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Bucket List
Hurrah for some more ideas...I feared olives were going to take over this thread completely.I'd love to do route 66 too, but possibly not enough to put it on my "need to" list, more a "one day maybe" list
Ian wrote: "Never let a good gag about toilet matters outlive it's sell by date.How to Talk Dirty and Influence People
or Bum Fodder: An Absorbing History of Toilet Paper........."
Hahahaha! Great links.
You're right, Louise, olives are not deserving enough to dominate this thread.... but, there is the Monday bucket challenge for me - that of including the daft things on my shopping list and chucking a few down my neck. Gulp. I'll have to bore you all by reporting back.
Here's a question. Does anyone have any strong desires in the plastic/cosmetic surgery department? Along the same lines (though it doesn't need to be), I'll pose this provocative question also: what would you do/want if money were no object? . . . . .
When I was in my 20's and pre-kids I couldn't understand anyone volunteering for surgery. Well, I still can't BUT when they invent pain-free, knife-free magic tummy tuck put me down for it. It's got to be easier than crunches!!
Philip wrote: "More bucket list for me - no olives!Canadian coast to coast by train
Dinner at the Savoy
Learn to surf - no laughing
Retire from my proper job"
Dinner at Savoy achievable. Took mum for her 80th in grill room. Set 3 couse lunch about £27 cheapest wine £25. Easy have excellent lunch for 2 under£100. Service amazing. Just beware if go in cocktail car or coffee after
Lol! I'm sure you know I'm off to Harry Potter World the week after next. I'll have a hunt round for you, Em, see if those Weasley twins have stopped wasting their time on jokes spells and come up with something much more useful - instant tummy tucks. I really fancy a gobful of perfect Hollywood teeth. The Americans in general seem to have better teeth than ours. I can only assume their dentists are on to the kids with braces and great dental hygiene, far more effectively than ours are.
Robert wrote: "Philip wrote: "More bucket list for me - no olives!Canadian coast to coast by train
Dinner at the Savoy
Learn to surf - no laughing
Retire from my proper job"
Dinner at Savoy achievable. Took mu..."
Sounds great, Bob. When you win the lottery, let us know and you can treat a group of us ;-)
Saw a theatre tickets and dinner offer for the Savoy and as we can get to London by train in an hour may be achievable.
Indeed! Fingers crossed for those book sales!
In this day and age very little is unachievable...The travel bucket list especially...I remember my taid (grandfather) going to San Francisco when I was young and it was like he had gone to another world!!!
Very true, Louise. When I was younger, Blackpool was a treat! My mum was only telling me this week that when she was 7, her family moved all the way across the town where she lived (about three quarters of a mile) to a luxury house, meaning - it had a bathroom. In doing this, my grandma (my mum's mum) was virtually disowned by her family. They had all lived together on the same street before the big move across town. Apparently in those days, that was not done. It was seen as desertion. It caused a big upset in the family. These days, you're lucky if your kids live in the same county, in some cases, the same country.I've never heard of the word taid!
Ah! You learn something new every day! ;-)
Tori wrote: "Lol! I'm sure you know I'm off to Harry Potter World the week after next. I'll have a hunt round for you, Em, see if those Weasley twins have stopped wasting their time on jokes spells and come up ..."When you in Watford? Let me know will come and say hello
Is it in Watford? I had no idea where it was. Off to the magical world on 11th August, Bob. We're on the 3 pm tour, which was the earliest we could get. Can't imagine what time we'll be rolling home, but it will be good I hope.
OK, the olives have been purchased for the Monday bucket challenge. They look a lot less than appealing; haven't had a single one for my lunch. Too many other yummy things to chomp on. But . . . I'll try to down half the tub this week. Maybe two or three a day. Maybe by Friday I'll love them. Maybe I'll decide never to eat another in my life. Who knows? Not gona worry. A metaphorical elephant is consumed one mouthful at a time, so it's said.
