WOW - WHERE ON EARTH DID JANUARY GO?

One minute it was Christmas and the next it's the last day of January - isn't it scary how fast time can fly when you're busy! And I'm certainly busy at the moment with most of my time being sucked up with Uni work, however I'm still finding a little time to work through my list and all this extra work is bringing me a little closer to completing number 17 (learn about all the muscles in the body). To help me with this, I've brought a model skeleton that Ive called Jon Bone Jovi - groan!!

On Thursday I made a start on number 14 (donate blood 5 times) by giving blood! It's not the first time that I've done it - I'm a regular now - but it still gives me a great feeling every time I do it. I would strongly recommend that anyone who can give blood should!

The wildlife in my garden has also been benefiting from my list, as I made a start on number 95 (feed the birds in my garden 101 times). However, when I say wildlife what I really mean is starlings. But I guess that they're still wild and deserve a free meal when it's cold!

But, with February beginning tomorrow, I've decided to make a start with one of the harder tasks on my list; number 40 (eat no take-away food for 101 days). I've worked it out that this task should be completed by Tuesday 12th May. I'm hoping that this task will give me some long lasting health benefits and get me into some better eating habits.

So wish me luck on this one folks and, before I forget, I need to say thanks to a friend of mine who looked up the Baltic art gallery and found out that it is an old flour mill!

Look after yourselves :-)

I can't believe that it's already been a week since I started this list - how time flies when you're busy! In this time I've managed to tick off two more tasks, as well as make a start on several others.

I had a really long chat with my sister in Australia last week and told her all about the 101 list. She totally lept at the challenge of doing her own list and, without any work on my part, number 81 (Get someone else to do a 101 list) was completed! I've put a link to her site, Frojo's List, with the other 101 lists that I've visited and left comments on.

Another task that was completed this week was number 56 (Visit an art gallery). I also took the kids, making a start on number 20 (have 50 days out with the kids)! The gallery we visited was the Baltic gallery in Gateshead. The Baltic is a fantastic building (I think that its probably an old power station - but if anyone knows for sure I'd love to hear from you). Its got a beautiful location, right on the water front, right by the Millennium bridge and just opposite the Sage. The Gallery had an installation by Yoko Ono, which was fantastic and extremely moving. It's going to be at the Baltic until March, but if you can't get there, you can see it on their website (Google Baltic Newcastle).

Meeting my Welsh friends girlfriend (number 84) got a step closer last week, when she left a comment on my Blog and, with the start of a new term at College, I'm cracking on with number 17 (Learn about all the muscles of the body).

Also this week, I have made a start on number 52 (read 11 'classic' books) by starting Moby Dick - which is a book I've wanted to read for a very long time.

I'll keep adding to my list of blogs that I've commented on and, to finish my post for this week, I must apologise for the lack of photo's. My camera's bust beyond repair! As soon as I get another one, plenty of pic's will start to appear on my blog!

Take care everyone :-)

Well this is it, day one, only 1000 more days to go! I've learned how to blog - which is not easy when you're as computer literate as a gold fish - and brought a pot plant to keep alive during the next 1001 days.

I'm really looking forward to hearing from other people who are doing the 101 project so if you stumble onto this site, please leave a comment.

I'll try to update this blog every week so stay tuned to see how I get on! :-)

Monday 12 January 2009

The beginning of the 101 things in 1001 days project.

