.

If I could recommend one book to read, then this will be the one. It's by no means the best book I've read, but it would certainly rate in my top ten. Read this book, if only to drop into conversation that every book thereafter was a realtively simple read and believe me, I'm on The Shell Seekers now and it's like a walk in the woods!

Girls On Film

I know it's been a while since I last posted. I've been busy finishing my Christmas shopping (hurrah), finishing off a very long novel, that will be having a whole blog post totally dedicated to it shortly and starring in my company's next promotion advertisement. Yes, there I was, quite happily sat at my desk, when a random bloke came and asked if he could take my photo. Fool, that I am, I agreed and next minute a whole film crew descended on me and three of my colleagues were drafted in to assist. I would love to post the photo, none the less because it took about ten takes just to get my co-worker to point at the screen properly, but I fear that my company would be non too happy before they have used the image themselves. So as soon as it's released, then I will allow you the pleasure of laughter by posting it!

Things have been happening on my list, without me completing anything, if that makes sense. The New York trip (and yes it does appear that we are going to New York at this moment in time) is coming together, we just have to finalise our itinerary. My trip to the RSC is this weekend. My sock poppets are now all ready to star in their own You Tube video - I just have to direct it and I'm slowly but surely chipping away at the BBC Top 100 reads.

Now that Christmas is all but sorted, I'm going to make a concerted effort to do more stuff on my list and get a few more ticks this year, so watch this space!

Tuesday's Blues

So I've been busy buying Christmas presents, as most people are this time of year, crossing every purchase off a never ending list. I hate this period of running around like a headless chicken, thinking there will never be enough time to do everything before the big day, then of course there always is, yet I still seem to do the same every year.

I feel like I'm trying to juggle at the moment, with sorting everything out for Christmas and trying to complete another couple of tasks at least this year. I'm desperately trying to finish War and Peace, but the only time I seem to have spare is just before I go to bed and then I end up falling asleep after about 20 pages! I did finally finish off my props for my forthcoming You Tube extravaganza, so now all I have to do is film it. I'm going to have a go at doing this, this weekend coming, but I fear it may be harder than I first thought and I'm not the most patient person in the world, so I would imagine that will be fun!

The novel is coming along slow but sure. I'm still on course to complete most of it before the end of the year, which I'm really pleased about it and a trip to the RSC is booked for the end of the month, so cross fingers I should have another two tasks to tick off my list - only time will tell!

PS Next scheduled Radio appearance is on December 8th!

I Will Survive

Well, you will be pleased to know that the radio interview went well and even though I bumbled a little, it still sounded quite good, even if I do say so myself, on the playback! Husband has recorded it for me, so as soon as we can figure out how to put it onto the blog, then we will load it up. Andy Whittaker, the Radio Nottingham radio presenter, is doing 50 things before he is 50, but only has 12 on his list so far, so he's asking listeners to give him ideas on what should go on his list. I've recommended driving a Ferrari, as he looked a little worried when I mentioned that I'd climbed Ben Nevis. I wish him luck anyway and it will be interesting to see the list progress!

The day after that, went in a bit of a blur. We had a big Children In Need campaign running through the day, which included someone getting their head shaved, men dressing in women's clothing(!?) and a big raffle, where I won lot number 140:-

Well with '40' in the number, it had to be mine, didn't it!

I also had my business cards come through from Moo.com. I thought they may be quite handy to have, as whenever anyone asks about my blog, I can at least give them some thing that will point them to my site

I've also discovered this website, which made me laugh until I cried yesterday http://worryfriends.com/ - my particular favourites are the Bernie Clifton tribute act and the tampons one!

So, into the weekend now and my goals for this weekend are to read more of War and Peace (I'm on page 920!), write some more of my novel and start to put together the You Tube video. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, hope you have fun!

Radio!

Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the Radio, I will be on the morning show for BBC Radio Nottingham tomorrow around 8am ish! I will be chatting to Andy Whittaker about why I started to write the blog and also what tasks I've got coming up. Hope I don't sound like I smoke sixty fags a day, as I've had a bad cold all week!

Mostly Miserable

The weather in Nottingham has been downright dreary the past couple of weeks. It's drizzled, had a few showers, been foggy and just added to the whole go to work and it's dark, drive home in the dark scenario.

Nottingham never ceases to amaze me as a city. On one hand it's this fabulous cosmopolitan city, full of shops, history and culture. It has this wonderful, working class mentality that is displayed throughout many of the films that portray this city as a location.

This week, the new Brian Clough statue was unveiled just off the Market Square in Nottingham, reminding us what a rich footballing history we have here. Not that I could forget of course, but the European cup winning teams, were there to remind us, just in case.

