39. Survive on £35 for a week - food and drink for two

I always find it frustrating when people say they can't afford to live. I gave myself a budget of £35 to feed two adults for seven days - my hubby is a farmer and has an enormous appetite as any of my friends will verify. Unfortunately he dislikes pasta or I could have lived on far less! As it was, we lived well for the week - I didn't compromise on quality and purchased a free range chicken and free range eggs. We enjoyed a week of basic cereals for breakfast and home made bread (only a fraction of the cost of super market bread), a variety of soups, baked beans, left overs or eggs for lunch and evening meals consisted of roast chicken, sausage casserole, liver & onions, Spanish omelette, fish, vegetable casserole and chicken pie. I even had 4p left in my pocket at the end of the week!! If I carried on this experiment throughout the year I could feed two people for a cost of £1,820 - bargin!

4. Spend £52 on the online lottery (£1 per week)

It probably would have been more sensible to complete no. 3 (Make £52 profit from the internet) before contemplating no. 4 - but hey I don't do sensible!!!


I love the adrenalin rush of a bet - not that I am a harden gambler, in fact I can't even remember the last time I did have a bet!! 


When the lottery began back in 1994, I was one of those people who stood and queued for ages to make sure I got my ticket - carefully choosing my numbers, convinced like every one else that I was going to be the first UK lottery millionaire. After 3 weeks, following the same process and I still didn't win the million my excitement dwindled and I decided to forego the pleasure. 


But with all the media coverage of late on Euro Lottery winners I keep thinking I must have a go again. I have now signed up to the on-line lottery lucky dip (it would be to heart breaking to choose set numbers and find they came up on week 53!). I will be paying by direct debit once a month, for 12 months - so will keep you informed when I receive my win! All I need now is to plan how to spend my millions - oh and that could be a whole new blog!!

42. Go to the Hummingbird Bakery in London

After reading numerous, glowing reports on 'The Hummingbird Bakery' I felt that having never been there I was missing out big time. Farming in Devon does not give me much reason to venture into the big city, however as last weekend I had gone to see a show it seemed a perfect excuse to pay a visit. With four bakeries in London to choose from, I decided to head to Old Brompton road. Now I must be the only person in the world that was disappointed! For some reason I was expecting a large, gleaming show room with spot lights and every type of cupcake imaginable, but it was just like a little cake shop with one table and chairs in the corner. Being one to never turn down the chance to eat cake,  I choose a red relvet cup cake (£3.55!)....and yes it was very nice, moist with a cream cheese topping  - but 'nice'  I was expecting ' supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'. In my mind I was expecting to see stars, with great explosions of flavour and savouring the taste for the rest of my life!!  Perhaps I had built up my expectations, but I don't think it was a visit I will be repeating!! 

Day One - Task One!

First day of my challenge and one task that I thought to be way beyond my capabilities was starting my own blog - how wrong was I! The information available on the Web makes it just so easy and fun - even my son who is studying Computing at Bournemouth Uni was impressed with my efforts :)  Now what to choose as task number two!!!

Introduction

I was inspired by a friend who came up with the idea of doing 50 things when she turned 50. Like most people there are many things in my life that I just have not got around to doing - some quite mundane, some fun and some probably sheer stupid - but hey you only live once!! I am a 'list' person so the idea of ticking off my experiences one by one appealed.  Glancing through my carefully prepared list it seems that I might have a busy 12 months ahead of me - roll on 50 - I might need the rest!!