24. Swim with dolphins

A swapsy on my list was to swim with dolphins as actually this is something I've probably wanted to do since I was a kid but never had an opportunity to do and I had been quite weary about funding dolphins in captivity.  A recent trip to the Florida Keys gave me a great opportunity to swim with dolphins in a more natural setting.

After a briefing about the centre and anatomy of a dolphin, we got wet suited up and into the water with 7 dolphins...by this stage I was actually pretty nervous, they are big, powerful animals and although naturally quite docile, I still was feeling a little bit anxious about entering their territory.  Most pairs are allocated 2 dolphins, but because a couple of the dolphins are younger and still learning, we had 4: Grace and Zoe (3 year olds) and Fiji (the only male in the pool) and Dinghy (the alpha female!).

We got to shake hands (flippers) and rub their bellies, got squirted with water, pushed backwards across the pool, pulled forward, supermanned (pushed forwards) and, in pairs, the dolphins jumped over a bar we were holding.  Of course the whole thing was over too quickly and I'd had a whale of a time (pun intended) but it was lovely to do and would definitely recommend the place we did it (information below).

14 down, 16 to go!




Dolphins Plus in Key Largo is a research centre where dolphins are kept in enclosures that are part of a sea canal and although they are netted in, other fish, lobsters, crabs etc are able to enter the enclosures creating a more natural environment for the dolphins.  Also, the dolphins do not do performances, their primary purpose is to be able to be researched but they help fund this by allowing members of the public to swim with the dolphins in a structured way.

8. Run a half marathon (faster than the last one)

Having debated heavily when I made my list of putting down to run a marathon, I knew from experience that a half marathon really is my limit in terms of ability to commit to a training schedule and so amended it to running a half marathon faster than my first.  My first, the Reading half marathon was run in March 2011 and I'd followed a training plan to the tee and managed to complete the distance in 2hrs 21 mins which I was over the moon with.

On Sunday 28th October 2012 (my 29th birthday) I ran the Nike Run to the Beat half marathon.  It was the first weekend in London that the weather had turned pretty damn cold so I was positive that I'd be in a good position to get a good time (running in the cold is much easier than running in the heat).  After freezing my butt off at the starting line, I had a good start.....final result was that I completed the race in 2hrs 9 mins - a full 12 mins faster than the last one.

I'd been wearing one of these clever watches that measures the distance and speed you run at...it clocked up 14.5 miles (over a mile longer than the half marathon distance) so I'm not quite sure how I got the extra distance (maybe the weaving in and out of people) so I'm not quite sure exactly what I ran or how fast I ran but either way I was very happy with my time......do I do another half marathon....never say never I guess!

13 down, 17 to go! Nearly half way!

10. Visit Parliament

A visit from the parentals gave a good opportunity to visit parliament.  There are a few ways that you can get into Westminster palace (including writing to your local MP for access to Big Ben...I think I may do this as well because that would be pretty cool) but I opted for the Saturday guided tour option.  Despite being the 21st century and things generally working 7 days a week, parliament runs in the old fashioned way and is closed for work at the weekends which provides a great opportunity to be open to the public for a guided tour.

I would say our tour guide was functional, she gave us the facts but lacked a sense of humour and any additions.  It was a lovely tour though and you get taken through both the House of Lords and House of Commons and get shown the ins and outs of how parliament works (overly complex but fascinating).

Unfortunately you are not allowed to take any photos, with the exception of in Westminster Hall which is not something that really identifies it as parliament.  The photo I've added is me in Westminster Hall by the Diamond Jubilee window which will soon be installed elsewhere so I feel pretty luck to have been able to see it up close!

12 down....18 to go!

5. Have champage in the Oxo Tower

Another one crossed off.  In celebration of a number of things, I decided it was high time to go and pay the OXO Tower a visit and treat two good friends  to some champagne.  Was it all glitz and glamour and lovely? Was it heck, it was busy, bustling and crowded in the small bar area they have (apparently Skylon just down the road is a better place for champagne).  The bar is flanked by the much larger brasserie and restaurant but that's not to say a good night wasn't had by all.  The waiters and waitresses were lovely and very accommodating and got us a table as quickly as they could.  The champagne was tasty and it led to a late fun night.

 Arty OXO photo with the ladies...this now means I'm 11 down.... with 19 to go!

A swapsy and a correction

I've reviewed my list and there are a couple of items that on review are not to my taste.  I'm allowing myself a maximum of 3 swapsies.  The first is going to be 24. be an extra in a film will now be swim with dolphins as this is something I'd rather do.

A number of people have also pointed out that 8. run a half marathon is technically something I've already done, so to deal with this technicality, the item is now retitled "8. run a half marathon faster than my first one"

20 still to go!

