I’ve always been one to do things a little bit differently. I recently found this little collage done in 1998 of what I wanted to focus on in my life. Apart from the attitude, I also wanted to focus on the activity of being active and giving things a go.

I got one of those chain emails last week – tick off your bucket list. I’ve never actually written one (life just seems to have got in the way) so I thought I’d grab the opportunity of having one done for me and working my way through it.

As none of us are entirely sure when we will kick the bucket, it only serves me stronger to definitely have a list of things I want to accomplish in my life, but to also ensure that I don’t forget about the every day. String all those little moments together and they make one hell of a you bloody ripper.

So here’s my bucket list as it stands:

(X) Gone on a blind date (or five)
(X) Skipped school (come on… we’ve all done it once)
(X) Watched someone die (something one never forgets)
(X) Been to Russia (my history lessons inspired me)
(X) Been to Vietnam (my Dad inspired me)
(X) Been to Scotland (my grandma inspired me)
(X) Been to Italy (my other grandma inspired me)
(X) Been on a plane (lost count)
(X ) Been on a helicopter(the best was over Kakadu in a two seater)
(X) Been lost (lost count.. isn’t that the best part of travelling)
(X) Dived on the Barrier Reef (amongst other places)
(X) Swam in the ocean when it isn’t summer (most recently off Phillip Island in June)
(X) Recently colored with crayons (does paints count)
(X) Sang karaoke (lost count)
(X) Been to a ballet (my favourite was the Bolshoi)
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only (come on.. I did live in Asia for years)
(X) Climbed Uluru (on my Oz sabbatical)
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t (and couldn’t)
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose (lost count)
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue (bring on the white stuff)
(X) Danced in the rain (many times…. my most fondest time was on a cruise boat from Bangkok to Singapore with only 120 passengers on board, monsoonal rain and singing and dancing on the top deck like no one was watching)
( ) Water skied naked (mmm… note to self – must watch out for dead sticks… although I have run across the Story Bridge naked.. count?)
(X) Seen the Sistine Chapel (and got illegal video footage to prove it)
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus (gave up when I found them all in Mum’s drawers)
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe (who will it be this Christmas)
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone (like it’s a big surprise)
(X) Watched the sunset with someone (ditto)
(X) Blown bubbles (around the world)
(X) Gone ice skating (in the Austrian Alps)
(X) Made a movie (should I really have put an x here)
(X) Been deep sea fishing (with dad being a fisherman, a few times)
( ) Driven across the United States (red corvette… one day)
(X) Been on an ultralight (Victoria is so dry)
(X) Been sky diving (The desert around Vegas is so dry)
(X) Lived in more than one country (Definition of live??? More than six months – 6. Travelled 42)
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets and frogs (and made up my own constellation names – the Australian outback rocks)
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish (whenever I can)
(X) Enjoyed the beauty of the Australian outback in a swag (that 19 year old Oz sabbatical)
( ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
(X) Watched a play on London’s West End (The Big O)
(X) Trekked the Grand Canyon (covered in snow)
(X) Climbed the Great Wall (lost count)
(X) Been on a cruise (Um… three)
(X ) Taken a gondola in Venice (You can’t go to Venice and not go on a gondola)
(X) Seen the Mona Lisa in person (bonjour mademoiselle)
(X) Traveled by train (lost count.. especially considering I’ve done the Trans Siberian six times and Reunification Express about 15)
(X) Travelled by motorcycle (love the wind in my hair)
(X) Been horse back riding (my fave is Black Beach in NZ)
(X) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car (after visiting too many jazz clubs and walking around checking out the trolley contents of all the local homeless)
(X) Been to Disneyland (how many times can one girl go on space mountain)
(X) Admired the wildlife of the Serengeti (the longest dream that was finally accomplished)
(X) Ridden on an elephant (a few times)
(X) Swam with dolphins (in Port Phillip Bay)
(X) Kayaked with the whales (Monterey Bay)
(X) Got up close and personal with gorillas (A remake of gorillas in the mist: read finding memories)
( ) Been to the Olympics (does mini olympics on the trans siberian count)
(X) Enjoyed an Opera (or six)
(X) Been spinnaker flying (in NZ 92)
(X) Been water-skiing (badly)
(X) Been snow-skiing (badly… renamed bum skiing)
(X) Been white water rafting (hoo yay – wishing there was water in Victoria)
(X) Been to Westminster Abbey (tick tock)
(X) Been to the Louvre (how many paintings can one admire in one day)
(X ) Swam in the Mediterranean (I lived there for a year… of course I swum… and dived… and ate)
(X) Been in love (why is it that I’m single)

Looking back on this, I would definitely encourage everyone to get out there and start writing your very own bucket list – from the simple to sublime and definitely include random, raunchy and ridiculous.

Every time an x marks the spot, I can guarantee there will be one loud

you bloody ripper!