My Bucket List

I wrote this bucket list 8 years ago. I've completed a few things on the list, but I've also changed my mind about some of the things on my list in regards to whether I really want to do them or not. Some of the things on my list I've had 8 years to work on and still haven't done them so I've crossed them off and added more realistic/relevant goals.

As a child there was only one thing I really, really wanted to do and that was to go to the Olympic Games. I did this in Barcelona in 1992 after winning a competition with the Daily Express. 

When the children were older and finances more secure we started travelling, with and without the children and have had some amazing experiences. Since becoming expats and living in South Africa and  in Dubai, I've had some amazing opportunities for travel and adventure. 

I realised I'd done a lot of things that people usually had on their bucket list, more of a bragging list of things I've completed.

So with all that in mind I really need to get on with finishing Number 1.

1. write a book - I've restarted it
2. get my book published
3. finish psychology degree replaced with Learn British Sign Language for which I've signed up for a course online
4. become a full time fundraiser I have a job I love doing. Currently working as a Teaching Assistant
5. go to the football World Cup Finals
6. climb Mount Kilimanjaro I don't think my health would permit me these days, so changed to walk a mile a day
7. walk the Inca Trail
8. visit Cairo I can tick this off the list
9. live in America Having lived abroad for 12 years, I'm keen to stay in the UK, but if I could live abroad I'd aim for Australia
10. fly everywhere Business class - must write that book
11. experience 1st class flying
12. take the train across America
13. see Roger Waters live in concert - I had the chance to go a couple of weeks ago, but missed out 
14. meet Roger Black
15. learn to make my own clothes - I'm a step nearer with owning a sewing machine and over locker
16. tour Europe in a camper van
17. own a camper van
18. live on a small holding again I don't want to move house so I'm going to improve my gardening knowledge
19. lose weight - a continuous battle
20. get fit - I swim, cycle and dog walk
21. learn to love my own company - I am enjoying time on my own when I can
22. see the northern lights
23. learn French
24. learn how to apply make up professionally
25. learn how to style my own hair professionally
26. go on a world cruise
27. own a designer handbag I own a couple now I use weekly
28. own designer shoes
29. wear a Laura Ashley dress every day wear dresses more, which I do
30. have my nails painted professionally every week that's something I do twice a month
31. own a designer watch
32. own and wear matching underwear everyday
33. rent an Aston Martin for a week
34. go to a Grand Prix
35. read a book every week on my 29th book this year
36. improve my grammar and spelling currently working as a Teaching Assistant with a student studying A level English Literature
37. go to the cinema once a month with hubby - does once a month to the theatre/cinema count
38. get all 5 children together once a year with hubby with kids living round the world and having their own families, this isn't going to happen
39. learn to play golf
40. try to love eating olives - I keep trying but, yuk
41. keep an orchid house plant alive past it's first flowering - bought an orchid last week, fingers crossed
42. renew our wedding vows in Vegas
43. learn to let go of the past
44. give up smoking - gave up, restarted
45. sort my teeth out  had dental implants 4 years ago
46. improve my photography skills - need to charge my camera and get using it
47. go on a spa weekend  after living in Dubai and doing this, I've added swim weekly to the list
48. improve my writing am writing my book slowly
49. finish all my craft projects I've started over the years I'm on top of everything now
50. get sponsored to do any of the above - still hoping

Well that's it, my Ultimate Bucket List. I'd love to see yours.

My Bucket/Bragging List

When I wrote my Ultimate Bucket List  I realised there were so many things and places I'd already achieved and visited. I'd never really thought much about travel when I was growing up, my Father travelled the world with his job and brought back amazing souvenirs, photos and stories of his time abroad, but I never thought in a million years that one day I'd be visiting some of the same places he has, yet alone live in them, and other new and just as exciting places.

When I look back I realise I've had some amazing opportunities in my life, met some amazing people and travelled far wider than I ever thought.

So I thought I'd write my Bucket List in reverse, share with you my adventures to date. Most of them I'd love to do again, some I'm glad I've experienced but won't be revisiting.

