Friday 3 March 2017

50 Before 50 - Update 1

I started my 50 Before 50 list on my 48th birthday, you can see the list and read about it in my 50 Before 50 - Part One and 50 Before 50 - Part Two posts. As it's now exactly six months since I set myself this task, I thought I'd give you an update of how I'm doing so far.

There aren't many things I can actually cross off the list yet, but there's a few, and I'm working towards others.


Number 14 on the list is Visit A Christmas Market. I've always wanted to go to the Christmas market in Lincoln, it's only held on one weekend over the Christmas period but having looked in to going, I discovered that they don't allow dogs. We can't leave Archie at home for a full day so we had to change our plans. We picked Eleanor up from university on the 10th of December for the Christmas holidays so we decided that before making our way home, we'd head in to Nottingham City Centre and visit their Christmas market. You can read all about it in The Wanderer Returns post. It would be nice if we could visit another market this Christmas too, though sadly, it won't be Lincoln.


Watch All The Harry Potter Films is number 33 on the list. I'd already seen some of the earlier films but I watched them again and worked my way through all eight. I suppose that Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them counts as a Harry Potter film now so I shall watch that too once it becomes available on Sky.


The first thing I crossed off the list was Climb Flamborough Lighthouse which is number 38 on the list. You can read all about that in my Flamborough Lighthouse post.


Number 48 on the list is Attend The Christmas Lights Switch On. The event in our small town happened on the 26th of Novemeber and Mick and I went along to support it. You can read all about it in my Christmas Lights Switch On post.


When Eleanor started at Nottingham Trent University, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know the city a little better. Explore Nottingham is number 50 on the list. So far, we've only visited once and you can read what we got up to in my Wollaton Hall post. Of course, we also visited the Christmas market when we picked Eleanor up in December which I mentioned above, but there's lots of other places I'd like to see when we visit again.

So I've made a start on the list, though I really need to get cracking if I'm going to cross off all fifty things before my 50th birthday. I think some things will be easier to get to grips with once we get some warmer weather, after all, who wants to go on a picnic in the rain?

54 comments:

  1. You've had some really interesting days out, good for you.

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    1. I think the list will encourage me to do the things I've been wanting to do but keep putting off, especially getting out and seeing new places.

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  2. You're doing well with your list, Jo. Well done! :o)

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    1. I think I'll manage to get more ticked off once summer's here, especially outdoor things.

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  3. What a great idea. Nottingham looks really lovely. I have to admit I must be one of the few people not to have watched any of the Harry Potter films.
    I'm really hoping for some better weather soon. Like you, I'm looking forward to some picnics. X

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    1. I think I'd only been to Nottingham once or twice before Eleanor went to university there so I'm looking forward to getting to know the city a little better on our visits. I love picnics, we nearly always take one when we go out for the day, we just need some better weather.

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  4. Well done on actually having a 50 before 50 list, Jo. I have never made a list of such things, I've just muddled through life, har, har!
    Margaret P

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    1. The list's just a bit of fun really but I'm sure it will encourage me to get round to doing more of the things I've been putting off and having fun in the process. I've got one or two other things lined up ready to tick off so I'm sure you'll be hearing about those soon.

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  5. A most enjoyable post. I'm sure that you'll do more once the weather improves. Flighty xx

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    1. I'm sure I will, though I should really have been ticking off the indoor things whilst the weather hasn't been so good.

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  6. I went back to read you lists and they all sound doable. I love lighthouses, but my fear of heights would keep me from climbing one. I also love Christmas markets, use to go to them regularly when we lived in Germany and we're hoping to go to Berlin this year and go to one.

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    1. I wasn't sure I'd be able to climb the lighthouse as I also have a fear of heights but it was easier than I'd imagined and was so worth the effort to see the view. I'm sure the German markets are wonderful, they really know how to do a Christmas market so I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time in Berlin.

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  7. I think your list is such a good idea. I do like the Harry Potter films, they seem to be on TV a lot, but are easy to dip in and out of. I'd love to go to a big Christmas market, perhaps we should venture down to Nottingham this year xx

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    1. I agree, the Harry Potter films are easy to pick up wherever you join them, I enjoyed them more than I thought I would. I enjoyed Nottingham Christmas market, we have a good one here in Leeds too.

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    2. That would be so much nearer for us, I shall look out for the dates xx

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    3. I've just checked the dates for this year and it's on from Fri 10 Nov - Sun 17 Dec. There's some lovely stalls, especially food stalls.

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  8. I wonder why dogs aren't allowed at the Lincoln Christmas Market? At least you got to the Nottingham one and you're getting to know Nottingham better whilst Eleanor is at Nottingham Trent University. Going up Flamborough Lighthouse sounds like a good achievement and interesting too, so you can tick that one off the list!

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    1. I'm not sure why they don't allow dogs at the Lincoln Christmas market but I know the one in Leeds gets jam packed so perhaps it's a safety issue. I had a great time at Flamborough Lighthouse, I managed to get a personal tour as there was only me on it and the guide was very knowledgeable.

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    2. Thanks Jo - I can understand now about not allowing dogs at the Christmas market. I'm thinking - not much fun for the dog to be in a jam-packed situation. The personal tour of the lighthouse sounds great and no crowds either! Wishing you a good weekend!

