My Bucket List

#53 - Know phone number off by heart

2011-07-04T10:34:00.000+01:00

I finally learnt it yay! How long have I had this phone? Since last Christmas. So it's taken me the best part of half a year to learn. Hahaha! The things you just don't get round to eh? How's everyone's summer going?

I Have A Dream...

2011-06-15T13:00:00.012+01:00

I was reading up about the books on my booklist the other day and stumbled across one I wrote down a little while ago, which was the '4-Hour Workweek' by Tim Ferris. I got really excited about some of the concepts so -as you do- instead of waiting for the book (currently at the library but can't pick it up yet), I went and had a good look online for more stuff about him and what he teaches. One thing that really stood out to me was this list he had, in which he listed 5 things of each that he dreamed of; Having, Being and Doing. And I thought, what a great idea!

When you look at a lot of people's bucket lists (like mine) you can usually see some crazy stuff like 'Milk a Cow' or 'Plant a tree' and while yes, it is good to be a bit crazy...Would you die happy if you'd done nothing else but milk a cow and plant a tree? I just get the feeling that in the process of making a bucket list, we're trying to do so much stuff a lot of it ends up being the smaller things.

So here's the solution! I've written done my having,being and doing dreams that excite me the most at the minute, and the plan is, every year I'm going to try and accomplish (or work hard towards accomplishing) at least ONE of these things. For example, say I decided that this year, I'm going to get a Scuba Diving License, (or put all my money into getting one soon etc.). That's pretty exciting! And it means that whilst I'm working toward these HUGE goals, I can have fun in the mean time with the smaller goals, and still feel I'm accomplishing loads. And each time I do one, that's a "dream completed" and I can pick another thing to replace it.

Because seriously, when someone asks you what you did last year, it sounds more impressive to say you funded your own week trip to Italy, than milked a couple of cows, and went to a spa.

Current 5 Biggest Things I DREAM of:

HAVING:
1. A Scuba Diving License
2. A Fiat 500 or Mini Cooper
3. A Passive Income
4. A Home That I Own
5. Read 200 Greatest Films and 100 Greatest Books

BEING:
1. Able To Revise/Learn/Work Efficiently
2. Able To Speed Read
3. Fluent in German and Italian
4. Financially Secure
5. A Great Cook
(6) Able to spend more time with family/friends

DOING:
1. Going on holiday to Italy for a week (with a friend)
2. Paragliding
3. Skydiving
4. Going up in a Hot Air Balloon
5. Getting Fit (specific...?)

Now I just have to pick one and figure out how I'm going to do it.... hmmmm

#73 Get a piece of art into an exhibition

2011-06-11T13:14:00.004+01:00

I thought this one would be really hard to achieve, but it turned out that I didn't have to do anything more than finish my final piece of A-Level Art when we all got the opportunity to select a piece to put into this exhibition. I didn't have high hopes of getting in and I also had no clue whether this was a big or small exhibition, for all artists or just our school or what. But I submitted a piece anyway and I got in! Along with only four other pieces from my school!

What I did not expect was as I was walking up the stairs to the room to see my butt-ugly gothic thing staring me down from the front door as a horrible fear gripped me even more when I realised almost every other painting was a calm and beautiful watercolour...And mine was just...that. So deeply embarrassed (for I also had brought my mum and dad and a friend along, it was a private pre-exhibition for the artists) I didn't even tell them which was mine. Hell I barely looked at the thing just in case they would happen to look at the huge name tag next to it.

What I FURTHER did not expect, was after 10 minutes of looking at these brilliant pictures for the manager to clink his glass and to gather everyone up for a speech. He then announced something like, "Before I begin, I wish to point out this piece (to which I begged he was motioning to the one next to mine) and ask whether the artist is in the room. I waited a few dreaded seconds as everyone looked at each other before squeaking up from the back "You don't mean the corset do you?". To which many chuckled as I turned bright red and was ushered to the front.

I then tried to smile from my tomato face as he continued to say that my particular piece has caused much controversy and sparked much debate and conversation (to which I thought, if it was such a big problem then why stick it RIGHT BY THE FREAKING DOOR!?) and then stated that that was in fact something that all artists strive for and many do not achieve, especially at my early age. And that I should be very proud to have created such a stir or emotions. And then everyone clapped!

I then enquired if I could go back now, and scuttled back off the the back of the room, shaking and not quiet realising what had happened, further shocked when my dad turned to me and demanded 'Is that one really yours?". To which I meekly replied that it was, and he told me that it was amazing and absolutely brilliant - when I thought he'd hate it!. Still shaking and finally catching up, I tried desperately to stop shaking, stop blushing and stop looking so terribly smug.

It was such an honour to have achieved this great status, and making my ego even bigger only then proceeded to talk about two further pieces of work before thanking everyone for coming. A few people then gave me a few congratulations, one came and asked me if my friend's piece of work was on sale - to which I never knew that offers could be made-, and said I was sure she could contact the school and ask.

I'm pretty sure this isn't the sort of thing anyone would want in their home so I'm not going to hold my breathe for offers haha. But if anything, out of this hard and tiring A-Level I have achieved something that apparently most cannot. Phew! What a day. Oh! And have a look at my new book list blog if you've got time, thanks guys :D

(The tag behind it states "Elyse Gymer, 18: Black Swan inspired Corset) (like the movie?)

#15 Keep a blog for over a year!

