Quick things:
Task 7, (being on telly), is definitely happening tomorrow, like I knew it would. Ok, well, my episode - I say "my" episode, it's also Pat, Paresh, Marcia and Rosemary's episode too, as well as that bunch from Kent - of Taste The Nation is coming up for broadcast. It is, of course, episode 13, to be broadcast on April 1st.
First up, I'm not superstitious, but the thirteenth episode? Come on. Secondly, April 1st? Someone is just rubbing my nose in it now. It's not a joke, I genuinely am on telly on April Fool's Day, cooking stuff I would never normally consider doing (but, despite all that, has actually influenced my cooking style in noticable ways).
Thirdly, I'm not even going to be able to watch it live, because I'm giving a talk on f-stops and shutter speeds at Exposure Leeds that day. 6pm, Old Broadcasting House, come along and point out the flaws in my reasoning, or if you do watch the programme live you can come along and mock my pretentious performance. I have to go straight to OBH from Werk, so won't be able to catch it.
So: that's ITV1, 5pm-6pm, Wednesday 1st April. Set your magic recording-boxen.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Day 20, 250309
Not updated for a while; bad me. So, what's going on?
A fortnight ago I started on #41 (grow tomatoes & chillies) and #52 (grow herbs), by getting a propagator and sorting through my seed packs to see just what stuff I had. I noticed the other morning that they'd mostly germinated:
Click for bigness
Unfortunately, because I got sidetracked writing out the labels I can't remember what was what. I know the tomatoes are at one end and the parsley at the other (chillies next to that) but I can't quite remember the order the oregano and basil went. I'll find out soon enough, I suspect.
My experiments in pasta making have gone well. Making beetroot pasta (#36) hasn't happened yet, but I've been making some lovely ravioli filled with interesting things. Pasta dough is really odd stuff, certainly the wierdest dough I've ever made, and adding beetroot to it might make it a bit more peculiar than I'd like. Still, all I can do is experiment.
The Telly Task (#7) is apparently happening next week, although I don't know what day. Knowing my luck it'll be on April 1st, but we'll see. Having watched some of the programmes so far in the series I'm a bit twitchy about the whole thing, not least because this week it was also picked up by Harry Hill. The programme is Taste The Nation, in case I'd not already mentioned that.
Exposure Leeds is also next week (#85). Yours Truly has been roped into doing a 45min session on exposure, as in shutter speeds and f-numbers. Come along, and mock. Bring a camera. Seriously, it should be fun, and I have a practical demo lined up for people to do. Well, sort-of. That's April 1st. No, this also isn't a joke.
So, current states:
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (20/365), #13, #26, #66 (9/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 2
Remaining: 99
A fortnight ago I started on #41 (grow tomatoes & chillies) and #52 (grow herbs), by getting a propagator and sorting through my seed packs to see just what stuff I had. I noticed the other morning that they'd mostly germinated:
Click for bigness
Unfortunately, because I got sidetracked writing out the labels I can't remember what was what. I know the tomatoes are at one end and the parsley at the other (chillies next to that) but I can't quite remember the order the oregano and basil went. I'll find out soon enough, I suspect.
My experiments in pasta making have gone well. Making beetroot pasta (#36) hasn't happened yet, but I've been making some lovely ravioli filled with interesting things. Pasta dough is really odd stuff, certainly the wierdest dough I've ever made, and adding beetroot to it might make it a bit more peculiar than I'd like. Still, all I can do is experiment.
The Telly Task (#7) is apparently happening next week, although I don't know what day. Knowing my luck it'll be on April 1st, but we'll see. Having watched some of the programmes so far in the series I'm a bit twitchy about the whole thing, not least because this week it was also picked up by Harry Hill. The programme is Taste The Nation, in case I'd not already mentioned that.
Exposure Leeds is also next week (#85). Yours Truly has been roped into doing a 45min session on exposure, as in shutter speeds and f-numbers. Come along, and mock. Bring a camera. Seriously, it should be fun, and I have a practical demo lined up for people to do. Well, sort-of. That's April 1st. No, this also isn't a joke.
So, current states:
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (20/365), #13, #26, #66 (9/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 2
Remaining: 99
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Day 12, 170309
Tonight I ticked another thing off my list: number 86, "Whack a bucket of balls at a driving range."
There are so many people helping me with this, it's incredible. All sorts of people are popping up and saying "oh, so-and-so can help you with this, here, let me sort it out" and all of a sudden, I'm on a driving range with a couple of very nice chaps called Richard and Liam. Sam, of T&C fame, asked me at lunchtime via text if I wanted to go to a driving range with her partner while she was at dance class, so of course I said yes.
So, Richard, myself, and the partner of one of the other dance class attendees met up in Pudsey and headed off to The Manor, apparently some sort of hotel/conference centre with the word golf written in tiny letters on the sign outside. Both Liam and myself were newbies to this sort of thing, so we had no bats. Clubs. Thankfully Richard did, so after a bucket of balls (a whole £3.20!) was procured, and the loan of a stick from Richard, we found three consecutive hutches and looked out at a field containing nothing but a couple of flags, some nets, and a whole load of white blotches.
A few brief tips from Richard, and we were off. I started off hitting balls not too badly, but then I started slicing the ball, and topping it, and overthinking what I was doing. Making an effort to relax, I started getting - aha - into the swing of things, and wasn't doing too badly for the first time out. After half the bucket was gone I realised just how tiring this was getting, especially in the shoulders and wrists, and my hands were tingling with the repeated impact vibrations.
It was very therapeutic, though. There's definitely something to be said for hitting balls with sticks, and when we'd finished I did notice a distinct looseness in my shoulders that wasn't there before. A bucket is 80 balls, although I wasn't counting them in any way, and I reckon I'm going to feel every one of them tomorrow. Anyway, thank you Rich, Liam and Sam for being on board for this one; I reckon the occasional bucket o'balls might be whacked in the future.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (12/365), #13, #26, #66 (6/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 2
Remaining: 99
There are so many people helping me with this, it's incredible. All sorts of people are popping up and saying "oh, so-and-so can help you with this, here, let me sort it out" and all of a sudden, I'm on a driving range with a couple of very nice chaps called Richard and Liam. Sam, of T&C fame, asked me at lunchtime via text if I wanted to go to a driving range with her partner while she was at dance class, so of course I said yes.
So, Richard, myself, and the partner of one of the other dance class attendees met up in Pudsey and headed off to The Manor, apparently some sort of hotel/conference centre with the word golf written in tiny letters on the sign outside. Both Liam and myself were newbies to this sort of thing, so we had no bats. Clubs. Thankfully Richard did, so after a bucket of balls (a whole £3.20!) was procured, and the loan of a stick from Richard, we found three consecutive hutches and looked out at a field containing nothing but a couple of flags, some nets, and a whole load of white blotches.
A few brief tips from Richard, and we were off. I started off hitting balls not too badly, but then I started slicing the ball, and topping it, and overthinking what I was doing. Making an effort to relax, I started getting - aha - into the swing of things, and wasn't doing too badly for the first time out. After half the bucket was gone I realised just how tiring this was getting, especially in the shoulders and wrists, and my hands were tingling with the repeated impact vibrations.
It was very therapeutic, though. There's definitely something to be said for hitting balls with sticks, and when we'd finished I did notice a distinct looseness in my shoulders that wasn't there before. A bucket is 80 balls, although I wasn't counting them in any way, and I reckon I'm going to feel every one of them tomorrow. Anyway, thank you Rich, Liam and Sam for being on board for this one; I reckon the occasional bucket o'balls might be whacked in the future.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (12/365), #13, #26, #66 (6/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 2
Remaining: 99
Friday, March 13, 2009
Day 8, 130309
Today I knocked one of my one-offs off the list. It is done, dusted, and I never have to do it again. Except I will. Every 16 weeks I shall turn up at a certain address on the Headrow, and do some good.
But, it's a completed list item; #48, "Try to register for blood donation."
I met up with Daag at the National Blood Service centre on the Headrow at lunchtime. I signed in, filled out some paperwork and waited for a bit before a terribly nice "blood donor carer" (according to her name badge) called Tracey quickly rattled off a speil about "do you understand the form?" and "we just need to check the iron content of your blood" and so on, practically without drawing breath. "Do you have any questions?" she ended, "yes, is the red ball on your tongue stud for Red Nose Day?" I wanted to ask, but didn't (as the answer was somewhat predictable).
Daag, who had already had his iron test and was well on his way to filling his bag, was busily telling the nurses about my 101 hings, so they already knew what I was up to without my having to say anything. I'm not yet sure about whether to answer the question "so, what made you come here today?" with a short or complex answer... but today Daag had already done the groundwork, so I didn't really have to think about it. A terribly nice nurse called Karen tried to raise a vein, and then stuck a hole in me. I obviously don't have high blood pressure, as I was there pumping my fist around a cardboard tube for about twice as long as it took the bloke who came in after me (who'd just done his tenth donation). I'm allergic to sticking plaster (joy) and so after I'd filled my bag my arm was gauzed and wrapped in a bandage that's still on now.
They gave me a sticker :)
About an hour after I walked in, and a cup of tea later, I walked out with 500ml less blood than when I came in (470 for the bag, 3x10ml for various tests), and went to O'Neills for a quick pint of Guinness, because apparently it's the law, or something. It was a very nice pint of Guinness.
I'm not sure what I'm prouder of; having the list drop to 100 from 101, or doing some good. I'm pretty sure it is the latter, but the former is quite nice too.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (8/365), #13, #26, #66 (4/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 1
Remaining: 100
But, it's a completed list item; #48, "Try to register for blood donation."
I met up with Daag at the National Blood Service centre on the Headrow at lunchtime. I signed in, filled out some paperwork and waited for a bit before a terribly nice "blood donor carer" (according to her name badge) called Tracey quickly rattled off a speil about "do you understand the form?" and "we just need to check the iron content of your blood" and so on, practically without drawing breath. "Do you have any questions?" she ended, "yes, is the red ball on your tongue stud for Red Nose Day?" I wanted to ask, but didn't (as the answer was somewhat predictable).
Daag, who had already had his iron test and was well on his way to filling his bag, was busily telling the nurses about my 101 hings, so they already knew what I was up to without my having to say anything. I'm not yet sure about whether to answer the question "so, what made you come here today?" with a short or complex answer... but today Daag had already done the groundwork, so I didn't really have to think about it. A terribly nice nurse called Karen tried to raise a vein, and then stuck a hole in me. I obviously don't have high blood pressure, as I was there pumping my fist around a cardboard tube for about twice as long as it took the bloke who came in after me (who'd just done his tenth donation). I'm allergic to sticking plaster (joy) and so after I'd filled my bag my arm was gauzed and wrapped in a bandage that's still on now.
They gave me a sticker :)
About an hour after I walked in, and a cup of tea later, I walked out with 500ml less blood than when I came in (470 for the bag, 3x10ml for various tests), and went to O'Neills for a quick pint of Guinness, because apparently it's the law, or something. It was a very nice pint of Guinness.
I'm not sure what I'm prouder of; having the list drop to 100 from 101, or doing some good. I'm pretty sure it is the latter, but the former is quite nice too.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (8/365), #13, #26, #66 (4/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 1
Remaining: 100
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Day 7, 120309
Yesterday (day 6) was quite productive; I attended meeting #1 of Exposure Leeds ([#85]), which was very interesting. A talk and demo on strobism was a bit of fun, although I would have liked a more practically-based session with a chance to try stuff out. There were cupcakes, too. All of my photos are far too noisy to use (iso1600 on the D70s is really harsh), but nonetheless, an interesting evening.
I started off [#99] by dropping about 600 sheets of multigrade B&W paper and a bucket full of developing tank spools with D, with whom I'm going to try giving blood ([#48]) on Friday. I reckon I've got one more boxload of photo stuff to give away, and that's done. I just have to stop myself from replacing it with much more photo stuff.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (7/365), #13, #26, #66 (4/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
I started off [#99] by dropping about 600 sheets of multigrade B&W paper and a bucket full of developing tank spools with D, with whom I'm going to try giving blood ([#48]) on Friday. I reckon I've got one more boxload of photo stuff to give away, and that's done. I just have to stop myself from replacing it with much more photo stuff.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (7/365), #13, #26, #66 (4/250), #85 (1/4), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Running
With regards to #44, I was looking for 5K races in Leeds and discovered Parkrun, and their Saturday mornings running around Hyde Park (the one in Leeds, ob).
Excellent stuff. I think I shall start my training schedule sooner than originally thought. Finding this has given me enough of a shove to get my backside in gear about training. I don't expect to get sub 30 minutes for a while, but I'm keen to get trying.
Excellent stuff. I think I shall start my training schedule sooner than originally thought. Finding this has given me enough of a shove to get my backside in gear about training. I don't expect to get sub 30 minutes for a while, but I'm keen to get trying.
Day 5, 100309
Whilst not really part of the walking task, I did walk to werk yesterday, and most of the way home. If I spend a week walking to/from work I hit 35 miles. So yesterday was a decent way of working out what I have to do to get 30 miles. I'm not counting wandering about at lunchtime as part of the 30 unless I go out with the tracker as a deliberate "must get my milage up" thing.
I've been good about keeping up with #3, and I've kicked off #66, as well as #26, #87 and #88, all of which are to do with food; breakfasts, lunches, fruit and not buying coffee en route to werk. Three of these are not-that trackable without making stuff as dull as dishwater, so unless something spectacular happens I'll shut up about their details. Still, I'm thoroughly enjoying porridge-and-banana breakfasts.