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    3. It's a shame they don't allow dogs but understandable if it's anything like Leeds, it's a pity though as I've always fancied the Lincoln one. I'm sure we'll find another good one this year. The lighthouse tour was brilliant and it was made extra special by being the only one on it.

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  9. We went to the Christmas Market at Chatsworth House last year and that is very dog friendly and less crowded than Lincoln.

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    1. I shall have to look in to that one, it's good to know someone who's been and can recommend it. Thank you.

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  10. It's just good to have the list, I love the mixture of things you have on it.

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    1. I tried to make the list fun so they're all things I shall enjoy ticking off.

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  11. It's a good start. Lots of reasons to plan some lovely days out when the weather starts being kinder to us.
    I must admit I've never seen a HP movie all the way through.
    Lisa x

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    1. It will definitely be fun working my way through the list, though time's passing by so I need to get my skates on with some things. You should watch the Harry Potter films, I enjoyed them more than I thought I would.

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  12. You've a good few things ticked off so far & well done for sticking to it. As for picnics, we've done them in wet, cold, scorching & whatever the weather can throw at you & funny thing is, they are quite often the ones you remember & laugh about. Maybe I should think about 70 things before I'm 70. Ugh, that would be a long list to do in a short time. Have a lovely weekend & take care.

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    1. We've certainly had our share of bad weather picnics too, though I must say that they're always more enjoyable when the sun's shining. I think these sort of lists are great fun and an excuse for doing lots of things that you never get round to doing.

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  13. Lots of lovely things on your list. I'll look forward to reading about them in the days/months ahead.

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    1. I'm hoping to be crossing lots off now the better weather is on the way, there's a few I'm working towards and others at the planning stage.

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  14. Ticking your list certainly sounds like fun to me. I must say I do love a Christmas market. Here's to better weather helping you achieve all that is on your list.xxx.

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    1. I'm hoping to get to another Christmas market this year, they're great to go to at the start of the festive season as they really get you in the spirit of things.

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  15. Glad you included all HP films. Hope you get to read the books too. You won't be able to put it down. ;)

    Hey, this is inspiring. Made me think about writing my own list. 40 before 40. Thank you!

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    1. I've read some of the books when Daniel was little but I shall reread them and then finish off the series. These types of lists are great fun, they give you a valid excuse for doing all those little things you've wanted to do but never get round to doing.

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  16. I started a 60 before 60 list but didn't get far - you have inspired me to get back to it. You are making good progress through your list and I'm sure you will accelerate once the weather improves.

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    1. I enjoyed making my list and it will be enjoyable crossing everything off. You should definitely get back to your own list, I find that showing things like this on my blog keeps me on track, perhaps it would help you too.

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  17. Well, it looks like you've made a great start. I truly love this idea and I think you've inspired me to do something similar - perhaps not 50 but I'm thinking I'll write down a few things that I've been meaning to do for a very long time but they always seem to get pushed to the back burner. A physical list may just give me the added push that I need.

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    1. I definitely think a physical list helps you to get things done. I'm really pleased that I started the list when I did rather than putting it off, it will be fun crossing things off as I head towards the big 5-0.

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  18. I usually go to Birmingham Christmas Market, but it wasn't as good this past Christmas.

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    1. It's a shame it wasn't as good this time round. We did look at Birmingham actually, it sounded a good one but perhaps we'll give it a miss if it's on the wane.

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  19. This is such a wonderful idea, I love the items you included on your list.

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    1. It would be great if I could achieve them all in the time period but I doubt I will, it will be fun trying though.

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  20. Great idea Jo. I tried to ignore the fact that I was 50 and hid in a hotel on the south coast for the weekend!! Jx

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    1. I've got another eighteen months yet before I have to start thinking about it, this list will be a good distraction.

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  21. That's good you have crossed a bunch of things off your 50 before 50 list! I should make a 30 before 30 list it is a good idea before a big milestone it also probably makes you think of what you actually want to do!
    Lisa

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    1. I thought it would be easy to compile a list of fifty things I want to do, it was actually quite difficult to think of the last few. It does make you think about actually doing the things you've kept putting off though.

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  22. YOu are doing well on your list my friend. I LOVE Harry Potter!

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    1. I've finished all the Harry Potter films, now I have to get on and read the books. I read some of them with Daniel when he was young but I haven't read the later ones.

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  23. You made a good start on your list Jo. When the weather gets better perhaps you will be able to cross a few more off.
    Shame you won't be able to visit Lincoln Christmas Market, that one is on my list of markets to visit too as I've heard good reports on it. I'm sure there are many more you can take Archie along to though.

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    1. It's such a shame about Lincoln market but I suppose it gets very crowded with it only being on for one weekend over the festive period. There's a few more things on my list that I'm working towards at the moment, some of them are more long term goals but I should be able to get a few more knocked off once the warmer weather's here.

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  24. I think it's a good start Jo.
    When the weather warms up a little more you can then plan some lovely days out, something nice to look forward to.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I should definitely have a few more things to cross off by the time my next update comes around.

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  25. Still love the list! And I'm glad you've got some done.

    Can I ask a question? Would you let me feature you on my hygge blog as a hyggely blog? Just a couple of questions and a couple of photographs? Let me know if you're interested!

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    1. I'm sure I'll get more done once the warmer weather arrives. Of course you may feature me on your hygge blog, it would be an honour.

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