074 Explore Bradford and associated family history

What's this about? Why do I want to do it?

I know I'm a snotty southerner, but I've got Yorkshire blood in me somewhere. Back in the nineteenth century, my family were wool merchants in Bradford. I'd like to learn more about that, and have a wander around.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll have spent at least a day in Bradford/Leeds. I'll have found at least one site with a family association, and I'll be able to explain my connection.


I'll record this in a post in this journal.

075 Make a finger labyrinth

What's this about?

'A labyrinth is an ancient prayer practice involving a winding path that leads ultimately to a centre and then winds back out to the point where it began. The path is symbolic of the journey inward towards God's illumination, and then outward, grounded in God and empowered to act in the world.' Teresa Blythe, 50 Ways To Pray


Why do I want to do this?

I've found that walking the labyrinth is something that works very well for me - to the extent that I've occasionally chalked one out for myself in my back yard (see photo). However, this is impractical when it's raining, or looks as if it's about to rain, and I don't know of any permanent labyrinths near me. An alternative is to use a small labyrinth, carved in wood or marked out in paper. I'd like to make one for myself.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll have an object that I've made or modified myself, which I can use as a labyrinth.


I'll record this in this journal.

076 Spend an hour playing my cello once a month

Why do I want to do this?

I'm never going to be the next Jacqueline du Pré, but I do enjoy playing my cello. The trouble is, now I'm not in any sort of orchestra, I don't make time to do it.


How will I know I've done this?

Every month for the duration of the 1001 days, I'll have spent an hour playing my cello.


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

- 30 November 2010 - an hour on Classics For Idiots and a few scales. Mostly The Swan.

077 See one grand opera, one light opera/operetta, one musical, one ballet, three Shakespeare plays

Why do I want to do this?

I used to be completely and utterly stage-struck, and to this day there's something about the swish of a red velvet curtain that makes me happy. I don't go to the theatre nearly as often as I'd like, and this is because I'm never organised enough to find out what's on and get myself a ticket. This is frankly ridiculous, with the Ambassadors (or is it the New Victoria?) on my doorstep and London just up the railway line.


How will I know I've done it?

I'll be able to produce ticket stubs or programmes for the following:

- one grand opera (as distinct from light opera, below - this doesn't have to be restricted to nineteenth-century spectaculars, but it does have to be at least vaguely serious);
- one light opera or operetta (this can be one of the Savoy operas, though if this is the case it must absolutely be a professional production; I've seen plenty of amateur G & S, so it wouldn't be a new experience);
- one musical (can be anything)
- one ballet (can be anything)
- three Shakespeare plays (not to include Romeo and Juliet, if I can help it)
- one play not (so far as is known) written by Shakespeare (but can be anything else)


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

078 Learn to play a song on the guitar

Why do I want to do this?

This is a variant on a goal from the last list: learn to play the harmonica. I had very worthy reasons for this - to be able to accompany others at community sing-songs, carol singing, bus camps, or whatever. This proved impractical on two counts. Firstly, it was too vague. I could always pick out a tune on the mouth organ, albeit somewhat haltingly, so I hadn't really set myself a challenge. Secondly, I never got a chance to act on these good intentions because, as someone who could both carry a tune and remember all the words to all the verses to pretty much all the songs anybody ever wanted to sing, I was much more in demand as a singer.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll be sufficiently proficient on the guitar to be able to accompany myself singing the entirety of one song. It doesn't matter what the song is.


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

079 Watch 10 pre-1960 and 10 post-1960 films I've not seen before

Why do I want to do this?

I have seen shockingly few films. I wish to remedy this.


How will I know I've done this?

Listed below will be twenty films, ten of which were first released after 1960, and ten of which were released before or during 1960. Each of these I will have watched for the first time over the course of the 1001 days.


I'll record this in this journal and at stapsreads.

Pre-1960: Shanghai Express / The Blue Angel / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
1960-date: Toy Story 3 / My Big Fat Greek Wedding / Galaxy Quest / The Way / The Bucket List / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10