Oh My Days, like, Where HAVE you BEEN!?

I've been, like, busy and stuff, like.

OK, so this is going to be a heck of a list, but let's see now...

All the way back to number 2: Get a New Job.  Things are finally starting to sink in now, and although I had some problems at the start, I can confidently say now, almost a year later, that I got a new job as a special educational needs teaching assistant.  It's a tough job, but I ADORE it, every single second!

Way back in September/October 2011 I started going to Zumba, so a big, fat tick on number 9.

Number 13: Watch all the Lord of the Rings in a Day is also complete, after doing the all nighter event at the IMax last month.

Number 20: Set up a Monthly Donation to Charity I ticked recently too.  Hubby and I have started a monthly donation to RSPB, a very worthy charity that protects our natural spaces and the animals that live there.

Number 22: Read 101 new books... ah ha... It's been a little quiet, as most of my reading time was in my commuting, but I've started to find time again.  List of books read are:
19: Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder
20: Doctor Who and the Daleks by David Whitaker
21: Their Newborn Gift by Nikki Logan
22: Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder
23: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
24: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
25: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
26: All Balls and Glitter by Craig Revel Horwood
27: The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
28: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
29: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
30: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
31: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
32: Ten Things Every Child with Autism wants you to Know by Ellen Notbohm

In progress is Dear Fatty by Dawn French.  It's quite satisfying to note that I actually requested this on Kindle about the time that I read A Tiny Bit Marvellous.  The system, in some way shape or form, works.

Number 30: Go to the IMAX.  I've now been twice, once to see *coughcoughTitanicin3Dcough* and again for the LotR marathon, though the latter wasn't the full IMax experience.  Absolutely love it, other cinemas are wet by comparison.

Number 37: Make vegan marshmallows.  I've ticked it off, though I wouldn't consider the experiment to be 100% successful.  They were OK, but a bit melty.  With the recent heatwave I've gone from 15 marshmallows to one bit one.

Number 42: Fill Some Photo Albums.  Well, I've filled one album with a whole load of baby pics that dad gave me.  I've got loads left over, so I'll be another album project for another day.

Number 43: Put some Wedding Photos in the Living Room.  Tim once again helped out with this, he gave me a canvas print of our favourite wedding print.  I've got a large print too that needs framing, and I want to print out some more to hang up too.

Number 50: Go to Brighton for the Day.  I went with my mate Hannah to see a friend of ours in hospital.  The beach was great, we're going to head back over half term too.

Number 54: Visit Cambridge.  Went and saw mate Tim for the day in his new home town.  Cambridge is an absolutely stunning place.

Number 55: Paint my Nails.  After buying in some magnetic polish I painted my nails a couple of times last year.  Must do it again.

Number 56: Get a New Haircut - to the power of two.  I've chopped most of my hair off in favour of a shorter 'do.  Been colouring it again, been having loads of fun with colours.

Number 62: Start a Vegetable Patch.  Down at the bottom of my garden is... carrots, peas, onions, garlic, potatoes, watercress, spinach and beans, plus raspberries and strawberry.  Whether or not they'll have grown properly is another matter.

There's also a myriad of things in progress.

*whew!*

Numbers 21, 22 and 40

Firstly, Number 21: Put up a shelf in my new house is DONE!! Hooray! I didn't do it personally, husband did the hard graft. My dragons have gone on the shelf and out of their various boxes for the first time in 3 years :)

Number 22: 101 Books: Book number 18 was of course Snyder's Storm Glass, which did pick up considerably and turned into a very enjoyable book. In places it was predictable, but still a good read. Book 19 is the sequel Sea Glass, which I've not got very far in but it certainly sounds to be a decent sequel.

Finally, number 40: Send a Surprise Gift. I've decided who I'm sending it to, but who could be possibly be? OooooOOOoooOOooo, it's a surprise :)

Number 22, 90 and 100

Not much to update on, really.

Completed another book for Number 22: Outside In by Maria V Snyder. Sequel to Inside Out, I don't consider either to be as strong as the Magic Study series. Outside In especially ended rather weakly and the plot as a whole dragged its heels a little.

Experiencing the same feelings with Storm Glass, Snyder's other series, the Glass Series. Following on from the Magic Study Series, I kind of wish I'd read it sooner after Magic Study, I've half forgotten what happened. Preferring Storm Glass to Outside In, it's more gripping where the danger and twists happen, but for a long time I was wondering if there was going to be enough for a whole novel let alone three. Slowly but surely though, it's getting there, book number 18.

Number 90: Learn to Sing... snark! Talk about jumping in at the deep end! My Evanesence book came, trying to imitate Amy Lee isn't exactly beginner material, but I love their music and I love love love her voice! If only we had a piano to accompany me...

