One of my most favourite blogs, of the moment, is a blog that I lurk on - 40 things to do before I'm 40.
It’s a fabulous blog. The concept is utterly amusing.
The blog allows you to follow Janette Jones, as she attempts to achieve her 40 random things, obviously before she is 40.
It’s a fabulous blog. The concept is utterly amusing.
The blog allows you to follow Janette Jones, as she attempts to achieve her 40 random things, obviously before she is 40.
(and she's doing so well).
I’ve no idea how long she has to complete the quest (as I lurk, I don't think I can ask), but I’m really enjoying watching her progress.
So, in the spirit of all things supportive.
And as she’s writing a novel and currently needs some motivating.
I have devised a list of 23 things that I would like to happen/to do/to have, all before I’m 40.
(and before you ask, even though Poppy told her teacher that I was 43, I am actually 34).
Most of the list is totally unrealistic, but hey ho, you never know.
So.
Before I am 40, I will, apparently …
1. Have a collection of novelty erasers (I am so cool).
2. Learn a new language.
3. Have 3 more books published.
4. Go to a Film Premiere.
5. Have breakfast outside of Tiffany’s (as in Breakfast at Tiffany's).
6. Obtain a personally signed photo of Simon Cowell (sigh).
7. Be an extra in a film (this one made me laugh out loud).
8. Learn to/and crochet a blanket (again, I am so cool).
9. Go for a ride in a New York taxi (holding a New York taxi pencil).
10. Get married in a castle.
11. Sell publishing rights to the USA (I think I am America obsessed)
12. Go to a West End show.
13. Take Pret-a-Portea afternoon champagne tea in London (the Ritz is so common, dharling).
14. Be a fairy godmother with wings.
15. Own a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels.
16. Obtain a personally signed Neil Gaiman book (I *heart* him)
17. Read and review 100 more books (that's about 2 books most months).
18. Travel to Egypt.
19. Learn to Salsa.
20. Do a book signing in Harrods (in gold ink).
21. Be sung to by a Gondolier (preferably in a gondola).
22. Hear Margaret Atwood read (in a public place as I should never be too close to people I admire).
23. Go to Paula and Richard’s wedding (currently at a 2 year engagement).
Anyone else going to join in with the random and perhaps unobtainable goals?
And Janette, best of luck with it all (especially the novel writing).
24 comments:
Oooh! I've done number 22 *smug glow* (and number 12).
Hmmm...Caroline...we're the same age and you're talking about the 'F' word. Please stop. You're making me feel old! Eeeek!
Cal - you are indeed smug :) Number 22 - WHERE? WHERE?
If you had claimed 23, 15, 1 or 6 then I may very well have cried! And the F word is a bit terrifying, but we have 6 years ... 6 years ... OMG WE'RE NEARLY 40!!!!! :)
X
Caroline - London Book Fair in..umm...2005 or 2006 (poor, poor memory!). She even signed my copy of The Tent (the book she had out at the time) which makes it VERY SPECIAL INDEED as she does a lot of her signings by electric technological pen thingy (i.e. 'virtually' from home) so a real life ink on paper signature is to be treasured. Oh, and the talk/reading was very good. She's as witty and droll as you'd expect her to be. Every time I read one of her books I want to be her.
Stop saying the F word. Icky, ick, ick! *runs off in denial*
Cor! I've done three of your things! Before I was 40 too! West End show, Egypt, New York Taxi (sans pencil, though).
My own random and perhaps unobtainable goals?
Get my book published!sigh.
Get more books out of my head and onto bookshop shelves!
Run an ultra marathon (35 miles would do first)
Look smart in a suit!
Like olives ( I am working on this!).
Work part time.
Own a Sobell Octave Mandolin.
Do a backflip.
Cal - yes I have a signed book with electric technological pen thingy. It ain't the same :( (although it is still on my special signed books shelf). I am rather jealous x
Jon - fab! Ah but the pencil is part of it, so you've only done half of that one :) Your goals are SO NOT unobtainable. I'll look forward to you doing a backflip in your smart suit.
xxx
Smudge has a list of things he'd like to do before Mummy is 40 (sadly, really not that long!).
Learn to walk across a table without kicking everything off it.
Learn how to open those pesky food trays himself.
Get his own back on Uncle Jason by turning HIS ears inside out!
Ooh! Ooh! I love this! Okay... erm...I am already 40 though...so before I am 41 (in July) I would like to:
1) get a publishing contract for at least one book that won't scar our boys for life if they accidently discover my pen name
2) Get a contract for 4 days a week so that I can greedily hog one whole day a week to myself to write
3) Write a couple more book reviews
4) have a tacky Vegas wedding
5) have my investment cash returned at long last (most unlikley one as this has dragged on for 2 years now)
6) loose 2 stone...though obviously this is unlikey too as loosing weight means actually depriving myself of nice food and lush wine!
Dear Lurker
Do I get a half point for number 7 if I’ve appeared in a Halifax TV ad and for number 9 for riding in the back of New York taxi (minus the pencil)? I get a full point for number 12 (Chicago and Joseph) and does number 21 count if it happened in Vegas?!!! By the way, The Ritz - common? Tut - champagne is so last year sweetie!
