Alison Thompson
Gloucester, UK
This is my fifth attempt at completing the 101 things in 1001 days challenge. The first time I managed over 50% of the tasks, the second time a few less, the third time I lost interest partway through and hardly achieved anything, and the fourth one I managed about 45 things. So here I go again!
ELSEWHERE
BADGES
PINNED NOTES
Photo added to goal Go kayaking
Ok I slightly cheated as (a) it’s not raining; (b) I didn’t wear pajamas; and (c) the films weren’t full length, but today I have watched all six Wallace and Gromit films. Bizarrely, I’ve never seen any of them before and I loved them all! So so clever - as soon as I spotted a sledge with “Rosebud” on it in “A Grand Day Out” I knew I was in for a treat!!Photo added to goal Spend a rainy day watching films in my PJ's
Notes & Photos
Attach Photo
Ok I slightly cheated as (a) it’s not raining; (b) I didn’t wear pajamas; and (c) the films weren’t full length, but today I have watched all six Wallace and Gromit films. Bizarrely, I’ve never seen any of them before and I loved them all! So so clever - as soon as I spotted a sledge with “Rosebud” on it in “A Grand Day Out” I knew I was in for a treat!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this classic Christmas romance. 8/10
Picnic with Angela at Puzzlewood
Booked four nights in Mallorca in early Sept. Yay!
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“Agatha Christie” by Lucy Worsley
I knew very little about Agatha Christie’s life, other than her well-publicised disappearance in 1926, and found this fascinating. Perhaps the most interesting part was if her archaeological travels to Iraq where she played a huge part not only in assisting her younger second husband Max Mallowan with his work, but also funded many important projects.
The book dragged a little towards the end but was very interesting and has encouraged me to continue reading her books.
I knew very little about Agatha Christie’s life, other than her well-publicised disappearance in 1926, and found this fascinating. Perhaps the most interesting part was if her archaeological travels to Iraq where she played a huge part not only in assisting her younger second husband Max Mallowan with his work, but also funded many important projects.
The book dragged a little towards the end but was very interesting and has encouraged me to continue reading her books.
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It’s a bit cheesy and at some point I’ll invest in some real plants, but I love my little water feature!
Had to cancel my first appointment as I had a heavy cold but have given blood today. All went well, blood a little sluggish to come but donation given and snack eaten! Will make sure I donate every time I can from now on.
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This morning I went to an open day at Masjid-E-Noor mosque, just down the other end of High Street. Shamefully, I’m really uneducated about Islam (in my day RE lessons focused on Christianity only) so it was very interesting to learn about the five pillars of Islam, the history of Islam in the UK and the role of the mosque, and also see the prayer rooms and one of the washrooms. Such a warm welcome from the imam, his wife and the other people there too.
I didn’t take any photos but I did have my name written in Arabic.
I didn’t take any photos but I did have my name written in Arabic.
Went today, took the dogs, saw two sculptures but was more focused on the dogs than following the trail. So I’m going to claim this as done but will be visiting again to see more of the artwork.
I have knitted a thing! It’s a thing for my first grandchild, who is due in 6 days, and I’m so pleased I actually finished it before the baby arrives!
Photos to follow once the parents-to-be have seen the thing.
Photos to follow once the parents-to-be have seen the thing.
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I popped in to Smytjs toy store to buy a present for my soon-to-arrive grand baby and had a look round for something for me. To be honest i was a bit overwhelmed by the store, especially the sea of pink (has nothing really changed??!) and I couldn’t think of anything I’d wanted as a kid that I would still want now… Girls’ World? Mr Frosty? Nah…
And then I saw Spirograph, something I spent many hours playing with as a girl, so that treated myself to the starter kit. No more pins to fix your paper to some cardboard, it’s all done with putty now, and it turns out it’s just as tricky to make the wheel move smoothly enough to make a pattern, plus the paper that comes with the kit isn’t too good and the pen bleeds through if you get the wheel stuck for a second. But this was my first attempt and I’m looking forward to trying some of the more complex patterns mentioned in the booklet.
