Goal 30: Learn Economics on Youtube

Watched the very straight Stephanie Flanders showcasing this youtube video on a programme about Hayek and thought it hilarious, so gonna sit and watch a series on it.

Goal 29:Do a flotation tank

       
This was the boyfriend's addition to the list. Apparently incredible sensory experience. We'll see.

Goal 28: Learn a hip-hop dance routine

Had so not intended to show this video as my inspiration for learning to crip-walk, but damn girlfriend, Crip-walking at Wimbledon. One word. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Goal 27: Bike/Hike once a month

Done a little bit of hiking this year, the South of France was amazing and of course hiking in Mauritius and trekking the Cirques in La Reunion was just phenomenal. I love being in nature and really want to get out more as there is so much beautiful countryside in the UK and I want to see lots.

Goal 26: Hula hoop to 'Work it Out'

I know lots of people want to be like Bey for a number of reasons, all in want from her is her hooping skills. Uber uber sexy and fantastic exercise.

Goal 25: Play two songs well on the guitar

                                      
Got myself a guitar and my lovely man bought me lessons for my birthday present. I start next week. Woo-hoo.

Goal 24: Learn to play chess

             
Another throwback from former list which I didn't achieve.

Goal 23: Go caving in the Peak District

                                                 
I LOVE caving and want to do more of it, and I've always wanted to go to the Peak District, so I'll combine both.

Goal 22: Go dancing once a month

                                                  
Dancing has the ability to make me feel more alive and happier than anything else, but I don't do enough of it, so in wanting to up the happiness ante, going to do it once a month, hip-hop, soca, reggea, all the music I LOVE dancing to.

Goal 21: Learn to salsa

So I need to be able to dance like this. I can't go partner dancing at all. I get all un-coordinated and flustered and I really just want to be able to dance with another person.

              

Goal 20: Go see family in Canada

      
How beautiful! Really want to go see my family who I haven't seen for the last 4 years and explore more of this beautiful country.

Goal 19: See tulip bloom in Amsterdam

     
Do I need to say anymore? How gorgeous is this? Spring break ahoy..

Goal 18: Upload all CDs and make playlists

                              
A throwback from my last list that needs to be completed. I have soooooooo much music and just really need to appreciate them a bit more and have access all the time via the computer system.

Goal 17: Grow own veg and herbs

                    
I LOVE FOOD!!!! I love fresh vegetables and want to move to a country that allows me to have tomatoes as they should taste, not the watery, flavourless shadows that we get in England, so going to try my hand at growing my own. Will all have to be on the balcony as I don't have a garden.

Goal 16: Make candles and preserves

             
Got all my candle making equipment, just need to get some wick and I'm totally into homemade preserves and came back La Reunion and the first thing I did was make a rhum arrange, my single most favourite alcoholic drink and I want to make more preserve type things.

Goal 15: Decorate home before Chrismas

                 
So living back in my lovely flat with my lovely boyfriend, have been here for the last three weeks and I've done a lot decorating wise already but have a ton more to do. Think bedroom is more or less complete but living room still sparse, so need to start working on it and make sure it's done before Christmas as we're only here for a year and I want to be living comfortably.

Goal 14: Create a functional wardrobe and style

        
I love this image from 'a pair & a spare' - a lovely visual representation of functional minimalist wardrobe. Definitely into the idea of a minimalist wardrobe, stops one consuming so much. So over the last year, got rid of hundreds of items I don't wear. Still trying to get rid of more till all I'm left with are items that I love and work for my life.  So I always need to be comfortable and warm and I need to start knowing and working with my body shape which I think I've been fighting. I've got real boobs and bum, yet I try to dress waif-like - not going to work. I've constantly got issues with my hair so started wrapping it months ago and today discovered Marc Jacobs new looks for SS2013 - he's sooooo been copying my look.

Goal 13: Complete 'One Year to an Organised Life'

                                     
Need to start implementing the tips from this book again. I'm better than I was last year, but can continue to improve and be even better and I think a systematic approach such as Regina Leeds book is the only way to go.

Goal 12: Update work website with new materials

                                         
This is what I want to feel like at work every day. So my goal is to have lots of new publications available online, implement them and then I can start developing more advocacy based work.

Goal 11: Pay £600 towards debt every month

                                                           
I don't quite feel like this, but this is what debt really is. A monkey on one's back. So anyway given myself two years if I pay £600 towards debt every month..

Goal 10: Write PhD Proposal

                              

Decided that one of the elements that I enjoy most about my job is the 'teaching' element of it. As much as I love kids, I don't want to teach them, I want to have debates and discussion and carry out research on things that interest me, so wanting to complete a PhD. Gonna work to get a proposal together during this period and have enough time to amend and apply for a PhD next academic year.