Growing stuff has started, after a trip to buy a propagator and seeds. I've set some tomatoes and chillies going [#41] and some herbs (basil, oregano, parsley) [#52]. I'm not expecting too much from them for a week or so as they germinate, and I'll pot them out when the weather is suitable. The tomatoes are Costoluto Fiorentino, proper ones that'll require training and pruning; should be interesting.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (5/365), #13, #26, #66 (2/250), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
I've been good about keeping up with #3, and I've kicked off #66, as well as #26, #87 and #88, all of which are to do with food; breakfasts, lunches, fruit and not buying coffee en route to werk. Three of these are not-that trackable without making stuff as dull as dishwater, so unless something spectacular happens I'll shut up about their details. Still, I'm thoroughly enjoying porridge-and-banana breakfasts.
Growing stuff has started, after a trip to buy a propagator and seeds. I've set some tomatoes and chillies going [#41] and some herbs (basil, oregano, parsley) [#52]. I'm not expecting too much from them for a week or so as they germinate, and I'll pot them out when the weather is suitable. The tomatoes are Costoluto Fiorentino, proper ones that'll require training and pruning; should be interesting.
Currently running habitual tasks: #3 (5/365), #13, #26, #66 (2/250), #87, #88
Currently running exploratory tasks: #38 (1/18)
Currently running growing tasks: #41, #52
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
Monday, March 9, 2009
#101
Task: Collate all of the material produced whilst carrying out the task list, and make it available in a reasonably easy-to-use format.
What my spreadsheet says: Hopefully I can do this on day 1001, but really it's an ongoing task that I should keep on top of during the process.
More Details: This is the wrap to #1, really. I can see me needing a 3-d database structure for a lot of this.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by finishing and wrapping it all up.
What my spreadsheet says: Hopefully I can do this on day 1001, but really it's an ongoing task that I should keep on top of during the process.
More Details: This is the wrap to #1, really. I can see me needing a 3-d database structure for a lot of this.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by finishing and wrapping it all up.
#100
Task: Say yes to all of my friends collecting sponsorship money for charity, by doing things outside their comfort zones.
What my spreadsheet says: I do this for a lot of friends, but I don't think I've done it for all of them. People doing RFL, for example, will be sponsored. Tacheback and movember, too (but I want to do the before-and-after shots!). That sort of thing.
More Details: Basically, if you're a friend doing something out of the ordinary, I'll sponsor you. Just nudge me, if I've not said anything to you and you were expecting me.
One off task? Nooooooo.
Measurable? Yes, but in that quiet, understated way.
What my spreadsheet says: I do this for a lot of friends, but I don't think I've done it for all of them. People doing RFL, for example, will be sponsored. Tacheback and movember, too (but I want to do the before-and-after shots!). That sort of thing.
More Details: Basically, if you're a friend doing something out of the ordinary, I'll sponsor you. Just nudge me, if I've not said anything to you and you were expecting me.
One off task? Nooooooo.
Measurable? Yes, but in that quiet, understated way.
#99
Task: Give away all the photographic stuff I don't need.
What my spreadsheet says: Freecycle or to people offline, I have a load of photo paper, spare film, contrast filters that could, admittedly, be turned into something else, dev spools and tanks that could all be gainfully emplyed elsewhere.
More Details: A fair old pile of stuff. Mostly paper, but there might be the odd gem of something useful in there.
One off task? Not really. You never know, though.
Measurable? Yes, by having a lovely void where it used to be.
What my spreadsheet says: Freecycle or to people offline, I have a load of photo paper, spare film, contrast filters that could, admittedly, be turned into something else, dev spools and tanks that could all be gainfully emplyed elsewhere.
More Details: A fair old pile of stuff. Mostly paper, but there might be the odd gem of something useful in there.
One off task? Not really. You never know, though.
Measurable? Yes, by having a lovely void where it used to be.
#98
Task: Declutter the spare room
What my spreadsheet says: This one is fairly involved, but it involes me throwing away, recycling or shredding a tonne of paper, sorting out boxes of bits, organising books and electrical things, and working out where to put stuff. This will be an ongoing task by its very nature and won't be easy.
More Details: Nuff said, really.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by having a nice tidy room at the end of it.
What my spreadsheet says: This one is fairly involved, but it involes me throwing away, recycling or shredding a tonne of paper, sorting out boxes of bits, organising books and electrical things, and working out where to put stuff. This will be an ongoing task by its very nature and won't be easy.
More Details: Nuff said, really.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by having a nice tidy room at the end of it.
#97
Task: Go walking with Matt at least eight times over the 1001 days.
What my spreadsheet says: This should be do-able. Co-ordinating timetables is always hilarious, but we should be able to manage eight trips out.
More Details: Matt is one of my oldest friends, and we don't see enough of each other. Going walking is one of the things we enjoy doing, so we should do it more.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
What my spreadsheet says: This should be do-able. Co-ordinating timetables is always hilarious, but we should be able to manage eight trips out.
More Details: Matt is one of my oldest friends, and we don't see enough of each other. Going walking is one of the things we enjoy doing, so we should do it more.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
#96
Task: Go up Pen-y-ghent
What my spreadsheet says: At the very least, go up this. What I want to do is all three, but that might be pushing it.
More Details: I'm supposed to be doing the Three Peaks on midsummer's day. Should be fun, but just in case I'm not up to all three I want to knock Pen-y-ghent off.
One off task? Yes, but I doubt it'll remain so.
Measurable? Yes, by doing, blogging, photographing and tracking it in Ascent.
What my spreadsheet says: At the very least, go up this. What I want to do is all three, but that might be pushing it.
More Details: I'm supposed to be doing the Three Peaks on midsummer's day. Should be fun, but just in case I'm not up to all three I want to knock Pen-y-ghent off.
One off task? Yes, but I doubt it'll remain so.
Measurable? Yes, by doing, blogging, photographing and tracking it in Ascent.
#95
Task: Enter the Charlie Cake competition
What my spreadsheet says: A corner of Armley has a park called Charlie Cake Park. A cake competition happens there every year, and I keep meaning to enter and see how well I do, and I have totally failed to do this so far.
More Details: Charlie Cake Park is such a lovely idea, and having a cake competition there called The Charming Armley Cake Competition is equally inspired. It was a bit too soggy last year, though, so I didn't enter.
One off task? Yes, probably.
Measurable? Yes, by doing, baking and blogging.
What my spreadsheet says: A corner of Armley has a park called Charlie Cake Park. A cake competition happens there every year, and I keep meaning to enter and see how well I do, and I have totally failed to do this so far.
More Details: Charlie Cake Park is such a lovely idea, and having a cake competition there called The Charming Armley Cake Competition is equally inspired. It was a bit too soggy last year, though, so I didn't enter.
One off task? Yes, probably.
Measurable? Yes, by doing, baking and blogging.
#94
Task: Attend I Love West Leeds
What my spreadsheet says: It's a festival celebrating West Leeds! What's not to love?
More Details: I &heart; West Leeds is a cracking idea. It's just a day at the park with some whizzy fun stuff, and who can ask for anything more?
One off task? Yes, but it'll crop up three times during the process. I ought to be able to fit one in.
Measurable? Yes, by going and blogging.
What my spreadsheet says: It's a festival celebrating West Leeds! What's not to love?
More Details: I &heart; West Leeds is a cracking idea. It's just a day at the park with some whizzy fun stuff, and who can ask for anything more?
One off task? Yes, but it'll crop up three times during the process. I ought to be able to fit one in.
Measurable? Yes, by going and blogging.
#93
Task: Attend a lunchtime recital at the Clothworkers
What my spreadsheet says: Clothworkers is part of the School of Music at the UofL. They have termtime Friday recitals of whatever they're practicing at the moment. Some of the stuff they do is not terribly interesting to me, but occasionally they have things I want to hear, and I never remember to go. Foolishness!
More Details: Must try harder.
One off task? Yes, but we'll see if I can squeeze in repeats.
Measurable? Yes, by going and blogging.
What my spreadsheet says: Clothworkers is part of the School of Music at the UofL. They have termtime Friday recitals of whatever they're practicing at the moment. Some of the stuff they do is not terribly interesting to me, but occasionally they have things I want to hear, and I never remember to go. Foolishness!
More Details: Must try harder.
One off task? Yes, but we'll see if I can squeeze in repeats.
Measurable? Yes, by going and blogging.
#92
Task: Make a batch of boiled sweets
What my spreadsheet says: Boiling sugar syrup is FUN, and I've never made boiled sweets despite wanting to ever since I read the Time Life book on Confectionary.
More Details: I've made somewhat runny toffee, but that's about as far as I've gone. Boiled sweets have to be some of the easiest things to make, too. If I have spare fruit from the foraging task I'll try to make sweeties out of that.
One off task? Yes, but if it's really fun...
Measurable? Yes, by blogging the results and handing them out to people.
What my spreadsheet says: Boiling sugar syrup is FUN, and I've never made boiled sweets despite wanting to ever since I read the Time Life book on Confectionary.
More Details: I've made somewhat runny toffee, but that's about as far as I've gone. Boiled sweets have to be some of the easiest things to make, too. If I have spare fruit from the foraging task I'll try to make sweeties out of that.
One off task? Yes, but if it's really fun...
Measurable? Yes, by blogging the results and handing them out to people.
#91
Task: Learn how to use fire poi.
What my spreadsheet says: Burnination! Attempts at learning poi in the past have not gone well, but I think that's because I have short arms and the ropes are too long. I need to pick up the tennis ball ones again, and when I'm comfortable with them move onto fireballs.
More Details: Apparently Gwil is the master of fire toys, so I'll be asking him for lessons later on in the year.
One off task? Maybe not. It depends on the degree of difficulty I want to take this to.
Measurable? Yes, by having some very, very cool photos, and hopefully avoiding the somewhat less-than cool burns.
What my spreadsheet says: Burnination! Attempts at learning poi in the past have not gone well, but I think that's because I have short arms and the ropes are too long. I need to pick up the tennis ball ones again, and when I'm comfortable with them move onto fireballs.
More Details: Apparently Gwil is the master of fire toys, so I'll be asking him for lessons later on in the year.
One off task? Maybe not. It depends on the degree of difficulty I want to take this to.
Measurable? Yes, by having some very, very cool photos, and hopefully avoiding the somewhat less-than cool burns.
#90
Task: Make a calendar.
What my spreadsheet says: A photo per month, with amusing commentary. It could even be the much-discussed "Iain pointing at rocks" calendar.
More Details: I understand that some printing services actually do a calendar service, so I'll be checking that out soon enough.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Physical object, so yes.
What my spreadsheet says: A photo per month, with amusing commentary. It could even be the much-discussed "Iain pointing at rocks" calendar.
More Details: I understand that some printing services actually do a calendar service, so I'll be checking that out soon enough.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Physical object, so yes.
#89
Task: Build a camera.
What my spreadsheet says: Pinhole is fine, but I should try making one out of a big wooden box with a cannibalised Lubitel lens and ground-glass backplate.
More Details: I've been making pinholes for years, so it's time to kick it up a notch. A big box, knackered Lubitel that's fine to dismantle, and some method of loading film or paper (or home-made glass plates, even), and I think I can re-invent camera technology that's over 150 years old.
One off task? Yes, but with a time commitment.
Measurable? Yes, it's a physical object, and I'll blog the process.
What my spreadsheet says: Pinhole is fine, but I should try making one out of a big wooden box with a cannibalised Lubitel lens and ground-glass backplate.
More Details: I've been making pinholes for years, so it's time to kick it up a notch. A big box, knackered Lubitel that's fine to dismantle, and some method of loading film or paper (or home-made glass plates, even), and I think I can re-invent camera technology that's over 150 years old.
One off task? Yes, but with a time commitment.
Measurable? Yes, it's a physical object, and I'll blog the process.
#88
Task: (as part of 87) Eat breakfast.
What my spreadsheet says: I really should eat some fruit for breakfast, or porridge, or something. Instead, I have this bad habit (#87) which needs stopping.
More Details: Or fruity porridge! Because I don't eat breakfast before leaving the house I can get a bit out of step with meals. Must try harder to eat. And while I'm making breakfast I might as well make lunch, too.
One off task? Nope, and this is a habit-forming exercise
Measurable? Well, yes, but it's a bit dull.
What my spreadsheet says: I really should eat some fruit for breakfast, or porridge, or something. Instead, I have this bad habit (#87) which needs stopping.
More Details: Or fruity porridge! Because I don't eat breakfast before leaving the house I can get a bit out of step with meals. Must try harder to eat. And while I'm making breakfast I might as well make lunch, too.
One off task? Nope, and this is a habit-forming exercise
Measurable? Well, yes, but it's a bit dull.
#87
Task: Stop buying coffee on the way into work.
What my spreadsheet says: 15 quid a week on coffee and a muffin is expensive. Dropping that would be a big help.
More Details: This is my only "stop" thing on the list without a specific target. Also, whilst pastries are a nice treat eating them every day is really not good for the figure.
One off task? Nope, and it should be habit forming.
Measurable? Not really. I just have to get out of the old habit.
What my spreadsheet says: 15 quid a week on coffee and a muffin is expensive. Dropping that would be a big help.
More Details: This is my only "stop" thing on the list without a specific target. Also, whilst pastries are a nice treat eating them every day is really not good for the figure.
One off task? Nope, and it should be habit forming.
Measurable? Not really. I just have to get out of the old habit.
#86
Task: Whack a bucket of balls at a driving range.
What my spreadsheet says: Golf is a complete mystery to me. It's a nice walk, spoiled by having to hit something and keep scores. But, I can see the point of a driving range as a method of removing one's frustrations. So, once, I'll go to a driving range, hire a driver and a bucket o' balls, and practice my swing.
More Details: Apparently someone can help me with this - I'm all for that! The last time I went a-golfing was at Hoylake Municipal, and I think I got round in 150 taking five hours, or something equally daft.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing and blogging.
What my spreadsheet says: Golf is a complete mystery to me. It's a nice walk, spoiled by having to hit something and keep scores. But, I can see the point of a driving range as a method of removing one's frustrations. So, once, I'll go to a driving range, hire a driver and a bucket o' balls, and practice my swing.
