The dreaded Bucket List

"25 Places to see before you die!"

"50 things to do before you die!"

"100 ideas for your bucket list!"

These are common headlines around the internet and in magazines, and no doubt spur some people to rush out and write their own list. I have never felt the need to do this, possibly because I have been fortunate to have had some pretty amazing experiences, and visited some incredible places during my "normal" lifetime, and, though there are places I would still like to see, and things I would still like to do, I feel that if I made a list - apart from deciding what to leave off - then if I didn't manage to complete it I would feel as though I have failed. Unless you have unlimited funds, and unlimited time, it is more than likely that you will "fail" to do everything (and if you actually manage to complete your list, what next - another list?), and the last thing I want is to sit and regret never having visited the Taj Mahal, or reached Everest Base Camp, or Bungee jumped off a bridge, but rather to remember all the wonderful places I have seen, and the incredible experiences I have had.

So this is my "Things I have done list" - all were, to me, pretty amazing, and I wish I had photographic evidence of them! So as not to put them in any order of importance I will try and list them chronologically (though will probably fail miserably as I think of new ones to add!).

1. Make a long sea voyage on a liner (3 actually!) - twice out to Africa and once back
2. Visit Africa
3. Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
4. Go on safari
5. Fly in a plane
6. See the Zambezi river
7. Visit Victoria Falls
8. Visit the Zimbabwe ruins (I am not talking about the country as it is now, but the ancient stone ruins)
9. Travel on a paddle steamer
10. Swim in the Indian Ocean
11. Learn to play golf
12. Ride a motorbike
13. Drive a car (actually a Landcruiser jeep!)
14. Visit South Africa
15. Visit Denmark where I have family
16. Visit Kenya
17. Snorkel on the coral reef
18. See the Rift Valley
19. Learn to bake bread - commercially!
20. Do a motorbike road trip from UK to Denmark - through Belgium, Holland and Germany!
21. Buy a 650cc motorbike
22. Ride a bike at 120mph (scared myself and never did it again!)
23. Buy a house
24. Get married
25. Become a father
26. Visit Swaziland
27. Visit Kruger National Park
28. Learn Archery
29. Learn Abseiling (artificial wall)
30. Learn climbing (artificial wall)
31. Become qualified activity instructor
32. Get divorced
33. Buy a VW Camper Van
34. Visit Spain
35. Visit Tunisia
36. Visit Brazil
37. Visit Morro do Sao Paulo
38. Visit the Chapada Diamantina National Park
39. Live in Brazil
40. Do charity work
41. Visit Iguacu
42. Visit the Pantanal
43. Spend Carnaval in Salvador
44. Visit Peru
45. Visit Islas Ballestas
46. Visit Huanchaco
47. Swim in the Pacific Ocean
48. Live in Peru
49. Visit Chachapoyas
50. Visit Quelap
51. Visit Gocta waterfall (16th tallest in the world)
52. Visit Scotland
53. Tour by motorbike in Peru
54. Drive through the Maranon Canyon by motorbike (deeper than the Grand Canyon)
55. Visit Huaraz
56. Drive along Duck Canyon (considered to be one of the world's most dangerous roads)
57. Visit the USA
58. Drive (most of!) Route 66
59. See the Grand Canyon
60. See Hoover Dam
61. Take a boat trip on Lake Mead
62. Drive a convertible Ford Mustang (in California)
63. Visit Utah
64. Celebrate Thanksgiving
65. Get a tattoo

That will do for now (I have no doubt missed some out and will revisit it - after all I have not kicked that bucket yet!) - and if I had to pick the highlight it would have to be #25 - I was there at the birth of my daughter and it was the most magical experience!