101 Things in 1001 Days

59. Make a birthday cake for Dean each year.
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For his 31st Birthday on 14th June 2010.

A somewhat easier cake this year (woo!) but Dean’s choice so I don’t feel bad about it at all. It’s Nigella’s Chocolate Guinness cake and it’s really lovely. It has a white chocolate and cream cheese topping with the trademark Guinness shamrock.

Axx

76. Go to 10 National Trust/National Trust Scotland properties
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Dean had a Friday off work so we took a drive down to Ormskirk to visit Rufford Hall. It’s another beautiful Tudor property. For a bizarre reason, it was closed! We still had a wander around the grounds though, it’s a very pretty place. We also had a yummy lunch at a nearby farm restaurant.

Axx

38. Do something exciting for my 30th

I was sure I had already posted this!

I turned 30 on Sunday 11th April and I had the best birthday I’ve ever had. We started celebrating on the Friday, when we had my little party at my mum’s house. I enjoyed having a big party for my 21st but having a much smaller group of those closest to me was brilliant. Having less people means better food and drinks, of which much was consumed! There were a couple of people who couldn’t come (my MiL, my friends Joanne, Anne and Odette mainly) because of being busy/miles away but was so good to spend time with people I can’t see all the time. My friend Beth made it all the way from the south coast which helped make it all the more special.

On the Saturday, it was a nice quiet day, spent looking at my amazing gifts and having time with Odette, another friend Tricia, my mum and Dean. We had very posh ham leftovers with egg and chips, talk about style!

On the Sunday, my actual birthday, there were more gifts! Dean and I took a drive down to (a very windy!) Longniddry Beach and to the Longniddry Inn for a drink/nibbles. In the evening, we went for a chippy supper and to Luca’s for ice cream. Because I had the whole weekend, there was no pressure to making that day in particular amazing and as I love chippy suppers and ice cream, it seems an obvious choice!

On the Monday, Dean and I went into Edinburgh. We had pizza for lunch, a walk in the sunshine and a few drinks in a historic old pub on Rose Street.

I really was the best birthday I have ever had, all spent with the people I love most. I wish I could have a four day birthday every week!

Axx

I am so cross with myself for not updating for so long. I don’t really know why I haven’t as everything ‘behind the scenes’ is fully up-to-date and I had been doing well. So I’m drawing a line, forgetting about being miles behind with updating and start posting again actual posts.

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I have decided to change a couple of items on my list as I now know they are unachievable. I’d prefer to be able to complete different tasks rather than fail the others.

My list now includes:
35. Take a child on a day out by myself
41. Spend a week just the two of us
50. Take a photo of 5 childhood memories
73. Build a sandcastle

Hope you are all ok and still out there working away with your 101 Things. I’m doing well with my list, particularly over the summer so far. There isn’t a day where I don’t think about my list.

Anne xxx

49. Take a photo of 30 happy things.

I can’t help but think we go through life not recognising the things which makes us happy and if we took more note, we could be happier. This list is in no particular order, just as I think of/see them and are from all aspects of life.
Flickr photoset and 101 Things page

#9 – Knitting

I started knitting for my 101 Things and I love it. It’s so nice to go from two sticks and a ball of wool to a garment or an item. It’s a hobby I can do regardless of how well/ill I feel and something that doesn’t take huge amounts of effort. It’s lovely to see people’s faces when I knit things for them and in return, it makes me happy too.

#10 – Stitch and Bitch

I’m not sure where I would be without my S&B group, well I suspect I would be quite lonely actually! Every Tuesday I go to a lovely wine bar to chat with lovely friends about everything and anything. I try my best to go unless I’m away or if I’m really too ill as I always enjoy it when I get there. It’s been the start of close friendship and fun with friends, I love it.

#11 – Chippy Suppers

I crave Scottish East Coast chippies more than anything else. The first meal I always want to eat when I go home, usually smoked sausage suppers but I’m quite partialled to a battered burger too. It always has to have nippy sauce (part sauce, part vinegar) and either Irn Bru or Vimto. I do love a chippy supper, yum.

#12 – Birthdays

Who doesn’t love their birthday? The day where you are the centre of attention, where you get to do what you want to do and have fun. When my mum’s birthday arrives, I always know I have three weeks and one day until mine and the excitement arrives!

#13 – Friends

I am very blessed to have such good friends, from many parts of my life. I have some older friends (from years back), many internet friends, friends I’ve met online who have become some of my best friends (like all in the above photo), friends from Stitch and Bitch, friends I’ve met through Dean. I don’t think I could ever have too many friends and I’m so lucky to have the friends I have.