I just want to be able to keep reading as long as I can. I'd love to take the missus to New Zealand and Australia and maybe make another visit to England and a road trip across Canada..
The old road trip/train journey across Canada is emerging as a popular bucket desire. Day one of challenge. Three olives consumed. My son was playing Debussy this afternoon and I was enjoying it and feeling all cultured and everything, so I nipped to the fridge during his playing and tried not to screw my face up while downing the Old Spice balls, after which I felt anything but cultured. I consoled myself with a curly wurly straight afterwards ;-)
I have a very strong desire for a curly wurly now...thanks Tori! Proper bucket list items...Visit Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico.
Other places to visit:- Barcelona
Paris
Japan
A trip on orient express.
An Icelandic cruise.
Would also love to see Kate Bush in concert (unable to get tickets...GRRRRR.
Would like to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet.
Tori wrote: "IHere's a question. Does anyone have any strong desires in the plastic/cosmetic surgery department? Along the same lines (though it doesn't need to be), I'll pose this provocative question also: what would you do/want if money were no object? . . . . . "Definitely not! I think plastic surgery is a wonderful thing for helping people with serious disfigurement or who are suffering health problems (breast reductions for example for those afflicted with constant back pain), but undergoing surgery in the hope that it will make you look 'better' I just don't understand at all.
Provisional bucket list off the top of my head, all pretty easily achievable ones, bar the last!:
visit Scotland and Ireland
See a Merlin (bird)
See a whale/dolphin in the wild
See an Otter in the wild (have come close but not actually seen the animal itself)
Read all the books on my shelves (probably not going to happen if I keep adding to them!)
Re plastic surgery...I guess the only thing I would consider having done would be cosmetic dental surgert for a better smile. Sorry but I don't agree that Americans have better teeth than us brits, it's just that they are more willing to spend the money and get them fixed. Of course all the 'stars' have beautiful, sparkling (but much too white) teeth...it's their job to look good. But seriously, have you never seen The Jerry Springer Show? Crikey...the teeth on them!
Linda wrote: "Re plastic surgery...I guess the only thing I would consider having done would be cosmetic dental surgert for a better smile. Sorry but I don't agree that Americans have better teeth than us brits,..."Oh that makes me feel a bit better then, Linda. No, I never watch the Jerry Springer Show - or at least I haven't for about 15 years.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who would like a Hollywood smile. I have a friend whose teeth were broken in an accident. He ended up having all porcelain replacements, which, granted, did cost a couple of grand, but they look fabulous. While I'm inclined to agree with Paul (i.e. I wouldn't have anything 'done' just to look better) I do think there's a case for people having surgery on their noses, for example, if it's particularly big or makes them feel horribly self-conscious. I know someone who had her ears 'done' because they stuck out. Don't see anything wrong with that. In fact, I think the NHS should step in certain such cases, and not just for children but for adults too. I don't see corrective surgery as cosmetic. It should be labelled differently.
The other thing which really bugs me is the extortionate price of white fillings. They class white fillings as 'cosmetic' which I think is ridiculous. White fillings probably don't cost much more than the black ones, they're just labelled differently and charged accordingly. My daughter has had 3 white fillings altogether. Total cost: £275. I couldn't let them put black fillings in her mouth because, as a 70s child, they gave them to me and I'm left wondering why!
Paul, the top four should be ticked off in the near future I reckon. The bottom one is a bigger challenge for sure.
Tickets go on sale for hamlet soon....I've seen cumberbatch twice on the stage,he's great.... I used to love him....and then he did Sherlock and became way too popular!!
Northern lights are on my to do list.... I like the igloos you can stay in and watch lights overhead....
Still love Sherlock though I must admit. However I think I would like it whoever played the role (with the possible exception of David Walliams...have an irrational loathing of the man) because the writing is so good.Tori my sister had her ears pinned back and porcelain veneers. She paid for it herself and feels so much better and happier so I agree that there are cases for certain procedures. I am too much of a wimp to do it for frivolous reasons....although I do have a very high pain threshold.