On the other hand, Nottingham has a darker ulter ego. Hubbie was driving home the other night, only to find that the police had blocked off one end of our estate. We later found out, it was due to yet another shooting, to add to the many already publicised in the city.

There is good and bad, where ever you live, but whatever happens in this city that I live in, it still inspires me on a daily basis and will continue to do so, whilst ever I will write. I hope when people read what I write, they will identify with this wonderful city and not with the press interpretation of what it's like to really live here.

I guess this is my cue to start writing my novel again.....

Work

I've had about three jobs at work, that I keep putting off from doing. You know how it is, they get put to the bottom of the pile, you pretend that they will get done by themselves, etc, etc. So this week, I've tried to take the bull by the horns and get them completed. I haven't succeeded, but through no fault of my own.

There's usually a reason behind why I procrastinate, it's mainly because I don't like the job, or I don't know how to do it. I sometimes even put off a job, if I like it, to almost savour the moment when I complete it. Sad, I know!

So it may come as no surprise, if I tell you that I've hardly touched my book in the last two weeks. I've come to a pivotal point in the storyline, which equates to the last third of the book and if I'm honest, I'm a little wary of letting go and completing it. Writing your first book, is always going to be a very special moment and is something that I want to last. I will have to let go at some point of course, but for now, I'm quite happy to sit and wait, not too long though as I have a target of ten thousand words to complete this month as part of my target!

It's a very important date today....

Not only is it my BIRTHDAY!

It's now three years until my 40th birthday.

Which means three years for me to do thirty tasks.

Three years for me to complete my goal of doing forty things before I'm forty.

Three years until I have a helluva party!

I kinda have a thing for the number three, so I've a feeling the next three years are going to be kinda special.

I was born on the third.

I am one of three siblings

I have three cousins

I married my husband three years and three days after first meeting him

So you see, this whole day is special in it's own kinda way.

I've also had this idea festering for a little while in my brain.

I usually like ideas to fester and if they are worth pursuing, then the ideas tend to grow into something more meaningful.

So I'm writing to a few TV companies to see if they are interested in making a documentary on my list.

I have two in mind that have both done documentaries that I've enjoyed and are similar to what I want to do.

So, not sure if this will turn into anything, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say. I'll let you know if I get any response!

Remember, remember

Well October came and went so fast, if you blinked you would have missed it!

October's goals that I set for myself were nearly all completed! I hit 50,000 words on my novel, read Bleak House, tried to re book my balloon ride, but found I couldn't as the season had now ended, so that one's been diarised for Jan 09. The two New York goals, I've left for now, as I still don't know where I will be for New Year.

November's goals are:-

• write 10,000 words on my novel
• read War and Peace
• See a play at the RSC in Stratford
• Direct a video to go onto You Tube
• Send a proposal to a TV company (more about that one later!)
• Listen to the breakfast show on Radio Nottingham
• Buy the Artists & Writers Yearbook

Quite a varied amount of things to undertake and I'm really looking forward to completing two tasks this month. I will or course, keep you informed of all the fun!

I will be a very happy bunny.....

if this guy becomes the next Doctor Who - Mr Sean Pertwee (and yes his Dad was Doctor number 3)

Gutted

That my joint favourite Dr Who is leaving.

Life in the Tardis will never be the same again and neither will my idea for a Dr Who script.

Oh well, back to the drawing board!

I 'Heart' Learning

I've learnt a new trick at work. It's called scanning. Yes, I know it's been around for a while, but I hadn't got a clue how to operate the machines at work - it's a bit too high tech for me! So my scanning pile has grew and grew and has possibly sat in my in tray for around a year ish. So I thought it was about time I learnt how to do it. I had a little bit of coaching and then I was let loose on my own without a chaperone, in charge of heavy machinery. Oh dear, it could have been a disaster, but thankfully I survived! When I learn a new task, I have to learn everything, so I can now scan, scan duplex documents and send the file back to my e-mail address as one document. Impressed? I certainly was!

So I thought I'd be ultra brave and try out something else new - the on-line ordering system for the library, for my BBC Top 100 Read List. I love it! I can order books off my list, see where they are located in Nottinghamshire and reserve them at any chosen library. The library will then ring me, when they are available. I've currently got four books on order, but I'm tempted to bung another four on, just in case it takes a while for them to come through (nothing to do with the fact that I love playing on the system of course!)

So I'm off for a lie down now, all this new learning is exhausting.

PS I've now finished Bleak House and have begun War and Peace - I love it!

An Update

They're dropping like flies at the moment at work, so I'm crossing everything that I don't catch the various stomach upsets/man flu that's going around. It does mean that there is a little less of an atmosphere there at the moment and hopefully this is the sign that things will settle down.