And then I saw Spirograph, something I spent many hours playing with as a girl, so that treated myself to the starter kit. No more pins to fix your paper to some cardboard, it’s all done with putty now, and it turns out it’s just as tricky to make the wheel move smoothly enough to make a pattern, plus the paper that comes with the kit isn’t too good and the pen bleeds through if you get the wheel stuck for a second. But this was my first attempt and I’m looking forward to trying some of the more complex patterns mentioned in the booklet.
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Had a bit of a wander in town today. Sandwiched between the shopping centre and library are the remains of a Tudor Franciscan church, Greyfriars. The contrast between the stone ruins and the modern surrounding buildings is quite something - but you wouldn’t know it was there if you weren’t looking for it (or happened not to walk past it).
Katie’s just finished work ahead of maternity leave and I knew it was going to be tough for her leaving, so I sent her a book I’d finished that I knew she wanted to read, and a big bar of chocolate.
Lots of fun! Good food, good company, a hilarious game of Cards Against Humanity and a slightly drunken couple of games of Traitors, fun but messed up by me forgetting how banishments worked. Never mind!
Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor (not the actor) what a wonderful book. Truly loved this tale of old folk seeing out their days in a London hotel and the tender relationship that forms between Laura Palfrey and Ludo, an aspiring young writer who exploits her for material it also gains the love missing from his own family.
So pleased I happened across this book. Will make an effort to read more by Elizabeth Taylor, and also to watch the film based on this book.
So pleased I happened across this book. Will make an effort to read more by Elizabeth Taylor, and also to watch the film based on this book.
On Boxing Day we decided to watch Bedknobs and Broomsticks, a family favourite … except it seems my mum had never seen it before, so I’m not sure where or when I first did and how it then became a firm favourite for me and my kids! Anyway, I realised while we were watching it that it was made in 1971… fabulous effects for a film as old as me!
Planned for 6th January 2024, for my birthday.
I used to give blood fairly regularly but then had some tattoos, couldn’t donate, then moved abroad (where I also couldn’t donate as I’d lived in the UK during the “mad cow” era). It’s such a simple yet worthwhile thing to do so I want to become a donor again and get into the habit of going every however often I’m allowed.
Turns out my old donor number has been archived and records destroyed as it’s so long since I gave blood ☹️ so I have registered as a new donor and booked the first available appointment in my town, which is in March.
Turns out my old donor number has been archived and records destroyed as it’s so long since I gave blood ☹️ so I have registered as a new donor and booked the first available appointment in my town, which is in March.
1/1/2024
Brief Encounter
8/10
Very “of its time”, unlike Witness for the Prosecution, which mostly stands up well even today. I felt the relationship was a little creepy at times, some of the things Alec said to Laura felt a bit controlling to be honest, almost as if he was trying to coerce her into believing there was more to the relationship than there was. But I loved how ultimately they both realised that for all the passion between them, it was their married life they really wanted, however hard that was to accept, and I lived that final scene with Laura and her husband. I also thought it was beautifully staged and I enjoyed how the music was used.
Brief Encounter
8/10
Very “of its time”, unlike Witness for the Prosecution, which mostly stands up well even today. I felt the relationship was a little creepy at times, some of the things Alec said to Laura felt a bit controlling to be honest, almost as if he was trying to coerce her into believing there was more to the relationship than there was. But I loved how ultimately they both realised that for all the passion between them, it was their married life they really wanted, however hard that was to accept, and I lived that final scene with Laura and her husband. I also thought it was beautifully staged and I enjoyed how the music was used.
A mix of things I want to do and be
31/12/23 Witness for the Prosecution - what an amazing film! Fabulous courtroom drama based on a Agatha Christie short story and play, with twists galore, sublime black humour and a shockingly unexpected ending. Wonderfully acted, especially Charles Laughton in the role of Sir Wilfred. I think this is probably the only Billy Wilder-directed film I’ve ever seen … will definitely look for more. 10/10!!
