# 52 Take Finn to Watch the Football

Watching your first game of professional football with your Dad is a big deal. I still remember the one and only time my Dad took me to watch The Swans at the Vetch. they were playing Plymouth Argyle in the bottom tier of English football. I don't really remember the game (I have a feeling it was of poor quality); I don't remember the score (I think Argyle won 2-0). What I do remember though is the sense of occasion, the anticipation as we waited to pay our way in through the turnstiles, the buzz on the North Bank and bizarrely the managers - Frank Burrows (Swansea) and Peter Shilton (Plymouth). I'm not sure why we didn't go more often; the fact we didn't might be why it holds such special significance.

Twenty (or so) years later it was my turn to offer the opportunity for memories (and potential blogging). I gave Finn a choice of local matches - a mid table Championship clash at Elland Road (Leeds United versus Ipswich Town), League One high fliers Huddersfield Town at home to Brentford or relegation threatened Bradford City in League Two. None of these met his approval (although what he was wanting was never revealed) and instead a fifty five minute train ride to Bootham Crescent, the home of the 'Minstermen', was arranged. As I type this I realise that perhaps a confusion between 'Mister' and 'Minster' might have had some bearing on the final decision.

The game, York City versus Ebbsfleet United (Blue Squre Premier) had it all - penalty appeals, a sending off and five goals. But best of all the ticket office in their wisdom had sat a group of between 15-25 Scotsmen, on a stag do, in the rows immediately in front of us. I'm sure some of them were related but I'm not sure it really embodied the original concept behind the 'Nestle Family Stand'. Although, it must be said that, until you've watched a match sat behind a man handcuffed to a ginger wig wearing bearded dwarf in a kilt, you've not watched the real York City Football Club! I hope Finn doesn't expect it everytime we go and see a match from here on in. The game finished 3-2 to the hosts, a secondary consideration in the end.

York City 3 Ebbsfleet United 2 | York City FC Official Website

# 21 Restock Freezer with New 'Healthy' Ready Meals

Who thought payday should be the "third Thursday of the month"?   It is not a good idea.  Waiting five weeks for money after a period that included both Christmas and New Year has been a ridiculous struggle.  Thankfully that third Thursday arrived.

And so on Friday, furnished with enough produce to feed an army (on my way home I had called in to Costco), I set about filling the freezer with homemade oven ready meals.  I got cracking (and chopping, slicing and stirring) at about nine-thirty.  It seemed like a great idea and I was 'in the zone'.  I get like that sometimes.  Ultimately, the plan was flawed - no one could have predicted that I'd be stuffing Cannelloni at one-thirty in the morning, but sometimes that's just the way it is. When I finally made it to bed, it was after two; I'd managed to create the following delights:

• Sausage Casserole x 2
• Beef Casserole x 3
• Thai Green Curry
• Chicken Tikka Massala
• Crofter's Chicken
• Beef Cannelloni
• Beef Bolognese Pasta Bake x 2
• Chilli Con Carne x 2

Mostly 'Winter Warmers', nothing out of the Heston school of cookery but it should keep us going, at least for a little while.

In addition to my culinary escapades I've been busily working on # 16 (Sort Out Finances) while I have some money tom burn.  As a result, # 154 (Pay 'Time' Subscription) is done - or at least the envelope with the cheque in has been sent off and # 121 (Check on Student Loan) have both been checked off the 'To Do List'.  However, # 121 threw up some problems of its own, thus creating # 173 (Get Reinstated on the RTL Scheme). I'm not going to go into details (yet) but the SLC have, yet again, proved themselves inadequate and incompetent.

# 59 Lose Enough Weight to be Able to Go On Rosie's Exercise Bike

Pretty self explanatory really.  Rosie wouldn't let me get on the machine until I dropped below the recommended maximum of 17st.  I've been on it twice now and to be honest it's really uncomfortable and left me with 'pins and needles' in a region that was definitely not designed for 'pins and needles'!  I will, however, need to investigate the accuracy of our bathroom scales.  What was previously steady weight loss has now transformed into a 5lb swing up and down.  I'm not sure an extra crispbread should have that effect!