My list, as always, has been my saviour and it's what I turn to, when things are a little rough. I've nearly finished Bleak House, which is one of the BBC Top 100 reads - all 800 pages of it, which unfortunately is soon to be replaced by War and Peace - all 1444 pages! My novel, I keep chipping away at and I'm nearly at my target of 50,000 words for this month. I haven't bothered doing anything re New York, for obvious reasons. We still don't know if we will be able to go or not and hopefully should hear by the end of this month.

I should be completing two more tasks in November - the You Tube one and seeing a play at the RSC. I am trying to be a little more organised in sorting out when I do stuff. Although I may get the opportunity to complete tasks that are not planned, I'm finding it helps, if I at least have some idea when I'm likely to complete it - it also helps to know these things when I'm planning the radio appearances.

So, I'm off to try and write some more of my novel and finish off the night by reading Bleak House - can't wait to complete this task now so I can read some other books!

It's All Fun And Games.....

Work is not good at the moment. There seems to be an atmosphere within our team. No big arguments are happening, but instead there are loads of niggling little snipes at one another. I don't like it. We used to be a real close knit team and got on well with one another, but we've had a couple of incidents that someone has decided to blow out of all proportion and therefore create something, that wasn't there before. I'm stressed. Not just because of this, but the whole New York/Japan scenerio and I don't feel right some how.

I haven't written for nearly a week, so I'm off to eat my chinese takeaway and do some writing of my novel, to try and cheer myself up. Hopefully things will get a little less stressful soon!

Have a great weekend!

What Country Will You Be In This New Year?

There I was happily sat at work minding my own business, when my hubbie rang and delivered a very crashing blow.

We have booked to go to New York for New Year. I've booked the hotel, Rick has booked the flights and I've even started to thinking about booking trips etc. This trip will cover three tasks in one (state of America, trapeze and Times square for New Year). We both decided that we wouldn't go away in Summer, so we forfeited a holiday then for this trip. I've been looking forward to it for months and was hoping to catch up with an old friend whilst we were there.

The project hubbie is working on at the moment was due to go live last weekend. It didn't. Instead they want to put the date back to the end of December. They've requested my husband goes out at that time to cover the live date. It's in Japan. Bang goes our trip to New York. However we have told them, that in order to compensate I want to travel with him for a week, so at least I get the chance to see my hubbie for New Years Eve (hopefully!).

My stomach has been churning all day. I don't know whether I'm coming or going. Then of course, there is the possibility that the project could be put back and we could end up still going to New York or end up doing neither. Oh god, why is life so difficult at times?

I'll keep you posted!

One Monday Evening...

I was driving home from work, on a ordinary Monday evening. Tired, as I always seem to be on a Monday, still feeling the after effects of a busy weekend, when low and behold, what should pass me in the sky, but a Virgin hot air balloon! The same hot air balloon that was scheduled to take me on my eleventh task and the same one that cancelled due to 'high winds'. Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds! Anyway, I decided that it was at least a sign for me to get on and rebook it. So I tried and after failing miserably on the Internet, I rung them today, to find that I can not book it until January for a March flight. I'm a little scared of doing this task, to be quite honest with you. I like to feel safe when I'm doing these things and I think completing this will be just a bit on the nervy side. So I was a little disappointed that I would have to wait until next year to do it.

I was scheduled to record my flight for Radio Nottingham, so I gave them a quick ring, just to update them on what was happening. They still want me to appear on the radio in December to do the paper review and they will also discuss the two tasks that I will complete in November. The paper review will consist of me arriving at the studio at 7:30 - reading through all the days papers and finding three articles that I wish to discuss. Then at 8:25, I will be live on air, talking about my blog and the articles that I've chosen.

So, from disappointment to giddiness in less that six hours - not bad for a day's work!

October's Hit List

Something very strange is happening to me at the moment. All the jobs that I've been putting off for ever and a day, I'm suddenly completing. My wedding dress is now dry cleaned and boxed, I've applied for my passport to be changed in my new name and all my filing system is updated at work.

So I'm applying the same principles to my 40 things list. Each month I'm going to set myself a few targets to complete and hopefully I will be able to chisel away at my outstanding tasks.

October's Hit List is as follows:-

Complete Bleak House (BBC Top 100 read)

Re-book balloon ride for next year

Update Radio Nottingham

Book New York Trapeze School

Organise New York Itinerary

Hit 50,000 words on my novel

I figured if I broke my list down into bite sized pieces, that it won't seem so huge a task to complete. I'll let you know how I do......

I Have A Question....