7 Things x 2024
My seven answers to the Day Zero alternative New Year's resolutions poll:
My seven answers to the Day Zero alternative New Year's resolutions poll:
- Learn how to Write short stories
- Start Ddp yoga x 3 a week
- Stop Using Facebook so much
- Take a vacation to Scotland
- Find A new craft
- Try Going veggie for a month
- Be more Patient
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This was the first time in at least 20 years that I’ve bought a lottery ticket, other than scratch cards for bonus Xmas presents last year. And of course I didn’t win …
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Moroccan feast for five friends - three cooked salads, homemade hummus, two tagines and couscous. All delicious and a fun night!
Note added to goal Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days is over
I thought I'd start as I mean to go on ... day one and one thing crossed off the list! I have written myself a letter to open on 25th August, 2026. It is hiding in the secret book .... and I have set a reminder on my calendar/task list of where it is, because otherwise I might forget all about it!
Flowers in the Attic… banned in many US states because of its themes of child abuse and incest
Flowers in the Attic …. Oh my word I loved this book and oh my word it’s bloody awful on SO many levels!
Maybe using the rebel badges as a guide?
Moroccan cooking class in marrakech
Ordered an AncestryDNA kit on 20th Nov. It won't arrive in time for me to have done it and got the results before this challenge ends, but I'm going to consider this thing complete because I'd be crazy to not do the test once I have received it, given how expensive it is!
I have booked a Moroccan night for 2nd December - yes it falls outside the dates for the challenge but I am going to count it as done!
Nice to be in the water but the event itself was a disappointment - the promise of lights and effects was four spotlights, one each corner, and I misread the parking times and got a £60 fine!
When I moved to Gloucester, I lo9oked for some voluntary work as a way to meet people. The first thing I tried didn't feel right for me, but then I went along to a Tredworth Residents Association meeting and the people were so welcoming1 I'm now part of the committee, I've already been a volunteer at my first event (the annual street party) and I'm looking forward to being more involved in future.
I actually said yes to two things.... I used to love wild swimming in Portugal, but the air or the water or both was much warmer there than here in the UK! So when I friend invited me along to a midnight swimming session at an outdoor lido, and then a wild swimming session in a lake, my first response was NO!!! But then I changed my mind and have since done the wild swim (albeit in a wetsuit) and ahve a ticket booked for the midnight lido swim.
Holiday booked for Sept 23
Midnight swim booked at the lido on Cheltenham for 4 August
Easy solution - buy a new house!! But I have got into a habit of todying, washing up before bed etc
It was bugging me that the escape room board game wasn't really an escape room ... but I can officially sign this one off now as I finally did a REAL one at AIMscape in East London last weekend. Dan, Katie and I did the Hangover Brew room, lots of puzzles, we needed a few clues, and we got out with only 4 seconds to spare!! Lots of fun, lots of frustration (the singing game was a right nightmare!) but it was great!
Note added to goal Pay for someone else’s food or drink at a restaurant/cafe/pub
Bought a bacon roll and a hot chocolate for a homeless guy outside Tesco. Also had a long chat with him.
I did a three day course with the Awesome Ukulele Academy and came away knowing six chords and able to play three proper songs! I’d love to sign up to their longer course but the time isn’t quite right - but I am definitely going to keep playing and learning because after three years of either collecting dust or leaving me feeling frustrated, my ukulele is actually bringing me joy!
Read “The English Patient” for book group. While I could appreciate the beauty of the prose I found it soooo slow moving as to be quite painful to read. Did make it to the end - just - but will not be reading this again! I think maybe my reading tastes are too lowbrow for prize winning fiction - give me a good thriller any day!
Spirited Away (Japan). Not impressed - it’s just too weird and meandering for me, the main character is annoyingly whiny, there are bizarre plot holes (she’s told to keep asking the spider man for a job no matter what he says, but the first time he tells her to ask the scary lady she goes away and does that and nothing bad happens … huh?) and I’m not especially impressed by the animation - it’s still no better really than the 80s stuff like Mysterious Cities of Gold. Sorry! Doing my best to stick with it to the end but it’s a struggle…
Done .... at least three friends ... Cate, Vivian, Anand, Noel and Niki, Carol and Paul, Fran, Hagbard and Cheyne....
