2009 101 in 1001 list

Here is my updated list for the 101 in 1001 challenge due to end on the 31 May 2011:

In progress
Read 64 books (15/64) - two per month
Watch 32 films (14/32) - one per month
Go to the cinema 15 times (1/15) - once every two months
Go for a meal one a month (5/32)
Go to Am Dram twice a year (0/5)
Pass CIM Professional Diploma (1/4)
Get an allotment - number 11 on allotment list June 2009
Make a cake every month (6/32)
Get a new and more Eco friendly central heating system
Change all light bulbs in the house to energy saving ones
Stop using chemicals for cleaning
Knit a patchwork blanket for sofa (6/100 squares knitted)
Make £300 from mystery shopping, surveys, quidoco etc (46.09/300)
Learn the location, capital cities and flags of every country in Europe

Still to start
Play more scrabble - aim for once a month (0/32)
Have a picnic (2/5)
Go to one football match per season (1/3) - Hollyoaks V.s AC Broxtowe
Brew own beer
Make homemade wine
Try scallops
Put up lined curtains at front and back door
Decorate living room - done April 09
Decorate hall
Replace fence in back garden with a hedge
Chop down tree in front garden
Change house energy rating from D to B
Get a water meter fitted
Get bus to work once a week for a month (0/4)
Get a shower timer (and use it!)
Don't use a supermarket for a month
Drink no alcohol for one month
Be vegetarian for one month
Fill ISA for 2009 and 2010 (0/2)
Pay off student loan
Climb Ben Nevis
Climb Scarfell Pike
Visit Holy Island
See the Northern Lights
Go boating on Highfields lake
Build a sandcastle
Use watercolours to paint a picture for house
Go camping twice a year (1/6) - 25/05/09 Sparklow, Derbyshire
Make and wear one item of clothing (0/1)
Knit one item of clothing (0/1) - not a scarf!
Sell one Christmas pudding tea cosy (0/1)
Lose half a stone a keep it off for 6 months (0/6)
Run 5k
Drink 8 pints of water a day for one week (0/7) - see if it has a positive effect
Have a 30th birthday party
Give blood 7 times (2/7)
Do a detox
Do not use nail varnish (look for alternatives to make my nails look beautiful!)
Try skiing or snowboarding
Go horse riding
Replace cleanser and moisturiser with natural alternatives
Paint decking
Learn to juggle
Start my family tree
Learn to use chopsticks
Use the farm shop
Go to an art gallery

Completed
Go to a Christmas carol concert
Get a local dentist
Get a set of thermal underwear
Start a donation to a charity
Pay sister back the money we owe her
Start using washable make up pads - stop using cotton wool which can't be recycled!
Insulate loft
Start veg box again
Go to a classical concert (1/1)
Make jam
Swap one car for a more Eco model
Go to Brighton - 2/1/09
Go to a Cath Kidston Shop - 3/1/09
Go ice skating - 8/1/09
Take part in Earth Hour 2009 - 28/3/09
Find and use a local butcher - found a butcher a few miles away. He even does a collection service from a farm in the next village.

No longer on the list!
Buy and read Sunday paper once a month (2/32)
Be self sufficient for salad items for July, August and September 09 & 10 (0/6)
Throw a party using only homegrown produce
Review progress and blog once a week (4/142)
Take a photo of each challenge (0/101)
Learn to crochet
Make homemade ice cream
Send a postcard to myself from every new place I visit
Be in the audience for a TV or radio show
Volunteer
Only send handmade cards for Christmas 2008
No flying
Run 10k
Run half marathon
Have one TV free evening per fortnight (3/71)
Eat one meal a week at the dining table (3/142)
Do yoga once a week (1/142)
Go swimming once a month (7/32)
Go to a spinning class (0/1)
Do jigsaws and take to charity shop (0/8)
Only eat free range chicken
Overpay mortgage by £4800 (0/4800) - £150 per month
Handwash car once every two months (1/16)
Go for a walk once a week (10/142)

Review of 2008

In terms of my 101 in 1001 list things have been going ok-ish but I did under estimate how much time and energy studying for my CIM qualification would take. I have lost valuable time to spend on reading (which I am really missing) but am enjoying learning new things.

I have also reevaluated the list. There are entries on there which I simply wont do but are on there to make up the numbers. I feel like a bit of a failure when I look at the list when I am not achieving most of the items. Therefore I am going to edit the list to make it a bit more manageable (but still challenging). On a similar note I have decided to cancel my gym membership. Not enough time to go often enough - feeling guilty for not going - not wanting to go because I feel guilty and so on...

