Number 10. Ring at least one out of town friend every week.

Number 10. Ring at least one out of town friend every week.

I'm afraid this hasn't gone very well, but it wasn't for the want of trying! I started out with the very best of intentions, but trying to get hold of friends who like me all have busy lives is VERY difficult!

I would like to think that I am a thoughtful friend, I love all my friends dearly and have many that live nearby but also plenty who live some distance away. I know that with all my friends we may not see or speak to each other often but when we do we always just pick up where we left off!

I text, Facebook, Twitter with friends all the time and that is a good quick way of keeping reasonably up to date but its not the same as a good old natter!

So I apologise to all my out of town friends, I tried and failed at this!! But I still do love you!!

Number 7. Lose some weight.

Number 7. Lose some weight.

I have never ever done a diet, but I quite clearly need to lose some weight, not because I am unhappy or uncomfortable in my own skin, quite the contrary, but I have known for some time that the extra weight is not good for my arthritis/joints and the older I get the harder it will be to shift!

I weighed myself on my 39th birthday, I will not share that information with you as to what the scales said but I recorded the information!!

Anyway as I left it and did nothing about achieving this goal, by the end of June instead of having lost weight I'd actually gained 10lbs!!

I needed to do a diet that didn't make me feel like I was depriving myself of anything/cutting things out, and that more importantly I was still sitting down with my family on an evening and still eating the same as them. I also didn't want to be counting calories, or points etc...a diet needed to fit in with me!
I've always eaten a well balanced diet, I've just eaten too much! I do walk and had been swimming regularly until early this year which is probably accountable for the weight gain of 10lbs!

I saw a friend on Facebook was promoting a new diet, and had actually given up another job to become a promoter of this diet, she invited me to her house to talk about it and so far I've not looked back!

I am doing the Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge, and I have set myself the initial target of losing 20lbs within 90 days. I need to lose more than that but the concept of the diet is that you do it in 90 day challenges to keep you focused.
I have 2 shakes a day, breakfast and lunch, 2 snacks and sit down with the hubby and kids and eat the same as them on a night. The product/shake powder is highly nutritious and is packed with minerals and vitamins, as well as been a weight loss product it can also be used by people who are in to fitness as a supplement for their normal diet.

The 90 days comes to an end on the 6th October, so far with 29 days left to go I have lost 15lbs and inches from all around my body. I do not feel like I'm on a diet as I've still had takeaways, alcohol, chocolate, etc..but I've made changes which are helping the weight come off and when you've got stones to lose, not just pounds it feels great to be making a difference!

For more information please ask me or go to: www.clairearundel.bodybyvi.com

DAY 90 RESULTS:

Day 90 of my Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge, which was to lose 20lbs.
I'm amazed at how easy I've found it and can't wait to start my next 90 day challenge to lose 15lbs.
My results are as follows: Weight: 22lbs LOST...woo hoo!!
Arms= 2 inches lost
Boobs= 3.5 inches lost
Tummy=4.5 inches lost
Hips=5 inches lost
Calf=1.5 inches lost
BMI= dropped 2.8 points

Still along way to go but I'm on the right path now to making a difference!

Number 36. Raise some money for Arthritis.

Number 36. Raise some money for Arthritis.

On Saturday 14 Sept 2013, I hosted a fundraiser at Cass Hall, King Street, Driffield in aid of the Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.(PAPAA) My lovely friend Siobhan who also suffers helped me invaluably with the day! 

At 32 I started getting Psoriasis and at 34 the arthritis began its not the easiest of conditions to live with on a daily basis and raising awareness is really important!

The day was so well attended, I really couldn't have been happier with the support, and it was lovely to see people enjoying themselves over a cuppa and cake! We had the usual raffle, tombola, cake stall and a lovely water colour which was donated by the artist himself, Alan Allsop which we also raffled! We had  handicrafts/stalls by local traders 'Chocolate & Pink', 'Railton Farm Gifts', 'Little Miss Allsorts', 'Avon', 'Made in Heaven', 'Forever Living', handmade cards & bunting by Gail Rowley, and candles with Nicola Hogg. 

This is a photo of the original water colour beautifully framed by the artist himself, Alan Allsopp who is 84 years young! It is a scene in the Yorkshire Dales. It was won by Michelle Bell. It was so lovely of Alan to contact me and generously support us. 

