50 Things to do Before I'm 50

A beautiful sunny morning in Glasgow My visit to Scotland was sadly over all too quickly. Two nights and one day was all I spent there. I had hoped for longer but it wasn't to be. How much?? My trip was paid for by a TV production company, I was unbelievably lucky to get the opportunity to appear on a TV show (more about it it a later post!). The longest time I've ever spent on a train and the furthest north I've ever been. Although how they can justify £174.70 for a return ticket and STILL make you cough up 30p for the privilege of using the toilet at the station is downright robbery and really REALLY gets my goat!! I stayed right by Glasgow Central Station overlooking the Clyde. The picture above is taken through the window at about 8.30 in the morning. What a view! Sadly I don't have a lot more to write about.... I arrived in Glasgow at 7pm, just enough time for a quick chilly walk around and some food. I was picked up from the hotel at 6...

A new years trip to Lanzarote gave me a great excuse to tick two more things off my list. One I've been excited to do since I first had the idea for the list and the other was one I consider the second scariest thing on it. As the title says, it's all about balance. Good thing to get a scary one out of the way though! Delighted with myself! I was so pleased to get the chance to do stand up paddle-boarding, I'd seen people do it at a beach festival and really fancied trying it.  Our teacher, Darius turned up to collect us from the hotel in a tiny car loaded with what looked like a couple of suitcases. Off we went expecting to be met at the beach by a large vehicle carrying the equipment. To say I was surprised when he unloaded his little car and produced three inflatable paddle-boards and a couple of pumps is an understatement!   I really wasn't expecting to be any good  but was determined to give it my best go. Surprisingly, I managed to stand up on my ...

In a dairy on new years eve? You've goat to be kidding me!!! Goatally Adorable! A conversation that took place with Bee, my daughter in early December...... Me;   I really fancy a real Christmas tree this year, Our artificial one has seen better days. Bee;  So get one. Me;  I would but it makes me sad throwing away the tree after Christmas and its such a waste. Bee;  You know who loves an old Christmas tree? Me; Nobody? Bee;  Goats! Me;  Huh? Bee;  Old Christmas trees are brilliant goat treats, we can take it to the farm where I used to work. Me;  Oh excellent. I'd be really happy knowing it had another purpose in its life. Bee:  Mum......Have you ever milked a goat? Fast forward to new years eve and here we are at the dairy. The Christmas tree has been gratefully received and devoured by happy goats and I'm perched on a milking stool attempting to milk the beautifully patient Liesel. I'm truly grateful to...

Theatre Selfie A trip to the west end to see Wicked was a super Birthday present from Kate. Brilliant seats! Initially, I had my reservations about the show....... How on earth could you possibly make a show fit with the story of the Wizard of Oz?? I couldn't see how they could make credible links with the classic beloved story of Dorothy and Kansas. Dragon Well shame on me and my lack of imagination, I'm delighted to admit I was completely and utterly wrong! The show was wonderful and the story clever, relevant and surprisingly satirical. I'd love to go into more detail but that would spoil it. Massive thanks to Kate for a fabulous Birthday treat!

I have very poor balance and co-ordination. I have a real aversion to pain and getting hurt. As a result, I have immense admiration for anyone who is fearless enough to master a skill like ice skating then go into battle against a bunch of burly thugs for possession of a tiny round disc.   I have a great love for the Olympics, its the only opportunity most of us get to see a huge variety of sports played well. I got into ice hockey watching the winter Olympics in Vancouver, sadly Great Britain weren't so great so the coverage here was mostly highlights. Although I do remember cheering on Canada in the final against the USA at silly O'clock in the morning!  Much as I enjoyed the game on the telly, I did find it quite hard to follow. The game is so fast paced you can only really see whats going on via the action replays. I decided back in 2010 that it would be cool to see an ice hockey match live so after I had the idea of the fifty things to do, on the list it went. ...

  If you'd asked three years ago if I fancied doing a 5k obstacle run, I'd have laughed in your face, probably giving you a quick coating of hob nob crumbs in the process! Not a runner. Hate keeping fit. Are you trying to kill me or what? The very thought of running anywhere would have sent me face first into the Ben and Jerry's! Fast forward to 2016, Things changed somewhat and I was keen to give it a go. Although not really confident in my abilities to complete the course, I shared the post a couple of times on Facebook to see if anyone fancied joining me. The response was deafeningly silent...... Not even a pity like!! I had planned to do an obstacle run this year as part of my list even if I had to do it alone. (Get the violins out!!!) I'm so glad that didn't happen. How lucky do I feel right now to have met a group of like minded nut jobs who were up for the adventure. Somebody mentioned about the obstacle run in a gym class a couple o...

My first proper post on my adventures. Iv'e been so excited to begin this year. I normally find my birthday a rather melancholy time, filled with a strong sense of another unfulfilled year passing, time wasted and old age creeping upon me.  This year was a very different story...  My daughter, Bee and her great friend Gav decided to call in an old promise I made to him and decided that I needed to experience a proper  student night out in Norwich. Very easy for me to agree to, seeing as a visit to Norwich was on my list! I have to admit to being terrified of being the oldest swinger in town at the venue and even more scared of not being able to keep up with the young 'uns. I'm a total lightweight these days where drink is involved and I'm usually tucked up in my bed a long time before they start thinking about going out!!  It was a slightly surreal Louis Theroux themed event at Propaganda. The music was truly excellent, exactly my taste and I soon shoo...