This Summer Redux

I challenged myself back at the start of the summer to undertake some fun things. No dull to-do lists for me! As autumn is drawing in, it seems time to look back at the list and see how I got on.

Watch some outdoor theatre

DONE - Macbeth and The Importance of Being Earnest.  Very different performances and theatre companies but they were both absolutely brilliant.

Book an autumn break with the girls from work

DONE - I am very excited.  Only a month or so to go!

Go to the Edinburgh Festival

DONE - Oh it was fantastic. We squeezed in 12 shows in two and a bit days so it was somewhat hectic but there was time for cider drinking in the sunshine and we even found time to go and see Chris Hoy's gold postbox.

Make a complicated cake - possibly Dobos Torte. See here for a mega review of someone else trying it!

NOT DONE - unfortunately the only real opportunity I had for this was the mid August for family birthdays but I ran out of time and the moment passed.  I still want to make it but it seems a bit pointless to make such a big cake just to take into work.  Hmmmm.  Someone have a birthday please.

Complete Project Bunny

DONE - and I am fricking pleased with myself.  I am still a wibbly knitter: I panic and then get hysterically giggly when casting on (seriously, why do I do this?) and my tension is terrible (probably cos I'm tense) but I made them and they look awesome, even if I do say so myself.

Have a smashing time at the Olympics

DONE - see this post for more thoughts and pictures.  What a truly amazing day it was.

Take my lovely new tent camping again

I took no photos of the tent: it was too wet. This was in a cafe in Church Stretton.

DONE - it was ridiculously rainy. We got drenched.  We then had bits of tent draped over the bannisters and dining room table for a week.  Still had a cracking time though!

Go to the football - either a pre-season Liverpool game or keep it local and go and watch Marine

DONE - I took the menfolk to see Liverpool vs Bayern Leverkusen as their birthday present.  Then someone crashed into the back of the car on the way home.  Fun eh?

Try a Zumba class

HA! You think you're getting a photo of me in exercise gear.  Think again.

DONE - I went by myself and everything.  This may not seem much but I get a bit panicky about doing things like that for the first time so I'm impressed I actually went.  It wasn't too bad either! I managed the whole thing and didn't ache afterwards so perhaps I'm fitter than I thought. 

Have a picnic with Shell and Baby Jack because I just don't see the two of them enough

NOT DONE - bad Alex.  I have basically had no free weekends since about June and besides, have you seen the weather? The one nice period of weather we've had and Shell is on holiday in Turkey - lucky thing!

Go on a Ferry 'cross the Mersey! Would you believe I've never been on it?

NOT DONE - Yeah, I've still never been on it.  Stupid busy weekends.  I am hopefully I can go at some point this month.

Do or buy something a bit frivolous and not feel guilty about it

DONE - Wheeeeeeee!  I bought this fine gentleman.  I did not need a new bag, I just wanted one.  Plus I used a voucher so it's frivolous, yet moneysaving at the same time.

Chill out.  I am becoming increasingly incapable of not checking my phone for texts/emails/tweets/Instagram updates/blog comments every 5 minutes.  I know it's a terrible habit.  I'll have to lock it in a box or something

SORT OF DONE - I'm trying.  Not entirely sure how I measure success on this point but I'm better at ignoring the phone and concentrating on tv/a book instead.

Write 15,000 more words of The Second Novel 

REALLY NOT DONE - Oh god, total and utter failure on this one.  I've done about 850 words.  I've been plotting out bits of The Third Novel but it would probably help if I finished this one first.  Autumn task!

Finally, if I can fit it in (cos my weekends are quite packed!), go to the zoo.  I've never been to the zoo.

NOT DONE - have still never been to the zoo.  Waaaah.  Someone take me to the zoo please.

Hmmm, nine successes, one maybe, five failures. Not too bad. Here's to an equally fun filled autumn!

This Summer

I saw a lovely post on Elise's blog recently about her summer plans, sharing an idea that Rebecca wrote about.  Let's call it a summer to-do list.  But a fun one, not a naggy, horrible, "hoover under the bed and read the collected works of Charles Dickens for self-improvement" one.  So here's what I want to do this summer:

• Go to the Edinburgh Festival
• Make a complicated cake - possibly Dobos Torte. See here for a mega review of someone else trying it!
• Complete Project Bunny
• Have a smashing time at the Olympics
• Take my lovely new tent camping again
• Go to the football - either a pre-season Liverpool game or keep it local and go and watch Marine
• Try a Zumba class
• Have a picnic with Shell and Baby Jack because I just don't see the two of them enough
• Go on a Ferry 'cross the Mersey! Would you believe I've never been on it?
• Do or buy something a bit frivolous and not feel guilty about it
• Chill out.  I am becoming increasingly incapable of not checking my phone for texts/emails/tweets/Instagram updates/blog comments every 5 minutes.  I know it's a terrible habit.  I'll have to lock it in a box or something
• Write 15,000 more words of The Second Novel 
• Finally, if I can fit it in (cos my weekends are quite packed!), go to the zoo.  I've never been to the zoo.

And as it's a well-known fact that you should always start off a to-do list with something you've already done, just for the sheer satisfaction of having something crossed off, here are TWO things that I wanted to do this summer that I've already done! Yesterday, to be precise.

• Watch some outdoor theatre
• Book an autumn break with the girls from work

We're staying here in October and having 5 days of loafing around and crafts and walks and trips to York and Durham.  BLISS.

I shall update you all at the end of August.  Or perhaps mid-September, depending on the word count of the novel.  I may struggle with that one. I've totally lost my writing mojo.