Last May I turned 40... It seemed to creep up on me from nowhere. I mean it felt like only a year or two ago that I was boarding a plane for Canada to celebrate my 30th, it doesn't seem that much longer that I was being dragged around the bars of the local town by my brother and being made to drink an array of dodgy drinks to ring in my 21st... In fact, I can still recall my 18th quite clearly, clubbing in Exeter wearing a very revealing camo print two piece (I tell you what, it barely covered my butt and boobs - but hey I was young!).
But here I was turning 40... FORTY. That's like middle aged; how could I be sooooo old?
I seemed to wake that morning in May with lines around my eyes, I swear the night before my skin was all smooth and line free. I suddenly noticed my boobs weren't quite as pert as I recalled and was it me or were my knees looking older? OMG; I'm old.
So, to help me through this tough patch of feeling ancient, I decided to set myself a challenge, to do 40 things in my 40th year to celebrate me. Things I'd always wanted to do, things I totally loved, things to challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone or things that simply would make me smile.
My 40@40 project was born... Do you know it's really hard to think of 40 things for a list, and I'm Queen of lists! But after lots of thinking, asking friends for ideas and writing and rewriting my list, I had chosen 40 things to do in my fortieth year.
I won't go in to details on them all (maybe another post) but these were my most favourite and most memorable experiences to date.
1. Horse riding in the sea... a total childhood dream of mine and thanks to the amazing team at Cornwall Swimming Horses, this dream came true last summer after all the horrible storms had passed. After riding down to the beach I dismounted and jumped in to the crystal blue sea; James (my mount) was led in to the sea where I remounted and cantered through the surf, swam on his back out in to the depths and got towed along behind him... The day was perfect from the backdrop of St Michael's Mount in the distant, the warm sun on my back and the power of the horses; it was everything I had ever hoped for and more
2. Wild swimming... I love to be in the water, in fact I feel I should have been born a mermaid! I had been wild swimming before, of course, but this year I wanted to enjoy as much wild swimming as possible all over the country, in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, moorland pools, icy cold sea pools, the sea and even under huge waterfalls. Sometimes it was warm and pleasant and other times I thought my toes may drop off, but it was always magical and the sense of freedom was overwhelming and each dip brought me such peace. This is certainly a hobby I'll be continuing over the next 40 years
3. Mountain bike a Red Run... I love being out on my bike and a few years ago started riding trails at centres. The technical skills, speed and adrenaline of these are addictive but I was a bit scared of going on a Red Run. I'd probably ridden harder stuff out on the moors but it just seemed a bit daunting. So last summer I met a lovely lady on a Facebook group and we met up at Haldon Woods for a ride after work. 'Shall we do the red' she asked, 'yes, sure' I said, thinking I can't wimp out in front of my new friend! It was scary, fast flowing, there were places I thought I may fall off, but it was so much fun. We laughed, swore, sweated and had an amazing time... well until 200m from the end where I had a spectacular crash and shattered my little finger, but still there's only one thing to do; check your bike is OK, get back on and hope you don't need to use your right hand for the rest of the ride!
4. Do a Zipline... I've done ziplines as a kid and in the military but I really fancied doing a big one and just for fun! My amazing friend Sarah bought me a pass for the Adrenaline Quarry in Cornwall, where I could launch myself off a 50m high cliff at 40mph, down a 490m wire over the beautiful quarry below. It was awesome and I'll definitely do more on my travels
5. Picnic in Windsor Park... This was the first thing I did on my list. My mum, Sophie (my niece) and I had a picnic by my van in the sunshine to celebrate my birthday! It was super fun and a great long weekend adventure in the van with Sophie and the dogs, visiting Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. We simply had a mattress on the floor for sleeping, a camping stove for meals and our bikes for adventures. It was bliss...
So, the other things on my list that I've achieved to date are:
6. Convert my van in to a home on wheels - the dream that started everything
7. Visit somewhere new - having my van has made this super easy to achieve
8. Sleep on the beach - Cornwall
9. Go surfing - Cornwall, I need to get better at it!
10. Holiday in the Lakes - do this every year and it's one of my favourite trips with my chums
11. Go snowboarding - who doesn't love to roll around in fluffy snow?!
12. Shower under a waterfall - It was cold but exhilarating
13. Create a blog - here I am blogging!
14. Sell a piece of artwork - I've sold 4 pieces this year
15. Wild camp - Dartmoor, the local woods, Wales, Cornwall
16. Learn a new skill - so many to help me do the van
17. Visit an art gallery - great galleries in Edinburgh
18. Sleep under the stars - I love looking up at the stars and just getting lost in them
19. SUP/Kayak with the dogs - Oliver loves it, Spike's not too sure!
20. Go Geocaching - great fun for all the family
21. Practice yoga - need to increase this as I love it and it makes me feel great
22. Meet new people - so many new amazing people, and some great trips with them too
23. Keep a bullet journal - great fun and a way to record all my adventures and lists
24. Go for a posh meal - I LOVE food
And yet despite all the adventures, challenges and fun, there are still more to come...
25. Tor Challenge - officially 119 Tors in total but over 500 outcrops and Tors combined
26. Attend Badminton Horse Trials - not going to happen this year unfortunately
27. Go to a festival - booked but Download was cancelled due to Covid-19
28. Paint outdoors - I'm thinking a seascape painted at the seaside in the elements
29. Learn to sew a piece of clothing - would love to make a dress
30. Publish a short story - I'll post a couple to my blog
31. Learn to service my bikes - really must do this!
32. Have a spa day - once Covid-19 is over I'm going to have a girly spa day
33. Get a manicure - I'm so non girly with my nails that it would be nice to have them done
34. Learn to use make-up - can barely apply mascara!
35. Complete a super long walk - thinking a coast to coast route
36. Sing in public - anyone for karaoke?!
37. Enter a competition - maybe a writing competition
38. Reach my goal dress size - nearly there!
39. Get a tattoo - all designed, just need to be brave!
40. Read 40 books - nearly done this and I'll do another post with all the books I've read
So once we're allowed out of quarantine I'd better crack on and complete my 40@40 and embrace being middle aged, I mean I'm nearly 41 and it'll soon be time for a 50@50 challenge... I'm thinking base jumping...
What would be on your list? Let me know in the comments or drop me a line.
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