The Reasons behind the list

OK so here's why I have made the choices I currently have

1. Run a 5k race - this is more about achieving a personal fitness goal than anything deep and meaningful.
   
2. Have a foreign holiday. Believe it or not, at my advanced stage of life, I have never been abroad.
3. Have a house party/BBQ - this is something I have been talking about for the last year and a half and then never got any further. By putting it on here, I will actually be forced to do something about it.
4. Abseil down a building. This has been something I have wanted to do since I was a youngster. I can't explain why - bungee jumping doesn't appeal (something about leaping off a bridge with an elastic band tied round my ankles screams suicidal lunatic), parachute jump much the same ( I mean if some guy has gone to the trouble of flying me to however many thousand feet in the air, it seems impolite and a little extreme to then leap out of his aircraft with a silk sheet hidden in my backpack).
5. Own a pair of Jimmy Choos - no explanation needed surely?
6. Take singing lessons - I have a pretty horrible voice - I used to sing in the school choir and have also sung on Look North with my primary school class - but that was a long time ago. Would like to hold a tune that doesn't make people wince or even cry.
7. Have a SPA day. Because I am worth it - nuff said
8. Do the Micklegate Run. This is for my attempt at recapturing my youth. The Micklegate Run is a cobbled street in York with (back in 1989) 9 pubs in it. The idea was you started at the first and had a drink in each pub, finishing (depending on which end you started at) at the last pub, ready to hit the clubs. I have not done this since my days of youth and would like to do this before the whole place is turned into flats and lap dancing bars.
9. Ride a roller coaster. OK a bit of a cop out as have done a couple before, but not in the last ten years or so.
10. Have a professional photo done. This is about having a photo where I am not grimacing or attempting to hide - anyone who has tried to capture me on celluloid will attest to this fact.
11. Attend a cocktail party/ball. This is a bit girly I admit, but have never had a formal at school (went to an all girls grammar which frowned on that sort of thing and lunchtime discos with the snotty herberts from St Peters definitely does not count). I would like to get dressed up and go to one to see what I have missed out on.
12. Make an outfit from scratch and wear it in public. I think this will force me to finish an outfit and get some use out of it.
13. Do 25 push ups without cheating. Another personal fitness goal and I am not sure how achievable this is. I have not spoken to my personal trainer yet as am afraid he will have me institutionalised. Mmmm wonder how to broach this latest one with him?
14. Read all my Tudor and Henry 8th books. Sound like an easy one - I have counted and have over 20 yet to be read. I am a bit of a Tudor geek and love reading about this time. It will clear out my beside unit as these are cluttering things up.
15. Ride a horse. I have a few friends who are horsey and would love to know what the fuss is all about.
16. Learn to play a musical instrument. Well I can play London's burning on the recorder but that is about it. Will listen to any suggestions as to what I should learn - nothing too boring I hope!
17. Sit in a super fast car and go for a ride. No more needs to be said here.
18. Attend something on a yacht - not sure about this one as I don't really hang out with yachting people, would love to hear peoples suggestions for this.
19. Go on London Eye - not done it yet simples
20. Afternoon tea at Harrods. Did this when I was 17 and was too young to appreciate it.
21. See a live band. Never done it and have always regretted not doing it when I was younger.
22. Host a dinner party. I welcome all suggestions for menus - I promise to do all the prep and cooking and not try to con my brother-in-law to do it for me! Honest.
23. Archery. Something I have always wanted to do, but never found a suitable course.
24. Attend a Pole Dancing class. This one is a bit scary as would have to be a reinforced pole, but am willing to give it a go. Don't have to be good now do I?
25. Go to a foreign art gallery or museum. I actually enjoy this sort of thing, but think this could be a good one to tag onto foreign holiday.
26. Learn a magic trick and perform it in public. Not sure about this one as have very little hand to eye co-ordination so could be a huge disaster waiting to happen!
27. Bet in a casino. Never been to one so could be another experience for me. As long as I don't go wild and put everything I own on the black.
28. Attempt a belly dancing class. Well have a lot of belly, so the photo evidence will not be pretty.
29. Volunteer to assist in a shelter. This is something I have wanted to do, but have been a little reluctant.
30. Give blood. No idea why I have never done it before. I have attempted, but the last attempt was not successful as had a cold.
31. Put together self assembly unit. Come on now, those things are a pain in the behind - I usually end up maiming myself or throwing it at my housemate Kate and flouncing off in a tantrum. I will try to do it myself without any major dramas.
32. Cross stitch picture. This is something I started years ago and keep meaning to finish, I packed it away when I moved down to London April 2009 and have not touched it since.
33. Falconry. I have always loved this idea and am really excited about trying to achieve this one.
34. Musical theatre. Have been saying I was going to go so many times and have not got round to it. This will force me to do it.
35. Attend a premier division footie match. Never done this. Will most probably lose the will to live and will find out have insulted someone by my choice when I make it. But at the end of the day it is, in fact, only a game. Live with it.
36. Comedy Act. Another one I keep meaning to do and never manage to get round to it.
37. Ride a Harley. Perfect for that mid-life crisis moment!
38. Hello in 40 languages. Mmmm
    