PS If you promise not to tell anyone, I will let you into a secret. ….. I have just over three and half years before the big one!
Janette - hi *waves* A Halifax tv add! Fabulous! Oh and yes to number 21! And the Ritz is only common because of the waiting list :) 3 and a half years! No problem honey, it'll be easy. You'll have years left :) I'll be here cheering you on!
dj - I'd say that your goals are no problem at all :)
Helen - make sure that you take a photo of smudge doing the last one :)
x
I used to have a novelty eraser collection when I was younger. I used to like the smell of the fruity ones.
Alas, I have never been to a film premiere - but husband has - and got me Stephen Fry's autograph...oh and West End show, I'm organising a trip to the Take That musical - it's going to the west end. Want to come with?!!
I'm not even looking at the list. 41 is the new 40, isn't it? You wait til you get there, hahaha! x
Hmm....Okay, by the time I am 40 I would like to be...no...wait! I'm 48!. Darn.
Right. Do I get 2 points for learning the foreign language thing twice? Um, two and a bit times, maybe, because I can speak German, but only to say *My name is Maria Brown and my passport is Black* ? (I lost the Linguaphone course in Alicante, and that is as far as I got :(
Actually....two and several bits, because I can speak French and Spanish, and hobble by in Italian and Russian?
And I has Terry Pratchett's autograph, um, several times. He does like his book signings!
Now, please refrain from reminding me I am Oh So Old!
Ooh, 'eck, I've only got a year and a month to squeeze my adventures into. I'd like to have my novel published then have it made into a film with Andrew Lincoln in it. He will then fall in love with me due to my fabulous abilities with the French lingo and my super-skinny body.
Pffffff.
My fantasies are more full of holes and than my first attempt at crocheting would be.
oooh ooooh I have done 19!!!!
and won't gary be kinda upset about number 10????? ;)
Oooh I must get my list immediately :)
I may be echoing you on no 15 and 16...
I was away for Easter and just heard he was reading at Eastercon in the UK... damn it! Foiled again.
J x
Look, I'm all freaked out about the 40 thing...I *just* had my 44th b-day. Only a tiny bit scarey. Reaching 40 was absolutely THE BEST. Loved it. Everything came into focus, and to some extent continues to be so... But that's not why I'm here. I wanna tick off the list:
8 (my grandmother taught me, rest her soul), 9 (bit of a cheat, lived in NYC one summer), 12. My daughter might testify to 14. 18 (GO!), 19 (basics, but still sexy), okay and I'll admit 21 (FOR MY 40th! See!). 22, in Oberlin, when I was an undergraduate. She wore a black cape and red lipstick and was *completely* intimidating and gobsmacking.
I want some champagne now.
What a brilliant idea , just what I need to do to get myself back on track after my "moving horrors" I shall start my list now but I shan't tell anyone how old I am only how long I will give myself to achieve them. Off now to start my list, oh and I have done 2 and 12 so no point putting them on my list. Although I often add things to lists that I have already done just so I can cross them off. Sad or what?
I've only got a year to go. I'm just holding out for some sleep and a decent sandwich.
Oh dear - I think I may be the oldest woman, nay person on your blog.
Right. 'Things To Do Before I Am 50'.
I need to ponder this:-)
Don't you mean personally obtain a signed photo of Cowell?
stay at home dad - believe me, the worst thing that ANYONE could do is allow me near to Simon. I am known for my tit-being-ness at the best of times!
Lane - oh no you're not! I'm really at 134 year old man (called Brian). And yes 'things to do' lists are always fun.
Alex - I'd say the 'sleep' thing is so far out of your reach honey! And happy birthday for yesterday :)
Sheepish - not sad at all! And I was tempted to add things that I've already done :) I do think that I'm the only person in the world who hasn't been to a West End show!
Patricia - we should drink champagne together!
22, 21, 19 and 8 I am most jealous! I think that you must have been me in a former life :)
Juliette - 15 and 16 are both wonderful. Have you seen the (15)shoes on offer ... to.die.for ... they so are. They make me drool like nothing else in the world.
b - nah! he'll understand :) where is your 19?
Jen - I so like what you did there! Fabulous :) and Andrew Lincoln ... oh he is yummy is such a delicate and tender way ...
Gaz - honey. Then you should have a list of things to do before being 50. And for one so young, your life has been rather FULL of adventure :)
L-plate author - was that an evil laugh? Nothing to stop you from having a list ...
Helen - when you going? And, yes, I used to have a novelty rubber collection when I was young. I'd buy them in Malta. My favourite was a hmaburger that you could pull apart. I had so many... but now they are no more and I miss them *sob*
xxx
oh boy I have one year to do my list before 40! ;-)
I love your list! I am dying to see Egypt!
Can we all go together? ;-)
I love that lady's blog! What a great idea!
OMG! I'm so spooked - I have my list sat here ready to post on my blog of my countdown til I'm 40 (I'm just trying to think of some more decent ones to put on it to try to make myself look a bit cooler!) I also would love to know how long the writer of '40 things to do before I am 40' has got left (about 280 weeks for me!) Hx
Helen - she has 3 and a half years to do it. I have 5 and a half. Ahhhhh. Looking forward to seeing your list :)
Sabine - make your list and let's go to Eygpt! x
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