Is it too presumptuous to have already chosen your book launch outfit from Vivien Westwood when:-

a) You haven't finished the book
b) You haven't got an agent
c) You haven't got a publishing deal

just a thought, that was all......

Something That Keeps Me Going....

When I can't think of anything to blog about or if I want a break from writing my novel, then I have to watch this clip. Pure genius!

Lucky

My co-worker, Sarah, got her boobs out early this year. Not just randomly you understand, for 'Charity'. She was asked to take part in a race for life promotion, where you would be topless but body painted to make it look like you were wearing a top. She asked me if I would take part. I declined for obvious reasons, which hubbie was happy about. Until he found out that Nell McAndrew was taking part and then he seemed all too eager for me to take part. I still declined though, horrible wife that I am.

Sarah ended up doing various press stuff, one of which was an interview for Marie Claire magazine. This was done in two parts. An interview at the Cancer Research offices in London, followed by a photo shoot at her house. She was ecstatic, as anyone would be and we all eagerly awaiting the article going to print and waited and waited. Six months later she received an e-mail to say that the article wouldn't be used, as too much time had elapsed and it wasn't topical any more. Sarah has put a brave face on things but on a positive note, she's been asked to feature in Essential magazine for January. Sarah doesn't court publicity, she just wants to promote fighting for cancer where ever possible, so anything that happens as a result of her fund raising is a bonus.

In a small, insignificant way, I can relate this to my writing. When I started my blog, I did it for me and the fact that I pop up on the local radio every now and again, is a definite bonus. I have to be prepared for the fact that by finishing my novel, it may not open the doors I want it to, but if I can just get it to open one door, then that will make me a very happy bunny.

Half Way There

Can I hear a drum roll please? I've reached 40,000 words on my novel! Which means I'm half way there. Even though I probably won't get this finished for Christmas, which was my original goal, I still feel chuffed!

I remember how for such a long time, I had this book going round in my head, but I just didn't have the confidence to know where to start or even if I had the stamina to see it through. Now 40,000 words on, I have something that I love to do and I'm halfway to completing one of my main goals.

So bring it on - here's to the next 40,000 words. I'm on a roll now, so hopefully it won't be too long before I'm celebrating finishing the first draft.

It Was Not Meant To Be......

I phoned the balloon flight hotline before I left work, twice. Both times it mentioned that the flight for this morning was cancelled, but no mention of this afternoon's flight. I left work, got changed and got everything together that I needed to take. I rang the flight line again, just to see if they would mention a time that we had to get there for. The announcement said that all flights had now been cancelled in the afternoon, due to high winds and the possibility of rain. Now, I know I was a little nervous but.....

So it will be probably be next year now, before I complete this task, which has totally buggered up my list. The one that I've just recently done that has all my tasks under which year, I'm going to complete them in. I'm now going to have to move the balloon ride one into 2009, which now means I have over 18 tasks to do next year.

Oh well, I guess next year is going to be a busy one!

Gulp

Unless the weather changes drastically in the next couple of hours, I'm going in a hot air balloon this afternoon. I'm a little bit nervous. All my bellies are churning. I'm also a little bit excited, not knowing what to expect. Just hope I'm okay once I'm in the air. If I don't feel safe, then we could be in trouble and if hubbie flips, then I'll flip and then the whole basket full of people could flip. It could have a knock on effect you see, me being nervous.......

Fly Me To The Moon

In my giddiness of the past week, I forgot to mention that I have another task coming up. On Thursday, weather permitting, me and hubbie are going on a hot air balloon ride. Courtesy of Virgin Balloons (I hope the balloon is owned by Richard Branson and not because the pilot has never flown before!) we take off from Wollaton Park in sunny Nottingham. We are allowed to assist with getting the balloon ready and then we will take a tour of our lovely city. Slight bonus if it does happen on Thursday is that the Goose Fair is here, so hopefully we will be able to go over the site. According to the blurb, we also have a champagne toast, but are advised to park the car outside of Wollaton Park itself, due to the park closing at sunset (cue me forgetting and trying to climb over a park fence no doubt!)

Coming back on Saturday I also found out by accident that I will be doing another task this year, courtesy of the envelope marked 'RSC' that I picked up off the floor as I collected the post. Oh well at least I'm not sure which play it will be! (walks off muttering, Hamlet, Hamlet, please let it be Hamlet.....)

The Day I Got Excited About A Fridge Magnet

The Internet is a marvellous place. Not only can you gain any information you require at the touch of a button, you also get to meet a whole host of people that ordinarily your paths would not cross with.

Take this Saturday. I was excited, almost giddy in fact. I was going to meet Caroline Smailes at the signing of her new book, Black Boxes, someone I've been blog buddies with for almost a year. I even chose a suitably non freaky outfit to wear, not that I have freaky outfits in the first place you understand, but first impressions and all that.