Going to go away now and edit my list and also set myself some goals for 2009.

Happy new year!

Mrs M
x

# 94 - Learn the location, capital cities and flags of every country in Europe

Useful in quizzes and good for a bit of kudos with your mates - the location of the countries in Europe is sadly lacking in my knowledge.

To put this right I have a quest to learn all the countries, capital cities and flags of all the countries in Europe. I have found this snazzy little website that should help. I will track my progress here:

13 November - 50% - pathetic!
21 November - 53%

#82 - Make £300

8 November 2008 - £16.09 (£16.09/£300)
Easy money from Quidco, mainly due to a free DVD rental from LoveFilm. Promptly transferred this money into the ISA to help with #43. Don't have enough time for mystery shopping at the moment as I am studying for my CIM exams (1st Exam on the 1 December - eek!).

Have just started using a cashback credit card for everything we buy to help with this challenge. At just 1% of purchase price this will never make me rich but nice be a nice small earner when we have finished with Christmas. Can't take the cashback out until Jan/Feb 2010 so should have at least £100 by then!

Progress - week seven and eight

In progress

#20 - Make a cake every month
This week I made a very seasonal pumpkin pie for our Halloween party - yum!
#25 - Insulate loft
Have made an appointment for Scottish Power to give us a quote tomorrow. Will see how that goes but B&Q have some very good deal on at the moment so it might be cheaper to do it ourselves!
#50 - Go to Brighton
Tickets are booked for January. Good old Travelodge - £19 per night!
#96 - Learn to use chopsticks
Chopsticks are listed on by Christmas list - just need someone very kind to buy them for me...
#93 - Learn to juggle
See #96

Current progress
In progress - 20.8%
Completed - 6.9%

#16 - Start veg box

This week saw us restart our veg box from a local farm. I am very impressed with the quality of the contents but not too sure how we are going to eat it all before the next delivery on Friday. I have been frantically scanning the vegbox recipes site for inspiration (although I am a little disappointed to see that some of the content is now for members only - I found the beauty of this site was that it was building a community of people interested in trying our new recipes with their weird and wonderful veg. Now all the popular recipes need a subscription to be viewed. I understand why this is being done but it is a shame as the site was such a wonderful free resource.)

In the box this week:

Celeriac
Potatoes
Onions
Carrots
Cauliflower
Kale
Lettuce
Pears
Apples
Grapefruit
Oranges

Progress - Week five and six

#44 - Pay sister back the money we owe her

We finally paid my sister the £5000 we owed her for the previous house we owned. It has taken us over 4 years to do it and the feeling of finally doing it is great! The money we were paying her with is now going towards the new car (payments start next month - eek!) and into my ISA (see #43).

# 54 - Start a donation to a charity

I started not one but two donations to charity this week. I couldn't decide between the Cats Protection League (Where cat #1 comes from) or Friends of the Earth. I considered the merits of each long and hard then decided to donate the minimum amount to BOTH - hey it is charity after all. Mr M donates to Cancer Research already so I feel between us we have the important bases covered. I can't wait to receive my Cats Protection League car sticker - I shall wear it with pride!

#58 - Get a set of thermal underwear

Purchased a thermal vest today from the lovely people at M&S. Not tried it out yet but to the uninitiated it just looks like a vest... we shall see...

Current progress
In progress - 14.85%
Completed - 6%

#4 - Go to the cinema 15 times

#1 - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
A harrowing tale of an unlikely friendship during the Holocaust. I have also read the book of this film and thoroughly enjoyed them both. This is the only film I have seen where when the credits appear at the end nobody moves to leave the theatre - it was strangely poignant.
#2 - Harry Potter and the Half blood prince
#3 - The Time travel(l)ers Wife

Progress week three and four

Had a week off work last week so here is the update for the last 2 weeks.

In progress:
#11 - Pass CIM Professional Diploma
Started the CIM Professional Diploma last week. Looks like it will be a year of hard work and will probably be the most challenging part of the 101 in 1001 as it will impact on the time I will be able to spend on the other parts of the challenge.

#17 - Get an allotment
Forgot to list this one as 'in progress'. I have put my name down for an allotment in the village but to my dismay I am number 22 on the list. Perhaps this is a good thing, especially with #11 underway! By my calculations it should be about 18 months to one year before I can actually get my hands on one and the nice lady at the Parish Council said I could call her from time to time to check on the progress of my application!

#67 - Go swimming once a month (2/32)
This is probably going to be quite easy now. I have joined the local gym which has a great pool (and jacuzzi and steam room!) and and planning to go a couple of times a week. Both for some exercise and so I can use the gym showers and save some water and energy at home!