More Details: Apparently someone can help me with this - I'm all for that! The last time I went a-golfing was at Hoylake Municipal, and I think I got round in 150 taking five hours, or something equally daft.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing and blogging.
#85
Task: Attend at least four Exposure Leeds sessions
What my spreadsheet says: I hope to attend more, but we'll have to see how they pan out.
More Details: Exposure Leeds is a group holding monthly meetings to discuss photo technique and skills. I may end up presenting at one, too.
One off task? Nope, there's a minimum of 4.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
What my spreadsheet says: I hope to attend more, but we'll have to see how they pan out.
More Details: Exposure Leeds is a group holding monthly meetings to discuss photo technique and skills. I may end up presenting at one, too.
One off task? Nope, there's a minimum of 4.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
#84
Task: Make a lava lamp
What my spreadsheet says: I can see how to do it in my head. Now I want to make one.
More Details: I really can see how to make one, too, so I'm avoiding online tutorials on how to make them. A wine bottle, some candles, interestingly coloured ink, a lightbulb and fitting, and some cardboard and fimo, and I think that's that.
One off task? Yes, but there may be some testing.
Measurable? Yes, it's a physical object one ends up with.
What my spreadsheet says: I can see how to do it in my head. Now I want to make one.
More Details: I really can see how to make one, too, so I'm avoiding online tutorials on how to make them. A wine bottle, some candles, interestingly coloured ink, a lightbulb and fitting, and some cardboard and fimo, and I think that's that.
One off task? Yes, but there may be some testing.
Measurable? Yes, it's a physical object one ends up with.
#83
Task: Do Something About It
What my spreadsheet says: Whenever DSAI contacts me, read the email and follow the instructions (within reason) instead of binning it automagically.
More Details: Do Something About It is a great idea. I don't automagically bin their stuff, I read and act upon it. However, if I receive an email saying "and now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party" with instructions on how to assassinate the president, I think I'll say no. Or would I?
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it (but not necessarily blogging it).
What my spreadsheet says: Whenever DSAI contacts me, read the email and follow the instructions (within reason) instead of binning it automagically.
More Details: Do Something About It is a great idea. I don't automagically bin their stuff, I read and act upon it. However, if I receive an email saying "and now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party" with instructions on how to assassinate the president, I think I'll say no. Or would I?
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it (but not necessarily blogging it).
#82
Task: Watch a play that's been written by someone I know.
What my spreadsheet says: "The Bee Charmer", by S.J. Wallis, June 12th 2009, Birmingham.
More Details: I keep on getting the date and theatre wrong. But, I'm absurdly happy about this one.
One off task? Yes, but I hope it won't remain so.
Measurable? yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: "The Bee Charmer", by S.J. Wallis, June 12th 2009, Birmingham.
More Details: I keep on getting the date and theatre wrong. But, I'm absurdly happy about this one.
One off task? Yes, but I hope it won't remain so.
Measurable? yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#81
Task: Take the bike out at least 250 times
What my spreadsheet says: If I can find a velo track somewhere, so much the better.
More Details: I don't go cycling enough, although if I carry out the walking and swimming tasks the cycling will take me well over the top for exercise quality. 250 times is once in four days, but I imagine it'll be more frequently in the summer, less so in winter.
One off task? Nope; this is one of the "habit forming" tasks.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and logging it all in Ascent.
What my spreadsheet says: If I can find a velo track somewhere, so much the better.
More Details: I don't go cycling enough, although if I carry out the walking and swimming tasks the cycling will take me well over the top for exercise quality. 250 times is once in four days, but I imagine it'll be more frequently in the summer, less so in winter.
One off task? Nope; this is one of the "habit forming" tasks.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and logging it all in Ascent.
#80
Task: Finish a business plan.
What my spreadsheet says: Proper, A-Z business plan. I probably won't carry it out anytime soon, but it has to have exit strategies, projected incomes & outgoings, and all the other things people want to see in BPs.
More Details: Apparently there are free workshops one can attend to provide more info, so I'm intrigued. This is a "what to do in the future" task, like the beekeeping and choccy making.
One off task? Yes, but it'll extend over a couple of days, I expect.
Measurable? Yes, by doing and blogging.
What my spreadsheet says: Proper, A-Z business plan. I probably won't carry it out anytime soon, but it has to have exit strategies, projected incomes & outgoings, and all the other things people want to see in BPs.
More Details: Apparently there are free workshops one can attend to provide more info, so I'm intrigued. This is a "what to do in the future" task, like the beekeeping and choccy making.
One off task? Yes, but it'll extend over a couple of days, I expect.
Measurable? Yes, by doing and blogging.
#79
Task: Attend an auction.
What my spreadsheet says: The last auction I went to was back when a baby grand piano was up for grabs at Hoylake Auction Rooms, and it went for about six times what our upper limit was and instead Dad bought an old trunk full of junk for £2. Then he asked the person who bought the piano whether they wanted rid of the one they had, and they did, and we got the upright that lives in the front room to this day. Anyway, that's besides the point; I want to go to an auction of interesting things.
More Details: I did go to one of those ridiculous closed-door auctions where they try to whip you up into a frenzy to get you to spend overinflated sums of money on knockoff tat, but the level of cynisicm in the room was so high they finished it early and turfed everybody out.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it.
What my spreadsheet says: The last auction I went to was back when a baby grand piano was up for grabs at Hoylake Auction Rooms, and it went for about six times what our upper limit was and instead Dad bought an old trunk full of junk for £2. Then he asked the person who bought the piano whether they wanted rid of the one they had, and they did, and we got the upright that lives in the front room to this day. Anyway, that's besides the point; I want to go to an auction of interesting things.
More Details: I did go to one of those ridiculous closed-door auctions where they try to whip you up into a frenzy to get you to spend overinflated sums of money on knockoff tat, but the level of cynisicm in the room was so high they finished it early and turfed everybody out.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it.
#78
Task: Ride a horse.
What my spreadsheet says: For years I lived in part of the country that had more horses per capita than anywhere else, or so my Dad told me. I still didn't go horse riding. I'm not scared of horses, or anything like that, it's just something I've never got round to.
More Details: There's bound to be a riding school that'll let me have a go for an afternoon. Just one lesson, to see if I like it. Plus, of course, the comedy "hang on, I'm the wrong way 'round!" moment.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing and blogging, complete with pictures.
What my spreadsheet says: For years I lived in part of the country that had more horses per capita than anywhere else, or so my Dad told me. I still didn't go horse riding. I'm not scared of horses, or anything like that, it's just something I've never got round to.
More Details: There's bound to be a riding school that'll let me have a go for an afternoon. Just one lesson, to see if I like it. Plus, of course, the comedy "hang on, I'm the wrong way 'round!" moment.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing and blogging, complete with pictures.
#77
Task: Vote in all the local elections.
What my spreadsheet says: As many as they send me forms for.
More Details: You know what, though: I reckon they don't send me all the ballot papers I'm supposed to get. I don't think I've seen a single ballot paper for EU elections since we've moved, for example. I could be wrong, of course. Still, I'll get to vote in a general election before too long, I'm sure.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and mentioning it here.
What my spreadsheet says: As many as they send me forms for.
More Details: You know what, though: I reckon they don't send me all the ballot papers I'm supposed to get. I don't think I've seen a single ballot paper for EU elections since we've moved, for example. I could be wrong, of course. Still, I'll get to vote in a general election before too long, I'm sure.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and mentioning it here.
#76
Task: Make a stop-motion animation
What my spreadsheet says: Claymation, I think. "Mr Nalsa goes to the park" or something.
More Details: Or, I might try that cracking form of stop-motion made with dSLRs and people. But a five-minute piece of claymation will take, what, three thousand images? At least? That's a good ten hours work, if I'm lucky and don't nudge the tripod the camera is attached to.
One off task? Technically, yes. It may be spread over a couple of wet weekends, though.
Measurable? Yes, by posting the results to YouTube (or Flickr, now that they accept video).
What my spreadsheet says: Claymation, I think. "Mr Nalsa goes to the park" or something.
More Details: Or, I might try that cracking form of stop-motion made with dSLRs and people. But a five-minute piece of claymation will take, what, three thousand images? At least? That's a good ten hours work, if I'm lucky and don't nudge the tripod the camera is attached to.
One off task? Technically, yes. It may be spread over a couple of wet weekends, though.
Measurable? Yes, by posting the results to YouTube (or Flickr, now that they accept video).
#75
Task: Learn what all the different planning consent types are.
What my spreadsheet says: I see these things on signs; "A1/A3 consent". What the hell does it mean? Are there B and C categories too? It bugs me that I don't know these things.
More Details: Again, this folds into #80. Probably.
One off task? Yes, and probably one of the duller tasks on this list.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and folding it into #80.
What my spreadsheet says: I see these things on signs; "A1/A3 consent". What the hell does it mean? Are there B and C categories too? It bugs me that I don't know these things.
More Details: Again, this folds into #80. Probably.
One off task? Yes, and probably one of the duller tasks on this list.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and folding it into #80.
#74
Task: Phone a commercial letting agency and find out just how much rent on a shop would be.
What my spreadsheet says: I keep on wondering this. It's part of #80, anyway.
More Details: I see things like "from £7.50/sqft" on advertising hoardings. Is that per month? Per year? Per day? Can I rent a square foot of space? Why are these things advertised in floor area anyway? Why not, "it's a shop, the whole thing costs this much"?
One off task? Yes, but it does link into #80.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and folding the results into something else.
What my spreadsheet says: I keep on wondering this. It's part of #80, anyway.
More Details: I see things like "from £7.50/sqft" on advertising hoardings. Is that per month? Per year? Per day? Can I rent a square foot of space? Why are these things advertised in floor area anyway? Why not, "it's a shop, the whole thing costs this much"?
One off task? Yes, but it does link into #80.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and folding the results into something else.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Day 3, 080309
Still on track with #3 and #13, but I'm going to shut up about #13 now and take it as read that it's still on track. #3 is being posted on Flickr as my Project101 - task 3 set. There seems to be quite a few shots of snowdrops at the moment, but I'll mix that up a bit in a day or two.
#38 kicked off this morning with a dip at South Leeds. It highlighted how unfit I am, as I was only able to do 11 lengths of the 25m pool, but water is not really my medium. Even at the height of my swimming (five years ago, now) I was only able to get to 17 lengths. I have shocking technique, and expend a lot of energy going nowhere. The pool itself is ok; water not too overchlorinated, warm inside, busy but not hideously so. The building is a big brick bunker (yes, I have a set for photos relating to task 38 as well, go there to see it), but it's cleanish inside and the staff seem pretty decent guys. I just wish that kids wouldn't eat inside the changing rooms; when I got out of the shower I walked through some very damp and soggy Quavers that stuck to my feet like, well, something disgusting.
Currently running tasks: #3, #13, #38.
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
#38 kicked off this morning with a dip at South Leeds. It highlighted how unfit I am, as I was only able to do 11 lengths of the 25m pool, but water is not really my medium. Even at the height of my swimming (five years ago, now) I was only able to get to 17 lengths. I have shocking technique, and expend a lot of energy going nowhere. The pool itself is ok; water not too overchlorinated, warm inside, busy but not hideously so. The building is a big brick bunker (yes, I have a set for photos relating to task 38 as well, go there to see it), but it's cleanish inside and the staff seem pretty decent guys. I just wish that kids wouldn't eat inside the changing rooms; when I got out of the shower I walked through some very damp and soggy Quavers that stuck to my feet like, well, something disgusting.
Currently running tasks: #3, #13, #38.
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
#73
Task: Visit every Farmer's Market within an hour's drive away.
What my spreadsheet says: There's only 38 FMs in Yorkshire according to LocalFoodAdvisor, but some of them are far too far away. An hour by Google Maps lets me have everything within a 40 mile radius of Leeds, and that's quite a lot, although I still need to work out which ones are appropriate.
More Details: I approve of the theory of Farmer's Markets, but they sometimes fail to live up to the hype. Leeds is especially guilty of this (which is why I feel no guilt about planning #12). Local Food Advisor (useful resource) tells me there are 38Fms in Yorkshire, but Cleethorpes and Middlesborough are a bit too far to go on a Sunday morning. A 40 mile radius lets me have Settle and Grassington, and we'll see about the other, more hidden ones as well.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
What my spreadsheet says: There's only 38 FMs in Yorkshire according to LocalFoodAdvisor, but some of them are far too far away. An hour by Google Maps lets me have everything within a 40 mile radius of Leeds, and that's quite a lot, although I still need to work out which ones are appropriate.
More Details: I approve of the theory of Farmer's Markets, but they sometimes fail to live up to the hype. Leeds is especially guilty of this (which is why I feel no guilt about planning #12). Local Food Advisor (useful resource) tells me there are 38Fms in Yorkshire, but Cleethorpes and Middlesborough are a bit too far to go on a Sunday morning. A 40 mile radius lets me have Settle and Grassington, and we'll see about the other, more hidden ones as well.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
#72
Task: Send something to postsecret.
What my spreadsheet says: I can't mention what I've sent, even if it shows up in the Observer Weekend.
More Details: Postsecret is an odd fish, but I approve of it as a community art thing - it just happens that the community is global. I have a somewhat strict ruling on secrets; if it's secret, nobody knows. If it's shared by two people, it's still not secret because you don't know if the other person will say anything, so it's a piece of information on a restricted distribution list, not a secret. Secrets happen inside your own head, nowhere else. But that's probably just me.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it, but not blogging about it (other than to say "done").
What my spreadsheet says: I can't mention what I've sent, even if it shows up in the Observer Weekend.
More Details: Postsecret is an odd fish, but I approve of it as a community art thing - it just happens that the community is global. I have a somewhat strict ruling on secrets; if it's secret, nobody knows. If it's shared by two people, it's still not secret because you don't know if the other person will say anything, so it's a piece of information on a restricted distribution list, not a secret. Secrets happen inside your own head, nowhere else. But that's probably just me.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it, but not blogging about it (other than to say "done").