Armed with my sheep poo bookmarks (a present for Caroline) me and hubbie set off on a road trip up to Cheshire Oaks. Then we met C and it's kinda of weird when that happens, 'cos you feel that you've known this person for ages, because of this whole blogging thing, but really you are only meeting them for the first time.

Then we went back to C's house for cake and it felt even weirder, but in a nice weird way. Her house was full of bloggers! There was everyone there, from Badger to Trousers to B and a few more besides that I didn't get chance to say hi to. C wore a 'I Heart Lesbian nurses' t-shirt and I got two new fridge magnets, which I have to admit, I got a little bit giddy about (not quite sure what would have happened if I'd got a lesbian t-shirt as well!!). I also saw Captain Jack riding a dinosaur, but I may have dreamt that, or perhaps there was a secret ingredient in the cake, that nobody told me about??!!

Anyways (oh gosh, I can feel myself going giddy all over again!) I heart blogging people, I think they are ace. Even hubbie commented as we drove away, that very much like the Flickr folk that we meet on our travels, we didn't meet one bad person and we managed to get home to catch X Factor, how good is that?

So now the fridge magnets are pride of place next to Captain Jack and my signed Black Boxes is being kept safe on my special 'signed' section of my bookcase in between 31 Jewell Street and In Search Of Adam.

I had a lovely day, thank you Caroline and the rest of the blogging folk!

The Same Routine

Roadworks/traffic lights suddenly appeared in the village where I work, without warning last week. Nothing unusually about that, I hear you say. Apart from the fact, the village is on the main A60 Loughborough road and I work on quite a busy business park. Everyone leaves at 5pm, so chaos prevailed and it was taking up to 90 minutes to travel 2 miles. I was not impressed. We had the usual memo sent round at work, saying that we would have to factor this into our working day???!!! We then got a complete U turn memo suggesting that Managers accommodate the working hours, so we weren't all trying to leave at once. I chose to work 8-4pm. I hate it. I've got nothing done in the last week and I'm no better off, although I'm missing the build up at the traffic lights, the traffic is still as busy on the ring road, as it is if I leave at 5pm.

It occurred to me today, what the problem was. I'm out of my routine and I hate it. I have to rush round to leave early in the morning (I like to wake up gradually!) and then it completely throws me for the rest of the day. I usually go on my bike for 30 mins in the morning, which gradually wakes me up and also means that I can read my book and then I'm usually set for the rest of the day. In for 9am, break at 10am, lunch at 12, break at 3pm, leave at 5pm. A creature of habit me. But I feel I need to have a routine in what ever I do in life and I need to feel comfortable with things, for me to be happy to do them. My writing is an indication of this. For years I thought of writing a book, but I didn't feel comfortable in doing it for a variety of reasons. I just needed to get a routine going with my writing and suddenly it feels like second nature to be writing almost every day. In fact if I don't get to write in what ever shape or form, then I feel a little lost, as if some thing's missing.

So tomorrow, I'm back to 9-5pm. The traffic lights have gone and I'll be back in my old routine. I least I did try to change, that must account for something!

I Name That Tune

It was my third appearance on Radio Nottingham today. So, although I was a little nervous beforehand, apparently I sounded like a true professional! They picked the two songs that I thought they would, Chesney Hawkes - The One And Only and The Backstreet Boys - As Long As You Love Me. I picked Chesney as I think this best sums up my personality - it's taken me a long time to accept who I am and I love the line 'nobody I'd rather be', as I'm happy being me. I picked The Backstreet Boys, because I associate this song with my husband, it doesn't really matter what sort of day I'm having, as long as he's there to love me at the end of it, that's all that matters. Thankfully I didn't swear live on air, but the only thing was, it ended up sounding a tad corny as they concentrated on the Backstreet Boys choice, more than poor old Chesney (apparently it was Chesney's birthday today as well - how spooky!)

I've just been to Radio Nottingham to collect another recording device to record my hot air balloon ride, which weather permitting is happening on October 2nd and then hopefully it's back in the studio to do a paper review and for listeners to hear my report.

I'm having a writing day today, so hoping to get to nearer the half way mark in my novel. Certainly that's my goal for the end of the week.

PS I love not being at work - I could quite get used to this!

And The Beat Goes On......

So, I'm scheduled to appear on Radio Nottingham on Monday 22nd September at 11:30am. They have also suggested that when I do my next recording, I can appear again, but this time I will be reviewing the papers. Nothing very exciting usually happens in my life, so I'm a little bit giddy to say the least. Where will it stop? Could be Richard and Judy next!

