One Hundred And One Things

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

My mother bought me this chair from the junk stall at Woking market for a couple of quid. I was going to leave it painted white, but she started stripping the paint. Having carried on with that, I can see her point - it's lovely wood underneath. (Beech, I think, but I'm not sure.) Anyhow, now it's started it needs finishing, because it looks a bit silly as it is.


How will I know I've done this?

The chair will be stripped down to bare wood, and finished with beeswax or similar. (There seem to be two layers of white paint, one of horrible blue, probably lead, paint, and one of some sort of varnish.)


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

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

Years ago, when my parents split up, I hit upon the idea of buying a pair of identical Christmas tree ornaments and giving them one each, because they were both still my parents, even if there were now two houses and two Christmas trees. It became a bit of a tradition. Now I've moved out myself, so there are three trees. I bought a set of six filigree angels last year - two apiece - but would like to make a set myself.


How will I know I've done it?

On three separate Christmas trees there will be three identical or very similar ornaments, which I have constructed or substantially decorated myself.


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

What's this about?

Buy Nothing Day is a day where you challenge yourself, your family and friends to switch off from shopping and tune into life. The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from shopping and anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending!

Everything we buy has an impact on the environment, Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The developed countries - only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth's natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage, and an unfair distribution of wealth.

As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? We all know recycling is OK for the the evironment, but consuming less is better and Buy Nothing Day is a great way to start.


Why do I want to do this?

Quite frankly, I have far too much stuff. It will be very good for me to remember what I used to know: that I can actually get along quite happily without spending a penny and without acquiring junk I don't need.


How will I know I've done this?

For a period of 24 hours on a date specified by whoever it is that organises Buy Nothing Day, I will have refrained from purchasing anything - in person, online, or whatever. I may or may not have taken part in an organised event associated with Buy Nothing Day.

Why do I want to do this?

I have this perception of myself as clumsy and lacking in hand-eye coordination. I'm not sure to what extent this is grounded in reality, but I'd like to challenge myself. If Tolstoy could learn to ride a bike at 67, there's time for me to learn to juggle.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll be able to juggle three balls continuously for at least a minute.


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

What's this about?

A veg box service is like the milkman, but with vegetables. A bit less predictable than the milkman, too, as I understand it.


Why do I want to do this?

I'd like to support local farmers (if there actually are any around my way, which I must confess is something that I have no idea about). I'd like to eat better, and to push myself into eating things I wouldn't usually try.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll have found out about what kind of veg box services are offered in the Woking area. I will have made a decision whether or not to pursue any of these further.


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

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.

Why do I want to do this?

Ew, ming, you might say. But I already use a Mooncup, and am very happy with it. Occasionally I wear sanitary towels for moral support, if you like, and hate them, because they are plasticky and sweaty. Actual cotton (as opposed to 'cotton-like feel', which really isn't) would be fantastic.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll have made at least two washable, reusable sanitary towel equivalents.


I'll record this... do you really want to know? I'll post about it in this journal, but don't worry: I won't illustrate it. Unless I manage to make a really good pattern, obviously.

What's this about?

The London Eye is a big old observation wheel they put up to mark the year 2000. Rather better than the Dome, so I've heard.


Why do I want to do this?

I'd like to see London from a different perspective.


How will I know I've done this?

I'll have travelled a complete circuit in the London Eye.


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

NB: this is neither my bird nor my bird-feeder. I think it's a South American variety of finch. My photo, though.

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

I have two bird-feeders. One is the sort that hangs, and one is the sort that sticks up out of the ground on a pole. I have two bird-boxes. One was on the fence when we moved in, and the other was a birthday present, and is in the bedroom because I haven't put it up yet. In each case, the clue is in the name. 'Bird', not 'squirrel'. I wish to keep the squirrels off the birds' food, and stop them eating the baby birds. Why do I wish to do this? As an ex-Isle of Wight resident, it is my solemn duty to regard a grey squirrel as a mangy, disease-ridden, festering tree-rat. No quarter given.


How will I know I've done it?

I will have devised a series of contraptions that prevent squirrels getting at the bird-feeders and stealing the food (the food that the jay knocks out of the upright feeder is the jay's problem, I think), and getting at the bird-boxes and disturbing/killing/eating the nesting birds. A healthy family of blue-tits would be a good indication that this has been successful.


I'll record this in posts in this journal.

Why do I want to do this?

Other 101ers have much more ambitious TV-related goals than this. Watch the entirety of Buffy. All the Doctor Who episodes that weren't actually destroyed by the BBC. And so on. Why am I aiming so low? Because I actually wouldn't do this if I didn't have this prod. Perhaps it's something to do with growing up without a TV, but I can count on the fingers of one hand the programmes of which I've seen an entire season. I don't think I've ever seen a whole season at the time of broadcast (I should note that this doesn't form part of this goal).


How will I know I've done it?

I'll have watched every episode of one complete season of any TV series.


I'll record this in this journal, probably.