Number 4: Attend the Hay Festival

Despite having visited the beautiful Hay-on-Wye a few times, I have never attended the literary festival and I feel this is very remiss of me. Every year I look at the programme of wonderful speakers and think I really should go. Having literary pretensions myself once upon a time (I mean, who doesn’t think they have a book inside them?) I think it might be beneficial. Being in close proximity to such a mass of literary talent may result in some kind of transfer of ideas or inspiration, Kind of like osmosis. Failing that I shall waft around in something floral (and possibly a straw hat) and take lots of photos.

Number 3: Visit the Chelsea Flower Show

I remember when I first officially felt like a grown up. It was when I spent my first Bank Holiday weekend at the DIY store. Mr P and I had bought our first house and it had a garden. A great big long one. Not one with just a little patio and a BBQ, an actual grown-up garden with flowers and shrubs and vegetable patches. And a shed! A whole new world opened up to us …

Fast forward 20 years and we’re in a different house with an even bigger garden. It’s a pain in the winter and looks like a jungle when it rains, and we have ever-persistent moles destroying the lawn, but it’s our little patch of heaven, Is there a better feeling than cracking open a cold beer after a day spent digging and potting and lifting and carrying? The joy of mooching around nurseries (we’ve progressed from the DIY sheds) and just generally pottering. The sense of pride in a well-maintained greenhouse and customised potting bench! And as for those (admittedly, rare) moments when every little corner looks exactly as it should … pots and patios and herbs and veggies …. absolute bliss. Until it rains again of course and then it transforms from Country Cottage to Amazonian Labyrinth….

So why the Chelsea Flower Show? Well, garden design has always fascinated me. Unfortunately, whilst Mr P is prepared to put inthe hard slog, I’m a tad less patient. I want a weekend transformation – a 60 Minute Makeover. That looks great on Instagram (naturally). So the thought of seeing so many show gardens all meticulously planned and brimming with inspiration is a no-brainer really. And I might see the Queen. Or Kate. Or Alan Titchmarsh (Tracy, that one’s for you).

Number 2: Have a ‘Signature Dish’

Don’t get me wrong. I can cook. In fact I love cooking. I cook fresh meals for the family pretty much every night and I will happily spend a day in the kitchen with the radio and a recipe book rustling up a feast for friends and family. I love Italian food, Spanish, Greek, Indian, Asian … the more flavours the better. I gave up meat 30 years ago but have always cooked meat for my little carnivores (AKA my DDs) … and I do like my seafood.

However, while I can cook many things (and not always particularly well, I hasten to add. I still have nightmares of the dinner party where my rack of lamb was so rare it virtually gamboled off the plate …) I don’t really have a speciality. A signature dish. Something simple, yet sophisticated. And guaranteed to blow their bloomin’ socks off.

Meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan … I’m open to suggestions. I will be trawling YouTube for winning recipes – I may even book a cookery class. So any suggestions please throw them my way!! As long as it’s fresh, delicious and gets the thumbs up from MrP and my DDs I will be happy. However, I may stay clear of lamb …

Number 1: Write a Blog

Ok, so you might think that setting the first challenge around something that I am actually ALREADY DOING might be cheating. Possibly. However the challenge for me will definitely being in seeing this through. Showing up. Completing the list. And then updating it.

In those corporate personality tests I was never a Completer-Finisher. Oh, I have loads of ideas and actions to kick start new things, but my attention span does seem to waiver …. So, challenge number 1 set up a blog (tick) and maintain it!

As always if you have any comments or suggestions (or hints and tips on blogging!) please add them .. I’d love to hear from you!

50 Things to Do Before I’m 50

50 Things To Do Before I’m 50

The Countdown Starts Today.

Welcome to the Blog of a Menopausal Mother (aged 48 1/2). Thank you for joining me!

So, today is 20th May 2019. Which means that in precisely 18 months time it will be my 50th birthday. Which is either pretty depressing, pretty terrifying or pretty bloody awesome – it depends which way you look at it. At the moment I’m very much rooted in the first two categories, but I’m hoping that come 20th November 2020 I shall be firmly ensconced in the latter. How is that going to happen, you may ask yourself? Well, dear reader this is where my Bucket List kicks. (Although for future purposes I think I’ll just call it my List – sounds a lot less closer-to-death).

Yes, between now and 19th November 2019 I plan to compile a list of 50 activities do in my 50th year to help ensure I celebrate this landmark birthday with positivity, gratitude, a sense of adventure, lashings of style and more than a soupcon of gin.

So over the next few days/weeks/months I shall be compiling my list of 50 things. Please do feel free to add comments and suggestions – maybe based on your own personal experiences? One word of warning however: although I will be setting myself challenges this is not going to be some kind of Bear Grylls adventure journal nor do I anticipate completing any marathons/triathlons/assault courses between now and my birthday. However if you’re a fan of food, drink, families and fun times stay tuned. Oh, and if you spot any typos or grammatical errors please tell me. One must maintain standards 🙂