Be Careful What You Wish For.....

I heard back from Radio Nottingham today in reference to the recent recordings that I've done. They will be playing the recording of my Ferrari task on Monday at 11.30am and..... they have also asked me to get involved with a music piece they produce called 'Play It Again Fran' (stay with me on this one!) I have to answer the following questions and they will ring me on Monday and choose two of them to discuss on the show - how cool is that?

1/ What track most sums up your personality and why?
2/ If you're having a less than brilliant day, what record is bound to lift you up?
3/ Is there a track that makes you cry? Why?
4/ Is there a record you associate with someone you love? What is it and why?
5/ Is there a song you associate with a particular time in your life, good or bad? Eg. what was the record playing at your first dance/wedding? Can you remember a record of a holiday romance, birth of your child, celebration of divorce etc...

I've spent the best part of the evening, trying to figure out which ones I would choose and in the end I went for the ones that first came into my head. Once I've made the final decision, I will let you know my answers!

A Master Class

It was once stated on one of my appraisals that 'Janette enjoys the social aspect of working' and who ever said that (the feedback was confidential!) was absolutely spot on. I love the fact that I work with such a diverse mix of people at my current role. Take for instance today, I spent the majority of my lunch hour, talking to one of the temps, who is a recently graduated film student. There we were, in between mouthfuls of food, discussing the virtues of You Tube and how I would film one of my tasks. For a novice like me, the advice was invaluable. I know what I want to film, but haven't got a clue how to go about filming it, so Mr Film Student gave me a few pointers, that will hopefully put me on the right tracks. Now, if only I could work with someone, who knows Take That........

Another Day

Ah, another day, another dollar - don't you just love Mondays? No? Actually neither do I! I've been trying to write this report at work for the last week and finally today, I started to get somewhere with it. It feels a bit like that with my book at the moment. No, I didn't manage the 5,000 words yesterday, due to The Hills new series being available on line (I'm addicted!) and getting the urge to watch Dead Man Shoes (another Shane Meadows' classic and my fave film at the moment). I did manage to write some words, so I guess something is better than nothing!

I still worry that I'm going to fall short of the 80,000 words, that I've set myself as a target. I'm not even sure that's how many words a novel should comprise of, I just felt that looking at other writer's, that seemed to be a fair target of what they were setting themselves.

The best bit about writing the novel so far, is the fact that the main character is semi based on my own childhood. So, I've been dredging up all things that I used to get up to when I was younger, which has put a smile on my face, when I remember what I used to be like. I would love to say that I've grown up now, but I don't think that's ever going to happen! I'm still known as the girl who bought a cabbage from a bloke in a pub, whilst on a works night out and long may that never change!

PS I don't think the last bit will be going in my novel some how!

Sunday, Sunday

Ah, Sunday mornings - I love them! No work, husband is out doing the Robin Hood marathon all day (taking photographs, not running it!) and my back is currently playing up, which means none of the house stuff I had planned to do today, can get done. Mmm, whole day full of writing it is then - ah this is the life!

Apologies to my blog friend

Sorry Caroline that it's taken me nearly all week to display the fine widget (on the left hand side of my blog) for your new book. I hope this special non - 40 things post, makes up for the fact! If you haven't already tried it, then please have a go, go on you know you want to! Just press on decide and this will lead you through a set of questions that will in turn take you to another blog person, that answered roughly the same.

And for those of you who are in the Cheshire Oaks area on September 27th between 12-2pm, then please do go to Caroline's book signing of 'Black Boxes' at Borders. Her first novel, 'In Search Of Adam', was stunning, so I can't wait to grab a copy of this one.

PS I hope one day Caroline can write a blog post about attending my book signing

Normal Service

Wednesday already, where does the time go, eh? For the eagle eyed readers of my blog, you may have noticed that I've reached the 30,000 words for my novel - hurrah! (can I hear a whoop, whoop?) I'm pretty pleased with that, seeing as I've lost the way a little with that in recent times, so it's good to pull it back and know where I'm going with this, well, at least I think I do!

I'm made a decision over the recent weeks. I've decided that instead of trying to do one hundred and one things at once (slight exaggeration I know!) I'm just going to concentrate on the things that I really want to do with life i.e. write my novel, write this blog and attempt to do the tasks set. I had all sorts of plans and things I wanted to do, which has started to eat in to the time I have spare to do the novel and blog, so it's goodbye to all those other things in life and now I can get on with the important things. Hopefully that will mean a lot more blog posts, as I know I have been neglecting things recently. Thanks for bearing with me, normal service will be resumed shortly.

There It Went......