Tori wrote: "Paul, the top four should be ticked off in the near future I reckon. The bottom one is a bigger challenge for sure. "
We will see - if I go to Scotland then I'd go to the Moray Firth where Bottlenose Dolphins come right up close to the shore, and Merlins are really just a question of time as they are found throughout the region here. The last one is basically impossible really, but it's worth aiming at! :-)
Linda wrote: "I have a very strong desire for a curly wurly now...thanks Tori! Proper bucket list items...Visit Frida Kahlo's house in Mexico.
Other places to visit:- Barcelona
Paris
..."
A Kate Bush concert would be awesome, one of my favourite all-time artists...
Tori wrote: "The old road trip/train journey across Canada is emerging as a popular bucket desire.
Day one of challenge. Three olives consumed. My son was playing Debussy this afternoon and I was enjoying it ..."
I have a curly wurly in the fridge for a future snack.. :)
Linda wrote: "Share it Bill. X"My wife has her Turkish Delight, she doesn't need any of my curly wurly... ;)
Laughing at all these responses. I'm not a chocolate snob at all. I unashamedly love anything made by Cadbury (with the exception of those daft creation bars with fizzy sweets etc in there - just weird) and the second choice of choc would be Galaxy. Had a galaxy caramel the other day. Heavenly. Think I actually prefer galaxy caramel to Cadbury's Caramel. If I'm having Turkish Delight, that should be Cadbury's for me too. Don't really like that powdery stuff with no chocolate. Linda - how do you know you have a high pain threshold? I think I have a low pain threshold, but I don't really know how to measure it. I thought that child bearing was tantamount to dying - just about. I think it's a tribute to my courage (or insanity) that I did it four times. These women who can manage on a couple of Asprins just baffle me. Also, emotionally, I think I'm extra sensitive, but have no way again of measuring it or proving it. I feel things very deeply. My OH thinks that that's just being a woman, but I disagree. Some women are as hard as nails. So, what's the definition of having a high pain threshold? Maybe then I can find a definition for having a low one.
I'm sure your sister is happier now. Good on her. What a difference that would make - new ears and teeth. I think a change like that can almost change your persona. Definitely a confidence boost.
Paul - how did come to love wildlife so much? Do you have pets or would pets tie you down and stop you going in search of wild animals?
Finally, Bill - stop boasting about that Curly Wurly and get it shared. They're nice and long. Linda and I would like a third please ;-)
There could be a psychological effect on pain reaction that varies from person to person Tori; depending on your experiences in your youth. To a certain degree the amount of pain you feel is down to how the brain interprets the signals from the nervous system so a learned lessened reaction may be possible. I remember reading somewhere (though may not be true) that men have fewer pain receptors than women so women seem to have a stronger sensation than men, but whether that physical receptor count varies from person to person, or whether the signals vary in strength I couldn't say. So many things vary from person to person that it wouldn't surprise me.Tori wrote: "Paul - how did come to love wildlife so much? Do you have pets or would pets tie you down and stop you going in search of wild animals? "
Well I've always been fairly interested in wildlife to a certain degree (an armchair interest), but it's in recent years that it's become far more of a passion; going on a series of wildlife-watching holidays with my brother cemented that change into something deeper, especially going to the North Norfolk coast as the wildlife there was just overwhelming and by the end of the week we were burnt-out, unable to absorb any more amazing experiences!