Another double whammy 9. Do three peaks challenge and 7. Visit Wales

Three peaks challenge is done and as a result I have also visited Wales, albeit brief!  As I'm 100% shattered from the experience my blogging capacity is severely reduced but I wanted to get this one up and out whilst I can.  The challenge was just that, challenging, but good fun and I had great company from Caroline, my friend I met travelling in Mongolia, as well as the other 7 people in my group.  In doing the challenge alongside the skydive I've raised a total of £970 for MIND which is awesome.

I should give special thanks to Si, the guide from the Adventure Cafe www.adventure-cafe.com who got us up and down every hill in one piece and was generally a great source of motivation and encouragement throughout the 27 hours he spent with us.

A double whammy - 27. Wear odd shoes in public (on purpose) and 30. Join a flash mob

I covered off two in one go yesterday.  I’d joined a facebook group for a Freeze flash mob in London a while ago and I wasn’t sure if it was actually going to go ahead for real until about a month ago and given that I was flying back from India, I was worried it might be too much, but I made it an at 6.45pm me along with many others in Victoria station froze for a full five minutes in a position before unfreezing and going about our business as normal.  You can’t see me in the 2 min version of the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Yype0hD3c but the screenshot is of me in the 5 min version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueZYnM2pVyE&feature=related

 

I also decided that this would be a good occasion to wear odd shoes in public on purpose.  I walked from home to the tube and whilst waiting for the train I suddenly realised it was going to be a hard one to prove as taking a picture wouldn’t necessarily demonstrate that I was in public as such.  Luck had it though that I bumped into my friend Meg at the tube station so she could verify that I was indeed wearing odd shoes.  I also took a wee video whilst waiting around at Victoria to illustrate how busy it was.

Did anybody notice the odd shoes?  I don’t think so! Typical London….if they did notice, they probably thought I was so off my trolley not to say anything or just simply didn’t notice because like most people in London (me included most of the time), just ignore any weirdness.  I even did my grocery shopping wearing the odd shoes.  When I got back to Willesden Green tube station I was asked to walk a blind lady home (ok, so she had an excuse not to notice!).

Mostly the odd shoes thing was just to do something where I would force myself to do something that is weird and not to worry about what others think and not to make excuses, just to get on with it.

2 more down, leaving 22 to go

2. Sky dive

This is probably the scariest thing on my list.  A huge mental challenge to deal with my fears of heights, planes and doing something I'm just not comfortable with.

But I've done it and I've lived to tell the tale.  An early start to drive up to Oxfordshire to Hinton Skydive centre.  Great location, only a couple of hours drive from London.  I couldn't have asked for better weather; clear blue skies, 27C temperature, amazing weather, the best we've had this year.

I felt quite lucky that in reality it all happened quite quickly, not really enough time for me to wait around long enough to get too nervous.  On arrival, I did the usual signing away of my life and then had a short briefing with a couple of the other tandem divers about what to do.  I was quickly put into a suit and unlike others, who I think had to wait around for quite a while, I was called to go up after just a short 10 minute wait.

My parachutist, whose name combined with mine created great hilarity...Long / Odds.  Apparently he used to dive with two guys called Cox and Bent...which meant they were called as Long / Bent / Cox.  Whether this was true or not, I don't know but it was keeping me distracted from what was about to happen.

Got loaded onto the plane along with the other tandem girl and a bunch of people jumping solo...a long slow climb up to the right height and really it all went so quickly I didn't have too much time to think or chicken out.

When our briefing instructor (who was also my parachutist) mentioned his way of leaving the plane was somersaulting backwards, I thought he was joking so when he told me that it wasn't a joke at 10,000ft in the air there was no turning back.  I was scared scared scared, surprisingly not the height, just the fact that I'm about to willingly throw myself into freefall.

45 seconds of freefall felt like a very long time and although I closed my eyes at the very start, I 'relaxed' a little into it and started trying to take in the view; a very difficult thing to do when you're concentrating hard on keeping your head and legs in the right place.  I did not like the chute opening up, but once it was open and we were gliding down, I can't describe the peacefulness of it!  Totally amazing and for that part alone, I'd probably put myself through it all again.

A massive, massive thank you to Kate and Dave who came along, kept me distracted and entertained whilst waiting and for taking photos on my way down.

A massive thank you also to everyone out there who's sponsored me!  You're money will be put to good use by MIND.

There is an official DVD and set of photos.  Those of you who wish to see more than the two photos here can request to do so and I'll see what I can do to share more photos.

My 'YES MAN' day

A quick update on the progress of some of my list. Although I can’t officially tick them off yet, I’m now one step closer to:

2. Sky dive

7. Visit Wales

8. Run a half marathon

9. Do three peaks challenge

After umming and ahhing about the sky dive and three peaks and how and when best to do them, I figured these were good events to fundraise some money for charity so today I sent off my application forms to do a sky dive in May and the three peaks challenge in September (which will also mean I visit Wales) with MIND, a charity that provides advice and support for people with mental health problems.