Escape room board game with the family at Xmas 2021
What's Your Story?: Take your non-fiction book from possibility to plan to publication... and beyond!: Amazon.co.uk: Thompson, Alison M: 9798761473683: Books
Buy What's Your Story?: Take your non-fiction book from possibility to plan to publication... and beyond! by Thompson, Alison M (ISBN: 9798761473683) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Completed! Having written most of a non0ficiton book in July, and edited and formatted it ready for publication in November, I decided to use the time I'd carved out for that for NaNoWriMo and on 28th November - 2 days ahead of target! - I hit my 50K words. Carried on to the end of the book and ended just short of 55K. Really enjoyed the process and am looking forward to seeing what it was I actually wrote in a few weeks' time!
Conversations with Authors - now up to 25 episodes in series 2 and onto series 3!
Went to Praia Fluvial de Vale de Gaios - a river beach, but also wooden walkways along a river. Very pretty and the dogs loved it!
Sent a very attractive houseplant to a lovely friend who had helped me a lot.
Haha just realised I completed this through completing another of the reading tasks! For book group we read Pereira Maintains (originally written in Italian as Sostiene Pereira, a 1994 novel by the Italian writer Antonio Tabucchi (AT) about a culture journalist living in Lisbon at the start of the Salazar period. Does that count?!
Note added to goal Read a book that was originally written in a different language
For book group we read Pereira Maintains (originally written in Italian as Sostiene Pereira, a 1994 novel by the Italian writer Antonio Tabucchi about a culture journalist living in Lisbon at the start of the Salazar period.
The little extra one ...
The finished tattoo. I love it!
Hannah's design transferred onto my back
The original source of the design - a notebook cover!
https://instagram.com/souls_enchanted_tattoo?utm_medium=copy_link
Had an itch for a new tattoo for ages but couldn’t work out what or where (or who, as my previous artist no longer does it). But then everything came together. I came across a design (a notepad cover!) that incorporated a heart and compass exactly how I wanted, i decided I wanted it on my back and I had a recommendation for an artist who just happened to be doing a weekend at a place ten minutes from me! So Hannah from Souls Enchanted took my original design and turned it into something beautiful that fits the top half of my back perfectly. Although she was working on 30+ degree heat, it only really hurt for the last 15 mins or so and the whole experience was fabulous (I know, I’m weird, I quite like the feeling of having a million needles attack my skin!).
Actually, I actually had two tattoos - as well as the big one on my back, I also had a tiny one on my wrist ;)
Photos are: the original design, Hannah’s artwork transferred to my back, the finished tattoo, the little extra.
Actually, I actually had two tattoos - as well as the big one on my back, I also had a tiny one on my wrist ;)
Photos are: the original design, Hannah’s artwork transferred to my back, the finished tattoo, the little extra.
Tattoo booked for 15th Aug
I've been wanting to do this for years. I've always dyed my hair, usually those "unnatural" natural shades of deep cherry red or plum, but I've long hankered after having bright purple or electric blue hair. A friend sent me two tubes of dye, blue and purple, last summer and I tried them out but my natural colour was too dark to take it. Eventually I bought some bleach, and a couple of weekends ago I bleached some streaks into my hair and then added blue and purple streaks. Except the blue didn't take at all, it just came out grey, so I ended up putting purple over the top, so I had a purple fringe. And it was ....... ok. Only that. I actually didn't like it all that much.
So today I slapped a load of plum-coloured L'Oreal Casting over the lot and my hair looks a lot better now.
This list is all about trying new things out. I tried the crazy colour. I didn't like it. So there!
So today I slapped a load of plum-coloured L'Oreal Casting over the lot and my hair looks a lot better now.
This list is all about trying new things out. I tried the crazy colour. I didn't like it. So there!
Done! I had a lovely day on the Rio Alva having my first go at stand up paddle boarding. Now for someone with (a) dreadful balance and (b) a knackered knee that hurts both kneeling and standing still for long periods, it was actually a pretty daft idea! I tried and failed twice to stand up and took a dunk in the water both times, and ended up doing half the trip on my knees and half on my bum. But it was good fun in a truly beautiful setting, followed by a swim (well, I was in the water anyway!) and lunch with new friends. Not a bad way to spend a Monday!