Completed!
#85 - Get a local dentist
Managed to find a 'local' dentist- still about 10 miles away but more local than an hours drive away like our current dentist! First check up in November.

Current progress
In progress - 14.85%
Completed - 2.97%

Progress - Week two

In progress
#23 - Swap one car for a more Eco model
Placed an order for a brande new Grande Punto yesterday. Not as Eco as I would have liked (Toyota Prius was WAY out of our price range) but defo more eco friendly than our old Corsa. I'll consider this one completed once we get the car and see how efficient it is.

#2 - Watch 32 films

#1 - Signs
#2 - Captain Corelli's Mandolin
#3 - The Red Shoes
#4 - Tea with Mussolini
#5 - The Brothers Grimm
#6 - Napoleon Dynamite
#7 - Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
#8 - Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights
#9 - The Weatherman
#10 - Starter for 10
#11 - The Football Factory
#12 - The Bourne Identity
#13 - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
#14 - The Bourne Supremacy
#15 - The Bourne Ultimatum
#16 - Picture Perfect
#17 - Jane Eyre
#18 - Babel
#19 - The Eagle has landed
#20 - Gran Tourino
#21 - Mama Mia!

#1 - Read 64 Books

#1 - The Outcast by Sadie Jones.
The book was brilliant, if not a little sinister. Our book group book for September and I'm hoping the other members of the group liked it as much as I did!
#2 - 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
A charming real life story of an American writer who strikes up a long lasting friendship with the members of an English bookshop.
#3 - The Island by Victoria Hislop
This was the Book Group book for October. I have finished this one by the skin of my teeth for the meeting this week. It was very readable but not something I would have chosen to read myself. It is the story of the island of Spinalonga in Crete where a Lepers were sent and the relationship of the inhabitants with the mainland.
#4 - Elleander Morning by Jerry Yulsman
November book for the book group. This book is out of print so some of the group struggled to get copies that weren't too pricey. The concept of the book is that the Second World War didn't happen. It was an interesting concept but I don't think the author went far enough with it.
#5 - Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell
The book group takes a break in December so I decided to use this spare time to tackle the longest unread book on my book shelves. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a cross between Harry Potter and a Jane Austin novel. A little slow to get going but once you are familiar with the characters (and reading the numerous footnotes) then it is a cracking read!
#6 - Tales of Beedle the Bard
A little book in the style of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Thoroughly enjoyable and I found the commentary by Dumbledore my favourite bit of the book. JK Rowling couldn't resist a few HP references!
#7 - The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
Book group book for January and picked primarily because it was short so we could get back into the swing of things after the Christmas break. An interesting and alternative look at the Holocaust. I want to see the film now but will it be the usual story that the film is never as good as the book?
#8 -The house on the strand - Daphne Du Maurier
Book group book for February chosen by me! Daphne Du Maurier is one of my favourite authors and she did not disappoint with this book. My only criticism is the number of characters introduced in the time travel section of the book. I spent more time referring to the family tree at the beginning of the book trying to figure out who everyone was than reading the book!
#9 - Remember me? - Sophie Kinsella
Book group book for March and to be honest I wasn't looking forward to it one bit, chick lit is not really my thing. It only took me a couple of days to read and I found it was a nice change to read something quick and not particularly taxing on the brain. I enjoyed it a bit more than I thought I would (and probably more than I would want to admit to other people!)
#10 - Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
I found this book incredibly hard to read at first and thought I would struggle to finish it. However, when Charlie's IQ begins to increase the story starts getting good. I would have been put off this book by its science fiction classification had it not been a book group choice and once again I am glad I tried it!
#11 - Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
This is a beautifully written book about a circus during prohibition. The underlying theme of the book is a love story but there are lots of historical references and subplots to keep everyone interested.
#12 - A Place in my Country - Ian Walthew
I thought this book would be much more twee than it was. I was expecting the usual tale about a couple moving from the big city to the countryside and the 'hilarious' stories that evolve as they get used to rural life. This was quite the opposite and the couple fit in to the community almost straight away but their finances and lack of jobs in the area mean that they have to make a heartbreaking decision.
#13 - Behind the Scenes at the museum - Kate Atkinson
I was vaguely aware of this book but had never got round to reading it. Prompted by the book of the month on the Book It List I got myself a copy and lapped it up! I enjoyed this book immensely and think it might be my favorite book of the year (although it is hotly contested with Water for Elephants).
#14 - Pompeii - Robert Harris
After honeymooning in Italy last year and visiting Pompeii we were recommended this book by virtually everyone who went on the trip. I thought the book would bring to life the everyday life in Pompeii but it was little more than a glorified love story. I didn't connect with the main character and didn't care if he lived or died during the eruption. I know lots of people love Robert Harris but I'm afraid for me he is just another Dan Brown (I can hear the tuts from here!!). I have a couple of his other books but I wont be rushing to read them after this disappointment.
#15 - My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult
After posting a few days ago about starting this book I got some very positive responses from other people about it. I decided to go for it and ended up ploughing through it in 4 days - pretty quick for me! This book wasn't as twee and soppy as I thought it would be (I didn't cry once!) and on the whole the story was good. I really liked the way the each chapter was written from a different characters point of view. I'm not sure I will be watching the film but I enjoyed the book for what it was.
#16 - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Jean-Dominique Bauby
After winning this book on the BookIt list blog I put aside The Ressurectionist that I had been struggling with for a couple of weeks and got stuck into this. It only took a couple of evenings to read and it was very thought provoking. Bauby talks of his loneliness in the hospital but it is far from being a sad story. It was much more uplifting than I could ever imagine...
#17 - Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro
I picked this book up from our accommodation when we were in Italy last year (don't worry, I replaced it with one of my own!). This book was just what I needed - a quick bit of chick lit to get me back into the swing of reading again. I read it in less than a week and the story was enjoyable if not a little predictable at times.
#18 - Saturday Night Sunday Morning - Alan Sillitoe
Have wanted to read this for ages as it is set in Nottingham where I live. The book is about working all week and blowing all your money in the pub at the weekend...very little has changed there then...
#20 - Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
To put it bluntly, this book was hard work. In places it was brilliant but unfortunately in others it was slow going and a bit difficult. I really wanted to enjoy this as it won the Booker of Booker prizes.
#21 - The Suspicions of Mr Whicher - Kate Summerscale
I really enjoyed the first part of this book about the murder and the detective elements of the novel. However, I lost interest a little bit when the book started going into great detail about other crime novels - I thought it ruined the flow of the novel. Overall, I did enjoy this book.
#21 - The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
Enjoyable mystery with a twist at the end. Reminded me a bit of Romeo and Juliet?

