Goodness, how did January disappear at warp speed?
I love January, it’s my favourite month. Did I mention it was my birthday last week? No…? Well it was my birthday last week, which is why I love January. How some mathematical scientific numpty genius can decide that the 24th January 2011 is the most depressing day of the year is beyond me. Did no-one tell him/her it was my birthday? It’s the best day of the year. It’s a wonderful, happy day of the year. 24th January 2010 was also supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. Hhhmmmpp it all I have to say on the matter. What does a mathematical scientific numpty genius know about the price of pork I say!
I also love January because the days are starting to lengthen, the snowdrops are poking through and the catkin and pussy willow buds are about to burst open.
I’m digressing, because you see, this is the last year I shall spend in this particular decade. Next year I shall be celebrating my first half century. As Queenie said in Lark Rise to Candleford last week “growing old is a gift not a curse”. What a wonderful way to think of growing older. Don’t you just love the costumes on Lark Rise to Candleford? The detail on the gowns is wonderful.
Tsk Tsk, digressing again! Whilst planning our little break in the sun to celebrate my birthday, my beloved was gently teasing me about next year’s birthday, when it suddenly occurred to me that I ought to do something special during this year, maybe do 50 things I’ve not done before. I wonder if my word of the year has got something to do with this?
So I’ve started to put together a list of 50 things I’m aiming to do before 24th January next year. Now if I’d just won the lottery, I would be doing things like a world cruise, trip to Australia and New Zealand, fabric shopping in the garment district of New York etc etc. However I’ve not won the lottery so my 50 things to do will have to be more realistic. Some of them will be overcoming fears, some of them learning new skills and some treats and days out and some just doing something I’ve been meaning to try for a long time and never got around to, like millionaire shortbread (I’ve got all the ingredients ready). I want to knit a pair of socks, knit something from the top down (whatever that is?!**) make a Chanel jacket, try abseiling, oh and this…
We talked about 50 things to do at my brother’s last night. Everyone was full or bright ideas, like putting me on the end of a zip wire to zip over the River Severn, which is done by one of the local charities each year, to doing a tree top assault course, or white water rafting. Beloved has pointed out a local newspaper article asking for daredevils to come forward to help them raise money by doing a sponsored sky dive. I’m already beginning to regret this idea!!!! Everyone is very enthusiastic and keen to come along to join in the fun, and of course, I shall be keeping you in the loop.
I’ve got 51 weeks to do 49 things, so skates on, compile list and get cracking. I’m going to get my list started on a new page, so please feel free take a look and suggest ideas. I can see I shall be requiring courage to do some of the things I and my family have in mind.
I think this is a wonderful idea, and I hope you’ll be documenting them here. I’d join you but I’m not really keen to do dare devil things – the character-building aspect is appealing, but I think I’d probably get into such a state I’m not sure it’d be worth it
I’ll join you making millionaire shortbread if you publish the recepie 
There are really not too many dare devil things on there – yet!!! I shall definitely not be zip wiring rivers or jumping out of planes with a parachute, or bungee jumping!
You know how often on hearing of a place or new technique you promise yourself you’ll go and visit or have a go and never get around to it, so my list is really about me fulfilling these things I’ve been saying I’d love to do over the years.