Try-out session booked with friends for the 26th July 2021on the Rio Alva, with a view to doing a longer trip if I can balance for long enough!
Kayaked 13km down the Mondego! Fabulous day. We left from the other side of Tabua at about 10ish, stopped off at the little submerged chapel south of Parades for lunch and ended at Retiro do Rio (having kayaked past a friend’s house) just about 1pm. It was such a lovely way to spend the morning - so peaceful on the river, not too hot (for once I was thankful for the clouds) and I saw some sort of coot/moorhen type bird with six young, black kites, buzzards and a heron. No crocodiles though, thank goodness!
I’ve visited the chapel before, from the path behind, and it was interesting to see it from the front and I kayaked right inside it (eventually - after misjudging the entry angle and bashing the boat against the wall a few times!!).
Really enjoyed myself and can tick thing #78 off my list now! (https://dayzeroproject.com/user/alisonuk/list/164198)
I can highly recommend RockandRiver for kayak hire, and will hopefully do another expedition some time!
For now though I’m retiring to my bed for a while with a COVID vaccination arm and aching shoulders 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve visited the chapel before, from the path behind, and it was interesting to see it from the front and I kayaked right inside it (eventually - after misjudging the entry angle and bashing the boat against the wall a few times!!).
Really enjoyed myself and can tick thing #78 off my list now! (https://dayzeroproject.com/user/alisonuk/list/164198)
I can highly recommend RockandRiver for kayak hire, and will hopefully do another expedition some time!
For now though I’m retiring to my bed for a while with a COVID vaccination arm and aching shoulders 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve been kayaking a few times - notably on the Zambezi in an inflatable canoe that was attacked by a crocodile - and have really enjoyed it (even seeing my life flash before my eyes!). Anyway, I would love to do it again, maybe even take it up as a regular hobby, and am booked to go on a kayaking trip down the Mondego.
On June 9th 2021 I went to see "The Last Five Years" or, actually "Os Ultimos Cinco Anos" at the theatre in Carregal do Sal (the cultural centre). It's the first time I've visited a theatre here in Portugal, and the first time I've ever watched a show not in English. I'd read the synopsis before the show, so I knew the general storyline (it's the five years of a relationship between an author and an actress, told from the beginning by him and from the end by her - the only time they meet is in the middle, at the proposal / marriage). The show was beautifully staged and while I obviously couldn't understand the words, I did have a fair idea of what was going on. And of course this was my first theatre experience post-Covid ... wearing a mask was a bit of a pain but didn't distract from my enjoyment at all.
I did a free weekend online art retreat with Jenny Grant , which I thoroughly enjoyed. As well as getting me playing with paint and colours, it also resulted in me drawing a face for the first time in about 40 years, which actually looked like a human! Following the free retreat I joined her Book of Flow course, through which I created a hand-made art journal that I am still working on, and I've also joined another class, faces of Flow, which will build on the art journal and teach new ways to draw faces. Really enjoying the process!
Decided to go all out and get a Thai massage ... this isn't your regular relaxing massage but a brutal and sometimes painful experience where my muscles were really prodded and squeezed quite deeply and my body was moved into all sorts of weird positions while the masseuse sat on me!! There were a couple of times when I wondered what the hell I was doing but by the end I was feeling as floppy as a jelly fish and I also feel really happy and relaxed now, two days later. Would I do it again? Probably - despite the pain!
GC996RH Penedo da Cova da Moira (Traditional Cache) in Viseu, Portugal created by chelseagirl
Penedo da Cova da Moira (GC996RH) was created by chelseagirl on 4/11/2021. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 1, terrain of 1.5. It's located in Viseu, Portugal.
My geocache is live! There was a delay because although I'd updated my profile to say I was living in Portugal now, it was still showing that I was in the UK so the reviewer contacted me to ask how I was going to manage the cache when I was 800 miles away! Anyway, after I explained the situation it was accepted and it's now live on the site. Looking forward to receiving my first catch notice!
I completed a 6 week course on Unlock Your Inner Confidence - it was good fun, but most of all it showed me that actually I have all the confidence I need, I just need to stop telling myself I don't! I definitely ended the course feeling more confident than I did at the start, having made that realisation about halfway through.
