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100 things to do before you die

December 31, 2008 19 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

This list is doing the rounds: how many have you done?

1. Started my own blog- yes
2. Slept under the stars- many times.
3. Played in a band- samba bands
4. Visited Hawaii-no 
5. Watched a meteor shower- in the Jordanian desert.
6. Given more than I can afford to charity- don’t think so.
7. Been to Disneyland/World- yes
8. Climbed a mountain- yes
9. Held a praying mantis- no
10. Sung a solo- never
11. Bungee jumped – and I never, ever, ever will
12. Visited Paris- lived there 6 years.
13. Watched lightning at sea- yes, exhilarating ride on a catamaran through a storm.
14. Taught myself an art from scratch- yes, pottery, mosaics, drawing, painting.
15. Adopted a child- no.
16. Had food poisoning- yes. Terrible when you don’t know what end it’s gonna come out of.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- yes, years ago. 
18. Grown my own vegetables- yes
19. Seen the Mona Lisa- yes
20. Slept on an overnight train- oh yes, one of my favourites.
21. Had a pillow fight- yes
22. Hitchhiked- yes. Worst hitch was a week in the same town in Tibet. Best hitch was a house on the back of a lorry in Patagonia, spent 3 days in it.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – who hasn’t?
24. Built a snow fort- no, never enough snow here.
25. Held a lamb- yes.
26. Gone skinny dipping- yes.
27. Run a Marathon- no, and it’s still an ambition.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice- yes.
29. Seen a total eclipse- yes, Portsmouth 1998 and several partial ones.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- yes
31. Hit a home run – no
32. Been on a cruise- yes, tacky one around the Caribbean.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- yes, when I was 15.
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors- yes, Minori south of Naples when I was 8.
35. Seen an Amish community- yes, they live near my cousin in Pennsylvania.
36. Taught myself a new language- yes, French, Spanish and some others.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied- money is never truly satisfying. 
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- at least twice.
39. Gone rock climbing- yes
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David- yes
41. Sung karaoke- no, bit nervous
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt- no
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant- can’t remember
44. Visited Africa- yes
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight- yes
46. Been transported in an ambulance- yes, when I punctured my leg trying to break into a swimming pool at night. 
47. Had my portrait painted- yes by my mother who is a talented artist. 
48. Gone deep sea fishing- no
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person- yes
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- yes
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- yes, have advanced and nitrox certifications. 
52. Kissed in the rain- yes, well I am English.
53. Played in the mud- yes
54. Gone to a drive-in theater- yes
55. Been in a movie- yes, was in the Clash movie ‘Rude boy’ and another film called ‘Bloody Kids’ by Stephen Poliakoff.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China- no
57. Started a business- yes
58. Taken a martial arts class- no
59. Visited Russia- yes, but merely a stop-over
60. Served at a soup kitchen- yes 
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies- no, but was a brownie 
62. Went Whale Watching- yes in Argentina and North America 
63. Got flowers for no reason- no
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- yes
65. Gone sky diving- no
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp- no, that’s on my list
67. Bounced a check- no 
68. Flown in a helicopter- yes
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- yes
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial- don’t think so
71. Eaten caviar- yes 
72. Pieced a quilt- yes, at school
73. Stood in Times Square- yes
74. Toured the Everglades- not yet
75. Been fired from a job- several times
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London- yes
77. Broken a bone- yes, toes?
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle- no
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person- yes 
80. Published a book- no
81. Visited the Vatican- yes
82. Bought a brand-new car- no
83. Walked in Jerusalem- no
84. Had my picture in the newspaper- many times. Best was in The News of the World, when I was pictured with my teddyboy boyfriend saying ‘Punk and ted find love’ and that we were bringing the warring tribes together. Famous for, oooh, a week?
85. Read the entire Bible- no
86. Visited the White House- outside only
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- does a mussel count?
88. Had chickenpox- yes
89. Saved someone’s life- not sure
90. Sat on a jury- no, but really want to.
91. Met someone famous- yes, slept with some too.
92. Joined a book club- yes
93. Lost a loved one- yes 
94. Had a baby- yes
95. Seen the Alamo in person- no
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake- no, but bathed in the dead sea.
97. Been involved in a law suit- unfortunately yes.
98. Owned a cell phone- doh.
99. Been stung by a bee- was stung by hundreds as a kid.
100. Ridden an elephant- no

Some of these things I have done merely because I live in Europe.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. corbin

    December 31, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    56 but I've done#67
    a lot

    Reply
  2. marmitelover

    December 31, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    Does that mean you've done number 56 or you have done 56 out of the 100. I haven't even counted actually…ok, I've done 67 out of 100.

