Category: 60 Before 60

Flying Lessons and Duke of Edinburgh

Getting involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the chance of a flying lesson.

I’ve just booked a flying lesson! Well, I’ve almost booked one. I was flicking through my emails and noticed an offer for reduced price flying lessons on Living Social so I’ve bought the voucher. When it comes through I can book the 90 minute lesson. The small print says I have to give availability for four weekends over a 12 month period and they will contact me when I can have my lesson. So I won’t know exactly when I’ll be having my lesson until just before it happens, but the anticipation will be lovely.

I love the idea of being able to pilot my own small aircraft, but it’s expensive and so is something I can’t really contemplate doing at the moment. If I enjoy this one-off lesson I’ll know that it is something I really want to do and is worth saving for, and if not, I can take it off my list.

As for the Duke of Edinburgh, I’m talking about the award not the person. I keep trying to get involved in this but it never works out. This year I seem to have a really good chance of being involved. I went to a meeting last night where we planned for the coming year. As long as we get enough students interested I’ll be able to be part of the facilitating team. I’ve already said that my strengths lie in walking, camping and orienteering, and so I could work with the students on the expedition. Of course what’s in it for me is that it will count towards my walking group leader’s qualfication.

So, after a bit of a lull, things seem to be picking up again.

2012 Twelve May Review

The fifth review of my 2012 Twelve challenges. I’ve been rubbish!

A bit of a rubbish month as far as this list goes. Looking over it, I can’t think of anything I’ve actually done towards it. Ah well, must try harder next month.

  1. Floating in a floatation tank (I’m hoping to do this in London during the February half term)
  2. Reading at least 10 books from the BBC Big Read list (if I read 10 a year, I’ll have the whole 200 knocked off in the next 12-13 years!)
  3. Taking at least one photo every day of the year (this will improve my photography skills, be a photo-diary of ‘year in my life’, and help me to learn to use my new camera)
  4. Coming up with a fitness plan and sticking to it (the start of my training for Kilimanjaro, though I may not actually climb it for several years yet)
  5. Leading at least 4 of my own walks (good practice for my walking group leader’s qualification)
  6. Buying another house (need to get my finances in order first)
  7. Learning to use at least 3 new pieces of technology or computer programmes (not counting my new camera)
  8. Doing a writing course (depends on the length of the course whether I’d complete it in the year or not)
  9. Getting at least one piece of writing published (paid or unpaid, as long as someone else makes the decision to publish it and it’s not self-published)
  10. Making a start on sorting out my photos (putting the prints that are currently still stuffed in packets into albums and getting all my photos scanned into the computer – no way will this be completed in a year, but I’ll feel good even if I get started on it)
  11. Buying a car/van that I can sleep in (and doing any necessary conversions/adaptations)
  12. Getting into cycling (even if it’s just short cycles along decent paths)

Getting things booked

A week off work leaves me feeling organised, clear-headed and on top of things.

I’ve been off work this week as I lost my voice. Careless I know. As a teacher a voice is pretty much essential for my job. Still at least I’ve been able to get loads (and I mean LOADS) of stuff done at home that I normally never get time to do. Like cleaning. I’m feeling very organised and virtuous as I look around my sparkling and tidy home. Having a clear and clean space around me makes my head feel cleaner and clearer too and I feel better able to get on with things. So this afternoon I’ve sat at my clean and clear desk and done all kinds of organising and booking tasks.

I tried to book tickets for myself and a friend to go to Wembley in June to see England play Belgium but they are sold out! I only got an email on Sunday saying that tickets were available and I really didn’t think Belgium were that exciting a team, so I didn’t quite believe the ‘sold out’ sign when I first saw it. Oh well, what’s meant to be is meant to be. I’ll try to go next season instead and maybe I’ll get to see a more interesting team. Not going in June also means I get to go straight down to the South West Coast Path for half term rather than having to detour into London on the way. So that’s a bonus. It would be better to see England when it’s a stand-alone weekend rather than a half term as then it doesn’t impact on anything else and I can actually have a nice weekend in London. So although it would have been nice to get a challenge ticked off, I’m not too disappointed about it.

