I often, these days, find myself saying, “that was so long ago” or saying “oh that was probably about 20 years ago”. That’s a whole other adult ago!!! I suppose it helps that I married a younger man, the “you’re only as old as the man you feel” gambit. Also, not having had children yet has kept me looking younger than I am, I presume. Some people I’ve met recently can’t believe that I was turning 40 (I believe them). However, the stress of work and travelling has given me a few silvery hairs which I’m trying to hide beneath some of the frizz.
I really was hoping to have completed the whole of my 40 list but I am going to just have to use my forties to finish the rest.
What have I not completed, you may ask. Well, these are in purple in the list on the left but I’ll will put them here in this blog with a little explanation.
1. Learn ‘Cornflake Girl’ by Tori Amos on the piano
I did actually give this another crack recently but got distracted by learning to play other things, e.g. ‘Pieces’ by Rob Thomas. My excuses are, not finding the time and also too many distractions. I will give it another go.
9. Learn to ride a bike
One failed attempt and I seem to have never tried again. Matheus has told me that he’s looked into lessons for adults and can’t seem to find any. Perhaps a new business venture for someone in Hertfordshire. I guess it would help if I had a bike. Are we allowed to learn on the London ‘Boris’ bikes? I must look into that. When we’re in the Netherlands, we never seem to get a chance to try and I don’t want to accidentally damage a bike or myself if at all possible.
16. A-Z of cuisines (eat in the restaurants)
While I’m trying to lose weight, we’re less likely to go out to eat but perhaps Matheus and I should treat ourselves once a month for a ‘date night’. Sixteen cuisines left to go (A, D, H, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, U, V, W, X, Y, Z).
18. Do 40 cover versions and post online
I have done 26 of these. There are two that I did at my EP launch that I still haven’t had time to edit and post online which brings the total to 28. There are also two songs that friends have asked me to do which I will get around to. My excuse - lack of time. I know I keep saying it but maybe I need to get up earlier on the weekend or not make so many plans to do other things.
19. Go to 40 different places, 40 miles from where I live
This is harder than I thought it would be. It is difficult to work out where 40 miles would be as the crows flies because there is not much choice when doing it in actual mileage. Also, again, we don’t have time to just jump in the car and go somewhere. I don’t want to duplicate places and I don’t want them to all be related to work. I think Matheus and I need to sit with a map and pinpoint places to go - that’s something he would probably enjoy doing more than the trips.
22. Learn to play golf
I went with my Dad and I don’t think I’m ever going to get the hang of this game. Do I continue? Do I say I’ve technically had a go at learning or is it classed as giving up if I say “DONE”?
23. Lose 40lbs
Matheus and I are researching gyms but while my work means I have two projects going at the same time, I am always going to be home from work late until early December. I have lost some more weight but it’s still fluctuating.
24. Learn a ballroom dance (waltz or tango)
I enjoyed this but I don’t think Matheus did. We had a couple of lessons. Does this count as learning or do we need to have perfected a routine like on Strictly Come Dancing? Maybe one day I’ll continue the learning in a class environment.
25. Finish the Cinderella cross-stitch I started in 1992
The plan is to take this on long train journeys and also to the Netherlands when we’re there over Christmas. My aim is to have this completed by the time we have our first child. No idea when that will be though 🤷🏻♀️.
27. Learn Spanish
Now, this is also open to interpretation. I’ve completed the Duolingo classes (although since they updated the app I haven’t gone back to it). Can I say it’s done or do I need to have a fluent conversation with someone Spanish? Also, this had to take a backseat to my Dutch which I am still learning.
29. Post 40 online reviews
This was added to the 40 list late as I took something out so I am behind on this. 29 reviews to go. Better get complaining / praising!
30. Learn Dutch
So, I am working my way through the app again but I’m on level 5 so it’s nearly complete. Will I be able to speak fluently? I doubt it. It’s not really an app to help learn conversational Dutch; just phrases, words and sentence structure. Matheus just needs to keep speaking to me in Dutch and helping me with my responses.
32. Watch 40 Tom Hanks movies
I think this either filled a gap or it replaced ‘learn to ski’. This is likely to be far more enjoyable and less painful. I’ve now watched ‘Sully’ and ‘Toy Story 4’ which brings my viewing total to 23 so I’m over halfway done. I have added movies to my Netflix, Amazon Prime and Sky lists. Matheus is away for a few weeks in January so while he is off sailing, MY January will be Filmuary or Hanksuary.
33. Learn to play poker
I did learn to play some kind of poker but I’m not sure if we were doing it correctly. I must commandeer someone poker know-it-alls so I can have a proper game.
34. Take part in a sumo-wrestling costume fight
Since seeing this at various festivals and events and subsequently adding this to my list, this has yet to happen. I shall continue to seek this out.
36. Have a photo taken on the Abbey Road crossing
Not only do I have to persuade my husband to get up early with me on a weekend but also three willing participants. I guess I could have the photo on my own - it’s probably quicker to stop traffic for one person and Matheus could take the photo. We will get around to this!
38. Visit a medium / psychic
I did start doing research into this. There is a medium I found but I think I’d also like to see a psychic separately as they are actually two different abilities. Definitely one for 2020.
17 to complete (some started but some not-so-started). This is the challenge for 2020 - to try to complete the rest or most of the rest.
Something I marked as completed was ‘Write regular blogs’. I have done this monthly so far but I will continue to blog. Not only about my 40 list but maybe about other things that are getting my goat or other things that are going on. I am not sure if I can keep ‘monthly’ blogs going but they will be as regular as I can make them.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my ‘40 list’ antics as much as I have enjoyed actually doing them.
I must keep the adventure going...
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