Goal 9: Read one non-fiction and news magazine once a month

                                                            

I don't read enough and I have an extensive library which I need to start exploring a bit more instead of just waiting till I retire, so striving for one a month and also a good current affairs publication.

Goal 8: Transition to green lifestyle

                                                    
I'm reasonably green, don't drive, recycle, I buy old furniture when I can, well that's actually about it. I don't think that I'm doing enough. I want to examine all aspects of my life and see how I can transition to being as green as I can from my travel and consumerism. I want to make as many of my own products as possible - cleaning products, skin care products, candles etc, buy less clothes, consume less generally and shop more locally. I need to do more research but definitely started. Also transitioning, so means I'll use up what I have and then phase out all synthetic and chemically loaded products that I have. 

Goal 7: Be noticeably toned and fit

                                           
Oh gosh, I've used an image of the worst tennis player in the world. Ewwww, but anyway she's well fit, not in the sense that I think she's attractive but she has amazing muscle tone and I'd love to have good muscle tone as I'm uber jiggly at the moment and I don't like it. Can't really fit into all my clothes etc, but I always want to be able to run without running out of breath. So need to dust off those trainers and once we get a television, start using the exercise DVDs and start developing some muscle tone and stronger lungs. Will do before and after photos to check progress.

Goal 6: Balance hormones naturally

                                     
I'm actually the most sickly 'healthy' person I know!! Always down with something, painful periods, skin that has a mind of its own, constantly fatigued and stressed and a whole host of other niggles and it's uber annoying. I'm always told that I should take medication which I never do and I want to prove all the naysayers wrong and prove that I can solve my problems through natural means, but it will require a holistic approach and consistent action:

• Healthy eating
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Being in nature
• Managing stress 

Goal 5: Swim in a lido

                                                                                                                                                                                     
                   
So I still can't swim. Problem. Especially as boyfriend is a lido fanatic. So starting the lessons soon and hopefully I'll be joining him at lido expeditions in the summer, cos I sure as hell are not swimming in the cold water in autumn, definitely not winter and spring might still be too cold

Goal 4: Learn how to do perfect green laundry

                                            
I'm obsessed with high thread count bedding, soft, crisply ironed and smelling like heaven. This fancy alas fails to materialize into reality. Well as least it has in the past, but already starting to get there. I also want to stop using harsh conventional washing powders and liquids and start making my own using borax and soda crystals and vinegar and essential oils and have everything perfectly ironed and folded away like the image above. PERFECT...

Goal 3: Complete Hugo French in 3 Months Beginners and Advanced

                                                           

So I was probably overly ambition in my goal of reading Fanon in French.... I did little on my French last year but have somehow managed to obtain 'get by' French. Would like to consolidate through doing half an hour during my commute everyday. Nothing easier right?.....

Goal 2: Learn map-reading and basic maths

                            


I can't really read maps and I've always self-diagnosed as discalculic (mathematical equivalent of dyslexia) so basically wanna sort that out so I can help little people with maths homework and be a better co-pilot.

Goal 1. Get Driving License

                                                          


Soooooo, didn't manage to do this last year. HAS to be done as it's getting a bit ridiculous now. Of course, being a commuter, I don't NEED to drive, but such an important skill to have especially when travelling and I really want to be able to drive when holidaying in Canada and before my Theory test expires!! Booked my first lesson in Crawley today as inasmuch as I love my London instructor, too impractical to traipse to London for lessons, plus I get to explore a bit more of my local area, hopefully go along some of the country roads. 

I'm back online...

Soooooo, all but abandoned my blog for the first half of this year, owing to a number of factors:

• 1) Travelling lots for work (meeting amazing people and doing work that I was really happy with) and on rest time between trips, just hibernating and having ZERO energy to do anything, including blog
• 2) Becoming 'displaced' - I moved out of my mum's house in June and basically have only lived in my flat for the last three weeks, so April-September, I was either living out of a suitcase at my boyfriend's flat or in La Reunion
• 3) Only getting Broadband TODAY!!!

So blogging has just NOT happened, but I'm pretty psyched to get started again now that I'm back in my space which is far from perfect, but definitely the most perfect place I've had to reside in all year. So got 10 months, starting on Monday to complete my 30during30.

I of course did not complete 30before30 but totally fine with that given the circumstances and it just means I now have time to really do it all properly. So a whole new list has been has been compiled  and I think it's more sensible and realistic and a lot more FUN than 30before30, so here goes....