#71
Task: Turn my handwriting into a font.
What my spreadsheet says: A better, more legible one than the last time I tried this.
More Details: The last time I came up with something that looked ok-ish, if you post-hoc tweaked it and made it bold and made it bigger in Photoshop or a vector-graphics program. You certainly couldn't use it in a document. So, a better version. Then I can type letters that look handwritten, haha. </joke>
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
What my spreadsheet says: A better, more legible one than the last time I tried this.
More Details: The last time I came up with something that looked ok-ish, if you post-hoc tweaked it and made it bold and made it bigger in Photoshop or a vector-graphics program. You certainly couldn't use it in a document. So, a better version. Then I can type letters that look handwritten, haha. </joke>
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
#70
Task: Go to Classical Fantasia with a picnic.
What my spreadsheet says: With friends, for preference.
More Details: There is a problem with Classical Fantasia: traditionally, it's on the same day as Last Night of the Proms, so I'm not often able to get everybody along. Still, we'll see how it does.
One off task? Yes, with an option to repeat.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: With friends, for preference.
More Details: There is a problem with Classical Fantasia: traditionally, it's on the same day as Last Night of the Proms, so I'm not often able to get everybody along. Still, we'll see how it does.
One off task? Yes, with an option to repeat.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a trip report.
#69
Task: Visit a gun club.
What my spreadsheet says: Trying hard not to be perjorative about this, so I should probably say "shooting range" instead of "gun club". If I can hit a few targets, so much the better.
More Details: One of the things I have no clue about is whether I'm any good at firing a gun and hitting what I'm pointing it at. Being a Brit I'm very much in favour of gun control, but just in case the zombie apocalypse hits I would quite like to know I have more options than the cricket bat. I'm not likely to follow this one up, unless it turns out that I'm an Olympic-level marksman.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: Trying hard not to be perjorative about this, so I should probably say "shooting range" instead of "gun club". If I can hit a few targets, so much the better.
More Details: One of the things I have no clue about is whether I'm any good at firing a gun and hitting what I'm pointing it at. Being a Brit I'm very much in favour of gun control, but just in case the zombie apocalypse hits I would quite like to know I have more options than the cricket bat. I'm not likely to follow this one up, unless it turns out that I'm an Olympic-level marksman.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a trip report.
#68
Task: Give archery a try.
What my spreadsheet says: I havn't held a bow and arrow since I was a kid with two bamboo canes and a piece of string.
More Details: Well, why not? I know we don't need to spend our Sundays practicing the longbow just in case those pesky French try to invade anymore, but this sort of thing is one of the "well, if I like it I may take it up as a hobby" things.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it.
What my spreadsheet says: I havn't held a bow and arrow since I was a kid with two bamboo canes and a piece of string.
More Details: Well, why not? I know we don't need to spend our Sundays practicing the longbow just in case those pesky French try to invade anymore, but this sort of thing is one of the "well, if I like it I may take it up as a hobby" things.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it.
#67
Task: Write letters to friends and family instead of emailing them.
What my spreadsheet says: Sometimes email is more appropriate, but when it isn't absolutely necessary I should send a letter.
More Details: Well, I love getting letters, so I imagine other people do too. Ok, I know other people do, but these days all I really use the post for is sending cards to people, when really there's an art to correspondence that we're losing as a generation. Perhaps it'll become one of those "later life" things; once we hit 40 people will stop sending SMSs and emails, and go back to pen-and-paper. Now, there's a business plan - writing lessons for people who havn't used a pen since primary school.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
What my spreadsheet says: Sometimes email is more appropriate, but when it isn't absolutely necessary I should send a letter.
More Details: Well, I love getting letters, so I imagine other people do too. Ok, I know other people do, but these days all I really use the post for is sending cards to people, when really there's an art to correspondence that we're losing as a generation. Perhaps it'll become one of those "later life" things; once we hit 40 people will stop sending SMSs and emails, and go back to pen-and-paper. Now, there's a business plan - writing lessons for people who havn't used a pen since primary school.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
#66
Task: Take my own lunch to work at least 250 times over the course of the experiment.
What my spreadsheet says: Over 1001 days there's at least 630 working days (back-of-envelope calculations) and I should be able to make my lunch for 50% of those days rather than going out and buying a sandwich from somewhere.
More Details: 250 times is certainly do-able; I want this to become a habit-forming task, though, which will involve a lot more than that. At the end it won't be a "phew, I can go back and start propping up M&S again" thing.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it, although probably not to the same extent as Lunch In a Box does. (I am very fond of LIAB, I should point out.)
What my spreadsheet says: Over 1001 days there's at least 630 working days (back-of-envelope calculations) and I should be able to make my lunch for 50% of those days rather than going out and buying a sandwich from somewhere.
More Details: 250 times is certainly do-able; I want this to become a habit-forming task, though, which will involve a lot more than that. At the end it won't be a "phew, I can go back and start propping up M&S again" thing.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it, although probably not to the same extent as Lunch In a Box does. (I am very fond of LIAB, I should point out.)
#65
Task: Make a will.
What my spreadsheet says: Been meaning to do this for a couple of years now.
More Details: Because there's just me & S, and in the past we never had anything worth anything, it's taken a while to even think about writing a will. I probably ought to get one done, though, just on the off-chance. I'll be talking to a few people about this, but don't expect me to buy "will-writing for dummies" (if it exists) anytime soon.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
What my spreadsheet says: Been meaning to do this for a couple of years now.
More Details: Because there's just me & S, and in the past we never had anything worth anything, it's taken a while to even think about writing a will. I probably ought to get one done, though, just on the off-chance. I'll be talking to a few people about this, but don't expect me to buy "will-writing for dummies" (if it exists) anytime soon.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
#64
Task: Fit loft insulation.
What my spreadsheet says: Been meaning to do this for a couple of years now.
More Details: Well, I have been meaning to do it. The loft is a bit scary, though, and getting up there isn't as easy as it ought to be. Getting rolls of space blanket up there as well as me will be hilarious, I'm sure.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
What my spreadsheet says: Been meaning to do this for a couple of years now.
More Details: Well, I have been meaning to do it. The loft is a bit scary, though, and getting up there isn't as easy as it ought to be. Getting rolls of space blanket up there as well as me will be hilarious, I'm sure.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
#63
Task: Climb the bell tower at Leeds Town Hall
What my spreadsheet says: Heritage open days are the things here.
More Details: Yes, it is possible to go up the bell tower, but the easiest way of doing so is during Heritage Open Days, where they do fully guided tours around the town hall. I'll need to book, mind you.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: Heritage open days are the things here.
More Details: Yes, it is possible to go up the bell tower, but the easiest way of doing so is during Heritage Open Days, where they do fully guided tours around the town hall. I'll need to book, mind you.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a trip report.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Day one, 060309
Day one was all about populating the blog with the detailed posts, and whilst at time of writing (but not necessarily posting) I've still not finished that I'm feeling sufficiently on top of things to take a moment to write about stuff I wanted to kick off on day one.
It was just one thing, really: #3, take a photo. I took quite a lot of photos, in fact; we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (which doesn't have an LS postcode, so isn't part of #57), had lunch and in the evening went to Mavis' leaving do, where I was the sort-of event photographer.
#13 was obv a part of yesterday too, but despite what Sam thinks it does count when it's your missus.
Currently running tasks: #3, #13
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
It was just one thing, really: #3, take a photo. I took quite a lot of photos, in fact; we went to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (which doesn't have an LS postcode, so isn't part of #57), had lunch and in the evening went to Mavis' leaving do, where I was the sort-of event photographer.
#13 was obv a part of yesterday too, but despite what Sam thinks it does count when it's your missus.
Currently running tasks: #3, #13
Completed: 0
Remaining: 101
#62
Task: Read Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle from start to finish.
What my spreadsheet says: I never finished book one, and now the whole thing is sat on the bookcase glaring at me.
More Details: I hate it when books do that. You fail to finish, and they glare at you, accusingly. I ought to like it as well...
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a book report.
What my spreadsheet says: I never finished book one, and now the whole thing is sat on the bookcase glaring at me.
More Details: I hate it when books do that. You fail to finish, and they glare at you, accusingly. I ought to like it as well...
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a book report.
#61
Task: Redecorate the landing.
What my spreadsheet says: Needs doing. Holes need patching, paper needs re-applying and giving it all a lick of paint won't hurt.
More Details: Yep, this should be mostly do-able. Hopefully it won't be like the dining room, where I stared painting it and ended up having to repaint the outside of the house, because rain was getting in behind the exterior paintwork.
One off task? Man, I hope so.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Needs doing. Holes need patching, paper needs re-applying and giving it all a lick of paint won't hurt.
More Details: Yep, this should be mostly do-able. Hopefully it won't be like the dining room, where I stared painting it and ended up having to repaint the outside of the house, because rain was getting in behind the exterior paintwork.
One off task? Man, I hope so.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#60
Task: Give 50 books to charity shops.
What my spreadsheet says: I have too many books. No, I don't, there's no such thing as "too many books", but I do have a lot that I don't read any more. I can sort them out and hand over 50.
More Details: Well, I might be able to do it.
One off task? Probably yes. I might do it in two tranches, to soften the blow.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I have too many books. No, I don't, there's no such thing as "too many books", but I do have a lot that I don't read any more. I can sort them out and hand over 50.
More Details: Well, I might be able to do it.
One off task? Probably yes. I might do it in two tranches, to soften the blow.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#59
Task: Design and make a piece of jewellery for my Mother.
What my spreadsheet says: A birthday present.
More Details: I have a few ideas in mind, but I'm not going to write about them here because, well, she might read this.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: A birthday present.
More Details: I have a few ideas in mind, but I'm not going to write about them here because, well, she might read this.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#58
Task: Write articles for T&C.
What my spreadsheet says: I don't write enough for T&C. Must write more.
More Details: Tea and Cake is run by two friends who asked me to compile a baking alphabet for the website. No problem, I thought, and then in the last 18 months I've managed to produce three articles. That's really not very good, so I need to write more.
One off task? Nope, and it'll hopefully become habit-forming.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and putting the articles up on T&C.
What my spreadsheet says: I don't write enough for T&C. Must write more.
More Details: Tea and Cake is run by two friends who asked me to compile a baking alphabet for the website. No problem, I thought, and then in the last 18 months I've managed to produce three articles. That's really not very good, so I need to write more.
One off task? Nope, and it'll hopefully become habit-forming.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and putting the articles up on T&C.
#57
Task: Visit every public museum with an LS postcode.
What my spreadsheet says: A quick look at leeds.gov suggests I've got quite a few to visit.
More Details: Leeds.gov suggests that there's only nine, but they're not including Thackeray, the Armouries, the Heritage & Design centre, or any of the dinky little museums that you never hear about. I'll try to seek out as many as I can.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: A quick look at leeds.gov suggests I've got quite a few to visit.
More Details: Leeds.gov suggests that there's only nine, but they're not including Thackeray, the Armouries, the Heritage & Design centre, or any of the dinky little museums that you never hear about. I'll try to seek out as many as I can.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#56
Task: Get gently squiffy with as many of my friends as I can at the same time.
What my spreadsheet says: I think I do this all the time, but it turns out I don't.
More Details: We do have fairly good goes at it, but this sort of thing takes organisation, and often "my friends" and "someone elses friends" have blurry edges; getting faintly squiffy with Mavis' friends isn't the same thing, despite the groups having whopping overlap.
One off task? Yes, or I'll be undoing all the good work the fruit and exercise-related tasks will be doing.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I think I do this all the time, but it turns out I don't.
More Details: We do have fairly good goes at it, but this sort of thing takes organisation, and often "my friends" and "someone elses friends" have blurry edges; getting faintly squiffy with Mavis' friends isn't the same thing, despite the groups having whopping overlap.
One off task? Yes, or I'll be undoing all the good work the fruit and exercise-related tasks will be doing.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#55
Task: Read "Poetry for Dummies".
What my spreadsheet says: Sat on my bookshelf for months, I've still not got round to understanding why poetry affects people the way it does.
More Details: I doubt this will make me understand, but it might help me appreciate poetry more. Or at least bluff my way in poetry conversation.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a book report.
What my spreadsheet says: Sat on my bookshelf for months, I've still not got round to understanding why poetry affects people the way it does.
More Details: I doubt this will make me understand, but it might help me appreciate poetry more. Or at least bluff my way in poetry conversation.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and writing a book report.
#54
Task: Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through.
What my spreadsheet says: I've never done it. I've watched bits, and probably seen the whole film, but not in one session and certainly not in sequence.
More Details: Hmm.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I've never done it. I've watched bits, and probably seen the whole film, but not in one session and certainly not in sequence.
More Details: Hmm.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#53
Task: Have a SCUBA lesson.
What my spreadsheet says: Being underwater is very soothing, but I can't stay there long for breathing purposes. I'm not a natural swimmer - I swim like a brick, frankly - but I reckon one SCUBA session won't kill me. Hopefully.
More Details: I've been told I need to snorkel first. Rightyho, I can probably do that. If I like SCUBA I may try for getting PADI certified afterwards, but that might be after this has finished.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a post-process commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Being underwater is very soothing, but I can't stay there long for breathing purposes. I'm not a natural swimmer - I swim like a brick, frankly - but I reckon one SCUBA session won't kill me. Hopefully.
More Details: I've been told I need to snorkel first. Rightyho, I can probably do that. If I like SCUBA I may try for getting PADI certified afterwards, but that might be after this has finished.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a post-process commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#52
Task: Grow my own herbs.
What my spreadsheet says: Fairly self-explanatory, this one. Grow at least five different herbs and use them in the kitchen.
More Details: Oregano, dill, chives, sage and sorrel, I think. From seed, in little pots.
One off task? Nope, this has a seasonal timeframe.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Fairly self-explanatory, this one. Grow at least five different herbs and use them in the kitchen.
