No 24 completed: Learn two new hair styles

The two hair styles I settled upon were a Bun and Plait . 

Pictures to the right and left. 

No 8 comlpleted: Learn to do three types of knots

I realised I already knew how to do a reef knot so that didn't count (unfortunately). Therefore the three knots I chose to learn were: Bowline, Figure 8 and Noose. Pictures below:

Now I just need to keep practicing so I don't forget.

No 12 completed: Learn to play Backgammon

After reading a variety of online 'how to' guides on backgammon I attempted playing against the computer and then subsequently taught my parents and we had a real life game. I lost the first game to my dad by 2 counters but won against my mum. Great fun playing though!

Proof below:

No 4 completed: Take in the view from The Shard

My mother and I went and took the view from the Shard on the 14th March in the evening, just as the sun was setting. A brilliant view and maybe next time it will be the restaurant for a nice cream tea. I even got a business card holder to prove I went up.

No 28 completed: Take a day trip to Paris

In the end why do things by halves - I intended to do a day trip to Paris but between jobs I ended up doing four days with my parents, taking in all sites the from the Eiffel Tower, to Notre Dame to the Louvre. I absolutely loved it and want to to back again. Too many pictures to share but the highlight is probably below:

No 17 completed: Start a fire from scratch

I knew there were multiple ways of starting a fire from scratch and although initially intending to rub sticks together, in the end I was persuaded that using a magnifying glass would be quicker. So we set up a piece of wood with some cotton wool attached on a sunny day, in the hope we could set it alight . And to all of our surprise, after a while of holding the magnifying glass at the right angle, the wood itself began to smoke and burn (I saw a flame!).

Picture below as proof:

No 22 completed: Make my own ice cream (three interesting flavours)

Making ice cream is hard work but good fun and the flavour makes it worth while.

The three flavours I chose to make were:

1) Vanilla
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/vanillaicecream_4616

2) Blackberry
http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/blackberry-icecream-3576

3) Chocolate
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/superrichchocolateic_14295 

All made with cream and deemed by the eaters to be 'delicious'.

No 29 complete: Learn five different origami

I ended up buying a small origami set from Amazon for £6 (which came with a handy instruction booklet) and set to work learning five different items. I also had some help from a friend Lia and from you tube videos. In the end the five I learnt were:

1. Windmill                            
2. Boat                                       
3. Samurai hat
4. Dog face            
5. Star box

Pictures below - guess which is which ! Now all I need to do is keep practicing so i don't forget. I think I like the star box best as its practical. 

No 10 completed: Watch a rugby match whole way through

After reading up on the difference between rucks and mauls, trying to understand a scrum and looking at the pitch layout, I sat down and watched my first ruby match the whole way through. It was the England v Ireland match on 22nd Feb (Six Nations 2014). I was pleased to say I got the lions share of what was happening and even enjoyed it, as it was a brilliant match.

It helped that England won, 13-10! I'd watch a match again, maybe even one day live.

Above: England scrum half Danny Care celebrates after scoring the first England try with Jack Nowell (r) as Jonathan Sexton looks on during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on Feb 22nd (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty images)

No 9 completed: Make a Baked Alaska

Making a Baked Alaska turned out to be easier than I thought - a cake base, a meringue whip and a layer of ice cream. I chose a recipe for a Baked Alaska with hot chocolate sauce:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/baked_alaska_with_hot_20041

I had a bit of help making it from the kids and loads of helping eating it, with very good reviews.

Web picture below:



My pictures below:

No 30 completed: Eat Sushi

We went to have Sushi for Gerald's birthday in Windsor. The restaurant was called Misungo. We got two plates of mixed sushi to try for starters, some sashimi (raw fish with no rice) and nigiri (raw fish on vinagared rice). I'm not sure what fish i tried, I think it might have been sea bass. And for the nigiri I had a prawn one. All in all very tasty and delicate in flavour - I'd definitely have it again!

Birthday picture below - I forgot to take a picture of the sushi itself.