2011-05-30T13:20:00.004+01:00

One year old tomorrow! I have an early notice so when people get round to reading this, this website will be one year old, as I started it on the 1st of June 2010. Wow a year flown by so fast! I've had to change my list around a lot, so a few of the things that I did go out and complete aren't on there any more, but there are things I wouldn't have done without this blog and I intend to keep going! Oh and some other good news, I got my actual donor card today (which i'll post a picture of later) and this is what the letter said:

"Dear Ms Gymer,
Thank you for joining the NHS Organ Donor Register by registering on our website and making the commitment to help others live after your death.

The Register gives hope to more than 10,000 people of all ages across the UK who desperately need an organ transplant. Although more of these life saving operations take place than ever before, many people - on average three a day- will die waiting for a transplant simply because there are not enough organs avaliable.
(Then it goes on stating some of my personal details, and that I'm going to donate any of my organs or tissue, as well as where to get information.)
Thank you once again on behalf of the many people who need a transplant. Their future depends on the generosity of others, like you, to save and transform their lives.

And all I did was put in a few details online! Oh and thank you to my bloggers and other Listers out there who keep me going and ticking things off! (Not letting me post pictures... hmmpf)

100 Books in 100 weeks

2011-05-24T16:39:00.003+01:00

So I was having a look at my list and I realised that although I started off well, through my exams and coursework I've kind of dwindled off of my book list. So I thought to challenge myself, I'm going to do 100 book in 100 weeks, in which i'm going to be reviewing a book every Monday until it's completely done! However, I realised that I have read 7 books already, and though that isn't a massive achievement - 93 books in 93 weeks didn't sound as good. So I'm going to swap a few round to make up the numbers and post the list on another blog I'm going to create that I'll leave a link to :).
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 100 BOOKS IN 100 WEEKS BLOG

#40 (movie list) Shawshank Redemption

2011-05-14T16:20:00.001+01:00

Get busy living or get busy dying

I don't usually write reviews for films, even when they're great. Another thing I don't usually do is like to put a title or ranking on "my greatest films" or "my greatest books" of all time because you can't see and read them all nor really judge all the different genres and movies as one...However, there are times when you have to make some exceptions.

I just watched my number one on my movie list Shawshank Repemption, and can honestly say it is one of the most beautiful and greatest movies I've ever seen. There is a point in which Andy says 'Get busy living or get busy dying' and I think that truly if you stop being busy living you do get busy dying, and this is one of those films that makes me so glad to have a bucket list.

I greatly urge any fellow people, especially bucket listers, to see this film to the end. Very rarely have I been quiet so moved. Or if you only have a few minutes, take a moment to listen to this soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTeE4wdfEVY

I can't get enough of it. :)

#46 - Sign up for organ donation

2011-05-08T20:56:00.001+01:00

I'm a Superhero woo! So I finally got round to signing up for organ donation, and not in the sense of 'Oh I didn't know how.' or 'Oh I couldn't I was busy', no it was literally just getting the courage to actually do it, because the idea of it is quite scary! I don't want to think about being dead and having people cut me up and share my organs around! When I heard they can use your eyes (only a small part- your corneas) I could just imagine being a blind ghost knocking things over and moaning thinking 'oh why did I sign up for that blasted thing!?' for all eternity. This may seem pretty silly, as I'm an atheist, I don't believe in ghosts. So I went online, went to the organ donation website(http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/default.jsp) it took me about 3 minutes and that's it!

So now when I get round to passing away (though of course not until this long and increasing longer lis

t is completed) I can help someone else live. I must admit the main reason I kicked myself into doing it was because I realised that I wouldn't hesitate if someone I loved needed a donation and it's better than them all just rotting away. Are any other donors out there and did you go through the same thing as me or just get on with it? :P

#61 - Create an awesome canvas painting

2011-05-02T22:43:00.001+01:00

Hello again! So as some of you might know, i'm reaching the end of my Art A-level, and I recently finished a canvas that I felt especially proud of finally getting round to so I thought I'd shove it up. It's based partially on the work of Sylvia Ji and Swan Lake/Black Swan (the film) - because you know, when I chose the theme 'speed and motion' i though, "hey let's base it on the creepy ballet psychodrama i saw!" so without further ado here it tis

(oh and it is meant to have a gothic twist on it. This styling is going to end up on a Ballet costume which i'll have done in a few weeks and i'll post that up too :). This is the so called "red swan" the combination of the "black swan" and "white swan" that i invented, which is the cause of the swirling red patterns on her face. If you're still interested in knowing more, leave me a message and i'll explain, thanks! I hope you all agree to its awesomeness!!!)

#62- The World's Biggest Roller Coasters

2011-05-02T19:44:00.000+01:00

Okay so i've stolen this idea from Shelley (Thanks Shelley! http://youngandexciting.blogspot.com/2010/07/14-ride-worlds-biggest-rollercoasters.html)

Because I love Roller coasters and defiantly want to test my nerve and stomach! So here's the list, i'll post later on when plans are being made to get to each of them, i'm sure this list will remain in progress for quite some time...

1- Kingda Ka USA, New Jersey

2 - Steel Dragon 2,000 Japan

3- Millennium Force Ohio

4- Top thrill Dragster Ohio

5- Dodonpa Japan

6 -Thunder Dolphin Japan

7- Goliath Switzerland

8- Dragon Khan Spain

9- Titan Texas

10 - Nemisis England

Updated list!

2011-05-01T23:34:00.001+01:00

Hey was looking for inspiration for changing my list around a bit because I want it to be even bigger and better and more challenging than before. I'm going to try and write a review for every film and book and have a photo of each actual thing that I tick off (or at least one that reminds me of it) so that they don't fly by without significance. So woo for updates!

Not long now...