So my week off, went faster than an X Factor's contestant's career and here I am, back at work tomorrow, feeling that I haven't had any time off at all! The week off has been a bit of a strange one. I've caught up with a few friends, seen Somers Town again (still as brilliant second time round), saw the new Guy Ritchie film, got drenched a few times and yesterday my husband was in a car crash (thankfully okay, but the car is no longer). Needless to say, I'm a little down in the dumps at the moment and when I feel like that, I tend to look at my list, to try and motivate myself into feeling better.

I want something to happen with this list, but I'm not sure what exactly! Perhaps a bit like when I got the call from Radio Nottingham, who were so excited about the whole project and what I was going to do for them. I've considered approaching a TV company to do a documentary, but because of the length of time still running (approx. 3 years) I don't know if any would be interested.

I currently have three tasks ongoing/in the pipeline:- reading BBC Top 100 Reads (just got out War and Peace and Bleak house from the library, which both look like doorstops!), writing my novel and a trip to NYC. I now can add a fourth - a ride in a hot air balloon, which I purchased for my hubbie's birthday and will attempt to do in October. A fifth would be perhaps the You Tube video and a sixth will be either learn a new language or learn the tango - if I can't get in at night class for beginners French, then I'm going to sign up for a dance class. As a side line, I'm also going to research my Granddad's time spent as a Military Policeman in the RAF during the Second World War, for a possible documentary idea I have.

So there you go, see I told you I only had to look at my list to start motivating myself, now just got to get my head around being back at work tomorrow (sigh!)

The Time Factor

So, it's day two of my week off work and I don't honestly know where the time has gone. The only blog related thing I've managed to do so far, is to pop my latest recordings into Radio Nottingham. I should hear back this week if they want to use them, or they may just get me back into the studio again, I'll let you know!

With time in mind, I've been mulling over my list. I have just over three years to complete it and with ten already done and dusted, then I am on course to complete the others within the timescale. Although there are tasks that are multiple ones i.e visit all fifty states of America that are probably going to be the trickiest. But I didn't make this list to be easy! I'm planning to complete another five by the New Year, so stay tuned and I will update you as and when I tick another one off my list!

What I Did On My Bank Holiday....

• I watched the new Shane Meadows film 'Somers Town', which was brilliant
• Wrote a little bit, but not nearly as much as I should!
• Prayed for rain but unfortunately it didn't happen and the street was full of people and cars etc with a crap DJ and very loud music until midnight
• Decided to concentrate on learning one new thing at a time and will book the beginners French course before I decide to take dance lessons

I Heart Bank Holidays

This bank holiday weekend, I will be.....

• Booking a beginners French course at the local college
• Searching for a dance class to do this Autumn
• Hoping to hit 30,000 words on my novel
• Going to see the new Shane Meadows' film 'Somers Town'
• Praying for rain so next door can't have their annual BBQ

Hope your bank holiday weekend is equally as exciting!

A Clear Desk

So, it's gone a little quiet on the old 40 things, as you may have noticed, as I've not blogged much in the last couple of weeks. I still have to get in touch with Radio Nottingham to hand the recordings over I've recently done, but that's proving to be nearly as difficult as gaining an audience with the Pope. I'm still tip toeing my way through the BBC Top 100 reads, currently reading book 59, Sebastian Faulks - Birdsong - I'm hoping to finish that task by early next year if possible. New York at New Year is booked, so unless a major catastrophe happens we will be there and hopefully clearing the trapeze task off as well! I still think the You Tube task will be the next one I will finish, just got to get my finger out to finish all the props, which I may well do this bank holiday weekend. I've given up the ghost on my novel at the moment, as I just don't seem to have the time to do anything at the moment. However, I have now cleared my desk in preparation of doing some serious writing in the next couple of months and I am off for a week fairly soon, so hoping to make a serious dent in this before Christmas.

Until the next time......

Fashion

Whilst reading the latest edition of Elle, I came across an advert for London Fashion week.

So I went on the web site and found when Paul Smith's catwalk show was on.

I've never been to a fashion show before, so I hadn't got a clue how to buy tickets or anything

So I went on another part of the site to get some info

To be told that fashion week is for 'trade' only

Even though another part of the site has tickets for sale!

Confused? I am!

Follow Your Dream

Once, when I was young and fairly stupid and before I had even thought about doing this list, I decided to audition for a Halifax TV advert. I don't know if it was the fame and fortune that attracted me, or the fact that I could get a half day off work for doing it (I worked for the said company you see!) but I sent off my application and pretty soon I had an audition date and song words to learn.

