#73 Have a Sleepover

As I mentioned in thing to do #20 (Stay up all night) I went to, or hosted, a lot of sleepovers when I was a teenager. I can't really remember what we did at them. Watched videos? Ate junk food? Giggled a lot I expect, that's a staple in the teenage female behavior pattern isn't it? We probably talked about boys too. Oh, and pillow fights - probably plenty of them too.

Usually we slept in the living room of whoever's house it was. We'd bring our sleeping bags and pillows and sprawl out. Now that I'm picturing it other activities are coming to mind - ghost stories! In fact, scaring each other witless was par for the course it seems as I recall most of the films we watched were horrors. The book suggests other activities which I'm sure we never did - playing computer games for example. That would almost certainly have meant prising games consoles away from our brothers, which would have been nigh on impossible. We didn't do makeovers either, that I can recall. There was usually someone who wanted to be sensible and go to sleep early and then there'd be the one who wanted to stay up all night - I know that was me on at least one occasion. Do teenage girls still do sleepovers I wonder? Have teenage boys ever done them? God, I think we even used to sit and read?! I was part of a peculiarly bookish group of friends. I think sleepovers might have functioned as a sort of book swapping club. And when I say books I largely mean 'Sweet Valley High' books. Good, all American stories about twins Elizabeth and Jessica who were good looking, blonde, popular, smart and had boyfriends who were quarterbacks. I'm sure I never knew what a quarterback was. Even now I'm not sure... God, do girls still read these books? There's bound to be a new trend now - probably something involving vampires. Please let it be something more literary and less stereotypical than Sweet Valley High. Not that it did us any harm, I still went on to get a degree in English Literature after all.

Yes, I've found a photo that proves we read books and were generally sedate and mature at our sleepovers:



Anyway - sleepovers - good clean fun. Long may they reign.

#42 April Fool Someone

I had thought that I wouldn't get to do an April Fool as my 30th birthday falls 2 days before 1st April. As it turned out I still didn't really manage it as I was so unwell on the day. I picked up a gastro virus from somewhere which would have been unpleasant enough but as I lack a colonic buffer zone (see #15 Fart & Burp) the bug caused me to lose very large amounts of fluid in a very short space of time. This made me feel most peculiar so April Fools were the last thing on my mind.

I eventually remembered what day it was when the husband got in from work. In a vain bid to salvage the day and meet my challenge I told him he had a boogie hanging from his nose. He was fooled enough to wipe said nose but scoffed at me when I gleefully informed him of my hoax. Apparently it doesn't count if you play a prank after midday?! In fact, in that case the fool is on you....oh no.

I've never really liked April Fools, or Halloween for that matter. Why do people suddenly feel justified in being complete rotters just because the calendar shows a particular date?
"Why have you thrown eggs and flour all over my windows?"
"It's Halloween!"
"Oh yes, of course, how stupid of me. Ha ha! What larks! Do carry on!"
As if.

I'm clearly too old and boring to carry this on off, although I can't say I remember playing many April Fools when I was young and funfilled either. Maybe it's more a matter of being too darn nice.

30 on the 30th?.....

So, the observant amongst you will realise that my 30th birthday has been and gone and I categorically failed to achieve my 101 things to do. I knew that this would happen and came to terms with it a few weeks back. Disappointing as it was, I decided not to be overcome but to take positive action. I made an active decision that I would continue the challenge, despite the impending birthday, and plans are afoot to make sure I do!

Many things got in the way of completing the challenge, my actual birthday being one of them. I organised a mammoth celebratory weekend with friends and the time involved in this basically ate into my 'things to do' time. I had planned to get straight back on the horse after my birthday but then I caught a gastro virus which laid me up in hospital for the entire bank holiday weekend with severe dehydration and kidney niggles. Excuses all, I know, but that's the crux of it. Now it's back to business and, by hook or by crook, I will tick each and every last thing off my list. So, prepare yourselves, it's not over yet....


And yes, thank you - I had a lovely birthday and I'm very happy and proud to be 30. And you'll get to read all about that weekend long celebration in an upcoming post, oooooooh!