2011-05-01T16:24:00.000+01:00

Home stretch for coursework and exams! Phew. After the 20th of June I've got all of summer before shooting off to uni woo hoo! Which means crossing the first thing off of my bucket list (1. go to university) is fast getting ticked off. Working through the last of my art coursework too, i'm currently working on this Black Swan/Swan lake costume so hopefully that'll turn out okay, and i'm working on a canvas inspired by Sylvia Ji, i'll post some pics up when it's done.

Oh I won an astronomy award though I know little to nothing about astronomy. The question was, if the whole universe was put in a box what would the box look like. And i won! What would you have put? I'll put up my answer a bit later ;). Oh and i might be buying my 'one really expensive thing you weren't supposed to buy' in the form of a prom dress, but we shall see... I'm not usually one to splash out for one night occasions but hey, it's the end of a big stage for me and you only get it once right?

I'm going to try and post on here more often, even with things that aren't part of the lists they're still part of my life. So speak to you all soon, leave a comment etc. Oh and my next thing to do is get a cookbook to start working through, any suggestions? I want it to be one that shows you about how to cook more than just giving a standard bunch of recipes. Julia Child's book was one suggestion. Thanks, chocs ;)

p.s. who else is loving the song Skinny Love by Birdy??

Wow!

2011-03-17T16:23:00.000Z

Hey guys, it's been ages! Sorry about that. Quick update though to check off some stuff! Have been trying to read more books and have read a few recently including The picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde (of which is defiantly a must read for how beautifully written it is and reminds me of another great book called Perfume) and Dracula (which at the gripping parts is amazing with the detail but had me starting to drift at a few not so gripping points, but worth sticking with!). I think my next adventure must be the one called "the stranger", of which i know nothing about but was recommended by my good librarian friend haha. Hope everyone else's lists are going well!

Nanowrimo

2010-11-04T20:10:00.001Z

I've changed my idea! ARGH! Four days in and I'm starting again am I nuts!?

Okay probably but still. Wish me luck because i'm gonna need it, starting again.

Nanowrimo Update!

2010-11-04T18:35:00.000Z

And you wouldn't believe it but i'm behind already! I've been so caught up this week that I haven't been able to start writing until today! However I believe i've made good progress as I need to catch up on 5,000 words and so far I've got just over 2,500, so half-way there. I've got a good feeling I can do this even though I was wondering if I shouldn't be spending more time elsewhere, but hell you can use that as an excuse for anything! Would love to have some buddies so I can watch your lists grow too so comment with your username if you're taking part.

Good luck to everyone!

I'll tell you how i'm doing and what i'm writing about next time!

Chocs ;)

(p.s. this post is a day late because of faulty internet connection)

Writing Dribbles Challenge :D

2010-10-21T21:25:00.000+01:00

Yes you read it right "NaNoWriMo", and no it's not the dribblings of a a toddler, oh no my friends. THIS is something truly epic. This idea has, of course ;), been nicked off of Shelley, but what an idea! The basic idea is to write a 50,000 word novel in a month! Okay from your stunned silence I know this isn't the best thing since Dexter (gotta love those serial killers...) but I love the fact that loads of people are going to be writing utter nonsense along with me! It's a heck of a challenge alright and although "NaNoWriMo" may sound like the workings of a toddler it's the whole point of the excercise. Quantity over quality. I can write about how the ducks are awesome for 50,000 words and I'd still win. Woo! I've copied this from their website so you can get a broader idea, and heck join up with me! I'd love to see how you're all doing. And I'm going to try and keep updating how many words I'm doing...Might even have another mini-blog. :D. Oooh i'm excited. May the dribbling (in scribbles) and word vomit commence!

p.s. will not be writing about how ducks are awesome, I know i'm crazy but it is 50,000 words...although a story about a duck...hmm...

What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month's time.

Who: You! We can't do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let's write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.

Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era's most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.

When: You can sign up anytime to add your name to the roster and browse the forums. Writing begins November 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by November 30 at midnight. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.
(nanowrimo.org)

I vant to read your book BLEH!

2010-10-10T18:39:00.000+01:00

Onto the next book! I was having a look through my list and though what book would i want to read more then one about sparkling, annoying, damned all to hell- *whispers...Wait it's not twillight vampires, it's actual proper vampires! I'm SAVED!* Awesome, can't wait to get my teeth into the one *ehem, just laugh i'll stop soon with the puns*

Anyone else read it? Hope i haven't offended any tween readers out there but twilight really sucks. It's about a girl's choice between necrophilia and beastiality.

Life Of Pi Review

2010-10-10T18:03:00.000+01:00

This book was really not what I was expecting at all. I thought i'd be a kids tale about a boy and a tiger who get stranded on an island and have to live together... God knows why! The first portion of the book - as demonstrated by my first outraged review - seems to be a mix between factbooks of zoology and religion, mixed in with the musing and life of a seemingly uninteresting nobody. The story takes ages to get to the point you actually want to read about, and although you could argue that the build up prepares you for the disaster waiting to happen, therefore making it more interesting...It doesn't. Not for me anyway. However I did EVENTUALLY get gripped in once the 'real' story started to take place and a really felt for this guy and all the struggling, the writing making it very believable. A few surprises thrown in but no dramatic twists really, unless you count ones that make you read the same sentence again...and then again...and then the page once more, pause for a bit and really think about it, then finally shrug your shoulders and get on with it. No joke that actually happened at one point. If you're planning to read this book then GOOD LUCK! I'm not sure if i enjoyed this or not, i did and i didn't. I wouldn't put it up there with my greats, but hey, what do i know.