    Reply
  3. Animal Disco

    January 1, 2009 at 3:57 am

    Happy 2009! Do you mind if I respond to 'the list' tomorrow? This is gonna be fun! Have an ace New Year, ML xxx

    Reply
  4. marmitelover

    January 1, 2009 at 4:47 am

    Happy New Year to you Ms Disco! Yes, be interesting to hear what you have done.

    Reply
  5. HilTeach

    January 1, 2009 at 6:21 pm

    Surprised myself with how many I've actually done. Lost count. Perhaps I should add one about learning mental maths. Happy 2009! Hil x

    Reply
  6. HilTeach

    January 1, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    Happy 2009! Surprised myself by how many I've done, but lost count. I'm with you on the jury thing: I was once called, but had a very new baby, so couldn't. Hil x

    Reply
  7. Ben Emlyn-Jones

    January 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    Happy New Year, ML and all. That's an awful lot of thinghsd to do; If I'd done half I'd be happy.

    I've done… let me see:

    1: Yes
    2: Yes, once; but it was on a golf course when I was very drunk
    3: No, but I've won prizes for my Karaoke.
    4: No, but I'm going to when this passport nonsense is no longer necessary and we’re free to traverse our home planet at will.
    5: No
    6: No
    7: No, and I don’t intend to!
    8: Yes, Snowdon. But also Beinn an Eoin in Scotland where there were no paths or anything and it was very steep in places.
    9: No
    10: Yes, see Number 3. I also sung solo with a piano in a Dublin pub.
    11: No, I’d have to be more drunk to try it than they’d let me on!
    12: Oui, Gaie Paris. I could tell you a few stories about that!
    13: Yes, and the northern light. Beautiful!
    14: No, unless you count writing fiction
    15: No
    16: Yes, got it now in fact. And last night it was both ends at once!
    17: No
    18: No
    19: Yes, she wasn’t what I expected; a lot smaller.
    20: Yes, like a log, but I felt very dirty in the morning.
    21: Yes
    22: No
    23: No comment!
    24: No
    25: No
    26: No, I’d like to do that one.
    27: No, but walk one every day.
    28: No, but will do. See Number 4.
    29: Partial only.
    30: Yes, many times. Love it!
    31: Yes, the home run had a black eye for days!
    32: No
    33: No, but will do. See Number 4.
    34: Yes, Newcastle Emlyn in Wales
    35: No, but I’ve watched “Kingpin”
    36: No, but I speak several languages from family and school, but I’m rusty as hell.
    37: Yes
    38: No
    39: Yes, but didn’t get very high.
    40: Yes, but it was on a postcard.
    41: Yes, many times. See Number 3.
    42: No
    43: Yes, but I don’t want to discuss details!
    44: No
    45: Yes
    46: No, touchwood
    47: No
    48: No
    49: No
    50: Yes
    51: No, but I’d love to do this!
    52: Yes, and the rain did enhance the experience.
    53: Yes
    54: No, unless you count wheeling my daughter’s buggy into a cinema.
    55: Yes, Darren Pollard’s “The Glastenbury (sic) Affair” and a couple of others. People also keep recognizing me from my cameo in David Icke’s “Freedom or Fascism-Time to Choose”. Dunno why.
    56: No, but one day I’m going to walk right along it. Same goes for the Thames Path.
    57: Yes, a small publishing company.
    58: No, only boxing while I was at school.
    59: No (Stopped over in Singapore too, does that count?)
    60: No
    61: No, I’d be bloody arrested these days!
    62: No, I couldn’t; I wouldn’t be able to leave them.
    63: No
    64: No
    65: No
    66: No
    67: Yes, every bloody day!
    68: No, except on Microsoft Flight Simulator. I was pretty good!
    69: Yes
    70: No
    71: Yes, didn’t like it much.
    72: No
    73: No
    74: No
    75: No, but I’ve some pretty close a couple of times! It’s bound to happen sooner or later
    76: Yes.
    77: Yes, a rib while I was playing rugby with my friend’s dog.
    78: No, never will after seeing what can happen.
    79: No
    80: Yes, two
    81: No, they’d never let me in!
    82: No
    83: No
    84: Yes; a few times in the last couple of years, but not for any disreputable reasons.
    85: No, I’ve got better things to read!
    86: No
    87: No
    88: Yes, it’s safe to approach me!
    89: Yes, many lives.
    90: No
    91: Yes, but yet to sleep with them! I wouldn’t mind if it was ….!
    92: Yes, and wish I hadn’t! They kept sending me loads of crap I didn’t want and charging me for it!
    93: Yes
    94: Yes, well not me personally of course!
    95: No
    96: No
    97: Yes, it’s not pleasant.
    98: Yes, but I’ve never bought one. My first was a present and all the others have been hand-me-downs.
    99: Yes
    100: No

    Not a bad score really. And it gives me a framework to strive for.