I don't have pets, though as a boy I kept mice and we had a dog and other pets in the house. A pet wouldn't tie me down though as the vast majority of my encounters are either in my garden (especially recently) or in the local wild spaces a short walk from my house; I don't ascribe to the mentality which some people have that you need to travel to special places to see wildlife. I've seen Peregrine Falcons, Glossy Ibises (completely bizarre experience to see one here!), Nightingales, Water Rails and Barn Owls within a 10-15 minute walk of my house, and that's just on the everyday outskirts of a large town in mid Essex so it's hardly an exotic location. :-)
That said, I consider the birds in my garden to be effectively my pets; especially the tame birds that come to see me, like the collared dove that perches on my hand. :-)
For the last 25 years I've had a very painful condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis Tori and I guess I just got used to it. I didn't find labour very painful really, 19 hours with no pain relief. I'm not a hero though, had the spinal block for the caesarian...not that masochistic!
I really do believe that people experience pain differently Paul. Have read somewhere that people with ginger hair can apparently tolerate pain better...but I can't remember why so don't quote me. Lol.
Btw Tori, you can have my portion of the curly wurly, they aren't vegan. X
Linda wrote: "I really do believe that people experience pain differently Paul. Have read somewhere that people with ginger hair can apparently tolerate pain better...but I can't remember why so don't quote me. ..."Probably the tough as girders Celtic blood! ;-)
1) have a child 2) get married
3) learn a new language
4) see more of the world
5) volunteer abroad on an environmental / conservation project
6) actually finish war & peace (I've attempted it about 5 times & actually enjoyed it so I don't know why I never just kept reading!!)
8) find a way to appreciate Shakespeare...I just don't get it!!
9) read the bible, Koran & Torah
10) learn to play the piano
Linda wrote: "Btw Tori, you can have my portion of the curly wurly, they aren't vegan. X"Will do, with pleasure! Your condition sounds tough. I don't know how you've coped with persistent pain for so long, Linda. If it's worse than labour, you have my undying respect!
As for Paul's points, I agree that people experience pain differently and can quite believe that men don't have as many pain receptors as women. Physically, I wouldn't know, but emotionally, men and women are different I think. Is it fair to say that, on the whole, they're not as empathetic? I think that my and my OH must be the stereotypical couple really. I'm the softie. I have an built-in radar when someone needs help and I respond. He is a far better navigator than I am and can read a map and tell the position of N and S from the sun. All of that stuff baffles me. I suppose our differences make a decent whole.
I don't notice wildlife, Paul. I think we experience life as we notice it. I can go into the garden and be oblivious to the creatures around me because my eye is trained on the washing line. We filter out and are blind to things of no concern to us, don't we? My garden might be a wildlife sanctuary to you, whereas it's a place to hang my washing for me, and to cut my grass when it gets too long. You're teaching me to be more observant. I did notice a black butterfly today and thought of you ;-)
Carly - a very comprehensive list that should take your entire life to accomplish. Of yours, I could tick off 1, 2, part of 9 (the Bible) and 10. I teach piano for a living. If you lived closer, I could certainly help you with 10. Now, 8 - I agree! I don't get Shakespeare either, but I don't think I want to try. Never attempted War and Peace. Am currently 10% through The Stand which is huge. I feel like I'm reading loads and getting nowhere!
Tori wrote: "I don't notice wildlife, Paul. I think we experience life as we notice it. I can go into the garden and be oblivious to the creatures around me because my eye is trained on the washing line. We filter out and are blind to things of no concern to us, don't we? My garden might be a wildlife sanctuary to you, whereas it's a place to hang my washing for me, and to cut my grass when it gets too long. You're teaching me to be more observant. I did notice a black butterfly today and thought of you ;-)"It's only too common Tori; you're right that we often blinker ourselves to nature, it's part of the brain's way of sifting out the information from our senses that we 'need'; the wheat from the metaphorical chaff. Having spent decades in nature-blindness myself I know it only too well! It's only through actively seeking and looking that you bring down those cataracts and start really seeing what's around you, but it can be a bane too, to be constantly distracted as you go about your business. ;-)
The natural world is too broad to take it all in though, you still need to blinker yourself to some degree or every walk becomes an exercise in torture, not knowing whether to watch the bushes for small birds, the undergrowth for insects, the skies for hawks and martins, the river for fish… until you feel completely drained by the sheer concentration required! This may contribute to the reason why people tend to specialise, becoming specifically interested in dragonflies, birds, mammals, reptiles or insects; though the over-riding reason will be through particular interest in those types of creature. To be a generalist is to be constantly amazed.