Anyone else read it? Tell me what you thought ;)

Kindels, Sloths and Swimming Pools

2010-09-29T16:37:00.000+01:00

My mum has just gotten herself a new amazonkindle - the digital book - and like any respectable teenager before me i immediately asked if i could borrow *cough*steal*cough* it for a while on my quest of classical book reading. Feeling somewhat in a mood for a light-hearted book and an easy read, i've opted for THE LIFE OF PI. I remember trying to read this book when I was younger and give up very quickly, so hopefully my reading skills have somewhat improved and i'll enjoy it more. It wouldn't be on the best book list for nothing right?
Oh and a quick note about the Kindle....The screen's awfully dark! And there's no brightness option. So for all our technology and wisdom of having a million books in one small gadget is flawed by the fact that it's hard to even blooming see it. So i've currently got a desk lamp balanced precariously next to me on the sofa...So if you're getting a kindle don't get the 6 inch get the other one. :P

Book Review -Warning may contain spoilers!
If I had to imagine a gripping way to start a book it certainly wouldn't be the line 'My suffering left me sad a gloomy' followed by a description of this characters' academic life of zoology and religious studies, his essay focusing on three-toed sloths... >.> and this is page one....

How do you find out what page number you're on on this thing? It says what percentage - 3% and it's still talking about sloths - but oh well...

I'm getting the feeling that although well written and vaguely interesting, there has yet to be a point...Is this us trying to get into the mind of the character? Must keep reading, not everything delves straight into the plot..

BLAST THIS LAMP! ARGH!

It would be nicer if the kindle had a page flicking thing to make it more realistic, instead of making your eyes hurt as the colours invert, change, and then disappear...

Chapter 3 and am still waiting for anything other than this person's -who i'm guessing is Pi but it hasn't said yet - Life story. Is my impatience due to the fact i'm used to reading quicker books or am I completely missing the point...!? Speaking of Paris - yes it has now finished with sloths and gone onto swimming, with a seemingly more interesting character called Mamaji - has anyone read Perfume? Loved that book. I'm drifting, this book hasn't grabbed me yet will keep reading. End of Chapter three, yes the person who has been talking is Pi...And he's none too interesting yet.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH! Get on with it! I don't care about swimming pools and sloths and dates and ARGH! I'm waiting for this blooming tiger and a boat!

Okay i'm going to start skim reading. I usually read at a normal pace because I enjoy taking in the book and really remembering each part, but this is just so dull i think a brief overview will do. I'm not skipping; i'm skimming to make it clear.

Creatures of the zoo...might do some sketching down there at some point...Going off book again, argh focus!

Okay it's talking about animals and the way we perceive them... Is the boat coming soon? I was promised a boat damn it!

OMG the book has made a wild stab at humour! Listen to this: 'I couldn't bear to have yet another French speaker guffawing at my name, so when the man on the phone asked, "Can I 'ave your name?" I said, "I am who I am." Half an hour later two pizzas arrived for "Ian Hoolihan"'
Okay don't cough up a lung, this book is priceless right? I mean I know it's called "the life of Pi", but from the cover and the blurb and everything i heard, i sounded like an adventure story of this man who gets stranded in the middle of the ocean with a group of animals, who later find some exotic island and spend the rest of their happy days! What have I gotten myself in for!? I might as well be reading about Steven Fry, at least that would be more interesting, but hilarious and have a point!

Okay, i've ranted now... On with the book.

(To be continued)

(continuing....)

Okay, so far I’m on Chapter 9 and an apparent 13% through the book. It’s just gotten a tad more interesting in that the boy’s father has just taught them a lesson they’ll never forget about the animals. It’s the first time I’ve actually woken up in reading this book...

Chapter 14 now, and I’ve been kept amused by some cool facts about the dominance needed in a ring, and the alpha/omega psychological situation that lions find themselves in. O.o ... So yeah, interesting but why? For what purpose? Does this relate to anything!? The only running theme in this book so far seems the need to talk about animals. Why did Yann Martel not just write a bok on animals!? I’d love to read that book, as long as I knew what I was expecting it’d be great. But what does this have to do with anything here? Even if you’re building up the fact about dominance and animal behaviour and so on and so forth, why do we need so much detail? Chapters and chapters devoted to this – 14 chapters and not a credible storyline so far!!?! ARGH! How long does this book take to get going?

(to be continued)

Eating Challenge

2010-09-04T10:07:00.001+01:00

Okay, so I said that I’d do the ‘BBC’s 50 things to eat before you die’ challenge, and believe me I started writing it all out. As i went through them I thought it was way too easy! Anyone in this world who hasn’t eaten pizza, pasta and ice cream in their life is either living in a cave or grew up WAY too quickly. But I kept going because hey, an easy thing off my forever growing list right? Then I came across moreton bay bugs…okay I can eat bugs…Alligator? Okay, i guess that i’d be hard to find but it’s just like any other meat right??….Kangaroo? Okay, it makes me feel slightly queasy thinking of that but i’ll do it i guess….and then it came up, i’m NOT joking: Guinea Pig. GUINEA PIG! Are they insane! Why don’t they just feed me dog or rabbit while I season it with tears of pets past? Okay i know it’s just another meat but can you serious eat this?:

*Shudders* The horror. I just don’t see how reindeer and sharks can rest beside Sushi and Paella in the normal order of things… So I took some time looking for another list *Don’t boo me!* and I think I’ve found one that’s actually MORE challenging and would be MORE fun to do. Now these actually sound delious and more like a meal than a slab of meat: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/50-things-to-eat-before-you-die-2217612/

So that’s the one I’m sticking with, I refuse to eat guinea pigs.