I'm over the moon to say the day raised £484:90 which is fantastic! As well as raising such a great amount of money, to highlight awareness of the condition was definitely achieved and other people who are also suffering locally have contacted me. I feel that we may now need to set up a local support group and future events will be arranged, which was beyond my initial expectations! 

It isn't too late to support as I have created a Just Giving Page, you can donate by clicking on the link below:

http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Andrew-Arundel1

Thank you to everyone who made the day a success I'm just so so happy! 

Lots of love

Claire

Number 9. Visit a new country.

Number 9. Visit a new country.

There are so many places in the world that I hope in my lifetime I get to see. I've travelled quite a lot of Europe but Italy is a country I've longed to go to for so long and there are so many parts of it that I want to see.

I am incredibly lucky, I have the best husband ever, I had also added to my list that I'd like to ride in a gondola and the kids were desperate to come to so we hunted for a holiday that would include a day in Venice so I could kill two birds with one stone! 

We found the perfect holiday with Thomson, staying at the Villagio Amare on the Venetian Riviera, hotel/apartments with pool & private beach, a rarity in Italy! We booked for 23-30 August 2013.

It truly was a fabulous holiday the apartment was lovely, the beach & pool were fab and we hired a car so we could see and do more! We visited Burano, Venice, Caorle, Verona and a waterpark and apart from the fact I came home covered in bites (no-one else) it was a great week and I can't wait to go back to Italy again!

 

Number 16. Ride in a Gondola.

Number 16. Ride in a Gondola.

When I wrote my list I tried to make it as achievable as possible, this however was one item on my list that when I added it I didn't really think it would happen, but I was wrong!!

I've never been to Italy and there is so much of it I would like to see and share with my family. The Venitian Riveria though was a good start and the highlight of our day in Venice was the evening serenaded gondola ride!

It was one of those experiences that as it was happening and you are living the moment it seems so surreal! I was incredibly moved by it, I didn't cry but I was close to tears!

The gondolas are just so lovely, very plush! It's not a cheap thing to do for 40 minutes entertainment but it was worth every single penny!

As we were queuing for our ride all the 'gondoliers' were milling around and one stood out as a typical 'slick' Italian and I said as much to my hubby and kids, it was then very amusing that he steered our gondola, you will notice him as he wanted to get in all our photos! We named him 'Slick'!! 

All in all this is a life experience I will never forget, a beautiful memory! 

Number 8. Get better than a 3rd at Driffield Show

Number 8. Get Better than a 3rd at Driffield Show.

Ok, so this was a challenge I set myself because last year I entered a decorated chocolate cake and won 3rd prize, as I'd never entered before I was pretty chuffed!

This year I decided to try and get better than a 3rd that I was best off entering more categories to give myself a better chance!

The kids entered loads as they usually do and I encouraged my lovely hubby to enter the Mr Guiness Cake which he said he'd give it a whirl! 

So here are my entries, 3 photographs, fruit scones, sausage rolls, lemon curd and lemon drizzle cake.

The above 2 pictures are all Lydia's entries.

The above 2 photos are all James' entries.

Rund's Mr Guiness Cake!

The kids did really well, not as good as previous years but at least they won something for all their hard work!

So my results....drum roll please.......

Now I'm not making excuses but I think I may have cursed myself as I said to a few people that I knew what would happen...I'd win nothing and Rund would get 1st place....sure enough what bloody happens?!!!

However despite failing this challenge on my list I know I tried my best, there was lots of good competition and it was a little bit out if my hands...it is what it is!!

However I'm very proud of my hubby's win and his tankard he gets for a year! I should have just stuck to my chocolate cake!!! Ha ha!!

Number 3. Stay up all night and watch the sunrise.

Number 3. Stay up all night and watch the sunrise. Saturday 29th June 2013.

I have watched quite a few beautiful sunsets, and have gone out when its dark and got home in the daylight but I have never purposefully watched a sunrise!

Obviously as its the longest day on the 21st June we decided this task needed to be done as close to that date as possible as the sunrise is obviously earlier! It was decided to kill 2 birds with one stone and carry out skinny dipping and watch the sunrise on the same evening and our lovely friend's Helen & Alv had the kids overnight for us.

