A quick summary list of tasks.

1.Start a blog to keep track of progress and report back. - doing :) 

2. Read a book every month (or 12 in the year) and post a blog comment about it  - 1 done, on with no.2 and 3 at the same time.

3. Complete a cross-stitch design every month - 5/12 done :)

4. Run a reasonable 5km run - no running, unless you count a treasure hunt around campus. As it gets warmer I shall try harder.

5. Visit a new city in the UK - going to Manchester next week and this is a new city for me.

6. Go to a rugby game - need to decide on a game and someone to drag along -  this might have something lined up

7. Listen to a new band as recommended by someone else - thanks to Hayley for recommending  one - so this task is complete but I will always be on the look for new music

8. Try a new recipe from my recipe books each month and blog about it - tried a new carrot cake recipe so 1/12 completed.

9. Go to a ballet - nothing yet

10. Go to a Classical concert - same as above

11. Have a facial - I should just book one, and see if I like it!

12. Track day  - not looked yet

13. Get a tattoo - needs to be a sensible decision and not rushed, advice welcomed, thinking stars or butterflies.

14. Go to a 20-20 cricket game - nope

15. Eat in a Michellin Star restaurant - nothing planned

16. Get a new qualification - starting a MOOC next week for 6 weeks so hopefully complete sucessfully 

17. Go on a steam train - was going but the snow stopped me, might wait until the weather improves.

18. Go to Centre Parcs - probably later in the year, holiday booked in June though!!

19. Give something up for lent - completed :)

20. Learn to knit a scarf - scarf course at shop in Headingley so need to book on to it,

21. Ride a horse, even if its just a short ride - a fair weather task

22. Do a course of some sort maybe painting or crafting etc - must see what the new lists are, might do a cake decorating one.

23. Go to a craft show or game fair - Cake and Bake show next week 

24. To take more pictures - I now have a flickr site here

25. Eat one meat free day a week - Must try harder!

26. To attend at least 6 WYNTV tasks - Must try much harder

27. Build a sandcastle at the seaside-  need sunshine for this one.

28. Attend more talks after work  - tried but got ill so couldnt go, need to try harder

29. Ride my bike - still in the garage

30. And finally work to get my contract extended or find myself a new exciting job. - this is the hands of those above me, but I am beginning to poke them

One down, 29 to go!

Well this is a bit of short update as I have achieved one of my targets. I gave crisps up for lent and as today is Easter Sunday I have successfully completed one of my 30 challenges, and as a treat I might have a bag of crisps :)

Also I have completed a further 2 cross stitches, so I am well on the way to completing this task.

 

To raise money for comic relief at work, we asked to create a show stopper based on the school (Earth and Environment). Here is my cake, after getting such positive feedback about my cake and with some encouragement from my work colleague Debbie, I entered it in the Clandestine Cake Clubs competition. The cake was short listed and now has to be re-made to go the Cake and Bake show in Manchester for judging. The ESSI cake is a new carrot cake recipe from my National Trust Traditional Teatime book, this is another part of a task complete, a new recipe for March.

This will enable me to complete 2 other challenges, firstly to attend a show and second to visit a new city. I have never been to Manchester! I know this might seem a little strange but I have never set foot in the centre of Manchester and I have never been through it on a train, so next Saturday I will cross these 2 things off the list.

I also start a MOOC next week so this will get me a new qualification, it will only be a certificate of completion but it is a qualification. I have thought about tattoo design, definitely something small and discrete, either butterflies or stars.

I am struggling with some of the other tasks but there are still a few months left in the year to achieve them, and hopefully with the days getting longer and fingers crossed warmer I will achieve a few more. I will post another post next week after the cake show. 

Book one complete and a few other things

So I have finally completed reading my first book..

And I can honestly say I enjoyed it and learnt a vast amount about earthquake history and the issues associated with predicting them and protecting people from them. I think if you want to better understand complexities of earthquakes then read this. It isn't too heavy for the none scientist but does not dump down the subject, a good popular science read. So I now have a copy should anyone want to read it. Next up is 'How Leeds Changed the World', and work appears on the first page :). The Afar project that Tim Wright and Jacqui Houghton among others have worked on, appears on the first page.

I have also been busy baking for various reasons but tried 2 new recipes one for scones and one for millionaires shortbread. The millionaires shortbread went down so well first time I have made 2 batches!

I have also found a new band to listen to thanks to my Twitter friend @ebookslearning , she has introduced me to 'The Hold Steady'. I really enjoyed them and they are now part of my Spotify playlist.

Also this week I am attending 2 after work talks given by staff in the department so I feel I am slowly achieving some of my targets, I have completed another cross stitch(number 4), it can be seen in my flickr account .

I haven't managed to attend any WYNTV tasks yet but I hope to attend a couple of socials includiing a trip on a steam train! (it will be another task complete).

I have been working through tattoo ideas,but my next couple of weeks will be taken up by designing and building a Comic Relief cake for work.

Thanks to Lisa and Fiona for all their helpful suggestions! I am 2 months down and 10 to go but I probably need to get planning, especially on the cricket and rugby front. So if anyone wants to come? or invite me along. I am open to offers :)

B.