Adding a new one! Tim, you’ve been nicked :P

2010-09-03T00:12:00.001+01:00

I was reading a Tim’s blog and found one thing on his list that was to eat everything on the BBC’s “eat before you die list”. What a fantastic idea! A goal that is comprised purely of eating! So that will be added in due time. Thanks Tim (Young) :).

Ticking off a bunch of holiday achievements :)

2010-09-02T23:22:00.001+01:00

Well unfortunately it’s back to school. Where the heck did the summer go? Anyone else feel like it came and went in the blink of an eye or just me? At least I managed to tick a bunch of things off, so not too bad. Hopefully I’ll remember them all:

#22 Surf out at sea (We went for a full surfing instruction day, and I’d recommend it to everyone! So much fun, but surprisingly a heck of a lot of work!)

#47 Speak German outside of a school event (I actually did this twice so that’s THAT well and truly crossed off….With bonus points for them all actually understanding me XD)

#65 Wear slippers in Summer (Not a hard one to tick of I guess, but it’s a mad little thing to smile back fondly on when i’m old and grey, taking comfort in the fact that I’m just as mad today as i’ll be at 100 :P)

#70 Dance with a stranger (Or a few lol :P)

(not a complete but-) 93# learn to drive – passed my theory!

The films from my list I saw were:

Die Hard (All four actually!)

In Bruges (Hilarious, and it has Irish people in it! (L))

Harvey (A really cute, classic film.)

Book i’ve read:

Animal farm by George Orwell

1984 by George Orwell

Both of these book are very clever, if not leaving you with the happiest of endings…

#1- Cosplay at Comic Con

2010-07-19T18:21:00.002+01:00

Horray! The biggest thing off my list so far. It was a great day out in London, spending around 4 hours in the actual Comic Con, then parading around the rest of London still in cosplay… Good times :D. It was really great fun, would recommend it to everyone! There's also an anime con hmmm...
(in middle of first photo, meant to be Poison Ivy :) )

Books

2010-07-14T18:00:00.001+01:00

Okay, so I've realised that my previous book list only contained non-fiction, so I wanted to broadern it out a bit... And found this other list instead :)

Wow... I reaaally don’t read classics much do I? O.o

Film Update

2010-07-13T18:28:00.001+01:00

Okay, so being ill does have some advantages :). Pulled out some good old Hitchcock movies to cross off my list (now at the bottom of the page), both of which are pretty epic, very clever.

Dial M for Murder:

and Strangers on a Train:

Ill –.-

2010-07-13T14:31:00.001+01:00

So i’m ill; Pounding headache, desert dry throat, aching limbs and a leaky tap for a nose is not how I wanted the last two weeks of school to end :(. But will hopefully be back on my feet soon, seeing as Comic Con is THIS WEEKEND, and i’m really looking forward to it :D.

Oh yeah, I need to visit a costume shop! Or else i’m going as Poison Ivy :P who looks like this:

102 Get first job

2010-07-05T18:13:00.001+01:00

I’ve gotten my first job! It’s a Saturday job working in a hairdressers woo! It’s not amazingly paid, but I’ve been kept on my toes rushing around a lot, which I personally would much rather be doing then standing still. Horray! What was you first job, or where would you get one if you could?

Suggestions!

2010-07-01T22:24:00.001+01:00

Just thought of an idea! If anyone out there has a great idea for another thing to put on my list, go ahead and suggest it. It might just get put on! :)

An Update

2010-07-01T22:13:00.001+01:00

I thought we missed Comic Con but we haven’t! Phew. What a scare haha. Still need to think of and make a costume though… My friend is going as a KISS member, so i’m free to do pretty much anything LOL. I was thinking poision ivy or something because of my red hair… But isn’t that what loads of people go as? Have you ever been? Love to know if you have and if you dressed up. Sounds like loads of fun and can’t wait :D.

Three weeks until I go on holiday for 2, I’m so excited. Just two whole weeks in the sun, messing around and windsurfing. What could be better?

I’ve also added now a few more ‘firsts’ to the end of my list, such as driving and jobs etc. They are things that aren’t too extreme and aren’t goals as much per se, but they are milestones and it’s a step in my life when I reach them so I think that counts.

SOOOO, plans for the holidays anyone? Tell me! And thanks for reading, leave a comment ;)

Number 27: Experience someone I know being unexpectedly kind to me. COMPLETED

2010-06-15T13:07:00.001+01:00

I was going through a bit of a rough time lately with school and pressure and stuff my best friend Ollie cheered me right up. My awesome dad usually does this along with my great sister, but what helped most this time was my friend. This is what they usually what she tries to do anyway, but was was unexpected was how well they know me and it took me by surprise a bit. There are a few other things that took me by surprise with people being nice to me, to mention a few was Ollie’s mum who fed me when I turned up uninvited and a great friend who took me out for chips on one of the worst days of my life. You know who you are ;). So thanks guys, you rock! And also a surprise visit at the hospital. You know who you are too and I can never say how much it meant to me!

