1) Read one book each month.
1a) Read Agatha Christie books in chronological order.
2) Watch films from IMDb's top 100 movies of all time.
3) Support charities.
I surpassed my expectations where reading was concerned. In total, I've read forty books this year. I think my favourite read was I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. It's very cleverly written and if you haven't read it I can thoroughly recommend it. I don't want to say too much about the story as the twists could be very easily given away.
Although I didn't set myself any goals regarding the number of Agatha Christie books I should read this year, I managed one a month. These are included in my total of forty books. I'm really enjoying working my way through these books, there's 66 detective or mystery novels so having read a dozen, I've only scratched at the surface so far.
I managed to watch 49 films from IMDb's top 100 movies of all time, which is some going as I don't usually watch many films. I watched many films I wouldn't usually have chosen to watch and really surprised myself as I thoroughly enjoyed many of them. Some of the films I hadn't seen before, didn't think were my thing at all, yet enjoyed once I watched them were Life Is Beautiful, Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, The Departed and Braveheart. I've realised that it's sometimes worth watching films which don't immediately grab your attention or that you don't think are your kind of film.
I've supported at least thirty different charities this year. I hope my monthly Challenge Update posts have demonstrated that there's lots of different ways in which to help or support a charity, it doesn't always have to be a monetary donation, anyone can help in so many different ways.
I've enjoyed setting myself these fun challenges, though I'm taking a break from them next year. I shall, of course, continue with my reading, I'll continue to read Agatha Christie books in chronological order, and I'll continue to support charities, I'm just not setting myself any new challenges.
Wishing you all a very happy new year and sending my very best wishes for 2016.
You've done brilliantly! I've been looking at all the photos from northern counties this morning... I hope that you and your family have remained safe and dry. Jx
ReplyDeleteWe've been ok where we are, though there's flooding not far from us. Daniel and his girlfriend are still with us as their houses in York are under threat of flood, we're just keeping our fingers crossed that they remain dry.
DeleteYou have done amazingly well with all of them. I never realised there were so many AC books. I think I've only ever read Evil Under the Sun. You have come up with some great ways to give to charity this year, it all adds up doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteLisa x
I think the Agatha Christie challenge will continue for a few years, there's so many books to get through, and those don't include the short stories, the plays or the books she wrote under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. I do like to support charities when I can, there's so many deserving causes out there.
DeleteHow rewarding and content. Best wishes for 2016. Dxx
ReplyDeleteThank you, best wishes for 2016 to you too.
DeleteHi Jo. I admire anyone who can keep two blogs going, I struggle enough with just the one! It's sad that you've relinquished the allotment but I can quite understand why. I've switched my allegiance on Feedly and am following you here now.
ReplyDeleteHave a very Happy New Year.
Thank you. I've been writing two blogs for over five years now but now I no longer have the allotment and much less time, it just makes sense to continue with the one. Thank you for popping over here. Wishing you a happy new year too.
DeleteI always enjoy reading how you met your challenges each month.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased you enjoy reading along, I've certainly enjoyed doing them.
DeleteHow wonderful to set some challenges for yourself and not only meet, but surpass them - well done! I'm not sure I've ever done that but I usually do set some goals for the year, usually related to the garden. So far, I have yet to achieve everything I set out to do, but there's always next year!
ReplyDeleteAnd all of the lovely knit & crochet creations on your sidebar! Knitting is a new hobby that I started less than 2 years ago. I do some every day, but only in the evening when I'm watching tv with my husband and just before bed. One of these days I would love to have the time to just sit back and do a bit of knitting during the day - it's so relaxing.
The challenges I set are always fun, so much easier to keep up with them that way. Knitting is my first love, I used to knit a lot when I was young, I can't even remember learning, it's just something I've always been able to do for as long as I can remember. I stopped knitting in my teens and didn't go back to it until I was in my forties, so quite a break. I taught myself to crochet a few years ago and I'm loving that too, and the most recent hobby I've embarked on is cross stitch, something else I'm really enjoying. You should do a post about your knitting, I'd love to hear more.
DeleteYou did good, Jo! I feel the same way about a lot of the movies I eventually came to love - and some of them are the same movies you listed here! Maybe they're just that kind of movie. :) I wish you and your family a happy New Year and a wonderful 2016.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe that I enjoyed some of the films I watched this year, they didn't seem the type of film I'd like at all. It's made me more inclined to watch things that don't immediately grab me now. Thank you, wishing you and yours a happy new year too and all the very best for 2016.
DeleteSo really your 2015 challenges are for 2016 as well! You done good, my girl, you done good. (imagine a cockney accent in that sentence, please)
ReplyDeleteHa ha, that does take some imagining, a scouse cockney. Yes, though I'm not setting any new challenges, most of these will run over in to next year just like challenges from previous years have run over in to subsequent years too.
DeleteWell done! I hope that you enjoy whatever the next year brings your way. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you. I've enjoyed these challenges very much.
DeleteWell done with your challenges and hope next year is just enjoyment for what it is, without deadlines you've set yourself. Happy New Year (last day as I write this and already over 20deg)to you all and take care.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the first time I haven't set myself any challenges for quite some time so as you say, I shall just enjoy the year without deadlines. Thank you, happy new year to you and yours too.
DeleteCongratulations on all your challenge accomplishments this year, Jo. It's been really interesting reading your results each month. :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I've enjoyed these challenges but time for a rest next year.
DeleteEspero que este nuevo año sigas con tus retos.
ReplyDeleteFeliz 2016, Jo.
:)
Thank you. Wishing you all the very best for 2016.
DeleteWell done on reading so many books, I wish I could claim half as many but I've barely managed one a month this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jo :)
I'm so pleased I've got back in to reading over the last few years, I'm really enjoying it. Thank you, wishing you a happy new year too.
DeleteI think you did so well with your challenges ...
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours a very Happy and Healthy New Year.
All the best Jan
Thank you, wishing you and yours all the very best for 2016 too.
DeleteI thought that I'd commented here! Well done with the reading and watching and supporting good causes. Good to see that you're continuing with two of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks, and you too. Flighty xx
They've been good challenges. Thank you.
DeleteI was thinking "wow!" to 40 books, but I read about 4-5 a month, so I'm right there with you. That doesn't include the Ann Rule true crime books I listen to on Audible. I don't think of those as books as much as audio versions of Dateline or 20/20!
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased with my book tally this year, I haven't read so much since I was young.
DeleteYou did really well! I'm impressed. I read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd last year which I very much enjoyed, I'd love to read more by her this year
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying reading the Agatha Christie books. I read some in my teens but I can't remember them now, I've still got quite a lot to get through but I should still manage one each month this year again. I'd watched a documentary about Agatha Christie just before I read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and the murderer was revealed on there so that took a bit away from the book for me but I still enjoyed it.
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