    Reply
  8. caroline

    January 2, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    Fascinating xxx

    Reply
  9. Anonymous

    January 2, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    I've done all 100 … you might catch up one day…x

    Reply
  10. CellarDoor

    January 2, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    I've done 56 things.. well I am 14.

    Reply
  11. caroline

    January 2, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    SO relieved that I can post on here directly rather than the circumlocutious route of the past month or so…

    may your wonderful blog continue to intrigue, amaze, dazzle and confound Ms ML

    love AHIH xxx

    Reply
  12. Nick Tann

    January 4, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    40.
    I have a copy of Rude Boy sitting in my "To Watch" pile. It's meant to be good, I'll look out for you.

    Reply
  13. marmitelover

    January 4, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Nick, do you want me to tell you beforehand or do you want to guess?

    Reply
  14. marmitelover

    January 4, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Cellardoor, 56 things at 14!
    Wow, your parents must be so cool to have done all those things with you…
    😉
    x

    Reply
  15. Jim

    January 5, 2009 at 1:27 am

    Very thought provoking list. I'm 32 and have managed 41. Really love the blog and marmite.

    Reply
  16. Mister Trippy

    January 6, 2009 at 4:22 am

    oh we've both had our pictures in the papers many times, but you've done it from both sides of the camera I believe (and I can't really claim that), but have you ever done a nude celebrity feature anywhere… I'm very proud of the one I did in 2004 for the biggest selling newspaper in Finland, as you know!

    Reply
  17. marmitelover

    January 6, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Mr Trippy, no I have never been nude in a newspaper. When I was younger I was constantly approached by photographers as I had a figure very similar to Samantha Fox. But I am too shy.
    I have been to the Brighton nudist beach and once visited a nudist island by mistake. Couldn't leave for 3 days and so was obliged.

    Reply
  18. Ben Fairhall

    January 7, 2009 at 2:24 am

    Too shy?

    Excuse me whilst I die laughing!

    ATB,
    Ben

    Reply
  19. Anonymous

    January 7, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    This list is one of the funniest things I have seen for some time – like 15, 35 and 93 as being particularly out there, do you need to loose a loved one before or after you see the Mona Lisa ? – I can't make my mind up.

    Reply

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MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

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Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Apple rose blossom tarts with rose jam. Rose Appl Apple rose blossom tarts with rose jam.  Rose Apple Blossom Tarts

Serves 8

Equipment: 
Microwave
Cupcake or muffin tin

I use a red-skinned apple to make these, to get a hint of blush at the edges of the ‘petals’.

Ingredients:
4 Pink Lady or Royal Gala apples, cored, cut into quarters, sliced thinly into half moons
1 lemon, squeezed
1 pack all butter readymade puff pastry 320g, on a roll, cut into 8 strips about 6 cms long
100g of melted butter
1/2 jar of rose jam
1 or 2 tbsp cinnamon or cardamom, ground 
Pinch maldon salt
2 or 3 tbsp icing sugar