I did get to book tickets to hear the Dalai Lama speak in Manchester later on in June though. I’m not overly interested in Buddhism but he is pretty important and as I am interested in religions generally it’s a good opportunity to go and hear what he’s got to say. I’m going with a friend’s daughter who is currently studying Theology. Like me, she’s got more of a general interest than a specific interest in Buddhism.

I’ve also booked myself onto a walk led by Stephen Booth in September. It’s a 5 mile walk starting in Castleton and is visiting some of the locations mentioned in his books. No dead bodies guaranteed but it should still be an interesting walk. At the same time as booking it I’ve also joined the Friends of the Peak District. This is an organisation that runs various campaigns to support the Peak District and has different events on offer, the Booth walk being just one of them.

As well as this, I’ve sorted out lots of other things today, like the breakdown cover for my van (actually got a refund!), a magazine subscription, my pension, and changed my Ramblers membership to a group closer to where I live.

So, all in all, I feel like I’ve had a productive day. This would never have been possible if I’d had to go to work. It’s made me realise that for my life to run smoothly and for me to be able to do all the things I want I either have to give up work or get myself a maid and a PA. As I can’t afford either option I guess I’ll just have to accept that for most of the time things just don’t get done.

2012 Twelve April Review

The fourth monthly review of my 2012 Twelve challenges.

1)  Floating in a floatation tank (I’m hoping to do this in London during the February half term)

2)  Reading at least 10 books from the BBC Big Read list (if I read 10 a year, I’ll have the whole 200 knocked off in the next 12-13 years!) – I still haven’t read any more of the list, though I have bought myself a copy of Heidi which is on the list somewhere.

3)  Taking at least one photo every day of the year (this will improve my photography skills, be a photo-diary of ‘year in my life’, and help me to learn to use my new camera) – as I’ve been on holiday I’ve taken a lot more photographs – however this all stopped when I got back home and got straight back into being busy, busy, busy …  

4)  Coming up with a fitness plan and sticking to it (the start of my training for Kilimanjaro, though I may not actually climb it for several years yet) – still nothing done on this one.

5)  Leading at least 4 of my own walks (good practice for my walking group leader’s qualification) – nor this one.

6)  Buying another house (need to get my finances in order first) – actually made a start on going through my accounts

7)  Learning to use at least 3 new pieces of technology or computer programmes (not counting my new camera) – I’ve been learning to use the video camera I bought before Christmas.

8)  Doing a writing course (depends on the length of the course whether I’d complete it in the year or not) – I took the first lesson with me on holiday and made a start on it. Now I just need to finish it. 

9)  Getting at least one piece of writing published (paid or unpaid, as long as someone else makes the decision to publish it and it’s not self-published)

10) Making a start on sorting out my photos (putting the prints that are currently still stuffed in packets into albums and getting all my photos scanned into the computer – no way will this be completed in a year, but I’ll feel good even if I get started on it) – nothing done

11) Buying a car/van that I can sleep in (and doing any necessary conversions/adaptations) – I’m researching conversions and have the number of someone I can get to have a look at it for me and give me some advice. 

12) Getting into cycling (even if it’s just short cycles along decent paths) – I’ve bought some panniers and a cycle computer. I might not have done any actual cycling but I’m now better equipped for the cycling I don’t do!

The evolution of a blog

How is my blog evolving one year on?

It’s now a year since I started this blog. I’d previously played around with different ideas for blogs and although I like to think they were good ideas I never really got into them. They never felt quite right for me. This one, on the other hand, seems to have become a natural extension of the things I do. It sometimes feels as though it almost writes itself.