Number 100: Buy Fresh Flowers Every Month. Can't remember what my second bunch is, they're very pretty though. I got two bunchs, one with little purple flowers and one that was discounted because the flowers hadn't bloomed yet. Well, the latter bunch have almost finished opening into these beautiful pink, flute shaped blooms. Very lovely :)

All Booked Up

Hehe, that was a funny play on words!

Anyway, the most intensive challenge I set myself, Number 22, I believe (you see, it's mentioned so often I can remember its number now) continues with full steam.

Worked out that today alone I spent over 5 hours reading. That's what happens when trains are held up and you're painfully punctual, I guess.

Anyway, so recently completed works:

Nation by Terry Pratchett: I don't whole heartedly enjoy Pratchett as much as the rest of my friendship group, I'll admit. I find the books quite sluggish to start, then a bit rambly in places and often too random and off the mark. Nation is set outside of Discworld with a host of new characters. Again, slow start but got more enjoyable in the middle once the main character gained a companion. Narrative flows better with more than one person. The very last chapter was pretty week and pointless, but I think I enjoyed this more than most of the Discworlds I've read.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne: At first, I rated this quite highly, but looking back there's not a great deal going for it. Knowing that the book is based in World War II Auschwitz made it more gripping than the story actually was. It was a short read, I completed it in a day (granted, a day where over five hours of it was spent reading, thank you long commutes) but it had potential to have... well, more I guess. But it would make a good read for a Year 7 class (probably not quite Primary material) so that the blanks could be filled.

I'm going to the Lake District on Friday, so have been downloading extra books as I am certain that WiFi will be hard to come by there.

So far, Book 17 will either be Outside In, Storm Glass or The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Flower Power

Another end of week update, feel I'm doing pretty good at the moment!

Number 4: Finish my Novel: This is the novel I've worked on for years and years and years. Surely, something I started aged 13 must have been left in the vault of childhood dreams, but the more that gets changed, the more potential it seems to have. I am currently writing it, ergo, in progress!

Number 17: Plant Flowers: DONE!! Yay!! Went with husband to Homebase and bought lots of lovely flowery things, including violas and a couple of pretty, reddy coloured flowers that I can't remember the names of. We also planted some lavender, raspberry plants and strawberry plants. Can't wait for those to fruit! I plan to take good care of my garden from now on, I want to get some more pots and more flowers to put in them. And I plan to prune the roses that the old home owners left more frequently. I deadheaded them today, and am covered in scratches as a result. Very satisfied though :)

Number 22: Read 101 Books: Finished House Rules by Jodi Picoult a few days ago. Really enjoyed it, though predicted the ending quite early on. One thing I will say; fictions involving children with autism is not a good basis on how they will act and react in the real world. This is also true of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Both books involve a child with autism in outrageous situations (and why not? It's no good making fiction that doesn't involve a circumstance different to the norm, otherwise it wouldn't be good fiction) and so I feel like I've learnt very little about Aspergers. More like how a child with Aspergers would react if they've been accused of murder. Still, very much enjoyed. Book 15 is Terry Pratchett's Nation.

Number 53: Find 5 Boys Names and 5 Girls Names We Like: An odd task, but consider it my way of saying "Prepare for children." Husband and I would both love a baby, but we've both accepted that it could be a long time before we are financially and mentally ready. We want a long marriage and want to be secure in ourselves before we bring a third person into out mix. So instead of forcing a timeframe on this invisible third person, let's put a timeframe on the more exciting part of babies: the naming! So, boy name number 1 is Idris (Welsh, translates as "great lord") and girl name number 1 is Ylva (Scandinavian, translates as "she-wolf.") 8 more to go!

Number 58: 50 Films: Kick Ass was a wicked film, a fantastic reply to your typical superhero movie without being over derogative. The basis is pretty simple; what happens when a normal teenager decides to become a super hero? No radioactive insects, no hefty inheritance. It's as warm and amusing as it is hard hitting. There are some pretty gory bits.

The long awaited Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 has a lot of promise to be a powerful, dramatic conclusion to both the long running film/book series. At the end of the books, there were still the films to hold on to, but this is it now. Nothing. But did they do it justice? The Harry Potter film franchise has been tossed about from director to director, like a troublesome foster child that no one can cope with. The directors have ranged from awful to just-about-passable-I-guess, and here the director lands somewhere in the middle. So, what did I love? The dragon was spectacular (kudos the character animators for that one), Maggie Smith was wonderful, the Pensive scenes were an exciting rush, Fred Weasley's death, Lupin and Tonks, the Resurrection scene and King's Cross. What I didn't enjoy was how underwhelming the climax was. Voldemort was defeated and no one seemed to be celebrating. Just kind of gossiping. And a few moments ago everyone thought Harry was dead, why is no one thrilled to see him? But the end seemed to fizzle out with none of the drama and splendour that Lord of the Rings or Pirates had at the end of their trilogies, and there was only three films to their set. After seven films we were owed a bit more, especially as we had to suffer abysmal child acting and some bizarre set and character designs.