Instructions

Prepare a bowl of acidulated water (cold water with lemon juice) to prevent browning.
Core the apples, and cut them in quarters. Slice thinly into half-moons (a mandolin is useful for this). 
Put them into a large bowl of cold water with the lemon.
Microwave the bowl of sliced apples for 5 minutes until soft enough to bend slightly but not cook them.
Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
Roll out the puff pastry. Divide into 8 sections by cutting the roll into quarters then halving each quarter. You will end up with 8 approximately 6cm strips.
Brush the strip with melted butter then paint with a layer of rose jam. You can then dust with either ground cinnamon or cardamom.
Lay the apple slices along the top of the pastry strip, overlapping them. Fold up the bottom half of the pastry strip to make an pleat with the skin side of the apple half moon poking over the top.
Roll up the folded pastry strips until they look like a rose made of apple at the top
Place ‘rose’ side up, in a buttered cupcake tin
Repeat until all are done and bake for 20 -30 minutes.
Using a tea strainer or small sieve, sprinkle with icing sugar.
A lovely vegetarian recipe from @lulugargari - a g A lovely vegetarian recipe from @lulugargari - a green bean and basil pesto with Italian lemon 🍋 pasta. Fresh, light. This was at an Italian cooking class/demo @eatalylondon hosted by @ilovefruitandvegfromeuropecouk @flickflock #london#italy🇮🇹
Digital chefs came from Italy yesterday to teach h Digital chefs came from Italy yesterday to teach how to make pumpkin, chilli, taleggio fondue Paccheri pasta- warming and filling for autumn days. Thanks to @ilovefruitandvegfromeuropecouk @flickflock @eatalylondon @danielerossichef @lulugargari for the event. We then got to go shopping in Italy with a £50 voucher. I spent it on mostardi di frutta, burratta, carciofi, cheeses,. My sis in law @bro0907 spent it on two bottles of wine. 😂 #italianfood #italianingredients #cookingclass #campaniafood
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Visited The speciality fine food fair today for th Visited The speciality fine food fair today for the first time. So many tastings! Great to see new products. Particularly impressed by @lamiriharissa which is smoked and delicious run by Jo Lamiri’s children and @quirkymonkeycoffee which is mushroom infused coffee and hot chocolate run by an autistic guy Darwin setting up his own business. Good for him. #foodexplorer
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I’ve made a South African/ Botswana dish that is I’ve made a South African/ Botswana dish that is creamy samp with chakalaka. Samp is corn like hominy or pozole a native Indian or Mexican food. It’s strange that it’s a staple food in Africa. Corn is a new world food I think. Samp itself is quite bland, often eaten with beans. Chakalaka is delicious with peppers, Piri piri seasoning, ginger garlic onions tomatoes and carrots and baked beans.
Samp from Botswana. It’s husked corn and makes a Samp from Botswana. It’s husked corn and makes a porridge like carb- creamy samp. I’m rinsing, soaking and cooking today and will combine it with chakalaka tomorrow. #southafrica #botswana #samp #newworldoldworld
Did my living room floor with @woca_denmark_uk_ire Did my living room floor with @woca_denmark_uk_ireland natural floor soap yesterday which smells lovely. But high traffic areas need rewarding. This is a Scandinavian technique- regularly waxing pale wood floors. I did this floor during the first year of lockdown. I prefer waxed floors to varnished. #interiors #woodfloors
Handbag condiments: @tajinuk , salt @maldonsalt do Handbag condiments: @tajinuk , salt @maldonsalt do a great little handbag tin, soy sauce bottles, and of course a handbag @marmite . I’ve also been known to carry a handbag @wd40uk and a handbag @cremedecassis to make poor white wine drinkable. What do you carry in your bag? Are you like Beyoncé and carry hot sauce in your bag?
Alliums in a purple pot. Note to self: plant more Alliums in a purple pot. Note to self: plant more bobble headed alliums. Love the colour and shape. This is in a neighbours garden who I met on Saturday while working in the front garden. Traditionally the British have front gardens but now they are turned into driveways and building are developed into flats. Only very rich people in london can afford houses. But the front is very important for the community- it’s how you meet your neighbours. On Saturday I visited 2 different sets of neighbours gardens- the first time since I moved to this street 23 years ago. Our front garden is communal and has been an unloved space- I’m trying to change that. Tonight I cleaned all the wheely bins. A yucky job but otherwise they smell so bad in summer. I was thinking about all the terrible dirty jobs that someone has to do- clearing up after a road accident, or sorting out sewers, or unblocking toilets. The stuff that nobody likes to think about. #frontgardens #neighbours #londoners
What I’ve been up to: awning from @victorianawni What I’ve been up to: awning from @victorianawnings which has transformed our al fresco eating possibilities. Also been working on the front garden of our building using talented work men I found on fb marketplace: railings by @lincsecproducts ( the gates were bought by me some years ago and I’ve scraped off the rust and repainted), the arch, which took me 3 years to find on fb marketplace for the right price and size. The wisteria which will grow over the arch planted by @christina_erskine ( I’ve always wanted a wisteria and they apparently add to the value of your house), the Swiss style bike/buggy shed. Needs to be painted dark green to match the walls. My friend Jim repaired the walls, the coping, and laid the  concrete plinth. Now need to find coping for the pillars or perhaps urns for more plants. 47cm2. #interiors #exteriordesign #gates #railings #bikeshed #awning #design
Made a vegetarian paella with La bomba rice from @ Made a vegetarian paella with La bomba rice from @brindisaspanishfoods I used red and green peppers, saffron, sherry, Nyora peppers, smoked almonds and green olives #vegetarian #vegetariansummer #paella
Quick snap of my bedroom chimney wall with the @sa Quick snap of my bedroom chimney wall with the @sanderson1860 wallpaper - finally done. Never wallpapered before. By the way I’m totally open to interiors collaborations email me: marmitelover@mac.com #interiordesign #wallpaper #london
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Me and my beautiful granddaughter Ophelia. I look Me and my beautiful granddaughter Ophelia. I look a mess ( really need to dye hair but it’s sooo expensive) but I don’t care because my heart just bursts when I cuddle this little being who has been in my life for 8 months. Babies are a blessing. #granfluencer pic: @clairebelljar
Made arepas last week with masarepa, a precooked m Made arepas last week with masarepa, a precooked maize meal, topped with Wensleydale cheese which isn’t too dissimilar to a fresh Latin American cheese. I also added fresh corn kernels for texture. #colombia #venezuela #arepas #vegetarian
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