I suppose you could call this my bragging list, but who cares.

In no particular order:

1. Been caving
2. Had a helicopter ride
3. Visited the Grand Canyon
4. Played the slots in Las Vegas
5. Been on a Safari
6. Camped in a township in South Africa
7. Been on a film set - Intolerable Cruelty and Harry Potter
8. Visited Luxor
9. Visited the Valley of the Kings
10. Lived abroad
11. Been up Table Mountain
12. Driven the Garden Route
13. Rode the Big Shot in Vegas
14. Visited Death Valley
15. Been to the Hoover Dam
16. Watched England play at Wembley
17. Went to the Olympic Games in Barcelona
18. Went up the worlds tallest building The Burj Khalifa
19. Seen the Niagara Falls
20. Camped in the wild
21. Walked down Downing Street, prior to the gates being installed
22. Seen the Montjuic fountains
23. Stayed at the Bellagio
24. Seen Cher perform at Caesars Palace
25. Eloped
26. Seen an African sunset
27. Seen an African sunrise
28. Dined up the Eiffel Tower
29. Drove round the Champs Elysees
30. Been Whale Watching
31. Driven across Europe
32. Seen a Giant Panda
33. Seen a Leopard hunt
34. Ridden an ostrich
35. Visited the tulip fields in Holland
36. Seen the Namaqua flowers
37. Visited Alcatraz
38. Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge
39. Been to Hollywood
40. Been up Crater lake
41. Swam in the Nile
42. Visited the Temple of Karnac
43. Performed on stage
44. Met a Witch Doctor
45. Taught in a township in South Africa
46. Camped in Kruger
47. Got a Blue Peter badge
48. Was interviewed on Radio 5
49. Been to a FA cup final
50. Play the Clarinet

My Ultimate Bucket List

I've never had a Bucket List, raising 5 kids and working always limited both finances and time. 

As a child there was only one thing I really, really wanted to do and that was to go to the Olympic Games. I did this in Barcelona in 1992 after winning a competition with the Daily Express. 

When the children were older and finances more secure we started travelling, with and without the children and have had some amazing experiences. Since becoming expats and living in South Africa and now in Dubai, I've had some amazing opportunities for travel and adventure. 

I was tagged by Morgan Prince to share my own ultimate bucket list. I think a lot of my list is a fantasy as it's quite a list that would cost quite a lot of money, I don't work at the moment, but if I did get a job I wouldn't have the time to complete the list. 

So with all that in mind I really need to get on with finishing Number 1.

1. write a book
2. get my book published
3. finish psychology degree
4. become a full time fundraiser
5. go to the football World Cup Finals
6. climb Mount Kilimanjaro
7. walk the Inca Trail
8. visit Cairo
9. live in America
10. fly everywhere Business class
11. experience 1st class flying
12. take the train across America
13. see Roger Waters live in concert
14. meet Roger Black
15. learn to make my own clothes
16. tour Europe in a camper van
17. own a camper van
18. live on a small holding
19. lose weight
20. get fit
21. learn to love my own company
22. see the northern lights
23. learn French
24. learn how to apply make up professionally
25. learn how to style my own hair professionally
26. go on a world cruise
27. own a designer handbag
28. own designer shoes
29. wear a Laura Ashley dress every day
30. have my nails painted professionally every week
31. own a designer watch
32. own and wear matching underwear everyday
33. rent an Aston Martin for a week
34. go to a Grand Prix
35. read a book every week
36. improve my grammar and spelling 
37. go to the cinema once a month with hubby
38. get all 5 children together once a year with hubby
39. learn to play golf
40. try to love eating olives
41. keep an orchid house plant alive past it's first flowering
42. renew our wedding vows in Vegas
43. learn to let go of the past
44. give up smoking
45. sort my teeth out
46. improve my photography skills
47. go on a spa weekend
48. improve my writing
49. finish all my craft projects I've started over the years
50. get sponsored to do any of the above

Well that's it, my Ultimate Bucket List. I'd love to see yours.

So I tag the following 3 bloggers

Claire Toplis

Erica Price 

Izzie Anderton