Day 25 - #39

Well, we didn't manage to frame the wedding picture but I did do the first part of #39 - cooking something new every month. I made pollo con arroz (chicken with rice), and it was pretty good. Will definitely make it again, anyway.

Day 24 - Still making progress

Well, as predicted, now we're back at work things have slowed down a lot. Still, we're making good progress on the weekly things - our walks and eating at the dining room table, for example.

And Chris has done really well on #88, he has well and truly given up sugar in his tea. He's been talking about doing it for ages so it's really nice that this 101 things project gave him the last bit of motivation he needed.

We've been looking at quite a few houses, haven't found anything yet but we're staying positive as there seems to be more coming on to the market all the time at the moment. We'll definitely get there this year, anyway.

I think I'm doing well on #86 - am 3 weeks in and haven't weighed myself at all this week, so that's good. It's not actually been as hard as I thought, I just wonder if I can keep it up once the 5 weeks has gone. I'm also enjoying doing HPAD (#84) and have kept up pretty well with that so far (although I do need to take 2 pictures today to catch up).

On Thursday I bought a new frame for our wedding photo poster, so hopefully we'll get #71 done soon - today if we're really good.

I think we need to get going on some of our trips and things - although we are going away at half term (I don't know where, it's a surprise for my birthday) so hopefully that might help with a couple of those items.

There's only a week of January left so we're going to have to make sure we play a game together this week and also that we cook something new - I think I might try to do that today if I get the time.

So, lots still to be done...off I go!

Day 14 - #94, #99, #72 and #81

So, we managed our walk yesterday evening - it was really nice to get out, have a bit of exercise and explore some bits of Southampton we hadn't been to before. Chris even said today 'I like this 101 things, it made us go out for a walk yesterday', so all is good and perhaps he's even forgotten the pain of no sugar in his tea! And we ate at the dining room table tonight as well; it is nice to use our 'posh' cutlery and the like a bit more regularly.

In bigger news, we realised tonight that we've managed #99, spending less than £30 on food. Mostly this was because we couldn't actually be bothered to go to the supermarket this week, so have been using up leftovers and things from the store cupboard (pasta pesto anyone?!) with a quick top up at Waitrose. Evidence below.

And I gave blood for the second ever time tonight, so that's a start on #94. Chris came too but they didn't have any spaces left (I had an appointment) so will have to wait until next time, at the beginning of May. I don't think coming with me tonight put him off though, even though it's so cold in there my veins all disappear making it a bit painful when they jab the needle in!

Day 12 - #88

So Chris announced this evening that he was trying something from the list but he didn't like it. Turns out he's 2 cups of tea into tea with no sugar. He only has 1/2 spoon at the moment (reduced from about 5 when I first knew him!) and he's wanted to leave it out altogether for a while, but hasn't bothered. Hopefully he'll get used to the taste soon.

Meanwhile, we really need to make sure we go for our walk and eat at the dining table this week, and we're running out of days. Hopefully there'll be a bit more snow tomorrow to draw us out for a walk after work.

Day 11 - #70

A very quick one tonight because I really should be working.

Just a little update to say yesterday we got started with #70 - a date once a month - with a trip to the cinema to see Avatar. It was fab, we really enjoyed it, even though the 3D gave me a headache by the end.

It's so great to see lots of italics on our list now - I'd like to start crossing some more off soon though hopefully.

Day 9 - #66 and #68

We've had a lovely day today celebrating Chris's birthday. He's 25 today so we had friends and family round for a bit of a party - #66. We cooked pizzas and sticky toffee pudding (among other things) and even played a couple of games. It was lots of fun and everyone really got into the spirit (we're very lucky to have such lovely family and friends who are happy to chat to anyone, so everyone got on with each other really well.

It also gave us the chance to work on #68 - Chris requested a drum kit cake for his birthday and between the two of us we managed to create a pretty accurate representation. It couldn't match the pirate ship cake his mum made though (also requested by Chris) - she is a very talented lady!

Day 6 - #77 and #81

Well we had a bit more time than we thought because today was a snow day. Chris's school opened at 8.45 and closed at 8.50, while mine made it all the way through til lunchtime. Now we've all come home the snow has completely disappeared but it was coming down pretty thickly all morning.

So, we had the chance to start #81 - a walk once a week. It was lovely to walk on Southampton Common and see all the people out enjoying the snow at 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon - there were loads of people there.

This is the paddling pool area, looking pretty different from usual - no sunbathing today!

          We even made snow angels, although

the snow wasn't really thick enough.

We usually get into a pretty good routine of going for walks in the Summer, but it's so much harder in the Winter, when it's all dark and cold, especially if we're trying to fit it in after work, so it was nice to be able to make such a good start to this one.

And we also managed #77, tho it's not the best shot, but here is January's photo of the two of us, all wrapped up against the cold.

Day 5 - #72

Not much yesterday, now we're back at work things are definitely going to slow down - not enough hours in the day (so this is probably the end of daily updates!). Still, I arrived home to this:

The dining room table all candlelit and set ready for dinner - Chris remembered #72, eat at the dining room table once a week. So he does get this 101 things project!