Number 62: Start a Vegetable Patch: Let's leave the high horse behind and return to the garden. In addition to my flowers and fruits, carrots were planted. More by Husband than me, but we have a veggie patch in the making! Hope next door's cat doesn't dig them up, he tends to use that bed as a litter tray. Will consider this complete when more veggies are in.

Number 78: Write My Autobiography: Why write an autobiography? Am I being big headed or self sanctimonious? Neither, really. Ever had the urge to write something, but you're totally stuck for ideas? Well, writing about your own life doesn't need any ideas, just your own memory. It's easy writing, really. I started it a while back, but forgot to mention.

Number 100: Buy Fresh Flowers Every Month: Don't know when I'll consider this done, but bought my first flowers yesterday. Four big sunflowers, which Husband chose for me :)

So there we go, 3% of the list is complete!

Wow, that sounds incredibly, incredibly...

Small...

DING DING DING!!!! LIST COMPLETE!!!

It's here!! It's done!! It's my completed Day Zero List!

And here it is, in all its glory! Some of the later ones are a bit half hearted, but everything is there. Pow pow!

1

Give Blood

2

Get a New Job

3

Redo my Showreel

4

Finish my Novel

5

Write and Illustrate a Children's Book

6

Lose 20kg

7

Try Fudge Kitchen's Vegan Fudge

8

Have a Lush Spa Treatment

9

Go to Zumba Classes

10

Run a Marathon

11

Visit London Zoo ENGLAND

12

Make Paper Flowers for a Local Hospital

13

Watch all the Lord of the Rings in a Day

14

Make a Piece of Clothing

15

Go to an Animation Festival

16

Drive my VW Beetle

17

Plant Flowers

18

Complete my ALQ

19

Take Cookies to White City

20

Set up a Monthly Donation to a Charity

21

Put Up a Shelf in our New House

22

Read 101 Books I Have Not Read Before

23

Buy a New Origami Book and do Every Pattern

24

Go to The Fighting Cocks

25

Learn to Speak French Fluently

26

Make Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

27

Visit Cornwall

28

Get a New Music Book and Play my Violin

29

Have a Pyjama Day

30

Go to the IMAX

31

Create a scrapbook

32

Go to a live sporting event

33

Knit a Hat

34

Illustrate my Dragon Story

35

Add 5 Really Good Drawings to my Portfolio

36

Make Candles

37

Make Vegan Marshmallows

38

Make Vegan Mars Bars

39

Get a Fish Tank

40

Send a Surprise Gift

41

Do Some Tie-Dye

42

Fill Some Photo Albums

43

Put Some Wedding Photos in Our Front Room

44

Climb a Scottish Mountain

45

Spruce Up Some Boring Jeans

46

Do Some Whittling

47

Watch the Chronicles of Narnia Films

48

Learn German

49

Make an Animated Short

50

Go to Brighton for a Day

51

Do the Fish Walk in Hull

52

Go to Edinburgh Fringe

53

Find 5 Boys' Names and 5 Girls' Names We Like

54

Visit Cambridge

55

Paint my Nails

56

Get a New Haircut

57

See Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies in the Same Day

58

Watch 50 films I've never seen before

59

Bake a Brownie for Vcross

60

Learn 3 New 3 Ball Juggling Moves

61

Learn 3 New Contact Juggling Moves

62

Start a Vegetable Patch

63

Get a Dwarf Apple Tree and Keep it Alive

64

Design and Make Christmas Cards for Everyone

65

Visit 5 Vegan Restaurants in London

66

Make a Cuddly Toy from Scratch

67

Learn How to Use Illustrator Better

68

Paint an Extravagant Murial in our Second Bedroom

69

Visit 5 New Locations in London

70

Go On a Long Cycling Trip

71

Make Some Fancy Chocolates from Scratch

72

Fold 1,000 Cranes in a Year

73

Make a Piece of Jewellery

74

Do 10 Random Acts of Kindness from the RAOK Book

75

Try 5 New Baking Recipes

76

Hold a Dinner Party

77

Draw Beautiful Storyboards for My Short

78

Write My Own Autobiography

79

Write a Story for my Niece

80

Learn Basic Dutch

81

Discover 15 New Music Artists

82

Make at Least One Payment to Student Loans

83

Sign Up to an Illustration Agency

84

Don't complain about anything for a week

85

Go to 5 different museums

86

Make Vegan Icecream

87

Make 5 Crafts Out of Tetra Paks

88

Run a Stand at a Comic Convention

89

Take and Edit 5 Photographs

90

Learn to sing

91

Make friendship bracelets

92

Make a List of Restaurants I like in London

93

Learn 20 New Words and Use them in Conversation

94

Get a Henna Tattoo

95

Keep the House Clean for a Month

96

See 5 Bands I've Always Wanted to See

97

Make a New Glass for Tim

98

Try 10 new recipes

99

Watch a TV Box Set in a Day

100

Buy fresh flowers every month

101

Design a Surfboard