39. Opera or Ballet. Just to show I am a classy chick
40. Go paint balling. Have heard this can be painful so am a little concerned about injuries with this one, but will give it a go.
    

The theory behind the list

OK have renewed my gym membership and have been three times this week. Have found myself a personal trainer and booked him - gulp!! He is a magician though, as he has managed to sort out my dodgy leg (was on crutches for weeks due to a torn calf muscle)! I have been pain free since he started with me - amazing!

Now hang on a minute, what have I let myself in for? Can I actually do this or will I give up after a few weeks? I am determined to achieve something before I am 40 so need all the support/emotional blackmail I can get.

If you have any ideas about how I achieve my goals, feel free to comment or make suggestions, the list is not going to be final until the first of January 2011 when I begin to work my way through the list. Everyone is welcome to join me in any of these challenges and I have already managed to con/persuade a few of my more gullible friends to join me.

The Famous "Bucket List"

OK so am turning 40 in a few months and have decided to make a list of goals to achieve before the big day.
Here goes

1. Run a 5K race for charity
2. Have a foreign holiday
3. Have a house party/BBQ
4. Abseil down a building
   
5. Own a pair of Jimmy Choos
   
6. Take singing lessons
7. Have a SPA day
8. Do the Micklegate Run
   
9. Ride a Roller Coaster
10. Have a professional photo done
11. Attend a ball/cocktail party
12. Make an outfit from scratch and wear it in public
13. Do 25 push ups without cheating
14. Read all my books on tudors inc henry 8th - do not buy any more after 01.01.11
15. Ride a horse
16. Learn to play a musical instrument
17. Sit in a superfast sports car and go for a ride
18. Attend something on a yacht
19. Go on London Eye
20. Afternoon tea at Harrods
21. See a live band - obviously better than a dead one
22. Host a dinner party (cook all courses from scratch)
23. Archery (try and hit the target)
24. Attend a pole dancing class
25. Go to an art gallery/museum - preferably in a foreign country
26. Learn a magic trick and perform it in public
27. Bet in a casino
28. Attempt a belly dancing class
29. Volunteer to assist at a shelter
30. Give Blood
31. Put together a self assembly item without profanity
    
32. Finish that cross stitch picture of a deer that has been in progress for over a year
33. Attend a lesson on falconry
34. Go to a musical - theatre
35. Attend a premier divison football match
36. Go see a live Comedy Act
37. Ride a Harley Davison
38. Learn to say "hello" in 40 languages
39. Attend an Opera or Ballet
40. Go paintballing
    

It's a bucket list...but I'm not actually dying.

In fact, I'm turning 40 so I figured, there must be some activities I can do before I turn 40... so this blog is to document the events.

Good luck to me!