More Details: Oregano, dill, chives, sage and sorrel, I think. From seed, in little pots.
One off task? Nope, this has a seasonal timeframe.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#51
Task: Learn to play a particular piece of music on a new instrument.
What my spreadsheet says: Over the years I've learned a number of musical instruments, but I've barely played any of them since the early 90s. I need to learn new things, so picking up a new instrument is a good place to start.
More Details: One of the instruments I don't really know how to play is the penny whistle, believe it or not. Or I might try my hand at the clarsach, or something percussion-y. But, for the purposes of this the penny whistle will suffice.
One off task? Probably not; this will involve a timeframe of more than a week, I'd imagine.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Over the years I've learned a number of musical instruments, but I've barely played any of them since the early 90s. I need to learn new things, so picking up a new instrument is a good place to start.
More Details: One of the instruments I don't really know how to play is the penny whistle, believe it or not. Or I might try my hand at the clarsach, or something percussion-y. But, for the purposes of this the penny whistle will suffice.
One off task? Probably not; this will involve a timeframe of more than a week, I'd imagine.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
Friday, March 6, 2009
#50
Task: Brew my own ginger beer.
What my spreadsheet says: I've never made my own ginger beer, despite promising myself that I would for years and years.
More Details: Well, who doesn't like ginger beer? I'll need to collect some pressurised plastic bottles, though, because I don't buy fizzy water or pop very often.
One off task? Yes, but there's a brewing time involved.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I've never made my own ginger beer, despite promising myself that I would for years and years.
More Details: Well, who doesn't like ginger beer? I'll need to collect some pressurised plastic bottles, though, because I don't buy fizzy water or pop very often.
One off task? Yes, but there's a brewing time involved.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#49
Task: Play poker for money.
What my spreadsheet says: I'm not very good at gambling, but I'm a reasonably cautious poker player. This isn't a "go to a casino and blow a wodge of cash" thing, but I reckon I can stand to lose a fiver.
More Details: There are regular poker games where I'm invited that I've not made yet. Must try harder.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I'm not very good at gambling, but I'm a reasonably cautious poker player. This isn't a "go to a casino and blow a wodge of cash" thing, but I reckon I can stand to lose a fiver.
More Details: There are regular poker games where I'm invited that I've not made yet. Must try harder.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#48
Task: Try to register for blood donation.
What my spreadsheet says: Let's see if they'll take me.
More Details: Well, I'm not sure that they will. But if they do, then that's fine.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Let's see if they'll take me.
More Details: Well, I'm not sure that they will. But if they do, then that's fine.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#47
Task: Plant a tree.
What my spreadsheet says: Somewhere random, not just in my garden.
More Details: I seem to remember there being a charity that has does tree-planting events, but can't remember enough of the details. More research needed, I think.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Somewhere random, not just in my garden.
More Details: I seem to remember there being a charity that has does tree-planting events, but can't remember enough of the details. More research needed, I think.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#46
Task: Go for a dip at White Wells.
What my spreadsheet says: Preferably on New Year's Day. Cold, but an experience.
More Details: White Wells is a little cottage on Ilkley Moor, which has a tea room and, well, a well. You can go for a dip in the well, if you so desire. For the past couple of years they've been open on New Year's Day for a dip, and Alex did just that this year. A nice way to shake off the old year, I think.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: Preferably on New Year's Day. Cold, but an experience.
More Details: White Wells is a little cottage on Ilkley Moor, which has a tea room and, well, a well. You can go for a dip in the well, if you so desire. For the past couple of years they've been open on New Year's Day for a dip, and Alex did just that this year. A nice way to shake off the old year, I think.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#45
Task: In order to carry out 44: engage in a relatively sensible training schedule.
What my spreadsheet says: Habit-forming. I because I don't want to die or, if I enter a race, look like a complete arse, I need to practice.
More Details: This is a (hopefully) habit forming task. The ever-helpful Whizzer pointed me at a fairly straightforward training schedule that I'll try sticking to for a while.
One off task? Nope. This is one of those ones I hope to keep rolling way past the next 1001 days.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Habit-forming. I because I don't want to die or, if I enter a race, look like a complete arse, I need to practice.
More Details: This is a (hopefully) habit forming task. The ever-helpful Whizzer pointed me at a fairly straightforward training schedule that I'll try sticking to for a while.
One off task? Nope. This is one of those ones I hope to keep rolling way past the next 1001 days.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#44
Task: Run 5K.
What my spreadsheet says: I'm not sure if I can enter a 5K race, but I want to be able to complete a 5K course without dying.
More Details: I might well enter a 5K race if I feel I can do it, but really I want to know that if I have to, running 5K without stopping is a skill I have in my arsenal.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I'm not sure if I can enter a 5K race, but I want to be able to complete a 5K course without dying.
More Details: I might well enter a 5K race if I feel I can do it, but really I want to know that if I have to, running 5K without stopping is a skill I have in my arsenal.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#43
Task: Go for seven consecutive days without spending any money.
What my spreadsheet says: I can stock up on food and other essentials beforehand, but I can't go to a cashpoint, use any cash lying about, or use my debit or credit cards. This might take a bit of planning so that I don't end up having to pay a bill in the middle of it.
More Details: Do I start off by getting a weekly bus ticket, or roll this into my "walk 30 miles" thing? I'm probably going to keep this as a summer task so I'm less likely to cave and buy a hot chocolate when freezing my backside off.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I can stock up on food and other essentials beforehand, but I can't go to a cashpoint, use any cash lying about, or use my debit or credit cards. This might take a bit of planning so that I don't end up having to pay a bill in the middle of it.
More Details: Do I start off by getting a weekly bus ticket, or roll this into my "walk 30 miles" thing? I'm probably going to keep this as a summer task so I'm less likely to cave and buy a hot chocolate when freezing my backside off.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#42
Task: Go on a beekeeping course.
What my spreadsheet says: Bees! I want to learn how to care for the poor, underfunded things.
More Details: This is a "prep for future life" task; I'd love to keep bees, but we don't have the space right now. Anyway, the Leeds Beekeepers Association run a course (in 2009 it's 16-17 May) which I want to attend.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: Bees! I want to learn how to care for the poor, underfunded things.
More Details: This is a "prep for future life" task; I'd love to keep bees, but we don't have the space right now. Anyway, the Leeds Beekeepers Association run a course (in 2009 it's 16-17 May) which I want to attend.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#41
Task: Grow my own tomatoes and chilies.
What my spreadsheet says: I've done this in the past, but not for a couple of years and the last time I did it I neglected the poor things horribly.
More Details: Well, I did. But I did made some fantastic arabiatta sauce.
One off task? Nope, this will take a season.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I've done this in the past, but not for a couple of years and the last time I did it I neglected the poor things horribly.
More Details: Well, I did. But I did made some fantastic arabiatta sauce.
One off task? Nope, this will take a season.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#40
Task: Grow my own spuds.
What my spreadsheet says: Bags or pots, I want to grow spuds again that are edible.
More Details: We've done this in the past, but had them decimated by slugs or hail. One year the whole crop - about 8 bags - were wiped out by a May hailstorm from which they failed to recover.
One off task? Nope. This will take a season.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Bags or pots, I want to grow spuds again that are edible.
More Details: We've done this in the past, but had them decimated by slugs or hail. One year the whole crop - about 8 bags - were wiped out by a May hailstorm from which they failed to recover.
One off task? Nope. This will take a season.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#39
Task: Take a cutting from perdu's rose.
What my spreadsheet says: A viable cutting, that actually grows, so that when we move house we can take that boule de neige with us.
More Details: Perdu was our first cat. I won't tell the story of how she came to live with us and when she died here, but when she died we buried her in the garden and planted a rose - a boule de neige - on top of her. Anyway, I'd like to take a piece of her with me when we move (which we will, eventually), so I'd better learn how to take cuttings properly.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: A viable cutting, that actually grows, so that when we move house we can take that boule de neige with us.
More Details: Perdu was our first cat. I won't tell the story of how she came to live with us and when she died here, but when she died we buried her in the garden and planted a rose - a boule de neige - on top of her. Anyway, I'd like to take a piece of her with me when we move (which we will, eventually), so I'd better learn how to take cuttings properly.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#38
Task: Go for a swim in every municipal pool with an LS postcode.
What my spreadsheet says: It's been too long since I last went swimming. Also, council-run pools are being shut down at a rate of knots, so it's a good idea to see them when I can.
More Details: There are 18 swimming pools in Leeds, apparently, which aren't owned by hotels or private gyms.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: It's been too long since I last went swimming. Also, council-run pools are being shut down at a rate of knots, so it's a good idea to see them when I can.
More Details: There are 18 swimming pools in Leeds, apparently, which aren't owned by hotels or private gyms.
One off task? Nope.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#37
Task: Wordle the blog posts I make about this at least once every 30 days.
What my spreadsheet says: Metrics!
More Details: Wordle will take a wodge of text and turn it into clouds of words, with weighting based on significance. Could be interesting, and will provide a thoroughly useless set of stats.
One off task? Nope. Once every 30 days.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Metrics!
More Details: Wordle will take a wodge of text and turn it into clouds of words, with weighting based on significance. Could be interesting, and will provide a thoroughly useless set of stats.
One off task? Nope. Once every 30 days.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#36
Task: Make beetroot pasta that looks and tastes fantastic.
What my spreadsheet says: Pink food is rarely a good idea. Still, if the filling is good enough it won't matter.
More Details: I could do a lasagne-type thing, with layers of wafer thin purpley-pink pasta, or individual ravioli, or I could try making stripey pasta. I just think it'll be funny.
One off task? Yes, but I expect there will be a few failed experiments en route.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Pink food is rarely a good idea. Still, if the filling is good enough it won't matter.
More Details: I could do a lasagne-type thing, with layers of wafer thin purpley-pink pasta, or individual ravioli, or I could try making stripey pasta. I just think it'll be funny.
One off task? Yes, but I expect there will be a few failed experiments en route.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#35
Task: Make a souffle.
What my spreadsheet says: I've never made one that hasn't sunk.
More Details: I have made souffle in the past, but they've never turned out quite as well as I'd hoped. Making one truly stunning, delicious, unsinkable souffle would be a very nice thing indeed.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I've never made one that hasn't sunk.
More Details: I have made souffle in the past, but they've never turned out quite as well as I'd hoped. Making one truly stunning, delicious, unsinkable souffle would be a very nice thing indeed.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#34
Task: Visit my lil baby sister.
What my spreadsheet says: In whatever country she happens to be in. I am aware that this is a "reliant on someone else" goal which is not good practice.
More Details: I have no idea where she'll be when I get around to doing this task. Could be Spain. On the other hand, it might be New Zealand. So, we'll see how this one pans out.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: In whatever country she happens to be in. I am aware that this is a "reliant on someone else" goal which is not good practice.
More Details: I have no idea where she'll be when I get around to doing this task. Could be Spain. On the other hand, it might be New Zealand. So, we'll see how this one pans out.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#33
Task: Take a meditation class.
What my spreadsheet says: If I can find one that's not too populated by hippies.
More Details: Um, that might be a bit prejudgemental. I don't want to learn about crystals, though. Or how my chakras are misaligned. I have no interest in the religious aspects of meditation, and I have an allergic reaction to patchouli and joss sticks. All I'd like is a basic grounding, or even a quick chat about the elements of meditating.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: If I can find one that's not too populated by hippies.
More Details: Um, that might be a bit prejudgemental. I don't want to learn about crystals, though. Or how my chakras are misaligned. I have no interest in the religious aspects of meditation, and I have an allergic reaction to patchouli and joss sticks. All I'd like is a basic grounding, or even a quick chat about the elements of meditating.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#32
Task: Go to mass.
What my spreadsheet says: Lapsed catholicism. The guilt is horrible. I should attend mass to see if it gives me any sense of inner peace, but I won't attend communion.
More Details: I'm quite seriously agnostic these days, and attending a catholic mass could be interesting from a nostalgia perspective. I'm not sure if I expect to "find" anything, and I know quite well that I won't be "saved", but we'll see what we shall see.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: Lapsed catholicism. The guilt is horrible. I should attend mass to see if it gives me any sense of inner peace, but I won't attend communion.
More Details: I'm quite seriously agnostic these days, and attending a catholic mass could be interesting from a nostalgia perspective. I'm not sure if I expect to "find" anything, and I know quite well that I won't be "saved", but we'll see what we shall see.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#31
Task: Get a backstage tour at the YEP.
What my spreadsheet says: The YEP is the only Leeds theatre I've never had a tour of. I'm quite surprised to learn that.
More Details: Man, I'm a muppet. What I meant was the WYP, as in the West Yorkshire Playhouse, not the Yorkshire Evening Press. So, yes, the WYP.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: The YEP is the only Leeds theatre I've never had a tour of. I'm quite surprised to learn that.
More Details: Man, I'm a muppet. What I meant was the WYP, as in the West Yorkshire Playhouse, not the Yorkshire Evening Press. So, yes, the WYP.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#30
Task: See a performance at the Sage.
What my spreadsheet says: I've wandered about the Sage, but never heard anybody play there.
More Details: The Sage is a fantastic building, the Opera House Of The North. I saw it being built on the regular trips we made to the Baltic, just next door, and I've had a wander about there, but I've never actually heard anybody play. Should be fun.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I've wandered about the Sage, but never heard anybody play there.
More Details: The Sage is a fantastic building, the Opera House Of The North. I saw it being built on the regular trips we made to the Baltic, just next door, and I've had a wander about there, but I've never actually heard anybody play. Should be fun.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#29
Task: See as many original Atkinson Grimshaw paintings as I can.
What my spreadsheet says: I love J. Atkinson Grimshaw paintings. The play of light is superb, and he made some wonderful reproductions of Leeds. Seeing as many as I can in public ownership is something I've been meaning to do for years.
