The List

A few years ago, I came across a list. I can't remember what led me to the list, nor what prompted me to copy it, print it, cut it out and put it in my wallet. But I did.

The list was entitled "33 things to do before you're 10". Well, I was at least 25 by this point, and as I scanned the list, I realised I hadn't done over half of the items.

I expect it was a desperate grab at the fleeting tail of youth, but I made it my mission at that moment that I would do all those things on the list. Not by the age of ten, of course... but maybe by the age of 33?

You may know that I have recently celebrated my 32nd birthday. Of all the panicky thoughts I could have had about getting another year older (how non-descript is 32?!), the one that occurred the most was "I haven't addressed my list!".

So here it is: my "New Year" resolution - to achieve each and every one of the items on this list (even the things I have done before). Please feel free to join me.

1) Roll on your side down a grassy bank
2) Make a mud pie
3) Make your own modelling dough mixture
4) Collect frogspawn
5) Make perfume from flower petals
6) Grow cress on a windowsill
7) Make a papier-mache mask
8) Build a sandcastle
9) Climb a tree
10) Make a den in the garden
11) Make a painting using your hands and feet
12) Organise your own teddy bears' picnic
13) Have your face painted
14) Bury a friend in the sand
15) Make some bread
16) Make snow angels
17) Create a clay sculpture
18) Take part in a scavenger hunt
19) Camp out in the garden
20) Bake a cake
21) Feed a farm animal
22) Pick some strawberries
23) Play Pooh sticks
24) Recognise five different bird species
25) Find some worms
26) Ride a bike through a muddy puddle
27) Make and fly a kite
28) Plant a tree
29) Build a nest out of grass and twigs
30) Find 10 different leaves in the park
31) Grow vegetables
32) Make breakfast in bed for your parents
33) Make a mini assault course in your garden