And So The Challenge Begins

Well hello and welcome to my first ever blog! Why this blog? Well, I will reach my first half century next year, that's right, the big five-oh and rather than face it with fear, I've decided to grab it, run with it and have a ball. After all, it's a whole lot better to reach 50 than not! We know too many good people personally who never got there so I have absolutely no intention of moaning about being officially well into middle age.

With that in mind I have come up with the idea, not original as it turns out but who cares, to set myself a 50 before 50 challenge list and with this blog I begin a 13 month countdown. I actually had more than 50 possibilities but there has to be some sort of limit so 50 it is.  I think it's a nice number.  The list is a mixture of scary (for me) challenges, fun and silly things to do, new things to try and a hope that I will both a) get fit and b) be able raise some money for charity along the way. So without any further ado, here is the actual list. Hope you like it!

1. Start a blog and write 50 posts - DONE
2. Write a letter to my Mum and Dad letting them know at least 50 best memories - DONE
3. Couch to 5k challenge - DONE
4. Wing walk - DONE
5. Make my own handmade soap - traditional and melt and pour - DONE
6. Learn how to handle birds of prey - DONE
7. Weatherman Walks - follow at least 50 miles worth of Derek Brockway's Welsh hikes - DONE
8. Climb Pen Y Fan (highest point in South Wales) - DONE
9. Compete in 50 pub quizzes - DONE
10. Race for Life Pretty Muddy 5k - DONE
11. Take part in a dog walk with at least 50 other dogs - DONE
12. Sheep wrangling - spend the day on a sheep farm - DONE
13. Collect 50 shiny new pound coins and donate to charity - DONE
14. Monthly International Culture Challenge - read a book by an international author every month and watch a foreign language film each month - DONE
15. Be a 'Velonteer' at the Welsh Velothon - DONE
16. WATCH 50 Kids TV Programmes from the 60s and 70s - DONE
17. Have a go at glassblowing - DONE
18. Take part in the Santa and Elf 5k dash - DONE
19. Skinny Dip - DONE 😂 
20. Try archery properly - DONE
21.  Ride a Segway - DONE
22. Can't Cook Won't Cook - the challenge my husband doesn't want me to do. Each month cook a meal using recipes from around the world - DONE
23. Yo Sushi - Sushi School - learn how to make an international meal PROPERLY - DONE
24. Firewalk - DONE
25. Be an 'extra miler' at the Cardiff Half Marathon - DONE
26. Climb over the top of the O2 - DONE
27. Milk a cow - DONE
28. Drive a tank - DONE
29. 50 Shades of Pink photo challenge - take a photo of something pink every day for 50 days - DONE                 
30. Grow strawberries, a sunflower....anything - DONE
31. 'Mo' Run 5k - DONE
32. Quadbiking - DONE
33. Bake and decorate 50 cupcakes - DONE
34. Canoe down the River Wye - DONE
35. Light Up Cardiff 5k run - DONE
36. Llanfairpg Cream Cracker Challenge - DONE
37. Be a penguin zookeeper for a day - DONE
38. Cardiff 10k Poppy Walk - DONE
39. Horse ride along a beach - DONE
40. Eat 50 pickled onions in 50 minutes - ATTEMPTED - FAILED!!!!
41. Celebrate a National or International 'Day of' something each month - DONE
42. 50 Good Deeds - DONE
43. Big Zipper Challenge - go on the fastest zipwire in the world - and it's in Wales! - DONE
44. Indoor skydive - DONE
45. Processions March - to celebrate 100 Years of Women's Suffrage - DONE
46. Abseil off the Newport Transporter Bridge - DONE
47. Design and Carve a Silver Ring at the Made By Hand craft fair - DONE
48. Snowboard - DONE
49. Get 50 selfies from the challenges - DONE
50. Complete the Cardiff Snowdog Trail - find 50 snowdogs or pups - DONE

So that's it. 50 things, 13 months to complete and it starts now!!! Watch this space t see how I do.

Lesley

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