More Details: According to Phryne there are only a few paintings in public ownership, given how many he actually painted.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I love J. Atkinson Grimshaw paintings. The play of light is superb, and he made some wonderful reproductions of Leeds. Seeing as many as I can in public ownership is something I've been meaning to do for years.
More Details: According to Phryne there are only a few paintings in public ownership, given how many he actually painted.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#28
Task: Get up on stage at a comedy open mic event.
What my spreadsheet says: I have to lay the shadow of Newcastle to rest. This will probably involve writing new material, despite more people knowing what bukkake is thanks to BBC3.
More Details: Newcastle was a disaster, I think it's safe to say. As part of So You Think You're Funny? in 2002 I went up on stage at a comedy club in Newcastle and died on my feet. I forgot my material, made a few people laugh (but not many) and jumped on my own cue line. The light was right in my face and I wasn't comfortable taking the mic off the stand and wandering about. And, at the time, very few people knew what bukkake was. Now, one joke involved people not going onto Google at work and looking it up, so I really hope some of those miserable sods did so the following Monday and spent the rest of the week looking for brainscrubbers.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I have to lay the shadow of Newcastle to rest. This will probably involve writing new material, despite more people knowing what bukkake is thanks to BBC3.
More Details: Newcastle was a disaster, I think it's safe to say. As part of So You Think You're Funny? in 2002 I went up on stage at a comedy club in Newcastle and died on my feet. I forgot my material, made a few people laugh (but not many) and jumped on my own cue line. The light was right in my face and I wasn't comfortable taking the mic off the stand and wandering about. And, at the time, very few people knew what bukkake was. Now, one joke involved people not going onto Google at work and looking it up, so I really hope some of those miserable sods did so the following Monday and spent the rest of the week looking for brainscrubbers.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#27
Task: Attend a bookcrossing meeting.
What my spreadsheet says: I hate giving away books, but I should go along to one and do the whole tagging and stickering and entering barcodes into websites thing.
More Details: Bookcrossing is a great idea, and I can't help but applaud it. But... I like my books. They make the nicest furniture. Releasing books into the wild just seems wrong to me - what if they can't take care of themselves, or fall into the hands of unscrupulous dealers? Still, if this is all about getting out of the comfort zone, then this is a big step into the uncomfortable zone.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I hate giving away books, but I should go along to one and do the whole tagging and stickering and entering barcodes into websites thing.
More Details: Bookcrossing is a great idea, and I can't help but applaud it. But... I like my books. They make the nicest furniture. Releasing books into the wild just seems wrong to me - what if they can't take care of themselves, or fall into the hands of unscrupulous dealers? Still, if this is all about getting out of the comfort zone, then this is a big step into the uncomfortable zone.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#26
Task: Eat more fruit.
What my spreadsheet says: Healthy eating!
More Details: Not really much more to say about that.
One off task? No. This is one of the "habit-forming" tasks.
Measurable? Not really. I could blog my fruit-eating but that would be terribly dull
What my spreadsheet says: Healthy eating!
More Details: Not really much more to say about that.
One off task? No. This is one of the "habit-forming" tasks.
Measurable? Not really. I could blog my fruit-eating but that would be terribly dull
#25
Task: Take a portrait photograph of as many people as I can.
What my spreadsheet says: Properly lit, suitable setting, subject as comfortable as they're able to be. At the end of the 1001 days, create a huge stonking PDF (suitable for Lulu-ing) of all the portraits in some sort of order, perhaps by subject name or whatever they'd prefer to be called.
More Details: This is still a bit of a woolly concept, but we'll see what crops up. I expect I'll have a coupe of "photo days" where I just ask people if they'll mind being photographed for a project.
One off task? Nope. This one will keep me busy.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Properly lit, suitable setting, subject as comfortable as they're able to be. At the end of the 1001 days, create a huge stonking PDF (suitable for Lulu-ing) of all the portraits in some sort of order, perhaps by subject name or whatever they'd prefer to be called.
More Details: This is still a bit of a woolly concept, but we'll see what crops up. I expect I'll have a coupe of "photo days" where I just ask people if they'll mind being photographed for a project.
One off task? Nope. This one will keep me busy.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#24
Task: Get a photo published in a magazine.
What my spreadsheet says: For the benefit of this, I don't need to be paid for the picture (although, it would be nice).
More Details: I have a couple of avenues to pursue with this, but they'll probably involve a distinct lack of being paid. However, if I find myself with a cracking shot and a way of getting it published, then that would be nifty indeed.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: For the benefit of this, I don't need to be paid for the picture (although, it would be nice).
More Details: I have a couple of avenues to pursue with this, but they'll probably involve a distinct lack of being paid. However, if I find myself with a cracking shot and a way of getting it published, then that would be nifty indeed.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#23
Task: (as part of 22) Visit Tropical World
What my spreadsheet says: I've lived in Leeds for 17 years and never been there.
More Details: Tropical World looks like huge fun, and every time I see the roadsign for it I think "yeah, why not?" and promptly forget all about it.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: I've lived in Leeds for 17 years and never been there.
More Details: Tropical World looks like huge fun, and every time I see the roadsign for it I think "yeah, why not?" and promptly forget all about it.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#22
Task: Visit Roundhay Park.
What my spreadsheet says: I've lived in Leeds for 17 years and never been there.
More Details: Well, I havn't. This links into #23, too.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: I've lived in Leeds for 17 years and never been there.
More Details: Well, I havn't. This links into #23, too.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#21
Task: Tick off 20 National Trust Properties from the Handbook.
What my spreadsheet says: We visit the same properties over and over again. They're lovely, but we should expand horizons.
More Details: We pay for a joint NT membership each year, and whilst we do use it we could probably use it more effectively. We always end up at Fountains, Beningborough, Nostell Priory and East Riddlesden. Another 16 different properties would be a good use of resources.
One off task? Nope, there are at least 20 elements to this one.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
What my spreadsheet says: We visit the same properties over and over again. They're lovely, but we should expand horizons.
More Details: We pay for a joint NT membership each year, and whilst we do use it we could probably use it more effectively. We always end up at Fountains, Beningborough, Nostell Priory and East Riddlesden. Another 16 different properties would be a good use of resources.
One off task? Nope, there are at least 20 elements to this one.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing trip reports.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
#20
Task: Volunteer for something
What my spreadsheet says: Anything. A one-off or ongoing commitment, just as long as I receive no renumeration for it.
More Details: This is still a bit of a woolly concept, but we'll see what crops up.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
What my spreadsheet says: Anything. A one-off or ongoing commitment, just as long as I receive no renumeration for it.
More Details: This is still a bit of a woolly concept, but we'll see what crops up.
One off task? Yes, but possibly with a commitment weighting.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about the results.
#19
Task: Draw at least 20 diary-type comic strips.
What my spreadsheet says: I can't draw. This takes me well out of my comfort zone.
More Details: Well out of my comfort zone.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by blogging the results.
What my spreadsheet says: I can't draw. This takes me well out of my comfort zone.
More Details: Well out of my comfort zone.
One off task? No.
Measurable? Yes, by blogging the results.
#18
Task: Sign up with a dentist
What my spreadsheet says: I've not had my teeth checked out since 1994.
More Details: Erm, well, yes.
One off task? Yes, although it should be a habit-forming one.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
What my spreadsheet says: I've not had my teeth checked out since 1994.
More Details: Erm, well, yes.
One off task? Yes, although it should be a habit-forming one.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it.
#17
Task: Visit every library with an LS postcode
What my spreadsheet says: I don't have to take a book out, just visit it and write about the contents and architecture. The interesting ones will be Trust or Private libraries. If I can I'll also get out to the British Museum outpost at Boston Spa
More Details: According to the Library Services chunk of leeds.gov.uk, there are 53 public libraries in Leeds. I should be able to tick them off one by one. Finding private libraries ought to be interesting.
One off task? Ooooh, no.
Measurable? Yes, by writing trip reports.
What my spreadsheet says: I don't have to take a book out, just visit it and write about the contents and architecture. The interesting ones will be Trust or Private libraries. If I can I'll also get out to the British Museum outpost at Boston Spa
More Details: According to the Library Services chunk of leeds.gov.uk, there are 53 public libraries in Leeds. I should be able to tick them off one by one. Finding private libraries ought to be interesting.
One off task? Ooooh, no.
Measurable? Yes, by writing trip reports.
#16
Task: Join the Leeds Civic Trust
What my spreadsheet says: I love LCT, and if I join them I will go on some more of the walks they do because I'll know about them in advance.
More Details: The Leeds Civic Trust do a lot of good work, but also know nooks and crannies in Leeds that I don't necessarily know about. Should be worth an afternoon or two.
One off task? Yes, but it doesn't have to be.
Measurable? Yes, by joining.
What my spreadsheet says: I love LCT, and if I join them I will go on some more of the walks they do because I'll know about them in advance.
More Details: The Leeds Civic Trust do a lot of good work, but also know nooks and crannies in Leeds that I don't necessarily know about. Should be worth an afternoon or two.
One off task? Yes, but it doesn't have to be.
Measurable? Yes, by joining.
#15
Task: Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant.
What my spreadsheet says: This is a bit trickier, as it will probably involve eating meat. Still, I'm open to the suggestion that if I'm going to eat meat anywhere it might as well be very good.
More Details: I'm a pescetarian. I tell people I'm veggie because it's easier to explain and I don't really eat that much fish anyway. Michelin-starred veggie is not a common event, so I'll have to make a compromise somewhere down the line, I'm sure.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: This is a bit trickier, as it will probably involve eating meat. Still, I'm open to the suggestion that if I'm going to eat meat anywhere it might as well be very good.
More Details: I'm a pescetarian. I tell people I'm veggie because it's easier to explain and I don't really eat that much fish anyway. Michelin-starred veggie is not a common event, so I'll have to make a compromise somewhere down the line, I'm sure.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#14
Task: Visit an English Vineyard
What my spreadsheet says: There is one at Rothwell. I want to have a tour there.
More Details: Ok, it's not quite Rothwell, but the vineyard is Leventhorpe. They do tours if you phone in advance, so that's what I'll do.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: There is one at Rothwell. I want to have a tour there.
More Details: Ok, it's not quite Rothwell, but the vineyard is Leventhorpe. They do tours if you phone in advance, so that's what I'll do.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by going and writing a trip report.
#13
Task: Tell someone I love them every day.
What my spreadsheet says: Yeah, this is targetted at one person.
More Details: Well, yes.
One off task? Gosh, no.
Measurable? Well, yes, but I'm not really going to.
What my spreadsheet says: Yeah, this is targetted at one person.
More Details: Well, yes.
One off task? Gosh, no.
Measurable? Well, yes, but I'm not really going to.
#12
Task: Have a stall at a farmer's market
What my spreadsheet says: Fairly self-explanatory. Sell cupcakes &/or normal cakes &/or choccies. Try to break even.
More Details: I'm rubbish at selling things. I mean, really rubbish. This is a "well out of the comfort zone" thing, but I think I'm up for it. It'll probably be at Leeds FM, which is fine for this sort of thing, if a little oversaturated with, well, this sort of thing.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it.
What my spreadsheet says: Fairly self-explanatory. Sell cupcakes &/or normal cakes &/or choccies. Try to break even.
More Details: I'm rubbish at selling things. I mean, really rubbish. This is a "well out of the comfort zone" thing, but I think I'm up for it. It'll probably be at Leeds FM, which is fine for this sort of thing, if a little oversaturated with, well, this sort of thing.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by doing it and blogging about it.
#11
Task: Knit a hat.
What my spreadsheet says: As in, knit a hat someone would be happy to wear.
More Details: I can knit, but not really follow a pattern and I've certainly had no experience of circular needles. Should be fun.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, it's a physical object.
What my spreadsheet says: As in, knit a hat someone would be happy to wear.
More Details: I can knit, but not really follow a pattern and I've certainly had no experience of circular needles. Should be fun.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, it's a physical object.
#10
Task: Visit a foreign country.
What my spreadsheet says: I don't do this very often, and we have enough people overseas that it's not a very difficult thing to do, and yet it still doesn't happen very often.
More Details: I'm not really one for travel, to be honest. I get cross at airports and twitchy on trains. Still, I'm very fond of the friends we have overseas and really should see more of them.
One off task? Yes, but it doesn't have to remain so.
Measurable? Yes, by going and producing a trip report.
What my spreadsheet says: I don't do this very often, and we have enough people overseas that it's not a very difficult thing to do, and yet it still doesn't happen very often.
More Details: I'm not really one for travel, to be honest. I get cross at airports and twitchy on trains. Still, I'm very fond of the friends we have overseas and really should see more of them.
One off task? Yes, but it doesn't have to remain so.
Measurable? Yes, by going and producing a trip report.
#9
Task: Make jam from foraged fruit.
What my spreadsheet says: Go foraging and collect enough free fruit to make sufficient jam and/or chutney to give to people as presents.
More Details: This could be interesting and will probably involve picking up free fruit from hidden apple trees and wild berry bushes.
One off task? Yes, but over a couple of days.
Measurable? Yes, by handing over jars of stuff to people probably sick of the sight of jam :)
What my spreadsheet says: Go foraging and collect enough free fruit to make sufficient jam and/or chutney to give to people as presents.
More Details: This could be interesting and will probably involve picking up free fruit from hidden apple trees and wild berry bushes.
One off task? Yes, but over a couple of days.
Measurable? Yes, by handing over jars of stuff to people probably sick of the sight of jam :)
#8
Task: Learn how to make chocolates
What my spreadsheet says: Attend a chocolate making course that isn't a "sugarcraft" or "one-day hands-on" thing. A proper, serious piece of education in which I learn something.
More Details: A week-long course at Slattery's is on the cards.
One off task? Yes, but over the course of a week.
Measurable? Yes, by attending and blogging about the course.
What my spreadsheet says: Attend a chocolate making course that isn't a "sugarcraft" or "one-day hands-on" thing. A proper, serious piece of education in which I learn something.
