37 out of 60

Back in September 2024, I decided it was time to revisit my bucket lists (thought process would have gone something like, right Jules, it's about fucking time you pulled your finger out and got a few more things done. Life is short and that clock is not ticking, it's going BONG BONG BONG) and come up with a new list - 60 things to do before I turned 60. That gave me a year to do all the stuff. Plenty of time, or so I thought, but the days fly by. Things change, other stuff pops up, so this list is an ever changing one. Is that cheating? Course not, it's my list, I can do whatever I want with it. It's a chance to do a bit of writing (fallen by the wayside) and serves as a reminder as the old memory starts to go. Where was I?

Fast forward a year and my 60th birthday has been and gone. Looking at the list, I'm at 37 our of 60 items knocked off. So I've decided to extend it to the end of the year - because I can. I've also revisited it to add in a few of the things that I will hopefully be doing over the next couple of months. 

37 isn't bad. It's over half way. Always look on the bright side. All the things I had to do in London before I left were probably a bit ambitious. Firstly it was winter and the weather was crap. Not that the weather can be an excuse, but when it's really wet, it's all to easy to say can't be arsed and go back to sleep (hello Jules, whose decided to go to Edinburgh in the middle of December??). Secondly, London is very expensive and doing stuff costs money, even if I did have a few free/cheap things listed. 

Come March, it was back to Southampton and before I knew it I was in Spain getting ready for a new tour season. Some things I got done in the towns and cities we visit, but others were just a bit hard to get to on my time off. Next year I will get more done!

Here are the 37 that I did get done. My favorite? It would have to be hot air ballooning over Cappadocia in Turkey. What a truly amazing experience that was. 

60 Things to do before I turn 60 (and until the end of 2025)

1. Visit Ephesus in Turkey ✅️ 21 October 2024 and a Revisit 20 December 2024
2. Visit the Acropolis in Athens ✅️ 25 October 2024
3. Sing 'Mama Mia on Mykonos ✅️ 26 October 2024
4. Visit Pompeii ✅️ 03 November 2024
5. Eat at Sandwich Sandwich ✅️ 26 November 2024
6. Find the 12 Fleet Street Penguins ✅️ 26 November 2024
7. Take a tour of Highgate Cemetery in London ✅️ 3 December 2024
8. Try the cheesecake at La Maritxu in London ✅️ 6 December 2024
9. Visit the Blue Mosque in Istanbul✅️ 14 December 2024
10. Hot air Balloon over Cappadocia (Turkey)  ✅️ 18 December 2024
11. Visit Pamukkale in Turkey ✅️ 20 December 2024
12. Eat a Sunday Roast at the Red Lion in Barnes ✅️ 29 December 2024
13. Ride the afternoon tea bus through London ✅️ 7 January 2025
14. Visit the Sky Garden ✅️ 9 January 2025
15. Visit the London Mithraeum ✅️ 9 January 2025
16. Visit the Clink Prison Museum ✅️ 9 January 2025
17. Try Humble Crumble ✅️ 9 January 2025
18. Visit the London Museum in Docklands ✅️ 11 January 2025
19. Get abused at Karen's Diner ✅️ 12 January 2025
20. Visit the Cerne Abbas Giant ✅️ 01 February 2025
21. Visit Hampton Court Palace ✅️ 05 February 2025
22. Visit the V&A Cafe ✅️ 14 February 2025
23. Visit the London Wetlands Centre in Barnes ✅️ 25 February 2025
24. Visit the Bank of England Museum ✅️ 28 February 2025
25. Visit the Hunterian Museum ✅️ 28 February 2025
26. Visit the Delfin Submarine Museum ✅️ 22 April 2025
27. Visit the Algarve in Portugal ✅️ 07 May 2025
28. Go to Feria in Sevilla ✅️ 10 May 2025
29. Get a new tattoo ✅️ 11 May 2025
30. Visit Palacio de Viana in Cordoba ✅️ 20 May 2025
31. Eat at Botin in Madrid (the oldest restaurant in the world) ✅️ 11 July 2025
32. Visit Casa de Pilatos in Sevilla ✅️ 20 July 2025
33. Make a great Basque cheesecake (5 attempts) ✅️ 30 July 2025
34. Go to Walkies at Wisley in Surrey ✅️ 4 August 2025
35. Visit MOCO ✅️ 19 August 2025
36. Visit Zaragoza and the Catedral Basilica del Pilar ✅️ 21 August 2025
37. Ride the Fuente De Cable Car and see the Picos de Europa up high ✅️ 11 September 2025

Before the year ends, I do have a few trips planned, so I have adjusted the list accordingly and with a bit of luck, I'll be able to get a few more things done. And the last item on the list - yeah, nah no real interest in getting that one done!