Progress - week one

Week one on the 101 in 1001 challenge and things are progressing well.

# 36 - Start using washable make up pads - stop using cotton wool which can't be recycled!
I purchased some organic cotton squares and have started using them and have dumped the cotton wool. I am VERY impressed, I didn't think they would remove make up as well as traditional cotton wool but have been pleasantly surprised with the results. Best of all once all 10 pads are dirty you can pop them in the washing machine and you can use them over again!

# 14 - Make jam
I made jam at the weekend using the blackberries picked from near our house and some bramley apple (not grown by me but purchased from the co-op!). The whole process what really easy, just heat the blackberries and apples and then pour in the jam sugar. Sterilising the jam jars was a scary experience - putting them in the oven at 130 degrees, I was convinced they were going to explode! Had it on toast for my breakfast this morning and I can say that it is yummy!

In progress
Lots of the other items on the list are in progress e.g. buying Sunday newspapers and knitting the blanket but these are long term projects so I need to stick with them.

101 in 1001 - the list! (In progress)

Here is my list for the 101 in 1001 challenge due to end on the 31 May 2011:

1. Read 64 books (4/64) - two per month
   
2. Watch 32 films (5/32) - one per month
3. Buy and read Sunday paper once a month (2/32)
   
4. Go to the cinema 15 times (1/15) - once every two months
5. Go for a meal one a month (3/32)
6. Go to Am Dram twice a year (0/5)
7. Go to a classical concert (1/1)
8. Play more scrabble - aim for once a month (0/32)
9. Have a picnic (0/5)
   
10. Go to one football match per season (0/3)
    
11. Pass CIM Professional Diploma (0/4)
    
12. Brew own beer
13. Make homemade wine
14. Make jam
15. Make homemade ice cream
    
16. Start veg box again
    
17. Get an allotment
18. Be self sufficient for salad items for July, August and September 09 & 10 (0/6)
19. Throw a party using only homegrown produce
20. Make a cake every month (3/32)
21. Only eat free range chicken
    
22. Try scallops
    
23. Swap one car for a more Eco model
24. Handwash car once every two months (1/16)
    
25. Insulate loft
26. Put up lined curtains at front and back door
27. Decorate living room
28. Decorate hall
29. Replace fence in back garden with a hedge
30. Chop down tree in front garden
31. Get a new and more Eco friendly central heating system
32. Change house energy rating from D to B
33. Get a water meter fitted
34. Take part in Earth Hour 2009
    
35. Change all light bulbs in the house to energy saving ones
36. Start using washable make up pads - stop using cotton wool which can't be recycled!
    