More Details: A week-long course at Slattery's is on the cards.
One off task? Yes, but over the course of a week.
Measurable? Yes, by attending and blogging about the course.
#7
Task: Appear on Telly
What my spreadsheet says: Get some time on a mainstream TV programme.
More Details: At the time of writing it hasn't aired, but I'm appearing as part of a cookery show in the not-too-distant future.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by it showing up.
What my spreadsheet says: Get some time on a mainstream TV programme.
More Details: At the time of writing it hasn't aired, but I'm appearing as part of a cookery show in the not-too-distant future.
One off task? Yes.
Measurable? Yes, by it showing up.
#6
Task: (as part of 5) Thoroughly investigate my grid square
What my spreadsheet says: Track the square, street by street with the Tracker and upload the data into a Google Map, along with photos (geotagged if possible) and a detailed listing of everything I consider interesting.
More Details: This could be very interesting. What stuff could be hidden away, I wonder?
One off task? Probably not, as whilst it could be knocked off in a weekend it probably won't documented in the same timeframe.
Measurable? Yes, by blogging about what I've discovered, and producing a document about it.
What my spreadsheet says: Track the square, street by street with the Tracker and upload the data into a Google Map, along with photos (geotagged if possible) and a detailed listing of everything I consider interesting.
More Details: This could be very interesting. What stuff could be hidden away, I wonder?
One off task? Probably not, as whilst it could be knocked off in a weekend it probably won't documented in the same timeframe.
Measurable? Yes, by blogging about what I've discovered, and producing a document about it.
#5
Task: Find out my grid square
What my spreadsheet says: Grid squares are nationally recognised OS co-ordinates. I need to find out in which square my house is, mark out the boundaries, and keep a printout of it somewhere obvious.
More Details: This could be interesting.
One off task? Yes, but it links into #6
Measurable? Yes, by reporting on what my grid square is.
What my spreadsheet says: Grid squares are nationally recognised OS co-ordinates. I need to find out in which square my house is, mark out the boundaries, and keep a printout of it somewhere obvious.
More Details: This could be interesting.
One off task? Yes, but it links into #6
Measurable? Yes, by reporting on what my grid square is.
#4
Task: Walk (at least) 30 miles a week for 46 weeks
What my spreadsheet says: ...wearing the GPS tracker and uploading the data into Ascent, including HR data
More Details: Ascent is the GPS exercise software for Mac that I'm fond of. It provides GPX maps (ie, it plugs straight into Google Maps) and tracks heart rate and other variables. There's a cost associated with this, however (the software).
One off task? Nope. 1380 miles by foot may not sound like much, but concentrated like that could be interesting.
Measurable? Yes, by having the data in Ascent.
What my spreadsheet says: ...wearing the GPS tracker and uploading the data into Ascent, including HR data
More Details: Ascent is the GPS exercise software for Mac that I'm fond of. It provides GPX maps (ie, it plugs straight into Google Maps) and tracks heart rate and other variables. There's a cost associated with this, however (the software).
One off task? Nope. 1380 miles by foot may not sound like much, but concentrated like that could be interesting.
Measurable? Yes, by having the data in Ascent.
#3
Task: Take a photograph every day for a year (or 365 consecutive days)
What my spreadsheet says: At the very least take a snapshot that contains date/time metadata (or, if using film, make a note of when it was taken!) and, when able to, post it to an online photo hosting service (either flickr or LJ's scrapbook)
More Details: It's more likely to be on Flickr (where I'm known as Nalsa) but that'll mean coughing for a pro account, so this is an item that has a cost attached. They'll all be tagged in Flickr with the mtw101 tag, anyway.
One off task? Nope. This is going to take, well, 365 days.
Measurable? Yes, by having all the photos.
What my spreadsheet says: At the very least take a snapshot that contains date/time metadata (or, if using film, make a note of when it was taken!) and, when able to, post it to an online photo hosting service (either flickr or LJ's scrapbook)
More Details: It's more likely to be on Flickr (where I'm known as Nalsa) but that'll mean coughing for a pro account, so this is an item that has a cost attached. They'll all be tagged in Flickr with the mtw101 tag, anyway.
One off task? Nope. This is going to take, well, 365 days.
Measurable? Yes, by having all the photos.
#2
Task: Finish writing Silver.
What my spreadsheet says: Have a version of the story in a form that's publishable, in book, script or GN, whatever. But finish the damn tale.
More Details: Silver is a story I've had kicking around my head for a while, and I have a notebook of ideas to use, I just need to put them into some sort of coherent whole.
One off task? Nope. This is going to take a while.
Measurable? Yes, by having a completed first draft in my hand.
What my spreadsheet says: Have a version of the story in a form that's publishable, in book, script or GN, whatever. But finish the damn tale.
More Details: Silver is a story I've had kicking around my head for a while, and I have a notebook of ideas to use, I just need to put them into some sort of coherent whole.
One off task? Nope. This is going to take a while.
Measurable? Yes, by having a completed first draft in my hand.
Start and end dates
So, I'm going to start this tomorrow. That's March 6th 2009. According to Date and Time the end date is Friday, 2nd December 2011. Seems like a long way off.
I've put a countdown timer in the panel on the right. It currently tells me I have 1001 days plus a handful of hours left, but that's because I'm on day 0. That seems somewhat less, somehow. 2011, that's years away. 1001 days doesn't seem like all that long at all.
Right, let's get this ball rolling.
I've put a countdown timer in the panel on the right. It currently tells me I have 1001 days plus a handful of hours left, but that's because I'm on day 0. That seems somewhat less, somehow. 2011, that's years away. 1001 days doesn't seem like all that long at all.
Right, let's get this ball rolling.
Final list.
Final list:
No Title
1 Create and use a blog about doing a 101 challenge.
2 Finish writing Silver [more details]
3 Take a photograph every day for a year (or 365 consecutive days) [more details]
4 Walk (at least) 30 miles a week for 46 weeks [more details]
5 Find out my grid square [more details]
6 (as part of 5) Thoroughly investigate my grid square [more details]
7 Appear on Telly [more details] (COMPLETED 01/04/09: read me.)
8 Learn how to make chocolates [more details] (COMPLETED 24/04/09: read me.)
9 Make jam from foraged fruit. [more details]
10 Visit a foreign country. [more details]
11 Knit a hat. [more details]
12 Have a stall at a farmer's market [more details]
13 Tell someone I love them every day. [more details]
14 Visit an English Vineyard [more details]
15 Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant. [more details]
16 Join the Leeds Civic Trust [more details]
17 Visit every library with an LS postcode [more details]
18 Sign up with a dentist [more details]
19 Draw at least 20 diary-type comic strips. [more details]
20 Volunteer for something [more details] (COMPLETED 21/03/10: fairly convoluted, but some of this is here.)
21 Tick off 20 National Trust Properties from the Handbook. [more details]
22 Visit Roundhay Park [more details]
23 (as part of 22) Visit Tropical World [more details] (COMPLETED 04/04/09: read me.)
24 Get a photo published in a magazine [more details]
25 Take a portrait photograph of as many people as I can. [more details]
26 Eat more fruit [more details]
27 Attend a bookcrossing meeting. [more details]
28 Get up on stage at a comedy open mic event. [more details]
29 See as many original Atkinson Grimshaw paintings as I can. [more details]
30 See a performance at the Sage. [more details]
31 Get a backstage tour at theYEP WYP. [more details]
32 Go to mass. [more details]
33 Take a meditation class. [more details]
34 Visit my lil baby sister. [more details]
35 Make a souffle. [more details]
36 Make beetroot pasta that looks and tastes fantastic. [more details]
37 Wordle the blog posts I make about this at least once every 30 days. [more details]
38 Go for a swim in every municipal pool with an LS postcode. [more details]
39 Take a cutting from perdu's rose. [more details]
40 Grow my own spuds. [more details]
41 Grow my own tomatoes and chilies. [more details]
42 Go on a beekeeping course. [more details] (COMPLETED 10/07/11: Read me)
43 Go for seven consecutive days without spending any money. [more details]
44 Run 5K [more details]
45 In order to carry out 44: engage in a relatively sensible training schedule. [more details]
46 Go for a dip at White Wells [more details]
47 Plant a tree. [more details]
48 Try to register for blood donation. [more details] (COMPLETED 13/03/09: read me.)
49 Play poker for money [more details]
50 Brew my own ginger beer [more details]
51 Learn to play a particular piece of music on a new instrument. [more details]
52 Grow my own herbs [more details]
53 Have a SCUBA lesson. [more details]
54 Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through. [more details]
55 Read "Poetry for Dummies" [more details]
56 Get gently squiffy with as many of my friends as I can at the same time. [more details]
57 Visit every public museum with an LS postcode. [more details]
58 Write articles for T&C [more details]
59 Design and make a piece of jewellery for my Mother. [more details]
60 Give 50 books to charity shops. [more details]
61 Redecorate the landing. [more details]
62 Read Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle from start to finish. [more details]
63 Climb the bell tower at Leeds Town Hall [more details] (COMPLETED 13/09/09: read me.)
64 Fit loft insulation [more details]
65 Make a will [more details]
66 Take my own lunch to work at least 250 times over the course of the experiment [more details]
67 Write letters to friends and family instead of emailing them. [more details]
68 Give archery a try. [more details] (COMPLETED 12/06/09: read me.)
69 Visit a gun club. [more details]
70 Go to Classical Fantasia with a picnic. [more details]
71 Turn my handwriting into a font. [more details] (COMPLETED 10/04/09: read me.)
72 Send something to postsecret. [more details]
73 Visit every Farmer's Market within an hour's drive away. [more details]
74 Phone a commercial letting agency and find out just how much rent on a shop would be. [more details]
75 Learn what all the different planning consent types are. [more details]
76 Make a stop-motion animation [more details]
77 Vote in all the local elections. [more details]
78 Ride a horse. [more details]
79 Attend an auction. [more details]
80 Finish a business plan. [more details]
81 Take the bike out at least 250 times [more details]
82 Watch a play that's been written by someone I know [more details] (COMPLETED 12/06/09: read me)
83 Do Something About It [more details]
84 Make a lava lamp [more details]
85 Attend at least four Exposure Leeds sessions [more details] (COMPLETED 03/06/09: details spread over many posts)
86 Whack a bucket of balls at a driving range. [more details] (COMPLETED 17/03/09: read me)
87 Stop buying coffee on the way into work. [more details]
88 (as part of 87) Eat breakfast. [more details]
89 Build a camera. [more details]
90 Make a calendar. [more details]
91 Learn how to use fire poi. [more details]
92 Make a batch of boiled sweets [more details]
93 Attend a lunchtime recital at the Clothworkers [more details]
94 Attend I Love West Leeds [more details]
95 Enter the Charlie Cake competition [more details] (COMPLETED 04/10/09: read me)
96 Go up Pen-y-ghent [more details] (COMPLETED 08/08/09: read me)
97 Go walking with Matt at least eight times over the 1001 days. [more details]
98 Declutter the spare room [more details]
99 Give away all the photographic stuff I don't need. [more details]
100 Say yes to all of my friends collecting sponsorship money for charity, by doing things outside their comfort zones. [more details]
101 Collate all of the material produced whilst carrying out the task list, and make it available in a reasonably easy-to-use format. [more details]
No Title
1 Create and use a blog about doing a 101 challenge.
2 Finish writing Silver [more details]
3 Take a photograph every day for a year (or 365 consecutive days) [more details]
4 Walk (at least) 30 miles a week for 46 weeks [more details]
5 Find out my grid square [more details]
6 (as part of 5) Thoroughly investigate my grid square [more details]
7 Appear on Telly [more details] (COMPLETED 01/04/09: read me.)
8 Learn how to make chocolates [more details] (COMPLETED 24/04/09: read me.)
9 Make jam from foraged fruit. [more details]
10 Visit a foreign country. [more details]
11 Knit a hat. [more details]
12 Have a stall at a farmer's market [more details]
13 Tell someone I love them every day. [more details]
14 Visit an English Vineyard [more details]
15 Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant. [more details]
16 Join the Leeds Civic Trust [more details]
17 Visit every library with an LS postcode [more details]
18 Sign up with a dentist [more details]
19 Draw at least 20 diary-type comic strips. [more details]
20 Volunteer for something [more details] (COMPLETED 21/03/10: fairly convoluted, but some of this is here.)
21 Tick off 20 National Trust Properties from the Handbook. [more details]
22 Visit Roundhay Park [more details]
23 (as part of 22) Visit Tropical World [more details] (COMPLETED 04/04/09: read me.)