I did a cache today! I've submitted it to the site, just waiting for it to be approved and then I'll share details here.
Flags of the World
Can you name the flags of the world? Test your knowledge on this geography quiz and compare your score to others.
Spiced chilli popcorn recipe | BBC Good Food
This fill-you-up snack is a delicious guilt-free treat, from BBC Good Food.
Chilli spiced popcorn. Probably needed a bit less chilli and a bit more spice but it was pretty good.
Spiced chilli popcorn recipe | BBC Good Food
This fill-you-up snack is a delicious guilt-free treat, from BBC Good Food.
“thank you soo much for card, you dont realize how that lifted me today”
I was in the virtual audience for a recording of BBC Radio 4’s Newsjack (series 24 episode 3, to be exact). Ok so it’s not quite the same as being in the studio but these are strange times... so the virtual audience had their audio recorded and we could see the performers, who were on Zoom in their respective homes (but presumably having their audio recorded in individual tracks too.
The show was really funny - it’s a sketch show but all the material is supplied by the public. There was one sketch that fell totally flat (the Guy Fawkes court scene) but otherwise I laughed more than I’ve laughed in a very long time. George Fouracres being a mafia boss and then a pirate had me chuckling like a drain.
Loved this experience and will definitely do it again. In fact, I have a ticket for a recording of Just a Minute next week! And who knows, maybe I will actually make it to the radio studio one day...
The show was really funny - it’s a sketch show but all the material is supplied by the public. There was one sketch that fell totally flat (the Guy Fawkes court scene) but otherwise I laughed more than I’ve laughed in a very long time. George Fouracres being a mafia boss and then a pirate had me chuckling like a drain.
Loved this experience and will definitely do it again. In fact, I have a ticket for a recording of Just a Minute next week! And who knows, maybe I will actually make it to the radio studio one day...
Harder to do than I thought! So it ended up just being my initials. Plus I was plagued with worries that it was vandalism and I’d be damaging the tree. Although this is a BIG tree. I’m sure it will survive. It’s actually one I have hugged on several occasions, because it has the right girth to be huggable, and I’ve been feeling pretty bereft without hugs during lockdown. Anyway ... it’s now my tree 🙂
I thought I'd managed to snag tickets to two different BBC radio comedies, and it wasn't until I was actually logged into the Zoom call that I realised this was actually a TV show! Silly me! But anyway, as I'm not likely to be anywhere near a comedy club in the immediate future, I'm going to cheat and claim this as one.
Called "Funny Festival Live", the show was recorded in a small theatre with a tiny live audience comprising the production team, who have all been staying in a bubble in a hotel. The audience was then supplemented by (I don't know how many) viewers at home, so I had the show open on Zoom, and another window open with the BBC's web-based Audience Recording System.
The show was great fun. There were four comedians (all female - maybe as it's being broadcast on International Women's Day?) - two were ok, one I thought was awful and one was the wonderful Rosie Jones, who was hilarious - and it was hosted by Sara Pascoe, who was also very funny, as was the warm up guy.
Anyway, it was a great way to spend a couple of hours on a gloomy Tuesday afternoon - and is the first thing to be crossed off my list!
Called "Funny Festival Live", the show was recorded in a small theatre with a tiny live audience comprising the production team, who have all been staying in a bubble in a hotel. The audience was then supplemented by (I don't know how many) viewers at home, so I had the show open on Zoom, and another window open with the BBC's web-based Audience Recording System.
The show was great fun. There were four comedians (all female - maybe as it's being broadcast on International Women's Day?) - two were ok, one I thought was awful and one was the wonderful Rosie Jones, who was hilarious - and it was hosted by Sara Pascoe, who was also very funny, as was the warm up guy.
Anyway, it was a great way to spend a couple of hours on a gloomy Tuesday afternoon - and is the first thing to be crossed off my list!
OU course on forensic psychology - 8 weeks - completed!
Hoping to go when I travel to Cornwall in June.
Registered for the Race for Life in Swindon on May 20th!