Long overdue update

Hello all!

Hope you're well.  First things first, I know, I know... it's been over 3 months since my last post (which was also my first post) and I apologise for the lack of updates, but the good news is... the project is still going!  I did wonder if it would get canned and I'd be starting it for a 4th time at some point this year, but it all seems to be going a lot better this time!

I've concluded that one of the things that would help me concentrate more on 101 would be if I'm regularly blogging about it.  On previous blogs, I would leave it ages and ages, and then be trying to play catch-up with ginormous posts that just got too much to handle.  So from here on in, the plan is 'little but often'.  Smaller posts, but more of them.  I like this idea for a couple of reasons... the first being, as already mentioned, that it will keep 101 in my mind and spur me on to tackle the larger projects on my list.  But also because, as much as I find it a pain to get round to starting to write my updates (this post has been on my to-do list for weeks and weeks), I do actually enjoy it when I get started.  More recently, there's been little tidbits of news that I could have shared, but didn't get round to.  I'm not going to do some mega-update in this blog, but instead will gradually include all the recent news into my upcoming smaller blogs.  Although, I suppose..... just maybe.... I could update you on a COUPLE of bits in this blog post ;)

So where do we stand at the moment?

First up, this list has grown a little more, from 74 to 77 items, and now includes the following 3:

75. Complete a photography task

76. Go clubbing in Ibiza

77. Wingwalk

'75. Complete a photography task' came about as I really enjoy photography and love looking back over pics on facebook, but wanted something a bit more arty.  I recently watched a video about something called Light Painting, the idea being you take a really long exposure at night, and move small lights around to effectively 'draw' on the photo.  TalkTalk used it in their X-Factor advertising campaign, and I think it'd give me the opportunity to be really creative.

'76. Go clubbing in Ibiza' mainly came about after watching a YouTube video, showing a gay club night at an Ibiza venue called La Troya.  Looked amazing, and as I'm approaching 30, I thought it'd be something worth doing before I get too old for it!  Having done a bit of research, I've seen how expensive a night out there could be, so I'm not sure if #76 will stay on the list, but I'll keep it there until I find something better to replace it with.

'77. Wingwalk' was inspired simply by a clip from 'An Idiot Abroad 2' showing Karl Pilkington wingwalking.  I thought it looked amaaaaazing, and I wanna piece of that action (the wingwalking that is, not Karl!).

So, there's 3 new additions to the list.  I'm very much looking forward to #75, and am excited about #77 (MUST get video footage if I manage to do it!).  Now for an update on something already on the list...

11. Write a letter to myself on Day 1 to be opened on Day 1001

As mentioned in my first blog, I did write a letter to myself to be opened on Day 1001.  It was 6.5 pages long and I decided to handwrite it, so there's no electronic version that I can 'stumble' across.  I took a photo of the completed letter, but have blurred out the contents, as again, I don't want myself or others to be able to see what it says before Day 1001!

I haven't yet sealed the letter (in fact, it's sat here next to me on the bed while I type this) although it is inside it's envelope so I can't see what it says, and I may film it being sealed (that's gonna be some seriously interesting footage, eh!?).

So, 1 down, 100 to go!

In my next post, I'll tell you more about one of the tasks that's well underway - '5. Declutter my possessions properly'.  For now though, I'll say goodnight and finish up here (am on standby from 6am in the morning, so hoping I don't get called for a flight today!).

Nighty-night peeps!

x

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack!

HELLO!

Welcome, one and all, to the home of my 101 in 1001 blog... where you can follow my adventures as I try to complete the 101 in 1001 project.

For those of you that have followed my previous blogs, you'll know that this is my third attempt at the project. For those who are new to my blogs, read on to find out more...

If you want to check out my first two attempts, the blogs are here: Attempt 1 and Attempt 2. Now you may be sat in front of your computer, tutting out loud and saying to yourself something like:

"This ridiculously handsome man has failed twice before... why should we possibly believe he'll succeed on the third attempt?"

Well to you, I say this... 'shut it'. We've all heard the phrase '3rd time lucky'. Well that's been scientifically proven, y'know. Probably.

Anyways, onto the project. For those unfamiliar with the concept of 101 in 1001, it's fantastically simple. Here's a description I've copied from one of my previous blogs:

"Come up with 101 ideas, goals, ambitions and dreams... and then complete them in 1001 days, which is roughly 2.75 years. The items on the list can be anything you want, from crazy life-changing experiences (go into Space, travel the World) to things you've needed to do for ages but just haven't had the motivation or time to do (write a Will, declutter my stuff)."