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start Date: 12 January 2009
End Date: 10 October 2011

Key:
Not Started
In Progress
Completed

My List:

General

1. Learn how to blog

2. Raise £101 for charity

3. Tell my children that I love them every day

4. Watch a sunrise

5. Don't swear for 30 days - not consecutive (0/30)

6. Buy a plant and keep it alive for 1001 days

7. Give away 101 things that I don't need (0/101)

8. Put all my photo's into photo albums

9. Have 101 days with the TV off (0/101)

10. Leave a Christmas card under a strangers windscreen wiper

11. Keep on top of the housework for one month

12. Fix the shed

13. Complete 10 DIY projects (0/10)

14. Donate Blood 5 times (1/5)

15. Write a hand written letter to my sister in Austratia

16. Enter a competition

Education

17. Learn about all the muscles in the body

18. Learn a foreign language

19. Complete a college assignment at least 1 week before it is due

Travel

20. Have 50 days out with the kids (2/50)

21. Go to Edinburgh Castle

22. See a rugby match at Twickenham

23. Visit somewhere haunted at night

24. Do something touristy in my home town

25. Spend the night on a canal barge/small boat

26. Go to London and see Big Ben

27. Go on a random day out - with no destination in mind

28. Visit 3 places that I've never been to before (0/3)

29. Visit 11 different beaches (0/11)

30. Re-visit 3 places that I have not been to since I was a child (0/3)

Health/Sport

31. Do the Three Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours)

32. Participate in a long cycle ride

33. Go ice skating

34. Dance at least once a week for three months

35. Drink only water for 30 days - not consecutive (0/30)

36. Go to bed no later than 11:00 on weeknights for 1 month

37. Take the Kids out for a bike ride 101 times (0/101)

38. Play crazy golf

Food

39. Learn 101 new recipes (3/101)

40. Eat no take-away food for 101 days

41. Cook 101 Sunday lunches

42. Make a birthday cake from scratch

43. Live as a vegan for 1 month

44. Learn to make my own pasta

45. Learn to make 5 cocktails (0/5)

46. Make 11 picnics (0/11)

47. Eat in a restaurant by myself

48. Cook a 'posh' four course meal

49. Eat breakfast every morning for 1 month

50. Create a recipe book of my 101 favourite meals

51. Have a Christmas BBQ

Culture

52. Read 11 'classic' books (0/11)

53. See a Shakespeare play

54. Go to a music festival

55. Go to a museum

56. Visit an art gallery

57. Watch all the Star Wars films back to back, in one sitting

58. Learn the words to a whole song

59. Go and see a symphony perform

60. Watch 11 films at the cinema (0/11)

61. Read 101 poems that I have never read (0/101)

Creativity

62. Draw/paint 11 pictures (0/11)

63. Learn to play an instrument

64. Learn origami

65. Write and draw my own small comic

66. Complete a jigsaw

67. Make something creative out of rubbish and display it

68. Make my own Christmas decorations

69. Photograph every completed item and put the pictures in a scrap book

70. Make an airfix model

71. Give homemade gifts and cards for 1 Christmas

72. Write and perform a song in front of someone

Self Development/Spirituality

73. Meditate once a week for 6 months

74. Go on a retreat

75. Write in my journal at least once a week

76. Write a letter to myself on where I think I'll be in 10 years, then seal it for 10 years

77. List 25 things that I like about myself

Social

78. Go on a college night out

79. Get in touch with an old friend

80. Sing on a karaoke

81. Get someone else to do a 101 list

82. Learn a drinking game

83. Invite people around for a BBQ

84. Meet my Welsh friends girlfriend

85. Learn a card trick

86. Comment on 101 other blogs/lists (6/101)

87. Learn small talk

88. Surprise someone I care about with a gift

89. Have a conversation about the weather with a telemarketer

Environment

90. Grow my own vegetables in the garden

91. Recycle everything that can be recycled for 101 days

92. Do not accept plastic bags for 1 month

93. Cycle to college 101 times (0/101)

94. Take my own cup to college for 1 month

95. Feed the birds in my garden 101 times (1/101)

96. Learn about 5 new ways of 'going green' and implement at least three of them (0/5) (0/3)

Finances

97. Save enough money for a holiday

98. Create a 1 month financial buffer

99. Save £2.00 for every task completed

100.Buy nothing new (except food) for 101 days

And Finally....

101.On day 1001, write another list of 101 things to do that includes anything not completed on this list!