No 5 complete: Make a Souffle

This was a scary proposition but I'm pleased to say turned out well. I tried a Gordon Ramsey cheese souffle recipe which can be found at http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2234/classic-cheese-souffle.

It took a while but it rose a good 5cm and was gobbled down by the family along with a nice salad.

No 21 complete: Hang something up in my house

My dad recently enabled me to complete number 21 on my list - to hang something up in my house. I was able to hang up a picture in my bedroom. And it was an added bonus that I've been wanting to put it up for near on 8 years now....

Finished work!

No 19 complete: Read the Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

It was a long book but I always wanted to read it because of the name association. And now its done! The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens, only a staggering £1.89 from Amazon in light of its 750 odd pages. A short summary can be found here but in essence it follows one main character, Samuel Pickwick on his many travels and adventures as he observes the world with other members of 'the Pickwick Club'. There are lots of interwoven stories within it, including Mr Pickwick going to court, jail, bringing about romantic matches, watching elections, chasing villains etc. There's many memorable characters, funny moments and much detail about the surroundings, including the food etc which I found amusing.

An enjoyable read, even though the language and descriptions were sometimes a little hard to get through at times. Would recommend heartily!

No 1 & 26 completed together: Portobello road market & a hummingbird cake..

'Portobello road, Portobello road, street where the riches of ages are stowed. Anything and everything a chap can unload is sold off the barrow in Portobello road.' Bed-nobs and Broomsticks 

My friend recently took me down to Portobello road market. We started at the Notting Hill Gate end of the road, went through the various antiques tables, then onto food, drink, flowers, odds and ends and finally clothes. I found it absolutely fascinating and will probably take others to see it. And whilst we were there we frequented the Hummingbird bakery where I tasted my first ever famous 'Red Velvet' cupcake. Delicious! 

We even got to see the 'Blue door' from the film Notting Hill (which is back to being blue, as it was apparently painted black for a while) as well as the travel bookshop. 

Thus I've now completed 10 from my list and am nicely a third the way through! 

No 16 complete: Download and play music on my phone

I have now sat down and figured out how to purchase and download music to my phone. And to check it worked I bought my first three tracks for 99p each (some nice Lionel Richie etc) and had the pleasure of listening to them on my phone. Now all that I need is for my new headphones to arrive so I can listen on the go.

No 20 complete: Watch three films made in 60's and 70's

Last night I finished my third old movie, thanks to my uncle and another friend. There are still a few movies I want to watch such as 'Gone with the wind' but I was pleased with the three I chose. I was even more pleased to note one of them were even made before the 60's and 70's. They were 'Casablanca' (1942), 'El Cid' (1961) and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' (1966). I think I enjoyed Casablanca the most, followed by El Cid.

Short synopsis's below:

Casablanca: Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II: An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications

.

Eld Cid: The fabled Spanish hero Rodrigo Diaz (a.k.a. El Cid) overcomes a family vendetta and court intrigue to defend Christian Spain against the Moors.








The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.

No 6 completed: Get a paid-for manicure

I went with my lovely cousin Amanda today to have my first ever manicure (I had a french manicure). We went to a place called Annas Touch of Beauty in Northwood and it was two manicures for £44. All really professionally done and a nice treat after being away.

No 15 completed: Eat own produce

I technically completed this a while back because my spring onions in my garden were ready for eating. But I wanted to wait for my first tomato which came this week. And there's a big crop that will hopefully follow it! Its inspired me to plant again for next year.

No 7 completed: The Godfather

It was a while back but I finally watched the Godfather via Netflix. I probably learnt a lot about the film from other films because I recognised quotes such as 'go to the mattresses' and 'I'll make him an offer he can't refuse'. It was interesting to see a young Robert Duvall, an Al Pacino whom I didn't even recognise at first and Diane Keaton . I didn't really follow completely what was going on (probably because of Marlon Brando's accent) and had to read a synopsis afterwards. But it was entertaining nevertheless. Not sure I'll watch Part II or Part III though....