24 Get a photo published in a magazine [more details]
25 Take a portrait photograph of as many people as I can. [more details]
26 Eat more fruit [more details]
27 Attend a bookcrossing meeting. [more details]
28 Get up on stage at a comedy open mic event. [more details]
29 See as many original Atkinson Grimshaw paintings as I can. [more details]
30 See a performance at the Sage. [more details]
31 Get a backstage tour at the
32 Go to mass. [more details]
33 Take a meditation class. [more details]
34 Visit my lil baby sister. [more details]
35 Make a souffle. [more details]
36 Make beetroot pasta that looks and tastes fantastic. [more details]
37 Wordle the blog posts I make about this at least once every 30 days. [more details]
38 Go for a swim in every municipal pool with an LS postcode. [more details]
39 Take a cutting from perdu's rose. [more details]
40 Grow my own spuds. [more details]
41 Grow my own tomatoes and chilies. [more details]
42 Go on a beekeeping course. [more details] (COMPLETED 10/07/11: Read me)
43 Go for seven consecutive days without spending any money. [more details]
44 Run 5K [more details]
45 In order to carry out 44: engage in a relatively sensible training schedule. [more details]
46 Go for a dip at White Wells [more details]
47 Plant a tree. [more details]
48 Try to register for blood donation. [more details] (COMPLETED 13/03/09: read me.)
49 Play poker for money [more details]
50 Brew my own ginger beer [more details]
51 Learn to play a particular piece of music on a new instrument. [more details]
52 Grow my own herbs [more details]
53 Have a SCUBA lesson. [more details]
54 Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through. [more details]
55 Read "Poetry for Dummies" [more details]
56 Get gently squiffy with as many of my friends as I can at the same time. [more details]
57 Visit every public museum with an LS postcode. [more details]
58 Write articles for T&C [more details]
59 Design and make a piece of jewellery for my Mother. [more details]
60 Give 50 books to charity shops. [more details]
61 Redecorate the landing. [more details]
62 Read Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle from start to finish. [more details]
63 Climb the bell tower at Leeds Town Hall [more details] (COMPLETED 13/09/09: read me.)
64 Fit loft insulation [more details]
65 Make a will [more details]
66 Take my own lunch to work at least 250 times over the course of the experiment [more details]
67 Write letters to friends and family instead of emailing them. [more details]
68 Give archery a try. [more details] (COMPLETED 12/06/09: read me.)
69 Visit a gun club. [more details]
70 Go to Classical Fantasia with a picnic. [more details]
71 Turn my handwriting into a font. [more details] (COMPLETED 10/04/09: read me.)
72 Send something to postsecret. [more details]
73 Visit every Farmer's Market within an hour's drive away. [more details]
74 Phone a commercial letting agency and find out just how much rent on a shop would be. [more details]
75 Learn what all the different planning consent types are. [more details]
76 Make a stop-motion animation [more details]
77 Vote in all the local elections. [more details]
78 Ride a horse. [more details]
79 Attend an auction. [more details]
80 Finish a business plan. [more details]
81 Take the bike out at least 250 times [more details]
82 Watch a play that's been written by someone I know [more details] (COMPLETED 12/06/09: read me)
83 Do Something About It [more details]
84 Make a lava lamp [more details]
85 Attend at least four Exposure Leeds sessions [more details] (COMPLETED 03/06/09: details spread over many posts)
86 Whack a bucket of balls at a driving range. [more details] (COMPLETED 17/03/09: read me)
87 Stop buying coffee on the way into work. [more details]
88 (as part of 87) Eat breakfast. [more details]
89 Build a camera. [more details]
90 Make a calendar. [more details]
91 Learn how to use fire poi. [more details]
92 Make a batch of boiled sweets [more details]
93 Attend a lunchtime recital at the Clothworkers [more details]
94 Attend I Love West Leeds [more details]
95 Enter the Charlie Cake competition [more details] (COMPLETED 04/10/09: read me)
96 Go up Pen-y-ghent [more details] (COMPLETED 08/08/09: read me)
97 Go walking with Matt at least eight times over the 1001 days. [more details]
98 Declutter the spare room [more details]
99 Give away all the photographic stuff I don't need. [more details]
100 Say yes to all of my friends collecting sponsorship money for charity, by doing things outside their comfort zones. [more details]
101 Collate all of the material produced whilst carrying out the task list, and make it available in a reasonably easy-to-use format. [more details]
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The list.
This is the list so far. It's not complete, and I'll be going back and editing this post when I have the detailed entry that goes with each item posted up (each item on the list should have a "details" link after it that explains what's been going on and shows progress, if any).
I've not ordered the list in any way, either. That may change.
No Title
1 Create and use a blog about doing a 101 challenge.
2 Finish writing Silver
3 Take a photograph every day for a year (or 365 consecutive days)
4 Walk (at least) 40 miles a week for 52 weeks
5 Find out my grid square
6 (as part of 5) Thoroughly investigate my grid square
7 Appear on Telly
8 Learn how to make chocolates
9 Make jam from foraged fruit.
10 Visit a foreign country.
11 Knit a hat.
12 Have a stall at a farmer's market
13 Tell someone I love them every day.
14 Visit an English Vineyard
15 Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant.
16 Join the Leeds Civic Trust
17 Visit every library with an LS postcode
18 Sign up with a dentist
19 Draw at least 20 diary-type comic strips.
20 Volunteer for something
21 Tick off 20 National Trust Properties from the Handbook.
22 Visit Roundhay Park
23 (as part of 22) Visit Tropical World
24 Get a photo published in a magazine
25 Take a portrait photograph of as many people as I can.
26 Eat more fruit
27 Attend a bookcrossing meeting.
28 Get up on stage at a comedy open mic event.
29 See as many original Atkinson Grimshaw paintings as I can.
30 See a performance at the Sage.
31 Get a backstage tour at the YEP.
32 Go to mass.
33 Take a meditation class.
34 Visit my lil baby sister.
35 Make a souffle.
36 Make beetroot pasta that looks and tastes fantastic.
37 Wordle the blog posts I make about this at least once every 30 days.
38 Go for a swim in every municipal pool with an LS postcode.
39 Take a cutting from perdu's rose.
40 Grow my own spuds.
41 Grow my own tomatoes and chilies.
42 Go on a beekeeping course.
43 Go for seven consecutive days without spending any money.
44 Run 5K
45 In order to carry out 44: engage in a relatively sensible training schedule.
46 Go for a dip at White Wells
47 Plant a tree.
48 Try to register for blood donation.
49 Play poker for money
50 Brew my own ginger beer
51 Learn to play a particular piece of music on a new instrument.
52 Grow my own herbs
53 Have a SCUBA lesson.
54 Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through.
55 Read "Poetry for Dummies"
56 Get gently squiffy with as many of my friends as I can at the same time.
57 Visit every public museum with an LS postcode.
58 Write articles for T&C
59 Design and make a piece of jewellery for my Mother.
60 Give 50 books to charity shops.
61 Redecorate the landing.
62 Read Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle from start to finish.
63 Climb the bell tower at Leeds Town Hall.
64 Fit loft insulation.
65 Make a will.
66 Take my own lunch to work at least 250 times over the 1001 days.
67 Write letters to friends and family instead of emailing them.
68 Give archery a try.
69 Visit a gun club.
70 Attend Classical Fantasia with a picnic.
71 Turn my handwriting into a font.
72 Send something to Postsecret.
73 Visit each farmer's market within an hour's drive.
74 Convince someone else to give this madness a try.
Obv, 75-101 are missing. That's 27 more things I need to think up.
I've not ordered the list in any way, either. That may change.
No Title
1 Create and use a blog about doing a 101 challenge.
2 Finish writing Silver
3 Take a photograph every day for a year (or 365 consecutive days)
4 Walk (at least) 40 miles a week for 52 weeks
5 Find out my grid square
6 (as part of 5) Thoroughly investigate my grid square
7 Appear on Telly
8 Learn how to make chocolates
9 Make jam from foraged fruit.
10 Visit a foreign country.
11 Knit a hat.
12 Have a stall at a farmer's market
13 Tell someone I love them every day.
14 Visit an English Vineyard
15 Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant.
16 Join the Leeds Civic Trust
17 Visit every library with an LS postcode
18 Sign up with a dentist
19 Draw at least 20 diary-type comic strips.
20 Volunteer for something
21 Tick off 20 National Trust Properties from the Handbook.
22 Visit Roundhay Park
23 (as part of 22) Visit Tropical World
24 Get a photo published in a magazine
25 Take a portrait photograph of as many people as I can.
26 Eat more fruit
27 Attend a bookcrossing meeting.
28 Get up on stage at a comedy open mic event.
29 See as many original Atkinson Grimshaw paintings as I can.
30 See a performance at the Sage.
31 Get a backstage tour at the YEP.
32 Go to mass.
33 Take a meditation class.
34 Visit my lil baby sister.
35 Make a souffle.
36 Make beetroot pasta that looks and tastes fantastic.
37 Wordle the blog posts I make about this at least once every 30 days.
38 Go for a swim in every municipal pool with an LS postcode.
39 Take a cutting from perdu's rose.
40 Grow my own spuds.
41 Grow my own tomatoes and chilies.
42 Go on a beekeeping course.
43 Go for seven consecutive days without spending any money.
44 Run 5K
45 In order to carry out 44: engage in a relatively sensible training schedule.
46 Go for a dip at White Wells
47 Plant a tree.
48 Try to register for blood donation.
49 Play poker for money
50 Brew my own ginger beer
51 Learn to play a particular piece of music on a new instrument.
52 Grow my own herbs
53 Have a SCUBA lesson.
54 Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" all the way through.
55 Read "Poetry for Dummies"
56 Get gently squiffy with as many of my friends as I can at the same time.
57 Visit every public museum with an LS postcode.
58 Write articles for T&C
59 Design and make a piece of jewellery for my Mother.
60 Give 50 books to charity shops.
61 Redecorate the landing.
62 Read Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle from start to finish.
63 Climb the bell tower at Leeds Town Hall.
64 Fit loft insulation.
65 Make a will.
66 Take my own lunch to work at least 250 times over the 1001 days.
67 Write letters to friends and family instead of emailing them.
68 Give archery a try.
69 Visit a gun club.
70 Attend Classical Fantasia with a picnic.
71 Turn my handwriting into a font.
72 Send something to Postsecret.
73 Visit each farmer's market within an hour's drive.
74 Convince someone else to give this madness a try.
Obv, 75-101 are missing. That's 27 more things I need to think up.
#1
My first entry in my "List of 101 things to do in 1001 days" says "Create and use a blog about doing a 101 challenge."
Well, here we are.
If I could be bothered I'd put in counters and tickers and trackers and little bits of PHP that'll say "OMG: Mike only has N days:hours:minutes to complete X tasks!" with an increasingly red font as N approaches zero, but frankly I can't be bothered (which is also why I'm hosting this on blogger rather than knocking up a Drupal or roll-my-own Ruby on Rails type affair on a different server). This is a point to note: I really am quite lazy and whilst I won't expend more effort on not doing something than actually getting up off my backside and doing it, I will take a long hard look at something that I may need to do to work out the shortcut-to-inconvenience tolerance ratio.
But, what is a 101 challenge? Y'see, I wasn't sure - I'd seen references to it every now and then - and then I met Alex Wolf who mentioned she was doing 101 things in 1001 days. Rightyho, I thought at the time, and took a swig of my tea wondering when this photo would actually be taken. Then the rest of the day happened, and I forgot to go back to Alex for more details so I then had to go and do a bit of research into what this thing was by myself.
It turns out there's a bit of a community for people doing this thing: Day Zero Project. The wording they have on there is fairly straightforward:
Fairynuff. I can see why 1001 days is appropriate; some tasks do, by their very nature, take a lot of time. Some tasks will be one-offs, but many will be habit-forming (with a bit of luck) and others will involve waiting for something to come to fruition. Interesting idea.
Then, of course, I made the fatal mistake: thinking "What would I do for my 101 things?"
When you get to that point, it's like Ruben in Ocean's Eleven saying "You'll need a crew as crazy as you are. So, who have you got in mind?" and it's just a case of working out the details because you know damn well that it's going to happen.
At time of writing this I have 62 things, but by the time I've finished inputting all of the detailed entries into this thing we call Blog I should have finished the list. If you want to comment with suggestions, please feel free to do so but I'm trying to avoid generic ideas ("be happy" or "grow something" seems a bit woolly to me), so don't be offended if I think your suggestion is too close in spirit to one already on the list.
I have to thank Alex for kickstarting my brain into doing this, although perhaps "thank" is too optimistic a word. Saying that, her 101 Strategy document has been very useful whilst dreaming up this thing, so a completely unconditional thanks is appropriate for that.
When I start doing this in earnest I'll put up start and finish dates - technically I suppose I've started already, but *ssh* - and maybe, yes, the countdown timer might be there.
Dear suffering $deity. What have I got myself into?
Well, here we are.
If I could be bothered I'd put in counters and tickers and trackers and little bits of PHP that'll say "OMG: Mike only has N days:hours:minutes to complete X tasks!" with an increasingly red font as N approaches zero, but frankly I can't be bothered (which is also why I'm hosting this on blogger rather than knocking up a Drupal or roll-my-own Ruby on Rails type affair on a different server). This is a point to note: I really am quite lazy and whilst I won't expend more effort on not doing something than actually getting up off my backside and doing it, I will take a long hard look at something that I may need to do to work out the shortcut-to-inconvenience tolerance ratio.
But, what is a 101 challenge? Y'see, I wasn't sure - I'd seen references to it every now and then - and then I met Alex Wolf who mentioned she was doing 101 things in 1001 days. Rightyho, I thought at the time, and took a swig of my tea wondering when this photo would actually be taken. Then the rest of the day happened, and I forgot to go back to Alex for more details so I then had to go and do a bit of research into what this thing was by myself.
It turns out there's a bit of a community for people doing this thing: Day Zero Project. The wording they have on there is fairly straightforward:
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Fairynuff. I can see why 1001 days is appropriate; some tasks do, by their very nature, take a lot of time. Some tasks will be one-offs, but many will be habit-forming (with a bit of luck) and others will involve waiting for something to come to fruition. Interesting idea.
Then, of course, I made the fatal mistake: thinking "What would I do for my 101 things?"
When you get to that point, it's like Ruben in Ocean's Eleven saying "You'll need a crew as crazy as you are. So, who have you got in mind?" and it's just a case of working out the details because you know damn well that it's going to happen.
At time of writing this I have 62 things, but by the time I've finished inputting all of the detailed entries into this thing we call Blog I should have finished the list. If you want to comment with suggestions, please feel free to do so but I'm trying to avoid generic ideas ("be happy" or "grow something" seems a bit woolly to me), so don't be offended if I think your suggestion is too close in spirit to one already on the list.
I have to thank Alex for kickstarting my brain into doing this, although perhaps "thank" is too optimistic a word. Saying that, her 101 Strategy document has been very useful whilst dreaming up this thing, so a completely unconditional thanks is appropriate for that.
When I start doing this in earnest I'll put up start and finish dates - technically I suppose I've started already, but *ssh* - and maybe, yes, the countdown timer might be there.
Dear suffering $deity. What have I got myself into?
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