37. Get bus to work once a week for a month (0/4)
    
38. Stop using chemicals for cleaning
39. Get a shower timer (and use it!)
    
40. Don't use a supermarket for a month
41. Drink no alcohol for one month
42. Be vegetarian for one month
    
43. Fill ISA for 2009 and 2010 (0/2)
44. Pay sister back the money we owe her
45. Pay off student loan
    
46. Overpay mortgage by £4800 (0/4800) - £150 per month
47. Climb Ben Nevis
48. Climb Scarfell Pike
49. Visit Holy Island
50. Go to Brighton
51. See the Northern Lights
    
52. Go boating on Highfields lake
53. Build a sandcastle
54. Start a donation to a charity
55. Use watercolours to paint a picture for house
56. Do jigsaws and take to charity shop (0/8)
    
57. Go to a Cath Kidston Shop
58. Get a set of thermal underwear
    
59. Go camping twice a year (0/6)
60. Knit a patchwork blanket for sofa (6/100 squares knitted)
    
61. Make and wear one item of clothing (0/1)
62. Knit one item of clothing (0/1) - not a scarf!
63. Sell one Christmas pudding tea cosy (0/1)
    
64. Have one TV free evening per fortnight (3/71)
65. Eat one meal a week at the dining table (3/142)
    
66. Do yoga once a week (1/142)
67. Go swimming once a month (7/32)
68. Go to a spinning class (0/1)
69. Go for a walk once a week (10/142)
    
70. Lose half a stone a keep it off for 6 months (0/6)
71. Run 5k
72. Run 10k
73. Run half marathon
    
74. Drink 8 pints of water a day for one week (0/7) - see if it has a positive effect
75. Have a 30th birthday party
76. Give blood 7 times (1/7)
77. Be in the audience for a TV or radio show
78. Volunteer
79. Only send handmade cards for Christmas 2008
    
80. No flying
    
81. Send a postcard to myself from every new place I visit
82. Make £300 from mystery shopping, surveys, quidoco etc (31.09/300)
    
83. Do a detox
    
84. Do not use nail varnish (look for alternatives to make my nails look beautiful!)
    
85. Get a local dentist
    
86. Try skiing or snowboarding
    
87. Go ice skating
    
88. Go horse riding
    
89. Learn to crochet
    
90. Replace cleanser and moisturiser with natural alternatives
    
91. Go to a Christmas carol concert
    
92. Paint decking
    
93. Learn to juggle
    
94. Learn the location, capital cities and flags of every country in Europe
    
95. Start my family tree
    
96. Learn to use chopsticks
    
97. Use the farm shop
    
98. Find and use a local butcher
    
99. Go to an art gallery
    
100. Take a photo of each challenge (0/101)
     
101. Review progress and blog once a week (4/142)
     

Achievements - July 08

Just reviewing my first post has inspired me that I have actually done quite a few things in order to be debt and mortgage free and have a altogether simpler life. So far this month I have:

• Got cheaper deals on my and OH car insurance. Saving about £150 per year
• Fixed our gas and electricity prices with Scottish Power. Savings unknown - we are at the mercy of energy companies!
  
• Joined the local Eco team in our village to find out more about greener options
• Done some research into bus vs car to work (but not actually gone the whole hog and tried it out yet!)
• Joined Quidco and have payments pending from my car insurance, DVD rental trial and hotel booking
• Put my name down with the Parish Council for an allotment. Very excited at the prospect of having an allotment as our back garden is v small but going to have to be patient as I am currently number 22 on the list!

Confessions for the month

• Booked a 2 night stay in Oxford for OH birthday in September. Did use Quidco and got a bargain deal of £29 per night
• Perhaps the biggest blip for the month is ...ermm... buying a Nintendo Wii. But I do love it a lot and I would like a Wii fit for Christmas now I have cancelled my gym membership, so potentially saving us money?

July has been a good month, lets hope the motivation stays high for August!

A nice cuppa tea and a sit down

Welcome to my shiny new blog!

In the coming weeks (hopefully soon) I will be blogging about the important things in life:

• Books - including reviews from my book group
  
• Gardening - hoping to get an allotment soon
  
• Going green - always looking for new green ideas
  
• Cooking - yum yum!
  
• Saving cash - my cash to be debt and mortgage free to spend more time on the above
  
• Anything else which takes my fancy!

Mrs M
x