It wasn't until I stood in the audition room and had opened my mouth, that I realised that I couldn't sing, I had no chance of even being in tune and I didn't even know why I had put my name forward in the first place. After the second attempt of the song, I was asked if I wanted another go, but declined, citing the fact that I didn't think that I would improve any by doing so, of which they agreed!

Which brings me round to the fact that another Saturday has just gone by, another X Factor show begins. I always like the early stages, when you see so much hope and ambition. None so much more than a contestant that had auditioned five years ago with Cheryl Cole for Pop Star the Rivals. Nick was currently singing in working men's clubs, whilst Cheryl was busy selling out arenas with Girls Aloud. Nick had tried for eight years to crack the music business and this was his last chance of trying to make it big. Unfortunately none of the other judges shared his ambition and he was rejected at the first hurdle. Quite sad when you realise that this is all this guy has wanted to do and just by an unlikely twist of fate, he won't achieve his ambition. Which made me wonder, this could happen to any one of us. What if after all these years, when I finally finish my book, no-one likes it? Then, I guess the optimist in me says at least I tried to do something that I wanted to do with my life, and not just regretted not doing it, twenty years down the line. Hopefully Nick feels the same way.

With my list, I have resided myself to the fact that I might just have another 'Halifax audition' scenario, where the opportunity arises for me to try something new, that I may not be any good at, but at least I've tried. You can't blame a girl for trying, that's a fact.

One Lazy Blogger!

Hello, has it really been a week since I last blogged? Oops! I'd love to tell you I've been busy doing one of the thirty tasks I have left on my list, but the truth is, I haven't really been doing much at all! I've barely touched my book, as work has taken most of my concentration powers at late and most of my writing has been in work reports, so writing when I get home has been the last thing I want to do. Now, I'm not going to be of those people that moans about never having time to write. If you want to write, you will find time to do it, no matter what (a bit like a 'Field of Dreams' scenario - if you build it they will come...!) but I certainly have to be in the right frame of mind to write and well, it just hasn't happened this week at all!

I have a few things on my list that I'm thinking of doing next. One of which is the You Tube film, of which I'm hoping to get at least one step nearer to completing this, at the weekend. Hopefully I can shake this strange mood I'm in and be able to tick a few more things off my list, fairly soon.

End Of The Week

So, it's been a funny old week. No sooner had I finished my latest batch of recordings for Radio Nottingham and feeling rather happy with the results, then I found out that the girl who deals with me at the BBC had gone on holiday, so the tape is still sat here in my desk drawer, waiting to be processed.

I've been tired, tired and even more tired this week, so the book writing has gone a little astray. I would love to stay I have caught up this weekend, like I usually do, but I've had a weekend full of vintage shopping, bbq's, meeting film producers (as you randomly do on a day to day basis!) and feeling tired some more.

I hear David Tennant is shining as Hamlet at the moment over at the RSC. I'm not really envious of anyone that has a ticket to go and see him. After all, it's not as if that would be another task ticked off my list, not really envious at all (sulks in the corner....)

I managed to get the outstanding prop I needed for my You Tube task, so you never know, you may just see the end result in a week or so!

Until then.....

New Year

This New Year, I won't be staying at home and watching Nick Knowles/Take That, I'll be staying here, at the Grand Hyatt, New York. The hotel is joined to the Grand Central Station and right next to the Chrysler Building. To say I'm a little excited is an under statement! I've already started to plan my wardrobe, but more importantly plan the tasks I can complete whilst I'm out there (Times Square/fly a trapeze/visit a state).

Can't wait, can't wait, CAN'T WAIT!

Can't Read, Can't Write

Whilst hubbie has been away in Japan, I've been watching tons of crap TV to fill in the lonely hours, but one gem I happened to stumble across was Channel 4's 'Can't Read, Can't Write'. This is a three part documentary, where Phil Beadle is trying to teach a class of adults how to read and write. The class age ranges from 28 to 56 and is devastating watching. Here are a group of adults that have gone through life without two standard forms of communication and have been failed by our education system. Their tales of school life differ from being labelled the class dunce, to being termed lazy and being handed word searches to complete instead of having vital time spent with them to overcome their difficulties. It made me feel sad. Sad to think that the two things that I feel most passionate about in life are something that so many people will go through life and not experience.

If I couldn't read and write, then I wouldn't have this blog, I wouldn't be able to write my novel, I wouldn't have made all my lovely blog friends and I wouldn't have been able to trudge my way through the BBC's Top 100 reads, but more importantly I wouldn't be me.

I think these people are fab to finally have the confidence to learn, it couldn't have been easy to make that initial step and agree to do this. So I feel really humble when I think I gave myself a pat on the back for ticking another task off my list, but I guess everyone has their own challenges to achieve in life - it just so happens I have 40 of them!