Paulfozz wrote: "Tori wrote: "I don't notice wildlife, Paul. I think we experience life as we notice it. I can go into the garden and be oblivious to the creatures around me because my eye is trained on the washing..."Blimey, Paul. What time do you get up??
I love your love of nature. It is inspiring. Sounds as though there should be health and safety warnings though. If my attention was to be stirred from bushes, from rivers, from the sky, I could walk into a lamp post, knock over a small child, injure my neck, or (worst of the lot) tread in a dump that a dog has kindly left for me. Not that it's the dog's fault of course.
I think I'd better skip becoming a generalist, Paul, constantly amazed though it's tempting to be. I could improve on my current position though, which merely consists of wasp-spotting with a view to legging it if necessary. I'm very tuned in to wasps and little else. I do like a butterfly. For the first time in my life, one landed on my finger last summer and I had a very good look at it.
OK, I'll share this weird thing right here, right now. I don't mean anything by it, I'm just telling you what happened. Last summer (it hasn't happened this year) I kept having weird encounters with butterflies to the point where I noticed it. As already mentioned, one landed on my finger while I was sitting in the garden. It was one of those orange ones (do you love the technical prowess?) A couple of days later, there was one in the conservatory. It was all black. It caught my attention because - even though the doors are open all summer in there if it's warm - I've never seen a butterfly in there. It attracts lots of flies and wasps, but never butterflies. So I got a good look at this black fella close up. The next morning - no word of a lie - I got in my car and realised I'd left it unlocked all night, plus the window was down an inch. I scolded myself and proceeded on my way. I was sitting at some traffic lights a few mins later when I noticed something flapping round my head. After the initial shock, I realised it was a butterfly - the same black one (unless it looked identical) that had been in the conservatory the day before. I let it out of the window, but by now I was getting a bit spooked. I'd told my OH by now that I was being stalked. A couple of days after that, I sat on the sofa and noticed it a white blob by my side. It was a butterfly on the next seat. I called OH in just to prove it. Even he said it was weird. Butterflies never come in the house. And so it went on. It hasn't happened this year. Unless everyone had the same experience last year and there was a huge influx of butterflies, I can't explain it.
I was sad enough to do a google search, which said something about butterflies signifying a new beginning. I'd just had my book published, which was the only new beginning. Might all be a coincidence, but it was very odd.
Tori wrote: "Paulfozz wrote: "Tori wrote: "I don't notice wildlife, Paul. I think we experience life as we notice it. I can go into the garden and be oblivious to the creatures around me because my eye is train..."A bit of X-Files theme going on their methinks. Not X-Factor
Indeed. It sounds stupid when I read it back, but honestly, at the time, it was bizarre. I was having close encounters with butterflies every few days for a few weeks. They seemed to be wherever I was - in places I'd never seen them. Let's see what explanation Paul can come up with this time. He's the fountain of all wildlife knowledge as well as answering my questions about bin men/women too. His knowledge is broad. We should have a thread called Ask Paulfozz. Anyway, I'll await his response to the butterfly phenomenon. He was up posting at about 5.30 this morning, so maybe he's having a siesta ;-)
Tori wrote: "Indeed. It sounds stupid when I read it back, but honestly, at the time, it was bizarre. I was having close encounters with butterflies every few days for a few weeks. They seemed to be wherever I ..."We need more info for diagnosis. Ref Close Encounters have you had any irresistible urges to create an odd shaped mountain in your front room?
Have other insects, birds, reptiles or mammals flocked to your side? i.e. Noah moment (rubbish film btw)
Is this in anyway connected to a Bucket List perhaps not but I would like to see Amazonian Butterflies in the wild.