#21 Solve a Rubik’s Cube

2010-06-15T12:57:00.002+01:00

Okay, I tried…Got pretty far too! But another day maybe… At least now I can change it to, oh maybe 75% done? I got pretty far, but had to use an online one because i couldn’t find my real one haha. This is to show I have actually tried:

This is the opposite side, but still have the green at the bottom ;):

and then i messed it up…Pretty close though. This is all thanks to this guy too, great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja9hleuUEhA&annotation_id=annotation_918028&feature=iv

Dads' Suggestion

2010-06-08T22:02:00.001+01:00

My dad suggested that two of the things I had to add were to go to a blues bar in Chicago and…something i’ve forgotten :S. It was to go to a jazz bar somewhere in America but I’ve forgotten where! I think I might change the ‘visit every continent’ and the ‘7 wonders of the world’ aspirations too, and make them more specific, and things that would be more special to me personally. Instead of what other people would want to see and do. I’ll get on that. Plus had my exam yesterday and I’ve got another one the day after tomorrow. Sigh* Have also been trying to look up some flash stuff for my website, but haven’t gotten too far :(.

The Film List

2010-06-08T09:18:00.001+01:00

Okay, so my friend found a MUCH better list of the best movies than I did on IMDb…So i’m changing it…Again… :D

1. Shawshank Redemption

2.The Godfather

3.The Godfather: Part II

4.II buono, il brutto, il cattivo

5. ~~Pulp Fiction~~

6.Schindler’s List

7. 12 Angry Men

8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

9.~~Star Wars: Episode V~~

10. ~~The Dark Knight~~

11. ~~The Lord of the Rings~~

12. ~~Star Wars~~

13. Shichinin no samurai

14. ~~Casablanca~~

15. Goodfellas

16. ~~Fight club~~

17. Cidade de Deus

18. ~~The Lord of the Rings – fellowship~~

19. ~~Raiders of the Lost Ark~~

20. Rear Window

21. Psycho

22. ~~The Usual Suspects~~

23. C’era una volta il West

24. The Silence of the Lambs

25. ~~The Matrix~~

26. ~~Se7en~~

27. Memento

28. ~~It’s a Wonderful Life~~

29. ~~The Lord of the Rings: two towers~~

30. Sunset Blvd.

31. Dr Strangelove

32. North by Northwest

33. Citizen Kane

34. Leon

35. Apocalypse Now

36. ~~Forrest Gump~~

37. American Beauty

38. American History X

39. Taxi Driver

40. Vertigo

41. ~~Terminator 2: Judgement Day~~

42. Lawrence of Arabia

43. ~~Alien~~

44. Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain

45. Saving Private Ryan

~~46. WALL.E~~

47. Clockwork Orange

48. ~~The Shining~~ (p.s. Book is far better :P)

49. Paths of Glory

50. The Departed

51. The Pianist

52. ~~To Kill a Mockingbird~~

53. ~~Aliens~~

54. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

55. M

56. ~~Das Leben der Anderen~~

57. Double Indemnity

58. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

59. Chinatown

60. Requiem for a Dream

61. L.A. Confidential

62. The Third Man

63. Reservoir Dogs

64. Das Boot

65. The Treature of the Sierra Madre

66. ~~Monty Python and the Holy Grail~~

67. City Lights

68. El laberinto del fauno

69. The Bridge on the River Kwai

70. Raging Bull

71. ~~The Prestige~~

72. ~~Inglorious Basterds~~

73. ~~Back to the Future~~

74. 2001: Space Odyssey

75. La vita e bella

76. ~~Singin’ in the Rain~~

77. Modern Times

78. ~~Some Like it HOt~~

79. Up

80. Der Untergang

81. Amadeus

82. Full Metal Jacket

83. Braveheart

84. Nuovo cinema Paradiso

85. The Maltese Falcon

86. Rashomon

87. Once Upon a Time In America

88. All About Eve

89. Metropolis

90. Gran Torino

91. The Green Mile

92. The Elephant Man

93. The Great Dictator

94. ~~Sin City~~

95. ~~Avatar~~

96. Rebecca

97. The Apartment

98. ~~Gladiator~~

99. The Sting

100. ~~Slumdog Millionaire~~

101. ~~The Great Escape~~

102. ~~Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade~~

103. ~~Star Wars: VI~~

104. Unforgiven

105. Ladri di biciclette

106. ~~Jaws~~

107. ~~Batman Begins~~

108. Die Hard

109. Blade Runner

110. On the Waterfront

111. Hotel Rwanda

112. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

113. Oldboy

114. No Country for Old Men

115. Touch of Evil

116. Det sjunde inseglet

117. Fargo

118. Mononoke-hime

119. ~~District 9~~

120. ~~Wizard of Oz~~

121. Per qualche dollaro in piu

122. Heat

123. Strangers on a Train

124. Cold Hand Luke

125. Donnie Darko

126. High Noon

127. ~~Sixth Sense~~

128. Notorious

129. Deer Hunter

130. There Will BeBLood

131. Annie Hall

132. The Manchurian Candidate

133. Snatch

134. ~~Kill Bill: Vol 1~~

135. The General

136. The Big Lebowski

137. Platoon

138. The Wrestler

139. Yojinbo

140. Ben-Hur

141. Into the Wild

142. Ran

143. The Big Sleep

144. Million Dollar Baby

145. ~~The Lion King~~

146. It Happened One Night

147. Kick-Ass

148. ~~Life of Brian~~

149. Witness for the Prosecution

150. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

151. Bourne Ultimatum

152. Smultronstallet

153. ~~Finding Nemo~~

154. Trainspotting

155. ~~Toy Story~~

156. Stand by Me

157. ~~Gone with the Wind~~

158. ~~The Terminator~~

159. The Graduate

160. ~~Groundhog Day~~

161. Scarface

162. ~~Star Trek~~

163. The Thing

164. Amores Perros

165. Dog Day Afternoon

166. ~~Ratatouille~~

167. Gandhi

168. ~~V for Vendetta~~

169. Le salarie de la peur

170. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

171. Twelve Monkeys

172. The Grapes of Wrath

173. ~~How to Train Your Dragon~~

174. The Gold Rush

175. 8 1/2

176. Casino

177. Les Diaboliques

178. Hotaru no haka

179. The Night of the Hunter

180. ~~The Incredibles~~

181. The Princess Bride

182. El secreto de sus ojos

183. Judgement at Nuremberg

184. The Killing

185. The Wild Bunch

186. King Hearts and Coronets

187. ~~Children of Men~~

188. ~~The exorcist~~

189. In Bruges

190. The Best Years Of Our Lives

191. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

192. The Kid

193. Le Notti di Cabiria

194. The Hustler

195. Dial M for Murder

196. Good Will Hunting

197. Rosemary’s Baby

198. Ed Wood

199. Harvey

200. Big Fish

I've seen 55 out of 200 so far :)