The next item I attempted # 64 "Sort Out Contacts On Phone (Lawson Does Not Need Four Numbers!)" should have been a nice easy one.  But I'm getting old, too old for Smart Phones to make any sense.  I've got contacts in about seventeen different places, everytime I think I've got rid of old contacts I find them again.  And don't get me started on the fact that my HTC and Rosie's IPhone have somehow synced - everytime she edits her contacts it changes mine!  I'm flattered that my number's in as 'Hot Rod' but it looks a little suspect in my own phone.  I jest...I didn't even know she knew a Rod.

# 93 Get Cheque from Finance and send to 'Movember' for Final Total

Would I be bothered writing this Blog if I hadn't made it # 1 on the 'To Do List'?  Probably not.  But I did, so we carry on regardless.  I actually started writing this post on Thursday, but more pressing matters, like sleeping, took over.  I am wondering though if anyone is reading what I write, apart from my wife who checks to see I haven't written anything mean or overtly personal about her.  She has a very high opinion of herself.

I've finally got all the money together from 'Movember'.  The catering company who helped us with the coffee morning dragged their heels a little putting the final cheque together, but the final £455 has been sent off and is set to be added to the already impressive total of £1349 (http://mobro.co/OldEnough) so all in all a job well done.  I'm not sure I'll get permission to do it again this year, a full thirty one days sporting a ginger caterpillar may be something I can only get away with once in a life time.  I will definitely get involved in another charity fundraiser this year (# 83), but I'm not sure what or for who at this moment in time.

Three more have been ticked off since I started writing this post.  Two, which I must admit I forgot about, # 89 "Get Prices for Hiring Equipment for GD's 18th.  Get them to TD asap" and # 90 "Confirm Where and When the 18th is Taking Place" were fairly straightforward to complete which makes me wonder why I took so long to get them done.  # 141 "Unsubscribe from Mailing Lists so You Don't Have 534 Unread Emails" was also straightforward but very tedious and time consuming, it's amazing how many crap mailing lists I've signed up to over the years, but at least now my inbox is empty ensuring I won't miss any letters from my long lost Nigerian Uncle letting me know how to claim my inheritance.  It might be easier if I just post my bank details here, just let me find my cheque book...

 

# 92 Repair Fence Damaged in Storm

Today was a good day.  After yesterday's admission that the list was being driven by Miss Daisy (or at least it is Miss Daisy and I am Morgan Freeman's chauffeur driving character) things really got motoring today.  Five items were mercilessly defeated, and a number of others have had the gauntlet wafted in their general direction.

I started the day with a biggie - Repair Fence (#92).  In the recent  gale force winds that swept the country, one panel was completely brought down.  When I found out I was not happy.  Mainly because I would have to put it back up.  DIY is not listed on my CV under "Skills" or "Interests and Hobbies". Four years ago, when the last fence blew down, it took me (read father-in-law being ably watched by me) three weekends to put the new one up.  Although he did leave behind most of the tools I used today.  Turns out I'm a DIY genius - I knocked it up in no time and, touch wood, it'll survive the next set of gusty winds.

I had time to kill therefore and had decided to attack another item - # 18 Tidy Office.  For the record I decided all by myself.  My wife is, however, taking credit.  Rosie usually has to tell me what jobs need doing, I am unable to look around and see that there is work to do.  That is unless she has started doing it first, I then try and take over the job.  It drives her insane.  Just before Rosie left to go to the shops this morning she kindly suggested that I "get on with repairing the fence and sort the office".  So now it looks like I only did the jobs because she told me to.

Well the joke's on her because I didn't even finish tidying the office.  Instead I did some other jobs. Ha.  Egg on your face.  Riding on a Nick Knowles DIY high from the fence success I decided manual labour was the way to go, plus the toolbox was already out of the loft and it's a real pain carrying it up and down two flights of stairs.  I made short work of # 103 Put up Curtains in Office (I admit the tool box wasn't really required as the rail was already up and so were the rings); # 169 Put the Metal Carpet Thingy Back Down between Landing and Bathroom (this was altogether more challenging as I had reused the screws completing a 2010 item 'Put Up Children's Coat Hooks'); # 140 Fix Iwan's Wooden Jigsaw that Finn Broke Immediately Upon Opening on Christmas Morning (Super Glue. Done.  Twenty minutes later - broken.  Super Glue.  Done.)