And it really is that simple. I'm starting today, Saturday 2nd July 2011. I've chosen this start date for 2 reasons. First up, it's Pride London today, so I get to celebrate the start of my project with a MAHOOSIVE party in London with lots of gay and gay-friendly peeps (I like both those types of people!). Secondly, starting today gives me a finish date of Friday 28th March 2014. That in itself isn't a particularly interesting date, but the plan is to take Saturday and Sunday off, and start a whole new 1001 days on Monday 31st March 2014... which would then lead to a finish date of Christmas Day 2016! So this project is potentially going to last the next 5.5 years, just a few weeks short of my 35th birthday!!!

My list is up to 74 items so far and I intend to add more, taking it up to the high 90s, in the next couple of weeks. So without further ado, here is the first 74 of my 101...

1. Get a job as a pilot

2. Save a deposit for a house

3. Achieve and maintain a healthy BMI

4. Take self-defence classes

5. Declutter my possessions properly

6. Get my paragliding licence

7. Learn sign language to at least a basic level

8. Read through all my ATPL books again

9. Send 101 postcards via Postcrossing

10. Go on holiday with a group of mates: 'Epic Holiday' or 'Epic Residential'!

11. Write a letter to myself on Day 1 to be opened on Day 1001

12. Learn to play some chillout tunes on my guitar

13. Visit a butterfly house

14. Watch 101 movies that I want to see

15. Edit and upload my flight training video blogs (inc. any future ones!)

16. Say 'Yes' to every opportunity for 1 day, then 3 days then a week!

17. Try 20 new youth hostels

18. Perfect the Moonwalk!

19. Mend a broken friendship

20. Throw a dart into a map and go there – local

21. Throw a dart into a map and go there – national

22. Throw a dart into a map and go there – global, eek!

23. Be a film extra

24. Learn to bake 3 different cakes/puddings really well

25. Complete the 'Couch to 5k' program and run a 5k

26. Get horrendously drunk with my best mate

27. Fly lots of different types of aircraft (need to be more specific)

28. Cycle from Crawley to Brighton

29. Cycle from London to Paris

30. Cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats (possibly for charity)

31. Complete a course in a subject that interests me, but that is not work-related (perhaps film-making, CGI, special effects, etc)

32. Finish sorting through my photos and videos, burning my saved ones to disc

33. Send all my funny clips to You've Been Framed

34. Go on a gameshow

35. Camp in the Cairngorms again (or somewhere similar)

36. Create an amazing website (think 'The Oatmeal'!)

37. Put together a photography portfolio of some of my best pics

38. Copy all important VHS videos to DVD/digital format

39. See Eddie Izzard live

40. Make at least 5 items of clothing using EL-wire, LED's or funky lighting!

41. Volunteer with an LGBT charity

42. Continue to fundraise for London's Air Ambulance up to £10,000

43. Take part in an “It's a Knockout” competition

44. Visit Canada

45. Learn how to fly aerobatics

46. Visit an active volcano

47. Improve my rollerskating skills

48. Run a 10k

49. Help Mum to trace the family history

50. Try out canoeing again

51. Build a target board for my slingshot

52. Build my '1000 Things' up to over 500

53. Learn how to draw cartoons

54. Become a crack shot with a rifle (if easy to arrange)

55. Get some of my favourite arty photos printed onto canvas

56. Write and publish an e-book

57. Create something amazing with materials from somewhere like Hobbycraft... think Wallace and Gromit (maybe a money box)

58. Visit London as a tourist

59. Learn basic massage

60. Create a YouTube video that gets over a million hits

61. Skydive again

62. Turn £10 into £1000 by buying from charity shops and selling on eBay

63. Take Dad flying

64. Climb a mountain

65. Change something in the World by using an online petition

66. Study for and pass a GCSE (Spanish, perhaps?)

67. Set up a cool lighting system in my room

68. Live/work in another country (the USA!?) for a couple of months!!!!!

69. Throw an amazing 30th birthday party

70. Take Mum for a supercar day

71. Visit Santorini

72. (personal)

73. Take a face photo once a month and create a collage over the course of the project

74. Get a funky haircut

So there we have it.... 27 more to come up with, but plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.

There are a few that I could get started on later today at Pride. No.11 - 'Write a letter to myself on Day 1 to be opened on Day 1001' is obviously something I need to look at during some point today. It may end up being done on Day 2 if I go out clubbing after Pride. I could also start chatting to various organisations about 41 - 'Volunteer with an LGBT charity'. All very exciting.

Well, it's almost 2am, and the parade is at 1pm, so I suppose I should get to bed.

I'll add some more in my next posts about me and why I'm doing the project. Thanks for reading and (hopefully) subscribing, and here's to the next 1001 days!

Phill