Changes

2010-06-05T11:33:00.001+01:00

Three posts in one day? Hold me back! Only thing is I just realised I’ve put things like “Learn to draw” but it’s just too open. So I’m narrowing them each down a bit. So here are the changes:

11. Learn how to play the guitar –> Finish the guitar book that you’ve got and be able to do all the exercises in it.

12. Learn how to paint –> Create a canvas painting that I’m really proud of

13. Learn how to draw –> create a drawing that I’m really proud of.

14. Learn how to cook –> Go through every recipe in one cookbook

15. Learn how to dance –> Get to an intermediate standard in one form of dance

44. Write a good song –> write a song that I’m proud of and other people like

45. Write a good book –> write a book that I’m proud of and other people like

62. Keep a travel journal and fill it up

I want to add some too:

- Have a wardrobe with only clothes I love

- Create and design my perfect room

-See a Broadway play

-Create my own recipe

-Dance on a bar

-Build an awesome sandcastle

Inspiration from: http://mslistologist.com/?p=1650

Cosplay at Comic Con

2010-06-05T10:55:00.001+01:00

I’ve just found out from a friend that the next Comic Con in London is on Saturday 17th of July, and Sunday the 18th. Hope I can make it and rope a couple of friends into joining me. It’d be great to start crossing things off my list, or planning when to do them whilst trying to keep up with the revision.

Friend For Life

2010-06-05T10:01:00.001+01:00

My 78th wish was to have a friend for life, and my best friend pointed out to me that I already have one. Instead of crossing this one off however, I told her she could think of one for me to do. The consequences were, however, that she has to put it on her own bucket list…So she said I need to streak and not get caught….O.o…riiiiiight. Trust her to think of something sensible lol! But I'm not one to turn down a challenge...

92nd Wish - Books

2010-06-04T14:16:00.001+01:00

I just realised that although I have a wish to see the greatest movies of all time, I don’t have one for books. So I’ve created one as my 92nd wish. I’ve looked around the internet a lot, and found out about this book called ‘How to Read a Book’, where it doesn’t teach you how actually to ‘read’ in the real sense of the word, but how to improve your reading. There’s also a great list of books in the appendix that I’d love to have it as a goal to read. Today I’m pressing on with revision again, and I’m not going to be doing too much towards the list until I’ve gotten my exams out the way. Shame really.

List of Movies to See

2010-06-03T22:20:00.001+01:00

(The website has changed to http://www.totalfilm.com/features/100-greatest-movies-of-all-time because i realised they were all kids films that i’d mostly seen! So this is the other one I've chosen.)

A Spacy Odyssey
~~Alien~~
All About Eve
Amadeus
Amelie
American Graffiti
Annie Hall
The Apartment
Apocalypse Now
~~Avatar~~
~~Back to the Future~~
Badlands
~~Bambi~~
The Battle of Algiers
Belle De Jour
The Bicycle Thieves
The Big Lebowski
Black Narcissus
Blade Runner
Blue Velvet
Bonnie and Clyde
Boogie Nights
Brazil
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari
Casablanca
Chinatown
Cinema Paradiso
Citizen Kane
City of God
The Conversation
~~The Dark Knight~~
Das Boot
The Deer Hunter
Die Hard
Dirty Harry
Donnie Darko
Don’t Look Now
Double Indemnity
Dr Strangelove
ET
~~The Exorcist~~
Fargo
~~Fight Club~~
~~Finding Nemo~~
~~Gladiator~~
Glengarry Glen Ross
The Godfather
Goldfinger
~~Gone With The Wind~~
Goodfellas
Half Nelson
Halloween
Heat
His Friday Girl
~~It’s A Wonderful Life~~
~~Jaws~~
~~King Kong~~
L.A. Confidential
Lawrence of Arabia
~~The Lord of the Rings Trilogy~~
M
Manhattan
Metropolis
Millers Crossing
~~Monty Python’s Life Of Brian~~
Nashville
Network
Night of the Living Dead
No Country for Old Men
North By Northwest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Persona
The Philadelphia Story
Psycho
~~Pulp Fiction~~
Raging Bull
~~Raiders of the Lost Ark~~
Rear Window
Reservoir Dogs
The Seventh Seal
Sideways
~~Singin’ In The Rain~~
~~Some Like It Hot~~
~~Star Wars Ep IV: A new hope~~
~~Star Wards Ep V: Empire Strikes Back~~
Sunset Boulevard
The Sweet Smell of Success
There Will Be Blood
The Third Man
This Is England
This Is Spinal Tap
Tokyo Story
Touch of Evil
The Truman Show
Vertigo
~~West Side Story~~
When We Were Kings
Withnail and I
The Wrestler

I've watched 24 out of 100 so far, so 76 left.- if anyone’s looking at this, i’d also like to put “The Usual Suspects” In there too, because it’s pretty epic.