I’ve also been umming and ahhing about whether I actually want to do another half marathon. I did consider a marathon but given the knee issues I had training for my last half marathon for the sake of my sanity and being able to continue to exercise beyond the age of 30, a half marathon would be more appropriate so today I also signed up to do Run to the Beat on my 29th birthday, neatly marking the half way mark from starting this list to my 30th.

Because that’ll be the half way mark time-wise, I figured that I need to make sure I cover at least half my list by then so am scouring my list to decide which ones I want to do, but which they are you’ll have to wait and see.

For those of you wondering about the title of this post, 'YES MAN' is a book written by Danny Wallace about the time he decided to say yes to everything. Danny Wallace is an awesome writer and I highly recommend the book (but read his Join Me book first!).

And Danny, this is shameless of me, but if you happen to read this, you would count as a major celebrity so if we could arrange a place for me to have my photo taken with you that would be amazing :)

My fab sister

My fab sister has sent me a little gift that will continue to build as I tick items off my list, I won't reveal anything further right now, but she's amazing and also I have to admit I hate her at the same time as this means it will be very difficult for me chicken out of doing this list! Love you JO!

18. Attend a fancy dress party

Although it wasn't a conscious choice at the time to tick one off my list, in reflection I believe I can tick off attend a fancy dress party as last weekend I went to the Belle Epoque party at Village Underground in Shoreditch. A Moulin-Rouge themed party where everyone had made an effort to come dressed in their finest 1920s whore and pimp outfits.

Think Jim Broadbent in Moulin Rouge for the boys and pretty much anything goes for the girls - there were girls there in pretty much just their underwear (some girls will use any excuse!) and others in lavish feathers and flowing netted skirts.

There were aerial performers (static trapeze, net, etc etc.) and live bands (some better than others), expensive cocktails and by the end of it all a lot of drunkeness (or so I heard because after having had an entire cocktail split down my back, I left well before it finished to get the last tube home).

Sadly, I didn't have much pre-warning and had not been able to put quite as much thought and time into my costume as I'd liked and you can see the resulting outfit in the photo.

So I'll tick this one off for now, although I think it deserves half a tick as I'd like to go to one where I've really put thought into it. There's a frat-party-themed birthday party I'm attending in March so I've got my thinking cap on for that one!

5 down, 25 to go

Jordan likes my muff(s) but still not a major celebrity

Earlier this week, I was minding my own business, walking (on a mission) along the Strand and started crossing the road. I noticed lots of flashing lights and looked up and realised there were paparazzi around me (clearly not for me!) and I was stood waiting to cross the road next to Jordan (for those of you who don't know Katie, she's a pretty big deal in the UK).

I had to contemplate in a matter of seconds "Does Jordan count as a 'major celebrity'?", she definitely ranks much above Gary Rhodes but is she known internationally, yes probably to some extent and then I realised my definition of 'major celebrity' should be "Would my mum know who she is?"...the answer to which is probably not.

So Jordan wasn't the person to get my photo taken with, but I thought whilst I'm here, I should at least say hello and that I liked her dress (it was very small but gorgeous) to which I got the response, of thank you, I wish I had your earmuffs, it's freezing.

Soooo...still no major celebrity for me to have my photo taken with, but Jordan does like my muffs!

Although it turns out the colleague who found herself seated next to Ronan Keating, lives within close proximity of Colin Firth. I may have to pay her a visit!

An update on the TV show application and finding a major celebrity

So I thought I'd give a little update on the TV show application. I submitted it on the last day possible and I can only hope that it was still considered. I was told that if I were successful to go through to the next stage (interviews and screen tests) I would know by 12 January. As that date has now long passed and I have heard nothing, I'm going to conclude that I was not successful this time. Am I disappointed? NO WAY! I had fun putting the application together and giving myself the time to think about why I enjoy baking and I will continue to bake as and when it suits! And I'll learn to make macaroons!

Finding a major celebrity to have my photo taken with is one of the more challenging items on my list and although I do have a plan to help this situation, I'm keeping my eyes open for the chance meeting. On hearing that a colleague was sat next to Ronan Keating at dinner the other week, I was pretty jealous, not only because it's Ronan Keating (those who know me understand) but because, yes, he would qualify as a major celebrity! So far I've sat opposite Gary Rhodes (chef) on the tube and on Friday was sat near Jenny Frost (BBC3's Snog Marry Avoid), but neither of which qualify - they are most definitely more Z-list than A-list! The search continues!

15. Go to a wine tasting to learn more about wine

At university I had the pleasure of living in Oak House halls of residence with Mr Chris Johnson (as well as the wonderful Denise, the lovely Phil and some others who didn't really stick around).