So, after the most productive day so far, there are only one hundred and sixty items to go.  Good times.

# 36 Repair/Replace Toilet Seat

We're nearly a week in and this 'Blog' thing has turned out to be slightly more challenging than I'd anticipated.  It's been a busy week...at work, the 'To Do List' has taken a back seat...way back.  Hence the reason for attempting # 36.  An easy one to achieve - even my limited DIY abilities can stretch to unscrewing one seat and changing it for another.  Although I did manage to lose one of the rubber washers in a bathroom about the size of a phonebox.  And the answer to the question you are all asking is - white, MDF.

So I haven't been that productive and the rate at which I've been completing items from the list has been less than lightening.  I suppose # 2 - 'Write a 'To Do List' aiming for 100 things' has been ticked off.  I have, in my defence, been busy adding to the list.  I revisited the original inspiration - Mike Gayle's 'The To Do List' (# 94)- and have now created a list that exceeds 150 items.  I might have bitten off more than I can chew.  Only time will tell.

Oh, and in pursuit of # 5, there has been a 4 pound loss, not a completely wasted seven days then.

# 30 - Check Cholesterol Levels. Keep Them in the 'Safe Zone'.

Okay so it was only a matter of time before the true nature of the 'To Do List' was revealed.  Like hundreds, if not thousands, of deluded souls at New Year I resolve to lose weight (# 5), getting fit and eating more healthily (both # 6).  I know what you're thinking, fat chance.  After a fortnight of soups and Ryvitas you'll be stopping off for petrol station pasty on your way to McDonald's before going home for tea (these are not actual events but are based on a true story!)

Don't fret, this time it'll be different.  Why?  Because it has to be.  The sad truth is that if I carry on the way I've been going I will be heading for an early grave.  For the last three or four weeks I've been suffering from chest pains - although not life threatening (a mere 3 on the Gaviscon Scale) they got me thinking.  A trip to the doctor's was called for.

The Doc was very sympathetic - her diagnosis was swift; with a smile she prodded me in the stomach, "that won't be helping".  After jumping (metaphorically not literally) on the scale, she was ready to offer a solution, "lose 30 kilos if you want a normal BMI".  So simple, why hadn't I thought of that!? She also suggested a cholesterol test (# 30) would be a good idea given the family history so at 4pm today I manned up and allowed a surly nurse to commandeer three vials of my blood.  Results next week.

# 5 on the 'To Do List' obviously wrote itself - 'Lose Weight'.  The 30 kilos is clearly a long term target so the first target is # 59 'Lose Enough Weight to be Able to go on Rosie's Exercise Bike' (17 stone is the maximum user weight).

On the lighter side of news I have managed to tick another item of the list - # 37 'Get Cream for Elbow Rash'.  Although I have been reliably informed they no longer make a 'cream' and so will have to make do with 'ointment'.  Is there a difference?  Oh yes, "ointment leaves a greasy residue".  Every silver lining has a cloud.

# 1 - Set Up and Keep Up a Blog

Okay, so this is my first attempt at a blog and this is the first post.  It's a minute to midnight and I'm back in work tomorrow after a fortnight's break, but I want to get the show on the road.

The idea for this blog was stolen, virtually wholesale, from Mike Gayle's book 'The To Do List'.  I read the book about two years ago and decided to write a list of my own.  There were 96 items on the '2010 to do list', over half remain incomplete at the time of writing.

So I have reprised the 'To Do List' for 2012.  I've included many of the incomplete items from the original list, for example, # 43 'Clean and polish all shoes' and # 58 'Do more around the house (preferably without being asked)'  and some brand new things like # 37 'get cream for elbow rash' - I should probably include 'diagnose elbow rash' as well, although I think we can take them as a package!

There are currently 80 things to do on the 2012 incarnation, although this is likely to increase over the coming months.

Anyway, as and when the items are achieved (or attempted) I will add a post to the blog thus increasing engagement and hopefully providing the impetus to complete the challenge that is 'The To Do List 2012'.

Wish me luck.