I started it as a way of focusing on the things that I’d like to do over the course of the next big chunk of my life and as way of motivating me to achieve these things. Though it’s still heavily aimed at this primary purpose it’s evolved into a place where I can record the things I do, eat, think, read or generally find interesting regardless of how relevant they are to my 60 goals. I used to keep diaries when I travelled during my gap decade, but I got out of the habit when I settled back in the UK. This is almost a way of keeping a diary again, but one I can access anywhere in the world as long as I have an internet connection.

Looking back over my goals and achievements I feel I’ve made quite a good start. I don’t have 60 things on my list yet as I’m sure I’ll think of more things as time goes on and I didn’t want to add challenges just for the sake of reaching a total of 60. Assuming I do end up with 60, as long as I achieve at the rate of four a year I will be done in plenty of time. Over the past year I’ve achieved six. One of which was a big one – seeing the Northern Lights. There are at least another three that I should achieve in the next few months, and others that are bubbling along nicely. So the blog is fulfilling its purpose. Some of my achievements are things I probably wouldn’t have done without it as although they’d have still been at the back of my mind, I would have kept putting off doing anything about them. So all in all I’m feeling pretty happy with myself and the way things are coming along.

Driving on the wrong side of the road

I want to drive on the wrong side of the road.

I’ve thought of another challenge to add to my list: drive confidently on the wrong side of the road. Up until now I’ve not had a vehicle I would have been willing to trust on a journey to the continent, but now I have my van I really should give it a go. 

I know from cycling in the Netherlands that going straight isn’t too much of a problem; the real issues arise when I have to go round corners or change lanes. But particularly going round corners. I automatically go back on to what to me is the right side of the road. I think the first time I do this I have to have someone with me as an extra pair of eyes. Hm, now where am I going to find a volunteer for this job?

Horse leading

Leading horses had me a little worried.

My youngest niece was six on Monday and as a birthday treat she’d asked to go horse riding. As neither she nor her sister has learnt to ride this meant they each sat on the back of a horse and were led around the area. Two children, two horses meant two adult leaders. Two adult leaders meant both my brother and myself were called into service.

 

I was a little dubious about this as my track record with horses is not good. The only time I’ve ridden was once in Iceland a couple of summers ago. I rented a horse for an hour and went out with a guide. As it was my first time I had a docile horse and we went very slowly. What could go wrong? Well, first my horse got a bit spooked by a car on the road, reared up and threw me off into the path of said car. The driver, who luckily was going very slowly, seemed a bit bemused to have a person suddenly land in front of him. But it wasn’t a problem. I’d felt like I’d fallen in slow motion and so wasn’t hurt at all. The horse was fine and I got back on. It was probably only my inexperience that caused this anyway as I’m sure anyone with even the remotest idea of equine behaviour would have been fine and controlled the situation without a problem.

 

The remainder of the ride back to the stable was uneventful and I quite enjoyed my brief experience. Of course, once back at the stable, I had to dismount. As I slid inelegantly from the saddle my finger caught in the mane and twisted. An hour or two later it was swelling badly and I was in a lot of pain with it. I had to pack up my tent, catch the bus to the next place and re-pitch my tent. All of this I did very slowly. The next day it was even worse. I went to the pharmacist who sent me to the doctor who sent me to the hospital. It turned out I’d broken my finger. But it was no ordinary break – why do something the normal way when you can make it more complicated? My x-rays had to be sent to Reykjavik for a specialist to look at and advise.

 

So as can be seen, my experiences with horses has not been very positive so far. The irony of how I can fall off and be fine, but then break my finger when getting off correctly was not lost on me. Luckily I’m fairly resiliant and the whole experience hasn’t put me off wanting to learn to ride. If anything I want to do this even more now as I don’t like feeling beaten by something.

 

However, I might be happy to get on a horse again myself, but it’s a whole different story being in charge of horse with my young niece sat on its back. And to make me even more nervous, no riding hats were provided. We walked along the road and down a few lanes round the fields in a big circle. The horses stopped a few times to let us know that they were really in charge – they’d refuse to move for a few minutes – but overall it was absolutely fine. I was really relieved when we got back safe and sound though!