Would be pretty cool Philip! Have been to a butterfly 'place' (Tropical Wings in Essex) and that was really great, but although I'd love to experience the Amazon my intolerance to travel, hardship and heat/humidity makes that one a bit of a non-starter for me. Probably pretty easy to get that 'experience' these days though if you're so inclined.I think it's unusual enough to be interesting Tori - I've never had butterflies flying around inside my house (Starlings, Blackbirds and crickets, but not butterflies). The black one could be a Red Admiral or perhaps a Peacock (which is colourful but has black undersides to the wings. There are any number or orange ones but the most common is the Comma, or perhaps the Painted Lady. There are fritillaries which could fit too, but tend to need special habitats so 'probably' less likely. Some others are similar but more brown with orange (Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown). I think last year ended up being pretty good for butterflies, though was terrible early in the year. I think you're just very, very lucky! I've had a few on my finger (including a tiny Essex Skipper) and it's a real treat to get close views of them. We'll have to dub you the Butterfly Queen!
It wasn't 'quite' 5:30 Tori, I think I was posting about half six, though I'd been up since about 5:45 - I start work at 7:15am. Don't query me too much in your 'Ask Paul' thread… my knowledge only has been proven to extend to bin men and wildlife! ;-)
Paulfozz wrote: "Would be pretty cool Philip! Have been to a butterfly 'place' (Tropical Wings in Essex) and that was really great, but although I'd love to experience the Amazon my intolerance to travel, hardship ..."Who was your favourite Corrie bin man? Eddie Yeats or Curly Watts?.. ;)
Paulfozz wrote: "Would be pretty cool Philip! Have been to a butterfly 'place' (Tropical Wings in Essex) and that was really great, but although I'd love to experience the Amazon my intolerance to travel, hardship ..."Yeah, joking about the Ask Paul thread. Well, half ;-) It did enough to worry you and give me a giggle. Mission accomplished! I love Butterfly Queen, though I've lost my touch this year. It was just last year, which is why it was so odd. It was getting silly in the end. My OH started pointing them out to me and saying, 'Your mates are back, love!'
ROFL Philip. Yeah, built my mountain and spooky music was heard - during a power cut!! I agree that the Noah film was pants. I was bored and thought it was weird. The species wouldn't have continued very well if I'd been steering that ark. The only thing in it would be a limited selection of butterflies and the odd cat! Plus one dead mouse if the cat was mine!!
;-)
Bill wrote: "Who was your favourite Corrie bin man? Eddie Yeats or Curly Watts?.. ;)"I'll have to plead ignorance on that count!
I have finally given in and added The Stand to my reading list, probably becuase Tori is reading it. Next up must be War and Peace or perhaps Ulysses feeling a little masochistic.
Linda wrote: "Still love Sherlock though I must admit. However I think I would like it whoever played the role (with the possible exception of David Walliams...have an irrational loathing of the man) because the..."I liked how clever the first series was, but got a little bored with it.
Agree re David Walliams, saw him in a midsommers night dream and wanted to scream!!
Did you say you'd got a hamlet ticket?
I was just rounding up friends to go, tons of tickets at reasonable prices still available....then I remembered I don't like Hamlet...
Lol louise. My sister offered me a ticket for MND but I refused to go as David Walliams was in it..I got irrationally angry and headachey with rage about it! She said he was extremely annoying, massively over acted and ruined it for her...so I felt justified in not going. Yep got my Hamlet ticket, make your mind up soon because I reckon in a few weeks you'd have to sell your first born for one.
UK Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Beyond the Birds and the Bees (other topics)What Father Christmas Left (other topics)
What Father Christmas Left (other topics)
Sweet Liar (other topics)
False Allegations (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
How to Talk Dirty and Influence People
or Bum Fodder: An Absorbing History of Toilet Paper.......sounds a great read??