On 22nd August 2008, I wrote a list of exciting, extraordinary, interesting, challenging and (above all) foolish things to do before I’m 30.  Well today I’m 30 and here’s how I got on… (by my reckoning I got 16 out of 30…but i’ll keep tryin’)

1. Do some overseas travel by myself – Croatia, September 2008
2. Go to a ballet – Thanks to Bill, Shirley and Susan
3. Learn a second language (excluding biblical Greek and Hebrew) – Became reacquainted with ‘egg language’ courtesy of Matty and Michael.  I can understand it but can’t speak it.  
4. Grow vegetables – I have dug my vegetable patch (10×6) and the potatoes are going in soon
5. Ride a motorbike – Nope
6. Play guitar in church - Really wouldn’t want to put anyone through that torture
7. Own a pet - I think a hedgehog lives in my garden somewhere and most of my friends and family think that’s about all I can manage
8. Test drive an expensive car that I have no intention of buying – I drove my brother’s clio – I have no intention of buying that!?
9. Make friends with a celebrity – The memorable Merle and Larry!
10. Climb a mountain – perhaps metaphorically(!)
11. Take up a sport – Is blogging a sport?
12. Start a society – I am the founding member of the “Good coffee appreciation society” – We currently have 131 members
13. Become a volunteer in an organisation – I considered the PW but I reckon I’m too young
14. Apply for a T.V. show – I totally forgot about this one.  And it was one of the easy ones too!! – Bummer
15. Cook dinner for a stranger – The high flying Mr Dave Crowe
16. Sell something on ebay - Hmmmm, I might do this very soon!
17. Organise a street party – I was the only one who turned up to this event.  Maybe they didn’t get my invitation…. Actually I was too afraid to do this.
18. Go busking for an afternoon – See number 6 (above)
19. Send flowers to a girl who’s not related to me - Caren Robinson…Thanks for your lovely house this summer!
20. Go on a road-trip in Ireland and camp somewhere which isn’t a campsite and cook breakfast in the morning on a trangia stove – Tragically failed to do any of this…
21. Broaden my friendship circle to better represent the cultural and religious differences in society.  Yup
22. Lead someone to Jesus – You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink
23. Go to a music festival – Does the ATL gig in the Ulster Hall count?
24. Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant – I did get free tapas in 2taps cos Stuart knew the owner or something… that’s way cooler I think.
25. Read “Cloud Atlas” (I chose this at random from a list) – I started to read this in Budapest – It’s a good read!
26. Record my family history - I have started this, but it’ll take a while to finish but I know where its headed
27. Watch the “Star Wars Trilogy” – Again I am a failure  
28. Get something published – Does this blog count?  I also wrote the editorial for a church magazine…
29. Visit London – This weekend
30. Sing Karaoke – Sing star helped me out here!

How do you think I did?

At the time of writing this post I am a single male aged twenty-nine years and six months.  I have no regular job although my future seems to be taken care off so I’m not worried.  I’m assured. 

However, I can’t help but feel like there’s something terribly grown-up about being thirty something.  When the twenties have passed we no longer have the right/freedom/excuse to be irresponsible, fool-hardy and adventurous.  Therefore the time has come for me to write down some achievable ‘tasks’ which may enhance my life experiences over the next six months.  This list of ‘things to do before I’m 30′ helps to legitimise some of my hankerings and challenge my comfort zones.

Thank you to my friends for your helpful comments and suggestions.  I have decided to omit: shooting something; sleeping rough; speed-dating; parachute jumping; buying a PHD and getting married.  These suggestions were – after much contemplation – either too expensive, too desperate or too uncomfortable.  But thanks anyway!

Hopefully this ”to do” list will generate enough material to keep my blog alive for a bit longer!

1. Do some overseas travel by myself
2. Go to a ballet
3. Learn a second language (excluding biblical Greek and Hebrew)
4. Grow vegetables
5. Ride a motorbike
6. Play guitar in church
7. Own a pet
8. Test drive an expensive car that I have no intention of buying
9. Make friends with a celebrity
10. Climb a mountain
11. Take up a sport
12. Start a society
13. Become a volunteer in an organisation
14. Apply for a T.V. show
15. Cook dinner for a stranger
16. Sell something on ebay
17. Organise a street party
18. Go busking for an afternoon
19. Send flowers to a girl who’s not related to me
20. Go on a road-trip in Ireland and camp somewhere which isn’t a campsite and cook breakfast in the morning on a trangia stove
21. Broaden my friendship circle to better represent the cultural and religious differences in society
22. Lead someone to Jesus
23. Go to a music festival
24. Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant
25. Read “Cloud Atlas” (I chose this at random from a list)
26. Record my family history
27. Watch the “Star Wars Trilogy”
28. Get something published
29. Visit London
30. Sing Karaoke