My Bucket List

2010-06-03T18:35:00.001+01:00

1. Go To Bournemouth University

2. Work At Pixar

3. Watch a Sunrise/Sunset with someone special

4. Go to a Yankee Ball Game

5. Cosplay at Comicon

6. Carry out a Top Gear Challenge

7. Raise over £1000 for Charity

8. Help a stranger

9. Protest for a good cause

10. Do something special for a friend/family for no reason

11. Learn how to play the guitar

12. Learn how to paint

13. Learn how to draw

14. Learn how to cook

15. Learn how to Dance

16. Run 5k

17. Run 10k

18. Run 15k

19. Run a Half-Marathon

20. Run a Marathon

21. Windsurf out at sea

22. Surf out at sea

23. Go Kite Surfing

24. Go Heli-Skiing

25. Ski down a black run

26. Go white water rafting

27. Experience someone I know be unexpectedly kind to me

28. Experience a stranger being unexpectedly kind

29.Visit every continent (starting now, and home land doesn’t count)

- North America

- South America

- Asia

- Africa

- Antartica

- Europe

30. See all 7 wonders of the world

31. Win an award

32. Stay in the best room possible in a hotel

33. Pull a great prank and get away with it

34. Turn my passion into a career

35. Fall in love

36. Have my portrait drawn

37. Fly in a hot air balloon

38. Dress up in a costume party

39. Be sung to be a barbershop quartet

40. Learn how to sail and go sailing

41. Hug a mascot

42. Sleep in a hammock

43. Go camping in the woods

44. Write a good song

45. Write a good book

46. Attend the Olympics

47. Speak German outside of a school event.

48. Go Skinny-Dipping

49. Play Strip-Poker

50. Plant a tree

51. Grow something and eat it

52. Own one very expensive thing you really weren’t supposed to buy

53. Learn to juggle with three balls

54. Act out a famous scene from a movie

55. Do something completely crazy

56. Attend a great rock concert

57. Go Fishing

58. Create your own website

59. Give Blood

60. Get a tattoo that means a lot to you

61. Learn sign language

62. Keep a travel journal

63. Play Paintball

64. Eat Ice Cream in winter (again ;) )

65. Wear slippers in Summer

66. Prove someone who’s always right wrong

67. Jump into a taxi cap and scream “FOLLOW THAT CAR” like in the movies with someone special.

68. Go to Ikea and pretend you actually live there

69. Keep a blog for over a year

70. Dance with a stranger

71. See all of the movies on: http://www.listsofbests.com/list/39696-list-of-films-to-watch-before-you-re-old-and-boring

72. Be in a band / Get a signature from a someone you admire

73. Attend a film premier

74. Have a stranger buy your art / Have it put up in a gallery

75. Go to a fortune teller

76. Be an adult but act like a complete kid

77. Go Sky-Diving

78. Have a friend for life.

79. Create a new word and get people to start using it without realising it’s not a word.

80. Learn how to ice-skate

81. Learn how to rollerblade

82. Ride a mechanical bull

83. Go scuba diving in the sea and get licence

84. Ride a moterbike

85. Solve a rubik’s cube

86. Go to a spa and be pampered

87. Fly first class

88. Work in a coffee shop / restaurant

89. Bulit a Snowfort

90. Have a great pillow fight

91. Kiss in the rain

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

The List Is Coming

2010-06-03T15:31:00.001+01:00

I’m going to try and finish the list of things I’d do and post them up here by today. Also watched “The Bucket List” yesterday, which is the basic idea of the list i want to do, except they aren’t things I need to do before I die, just things I’d love to be able to do. The revision is continuing…Fun. Might be catching up with the cousins today, or “The Pests” as we called them after we couldn’t call them “the boys” anymore with the addition of the girl in the family. Quite fancy cooking a cake. mmm, chocolate cake…

Day 2

2010-06-02T11:45:00.001+01:00

And on the second day, there shall be revision, seeing as I’ve also fallen slightly behind on my plan already. Whoops. Oh well, I’ll make it up today somehow. My nan’s also coming over, which is great because I haven’t seen her in a while and she really is the best in the world :D. The weather’s also starting to look up, might start running again soon…

And so the revision begins…

2010-06-01T14:12:00.001+01:00

6 days until my AS Psychology exam, and then another two until my second. Fun, especially seeing as I’ve got to memorise the vast majority of this hefty book, and my memory has never been great. I guess I need a plan then… Yes plans are good. Right.

THE PLAN:

EXAM 1:

Day 1 - Memory

Day 2 - Attachment

Day 3 - Research methods

EXAM 2:

Day 4 - Stress

Day 5 - Social Influence

Day 6- Abnormality

6 topics. 6 days. Sorted. How hard could it be? he he… O.o …

The Start

2010-06-01T11:04:00.000+01:00

The beginning of my journey, cue the dramatic music (dun dun duuuun!). I've been inspired to start writing a blog from watching a great film called Julie and Julia, where Julie starts a cooking blog based on Julia's cook book - The Art of French Cooking for Americans. So here goes.

It's Tuesday the first of June, where students are amidst the joys of exams. A-levels are a real kicker aren't they? You slave your way though GCSE's thinking "It can't get any harder then this"...And then it does. Somehow. Especially when you're in a school that does them a year early and gives you three years at at level. God year 11 was tough. I'm still alive somehow at the end of year 12 though, one more year to go. Half a year and I'm applying to universities. Can't wait :D.

4 Exams down, 3 to go...Bring it on.