Day 4 - More on #62, starting #59 and still going with #84

So #62 is sending birthday cards to all of our immediate family (parents, brothers, sisters in law, grandparents). We made some more progress on this by setting up the next few cards on Moonpig, so they'll get sent automatically (including to Chris's brother Pete, who lives in Australia, and therefore also fulfilling part of #59). So that's two more birthday cards ready to go, as shown here (also includes a card for Chris, whose birthday is on Saturday).

And just a quick mention of #84 again - my photo a day. I've managed 3 so far and have today's all lined up too, I've really enjoyed this so far (tho my photos are really nothing special at all) but I think I'm going to find it harder now I'm back at work, especially while I'm leaving the house in the dark and getting home in the dark. Hurry up Spring!

Day 3 - #26, #47 but no #35

So here is Chris making headway with #26 - checking the pressure on my tyres (it was bad!). We can be a bit neglectful with our cars so hopefully this list item will help us to get in really good habits, and hopefully make our cars last a bit longer and be a bit healthier. I'll be sending him off to sort his car soon too so we can cross that one off for this month. Still...at least I can put it in italics now because we have made a start.

Yesterday also gave us the chance to get going on #47 - visiting 5 different tourist attractions in the UK. We had a really nice day in Oxford (a tourist attraction in itself really) with my parents, my grandparents and my brother and went to the Ashmolean Museum. Chris had never even heard of it before and on the way there asked how far it was to the 'mausoleum' and then to the 'mammary museum'. I think that misconception might have led to him being a little disappointed when we got there! Nonetheless we had a good day and enjoyed visiting our first tourist attraction of the next 1001 days.

The only thing which didn't go quite to plan was the house we were meant to be viewing - the estate agent had forgotten to confirm the appointment with the owner and so we couldn't see it. Grr...I thought these people want to sell the house?! Anyway, we're going to try again later in the week. Not sure it'll be the one anyway as its major feature seemed to be a nice view of Sainsburys! We shall see.

Today is the last day of the holiday so I wonder how well we'll keep going with the tasks once we're back at school. Expect progress to slow...

Day 2 - #62, #85 and #86

More progress already.

Since it's my mum's birthday today, I realised we'll be making progress with #62 - sending birthday cards to all of our immediate family. I have to admit it's mostly Chris's family I was thinking about when I suggested adding this to the list as it's with Chris's brothers and their wives that it tends to slide, but I'm going to include this card as a start to it. Here's the photographic evidence (it will be hand delivered but I think that can still count as 'sent').

I've also started making progress on some of 'my' items on the list. First, #85 - the quilt. I love patchwork and about this time last year thought it would be a great way to use some precious fabrics / favourite items of clothing that I didn't want to just get rid of. Of course, being a complete novice, I didn't see any problems in starting with a king size quilt. Now I know better. 1 year on and I'm about half way through the patchwork - but more experience inbetween has taught me that it's the quilting that I'm going to find tricky. Anyway, slowly but surely and it will get finished, hopefully well before the 1001 days are up. I made another 3 squares yesterday afternoon (these pics were taken before I added the new 3). I'm already feeling pretty proud of it and can't wait to get it finished (though Chris keeps saying he thinks it'll look better on the spare bed than ours...not quite sure what he's trying to say!).

And #86 - I thought I'd get this one over with because I know I'm going to find it hard (Chris suggested it and I can see why - I tend to be a 3 or 4 times a day weigher and know it isn't really the best attitude) and also felt it might be a good, mentally healthy way to start the year. So, I weighed myself yesterday, no more until next Friday. Just as well probably considering how much I've indulged over the Christmas period!

Today we're off to see Mum and Dad and possibly have the chance to cross off some of #7 and/or #26, not sure what we're going to be doing yet. Then tonight I'm meeting some friends for a drink, some of whom I haven't seen for ages - might inspire us with #60. And we're still viewing this house later - might be just the one for us! We'll see...

Day 1 - #1, #2, #3, #54, #68, #84 oh, and #4

We seem to be off to a roaring start - never mind 1001 days, at this rate we'll be finished by next week.

Well, perhaps not, but we have made a really good start - how long until our initial enthusiasm wears off, do you think?

So, #1 - write the list - is done, and we've also started #2 and #3, as evidenced below.

And Chris has clearly embraced the concept more than I gave him credit for yesterday as he returned home from Waitrose with our very own sieve - so that's #54 complete.

While he was out braving the shops, I was busy making a birthday cake (well, cupcakes, but I think they count) for my Mum's birthday tomorrow. So that's 1/3 of #68 done as well - and I should be making a cake for Chris's birthday next weekend too, so then we'll be 2/3 of the way there.

We've added £2 to the terramundi for 2 tasks completed, so that starts us off on #4. And I've posted my first picture to the HPAD group for #84. Plus we're off to look at a house tomorrow morning, so, who knows, that could move us towards #35 (although I'm not holding my breath, we haven't seen anything so far that either of us are particularly keen on - we do seem to have rather a long list of wants and needs).

I'm really pleased with the start we've made - it's making me feel very optimistic about achieving lots in the year ahead. Of course, it might be even more helpful if I stopped blogging now and actually got on with what I'm supposed to be doing today instead (starting to write reports)...