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#25 Apply to be on a TV game show

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I enjoy watching a good game show, mostly the ones which require some real general knowledge like The Chase, The Wheel or Tipping Point. Like most viewers I play along, feel pretty pleased with myself when I score better than the contestant and say that I should apply myself one day. That's why applying to be on a TV game show made it on the list! Early in 2021 I began by applying for all of my favourites using their online application process and waited for a reply. As I was now registered on the application site I received an email with information about a new show looking for contestants called Unbeatable and applied for that too, as new shows get fewer applications. These applications all follow a similar pattern: besides your details, occupation and interests they want to know which topics you are good and bad at and what you would spend any winnings on. They then ask a series of more interesting questions, those I had to answer included:  "Describe your most embarrassing...
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#23 Go on holiday

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In the spirit of post-Covid abandon I went on two holidays! Both were to Northumberland, an area of the country that I feel so drawn to, that I am considering retiring there. Perhaps that goal will make it onto the 60 list. My first trip was at Christmas, to a static caravan with stunning sea views at Newbiggin-By-The-Sea. The caravan was cosy and comfortable, just big enough for me, the dog and the excessive amount of festive food and drink that I had transported up with us. I had found the accommodation on Airbnb and our host had thought of everything: a Christmas tree all lit up for our arrival, extra blankets, dog treats, a hamper of Prosecco and sweet and savoury treats, everything needed for breakfast and even binoculars for a closer look at the sea life right outside our window. As it turned out these luxuries were needed as the weather did not cooperate. It was wet and stormy for most of the week and besides the daily, blustery dog walk on the beach I spent the majori...
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#21 Fill the house with plants

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  There are times when, even at 50 years old, I still don't feel like a real adult. Often this is when I see photos on social media of other adults I know who have matching tableware in the shot, art that they actually got around to putting in a frame, coordinated bedding or, in particular, an arrangement of  houseplants. Owning multiple thriving houseplants is just showing off in my opinion. I have proved that I can succeed in keeping humans and pets alive but I wonder if that's largely because they would protest if I forgot to feed them or if they became too hot or cold. Neglect a plant and it wilts and dies, I have no patience with this kind of martyrdom. Nonetheless I decided to give it another shot. I bought a cheap selection of low maintenance potted plants from a well known Swedish furniture and meatball emporium. I also received a couple of plants from friends: the first a cactus (this person knows my limitations) and the second an orchid (these friends have grossly ov...
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#6 Save £1000

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I am notoriously bad at saving money, I generally spend up to my overdraft limit each month and should probably have more money sense than a teenager at this point in my life. As you see here though, I have managed to find a savings app which makes it a little easier. Although I have met my objective, with £1000 set aside, I did at one point have more than double according to the lifetime deposits total. I think I spent most of that on other things on this list!
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#33 Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant

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On the 29th of January I belatedly celebrated my 50th birthday over lunch with a small group of friends at The Glasshouse in Kew, a restaurant with one star in the Guide Michelin . As a food enthusiast this fine-dining experience was one of the first items to be added to the list and had been impatiently anticipated for most of the previous twelve months! The Glasshouse is quite a small restaurant, just a few steps from the station, and we were given a warm welcome from the moment we walked through the door. The front of house staff were friendly but not gushing, every table was full and the dining room was warm, bright and buzzing with conversation. Drinks were ordered. Kir was my choice of aperitif and then with the main course I shared a bottle of Corbieres which I chose purely because it was the cheapest red wine on the list, although it did not disappoint! Our attention then turned to the menu, which was a set lunch for £50 with a limited selection of options but still so...
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#35 Watch a ballet

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If you have reached 50 and never seen a ballet, it is only fitting to start with The Nutcracker, at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden no less! I visited in January, when the Omicron variant was at its most troublesome, and in the seven days leading up to the show I had already received three emails detailing cast changes. On arrival the latest substitutions were on display in the foyer, followed by an announcement of yet more changes by the director just before the performance began. A further message at the end of the interval informed us that yet another change was being made in the second half and one wondered if there were any dancers left. At any moment the audience might be urgently asked "is there a dancer in the house?" Many of the company were dancing parts that they were quite unfamiliar with but their performances were still extraordinary and never has applause been so well deserved.
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#9 Try IKEA meatballs.

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 A quick pre-Christmas trip to Southampton provided me with the opportunity to complete this task.  I am slightly intimidated by IKEA. The bizarre one way system, the room mock-ups which put my home to shame, the complete inability to pronounce the name of anything, the 8000 steps required just to buy some plants and a tool kit........ The meatballs were great though!
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