It started off as 31 things to do in the month I turned 50 and then became 50 things to do in the year I turned 50. Before long, there were over 100 things on that 2015 list and little sub lists had popped up like mushrooms all over the place. I jotted stuff down stuff on bits of paper, in notebooks (I have a notebook fetish, I am not alone) and friends provided me with ideas to add.
I soon realised that adding things to those lists was half the fun. So having decided to start up the lists again, I started where I'd left off for 2021. Not only was 2021 a crap year, but the 2021 list was a sad and sorry sight. 17 out of 44 things completed - maybe not so bad considering lockdowns.
But I learnt some valuable things. For a start, I don't particularly like cooking, so why the hell would I want to cook through a cook book? I tried making a mosaic piece - ended up frustrated and didn't really enjoy it, so now I know that I'm not the artsy/crafty type.
I wanted to learn a musical instrument. So I got myself a guitar, booked in for some lessons and failed miserably. Arthritis in the fingers and a sore neck - no excuse. Maybe I need to find something easier - like my old school recorder (I think I could still manage "Three Blind Mice") or maybe the triangle?
And as for picking up Frech again, being fluent in Spanish is good enough for me.
Whale watching on the 31st of July each year was a special thing. Well I still love whales, the date is now insignificant, but I still want to see whales at any time of the year!