Mr Chris Johnson (ironically, that's also my boss' name!) went on to become a sommelier and works at Jeroboams, a posh wine shop in London. Very conveniently a couple of weeks ago I received an email from Chris that he was hosting a wine tasting and would I like to come. Well yes, 1. because it's an opportunity to catch up with an old friend and 2. a chance to tick another item off my list.

Last Wednesday I was shown into the cellar of the Davies Street Jeroboams for a Bordeaux wine evening, sampling two white Bordeaux wines (yes Bordeaux can be white!) and sampling four red Bordeaux wines.

On arrival I was handed a very tasty glass of Laytons Brut Reserve Champagne. We then went on to sample the white wines: a 2009 Clos Floridene Blanc and a 2009 Caillou Blanc du Chateau Talbot. Both wines were priced in the £20-£30 region. Given that I don't know much about wine, the idea of spending that amount of money on a bottle of wine in a shop seems a bit much but they were both tast, although very different.

A brief interval of cheese and bread - very lovely cheese I must add - preceded the red wine tasting. In the reds we tasted:

2007 Chateau Quinault L'Enclos

2001 Cantermerle, 5th Growth

1996 Chateau Pontet Canet 5th Growth

1996 Chateau Lagrange 3rd Growth

Now after thinking that the £20-£30 was quite pricey, the reds totally outstripped that and the list included one £120 bottle and one £80 bottle. I have to admit that as hard as I tried to like the £120 bottle (pictured on the left), it just wasn't my cuppa tea, but the £80 bottle was pretty tasty.

Things that I learned at the wine tasting:

• Bordeaux does not just produce red wines, they also produce white
• Wine is often fermented in steel barrels, not wooden barrels as I had thought (to do with both cost and taste)
• White wines are not always one grape and can be a blend of grapes
• Robert Parker seems like an important man in the wine world - his ratings are essentially the equivalent of Michelin star ratings for restaurants
• 1996 was a very good year for wine and is one of the best vintages to get these days
• The older the vintage, the less time you should decant the wine for (as the air will just remove the taste like that)
• What chateau a wine comes from is important, the chateaux in France are super-important and vary in size and power

All in all a pretty good night, great wine, great food and great company! Thanks Chris for hosting!

Four down, 26 to go!

1. Apply to be on a TV show

Although I thoroughly enjoy clowning around amongst friends, being singled out and therefore being on camera isn't a natural thing for me and I've never really been overly keen on the idea of being on TV (those of you who know what I'm like with panto will definitely understand!), but a couple of months ago, my great friend Erica sent me an application form for a TV show she'd been watching and said I should apply. It came through at the point that I was compiling my bucket list so I thought why the heck not.

Yesterday, the day of the deadline for the application, I emailed over my application for the third series of the Great British Bake Off, a BBC Two TV show hosted by Mel and Sue where contestants bake various items (cakes, biscuits, pies, tarts, breads etc.) every week and face a number of a challenges with one contestant eliminated each week. My bucket list was only to apply, not to appear on a TV show as that actually strikes the fear of god into me!!!

Thank you Erica for the encouragement to apply.

Three down, 27 to go

29. Have the balls to return food in a restaurant

So as much as I hate to admit it, I'm very British when I'm out for a meal and when the waiter/waitress comes over after food has been served and says 'Is everything ok', my default answer is 'Yes, fine thank you' partly because I do not like being interrupted when I'm eating and in the middle of a conversation, I always feel that if I didn't like something I know I can call them over and tell them. Yet, time and time again, the food isn't quite right and I'm not 100% happy but I never say so.

Over the past year I have made good friends with a few Americans, who are very un-British and will be the first to send food back and tell the waiter/waitress that there is something wrong.

On 20th December, I was out for a meal with my American friend Jen and Australian friend Duschanca at a gastropub in Covent Garden (and as it was a gastropub it was posh nosh with uniformed waiters and expensive wine!). I'd ordered the burger and chips on Jen's recommendation and when it arrived I was a bit disappointed with the chips - they were limp, soggy and not properly cooked in my view. But did I say anything?!...No.... boo to me. Jen gave me a telling off for not sending it back and said that it's perfectly ok, particularly when you're paying a higher price. We ordered dessert and I ordered the blue cheese and truffle honey on raisin toast. What was presented to me was blue cheese and oatcakes - by the way for those who don't know oatcakes are not the same as raisin toast!!! I was fairly cheesed off (pardon the pun) and with encouragement from Jen and Duschanca, with my heart pounding because surely it isn't the done thing to complain, I called the waiter over and explained my discontent. It was fixed within a couple of minutes and I was much happier.

All in all that was easy and as much as it felt a little uncomfortable it was absolutely the right thing to do and I think I'd now have the balls to do that all again if I'm not happy with the food!

Two down, 28 to go!