Page 66 - January Phonebox Magazine 2012

26 letters of
the alphabet to
do before 2013
new year new you
start listening to Radio 4’s the Archers. It’s the antidote to tv soaps and the x-factor. nothing much happens. enjoy the slow pace, embrace it’s gentleness and soak up it’s calming effect. make your own Bread – or at least buy amazing grains from much ado, the bell and bear or the robin hood – so much tastier than sliced white. take up Campanology. that’s bell-ringing, but i’d already used the b. an age old tradition that needs support – and it will wind up my mate bob. Dance like nobody is watching – shake your booty either on the dancefloor or in the privacy of your own home. It’s a great work out and thoroughly liberating. turn-off your Emails for two hours during each working day – you’ll be amazed how much more you’ll get done (oh, and don’t even think of turning them on at the weekend). treat yourself to First class travel and start your holiday early (you can get some bargain weekend first class travel deals by train if your budget can’t run to british airways). join a Gym (gratuitous plug for virgin active health clubs, sorry). learn to play the Harmonica, or any other musical instrument. you’ll either find some inner natural talent or really wind up the neighbours – but it’ll be fun either way. eat every flavour of Icecream in the window of olney’s fish and chip shop. get yourself to the olney Jazz club at the bull every month and give your ears a treat. go fly a Kite and bring out the inner child in you. tell someone you Love them – or if you’re like me, have a few drinks and tell everyone you love them. visit our local Museum – gorgeous gardens, secret summer house and a lovely account of life in Olney in the 1700s – right here on our doorstep. learn the power of Negotiation – and use it at work, with the kids and definitely with the other half. memorise 4 or 5 Origami patterns – you’ll have small children eating out of the palm of your hand. use Public transport – buses are brilliant for local journeys and full of fabulous characters. ask a Question and find out the answer every single day. take time out to Remember some of the amazing things you’ve already done – sit down with a lovely new notebook and write down the 50 things you’ve done that made you smile – nothing like a bit of nostalgia particularly when it’s cold outside. take time to stop and look at the Stars and remember how small we really are. master the Tango and strut your stuff with passion. leave the Unpacking till tomorrow and open another bottle of wine – it makes the holiday last one day longer. Volunteer at least once this year – such an easy way to feel really smug. why not Write an article for the phonebox – after all, they printed this one so it’s not that hard. be an eXtra in a film – just get yourself onto a list and you’ll be rubbing shoulders with daniel craig before you can say ‘wake up hb, you’re dreaming again’. go for a Walk – then go for another one – it’s free and it’s fabulous. master the art of the Yo-yo, because those kids will get bored of your limited origami skills quite soon. learn how to make a Zabaglione – oh give me a break, it was late and the editor needed his article! HB
Not as challenging as the scary bucket list and probably much more achievable - here’s 26 things to try that you may not have done before.Will you be a better person for it? Probably not. But it’ll be fun trying. And if you write to us and tell us all about your experiences, that’ll be W ticked off already!
66 Phonebox Magazine