After our skinny dipping at around 1am on Bridlington North Beach we were quite wide awake and drove to Sewerby and parked near the model village carpark, we stayed in the car and talked, and around 3am we noticed the sky starting to get a little lighter so we walked across Sewerby Cliff Top and sat on a bench and watched the sunrise..it was beautiful and a lovely moment to share with my hubby...got in to bed just before 5am, buzzing from an amazing night!

Number 6. Skinny Dip.

Number 6. Skinny Dip. Saturday 29 June 2013.

Firstly I know there will be some of you who will think I should know better at my age, or that you cant believe I haven't ever skinny dipped! In response, I don't actually know why I added this to my list, I think I was pissed when I added it, and I have skinny dipped in a hot tub but didn't really think that counted!

I was scared about doing this, in case we got arrested and made the front page of the Driffield Times & Post and I had to face the shame of embarrassing my kids for the rest of their lives!

I decided to carry out the act the same night I stayed up all night to watch the sunrise and my lovely hubby said he would do it with me! I was the designated driver, Rund had casually been drinking wine throughout the evening for a bit of dutch courage so I can absolutely guarantee I was stone cold sober when I did it! We had decided to go to Bridlington North Beach, we pulled up and parked on the sea front and there were lights on the beach, people with head torches, bloody night fishermen!!...I started to stress but Rund wasn't phased he said we'd just walk a bit further along the beach until we were well away from them!!

We actually couldn't have picked a nicer evening to do it as it was 14 degrees, we couldn't believe how warm it was, there was no wind the air was very still, and only a half moon so not too bright!!

I had planned my outfit carefully...a long maxi dress with nothing under and flip flops to walk in to the sea so I was soon stripped off, Rund on the other hand had decided to try and take off his track suit bottoms before his shoes so he's flapping around as he couldn't pull them off...you can imagine how impressed I was!!

Eventually (!) we were both naked and ran in to the sea hand in hand, I expected the temperature of the sea to take my breath away with the coldness but we couldn't believe how warm it felt, it was cold but bearable...ha ha or should that be BAREABLE!!!

We dunked ourselves under and Rund was all on for going out further and having a proper swim but I didn't want to, I'd done the deed and as I couldn't see what was in the water around me, I was just worrying about jellyfish, crabs, or a bit of seaweed brushing my leg which would make me scream and draw attention to us!!
So we decided to get out, in the haste, Rund stood on my flip flop so I couldn't walk and started to laugh and then there were loads of large stones to clamber over so heaven forbid anyone was watching us as it certainly wasn't a graceful exit!!

Standing on the beach after we'd done it though felt absolutely exhilarating, we both felt very naughty, like teenagers! It was a liberating experience and I would do it again and absolutely advise you all to try it....you will have a laugh and share a memory that will stay with you forever...we will be laughing about it still when we are old and wrinkly!!

Number 1. Ride on Air at Alton Towers with Helen.

Number 1. Ride on 'Air' at Alton Towers with Helen.

Back in October 2012 the Arundel family and Martinez family went away for the weekend and we went to Alton Towers, we had a great day and went on many rides, I'm a wimp and screamer and freak out at all the big rides, but despite that I had managed to go on Thirteen and Rita as well as others so my confidence had grown and I was all up for going on Air, but Helen refused to go on it with me and as both of our husbands were not pushing any boundaries I had no-one to go on it with me.

Helen was one of the first people I told of my plan to do a list of 40 things before I'm 40 and as soon as I told her she told me to add 'Ride on Air at Alton Towers with Helen' as she'd regretted not going on it in October, hence it became the first item on my list!
However as it got closer to our planned trip away to conquer this quest she couldn't remember saying this and was telling me she didnt know if she could do it....as if!!!!

Anyway we planned another weekend away 14-16 June 2013, a day in Alton Towers and then followed by another day in Splash LandingsWater Park. Helen and I had planned that we needed to do 'Air' as our first ride and just get it over and done with, which is what we did along with my hubby!

I'll be honest I was shitting myself, I was wondering why I'd listened to Helen and added it to my my list, why did I want to fly through the air like superman??? It was scary but over pretty quick, I screamed like a loony (I did warn the stranger sat the otherside of me that I was a screamer!)  but did feel proud of myself for having acheived it!