2012 Twelve March Review

The 3rd monthly review of my 2012 Twelve challenges.

1.  Floating in a floatation tank (I’m hoping to do this in London during the February half term)
 
2.  Reading at least 10 books from the BBC Big Read list (if I read 10 a year, I’ll have the whole 200 knocked off in the next 12-13 years!) – I still haven’t read any
 

3.  Taking at least one photo every day of the year (this will improve my photography skills, be a photo-diary of ‘year in my life’, and help me to learn to use my new camera) – not been very good at this either
 

4.  Coming up with a fitness plan and sticking to it (the start of my training for Kilimanjaro, though I may not actually climb it for several years yet) – nor this
 
5. Leading at least 4 of my own walks (good practice for my walking group leader’s qualification) – I’ve volunteered to lead some walks at school as an extra-curricular activity, but this wouldn’t start until at least September and may not actually happen at all
 

6.  Buying another house (need to get my finances in order first) – I’ve made a very limited start on going through my paperwork
 

7.  Learning to use at least 3 new pieces of technology or computer programmes (not counting my new camera) – nothing done here, though I’m getting slightly better at using Apple Macs
 

8.  Doing a writing course (depends on the length of the course whether I’d complete it in the year or not) – still haven’t started this
 
9.  Getting at least one piece of writing published (paid or unpaid, as long as someone else makes the decision to publish it and it’s not self-published)
 
10. Making a start on sorting out my photos (putting the prints that are currently still stuffed in packets into albums and getting all my photos scanned into the computer – no way will this be completed in a year, but I’ll feel good even if I get started on it) – done nothing about this
 
11. Buying a car/van that I can sleep in (and doing any necessary conversions/adaptations) – I’ve bought a van and started researching conversions.

12. Getting into cycling (even if it’s just short cycles along decent paths) – almost a step backwards on this one as the cycle rack I bought last summer won’t fit on my new van (anyone want to buy an unused cycle rack for a hatchback car?)

Well, reading over my review I realise I sound rubbish! I don’t even have the excuse of March being a short month. But my major achievement this month was buying my van and the whole procedure of looking for one, checking it out, buying it and sorting out insurance did take an awful lot of time. So I’ll use this as my excuse instead. 

I’m writing this in Germany. I’ve only been here a couple of days and I’ve already done a few things I can write about in my April review. How much easier it is to achieve the things I want to do when I don’t have to go to work! 

Ballooning

I’ll get a hot air balloon booked one of these days.

I’ve just checked my groupon emails and there is an offer on the London email for hot air ballooning. I missed out on this offer this time last year because I was in Germany and only checked my emails too late. I’ve still got a day and a half to apply this time but I’m not sure if I will. The price is £99 and supposedly this is half price. But when I check the Virgin balloon site £99 is the full price for a weekday morning flight in the North West anyway and it’s only slightly more expensive for flights at other times and days. So I’m thinking I’ll hold out and see if there are any similar offers on the Manchester email which would hopefully be cheaper.

Chess

A cheap chess set is my first step towards completing this challenge.

Chess is one of those things that everyone seems to know how to do except me. I’ve tried to learn at different times over the years, but each time I find someone with a chess set and the knowledge and patience to teach me, I get a few lessons and then we end up in different countries and that’s the end of my chess for another few years. By the time I get to have another go I don’t remember anything and I’m back to square one.

I’ve been on the lookout for a cheap chess set that I can start to play around on and try to teach myself a few moves using the internet and books. Last night I was in Tesco and found a game that combines chess, draughts and backgammon. It isn’t anything fancy but it’s all I need for starters. It should have been a tenner but was marked down to £2.50 – how could I resist? So I now have one less excuse to put off finally learning how to play chess.