Do you want the truth or something beautiful?

...I know I spoilt my actual birthday surprise, but Paul and I went to The Wardrobe last night for some super-tasty food and a lovely bottle of Chilean Merlot and when we got home, I somehow managed to persuade him that it would be a good idea if I opened my birthday presents two days early. My first gift, a Lomo Diana F camera, is amazing! It's in silver and has this huge flash on it, like a proper paparazzi, and comes with these cool light filters you slip in to created coloured pictures. I love it! It took me about an hour to load the film (an old school 1200) though - damn you, digital age! My second gift was even more unexpected - I'd said before Christmas how much I wanted the new collectors Prada Book and there it was in all its fashiony glory. It's insanely heavy and full of the most beautiful photogaphs and images. Lastly was an envelope with the words 'Do you want the truth or something beautiful?' on the envelope - whooooooop! We're going to see the mega-talented Paloma Faith in March - she's playing a set to open the sparkly new Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor in Knightsbridge which I was gutted to be missing, so this gift is perfect! How spoilt am I?!

Three Days to Go...

Just three days to go until the official start of 'The List' and I'm already thinking about how I can be one step ahead of the game. I've booked a three-hour snowboarding lesson on Friday, which should go somewhere towards learning to snowboard properly, and have spent a good hour comparing juicers. The detox is due to start on Monday 1st Feb (it was ambitious to even contemplate starting in January) for four weeks, finishing in time for fun and frolics in the snow at a yet-to-be-decided location. Here's a picture of the view from our apartment on our last jaunt, to Avoriaz.

In other news, I now have less than three weeks left at Harvey Nichols which is a bit alarming considering the mountain of work I have to get through before I go. Can't wait to start at Clearsilver now though - had birthday drinks with MD Louise at trendy watering hole The Wardrobe on Friday night - they're all nuts so I think I'll fit right in...

Work in Progress

Right, here goes. I actually copied this idea from a very good friend of mine, Emma, so unfortunately can't take any credit for its sheer brilliance - you can follow her list and general ramblings here.

I am giving myself a whopping 365 days to achieve everything set out on the list, starting from 29th January, which gives me just under two weeks to compile it. Here's the story so far:

1. Get a new job. This is a cheat, as I just got one. Although technically they could still take it away because I haven't started yet. Gosh, I hope they don't.
2. Detox. I'm talking no carbs and no alcohol for a month. And no pork scratchings. This one is going to hurt.
3. Exercise. Find something I enjoy doing, and actually do it on a regular basis.
4. Go climbing at the Leeds Wall.
5. Learn to snowboard PROPERLY.
6. Go and watch 10 bands I have never even heard of at Glastonbury.
7. Visit South America. There's a trip to Brazil in the pipeline!
8. Spend more time with my family. We're all a bit rubbish at keeping in touch.
9. Start an A-Level. I'm thinking French, to prove that I can do it after all, I just couldn't be bothered when I was 17.
10. Eat out somewhere different every month.There are so many gorgeous restaurants in Yorkshire - current favourites: The Fleece at Addingham, Arts Cafe in Leeds and the fabulous Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor Cafe and Bar.
11. Cook Pad Thai. With a little help from Delia.
12. Pay off a substantial chunk of debt. If I can't be debt-free by 30, I want to be somewhere very close.
13. Move house. To Harrogate, preferably, so I can invite friends and family to stay without worrying about where they'll sleep.
14. Host a dinner party, Come Dine With Me style.  Wondering whether to add 'stop eating crisps in bed' but think it's a step too far. I'm delirious. Over and out.
15. Learn to drive. I know it's a life skill, but I've never really needed to - I have lots of lovely people who drive me places. I'd like to say it was all down to my carbon footprint, but in fact it's just pure laziness.
16. Make a sock monkey, like this little sausage on the right.
17. Buy a juicer and a book on juicing. And juice things. I hear it's healthy.
18. Have a really good massage. Preferably on a beach, somewhere hot!
19. Go surfing.
20. Win something.
21. Stay somewhere truly amazing.
22. Visit Epernay and Paris, and guzzle bucketloads of Champagne.
23. Visit a Psychic. I've wanted to do this one for ages - my best friend, Beccy, goes all the time and swears by them, but I'm a huge sceptic!
24. Be hypnotised.
25. Go to Whitby, climb Dracula's Steps and munch on some tasty fish & chips. Fish & chips. Mmmmmmmm.
26. Paint a picture good enough to hang on the wall.
27. Gather all my closest friends and have a huge picnic in the park.
28. Take part in some Guerilla Gardening. Basically you just plant something beautiful somewhere really run down and random, in the middle of the night. 'Fighting the filth with forks and flowers' is the motto, and I'm all over it.
29. Plan a bad ass 30th birthday party with Emma.

And that's my lot. Starts on Friday. Wish me luck!