Completed: Get a Tattoo and/or piercing

My mantra

Task number: 75.

Get a Tattoo &/or piercing.

Date: 30th June 2012.

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Attendees: Yvonne Weatherlake.

This task is in the reckless section of the book, but I have to admit this for me was something that had been given a lot of thought.

I had wanted a tattoo for a while, but I wanted One that really meant something. For me, too many people get artwork placed on their bodies without thinking about how this will be with them for the rest of their lives.

If I was to get One it had to be something that really explained me as a person. Something that I would look at & know that this symbolised me, my roots & my values as much as being a piece of art. There was no way I wanted to look back in a few years & think I shouldn't have done that.

The last few years have pretty difficult from a personal point of view, but One mantra, as simple as it is has always stuck with me.

"My Tattoo artist, Simeon" & myself during the big day

"Never ever give up" is a phrase I have always lived by.

We all face adversity at some point in our lives, but in my opinion it's how you deal with it that counts. I won't get too deep, but no matter what, we have to carry on.

I can't claim to have had a rough childhood or even a particularly difficult life. In fact, I appreciate the terrific lengths my parents have gone to make sure I had the best they could offer, but I think a lot of people would agree when I say that everything we have & achieve in life we have to fight for.

I am no exception. I am very proud of what I have achieved so far, but I have had to fight for every inch of it. I have never given up & when faced with difficult times, I always recall this phrase & I'm sure I will need it at some point in the future. It felt like there were more reasons for me to get this done than not to. So, after a friend recommended a place in Amsterdam, I got on the phone & made my booking. I had plenty of time to change my mind as there was a Four month waiting list.

Again though, this had to be more than getting the phrase "Never ever give up" written all the way up my arm. I needed something that reminded me of my roots. What I represented as a person. & then I got to thinking about my own core values & where I'm from.

Those who know me will know I'm a very proud "Sussexonion". I have the counties flag draped over my desk at work & celebrate Sussex day every year. Sussex, to be more specific, East Sussex is where I was brought up & is still where I call home. I wanted the tattoo to represent something else that was truly close to my heart.

After a little research, I found out that amongst many other counties in the South East of England, Old English, spoken by the Saxons was main language throughout Sussex in years gone by. In fact, the name Sussex means "South Saxons".

It took a while to get the phrase translated & then validated, but in the end we got there. I didn't want to find out years later that I actually got "I'm a big Penis" or something written in permanent ink on my body. After all, you do hear some horror stories! I consulted a number of universities & Old English experts. The inscription literally translated reads "Never stop", but this, I'm told is the closest to the phrase I wanted.

Me & my proud bandage

Most have asked, "Did it hurt?". The honest answer is yes, of course it did a little, but not as much as I thought. I've often wondered myself how much pain people have to ensure when getting this done & granted mine is only a small inscription. A giant Eagle across your back or some of the other insane things people get inked into their bodies would probably require a slightly higher pain threshold, but it really is as they describe. like a needle being scratched across the top of your skin. 

I'm told that people get addicted to these kind of things & the tattoo artist himself said that he gets customers coming back asking for more artwork when, short of colouring them in, there is nothing else he can do. My sister, who already has a few herself said that it does become a bit of an obsession.

For me, I wouldn't rule anything out in the future, but I'm more than happy with what I have for the time being.

My artist Simeon was super nice & accomplished with something like 20 years experience. You can see for yourself, he did an amazing job with mine, ensuring that even the fine lines & close attention to detail were perfectly finished.

If you're ever in Amsterdam & feel the need like I did, I would highly recommend Simeon & his partner Imke.

Check out their website. Some amazing pieces:

www.eternaltattoosbysimeon.nl

Completed: Shout "Drinks are on me!" in a pub or bar

Me & a few of the "Punters"!

Task number: 65.

Shout "Drinks are on me!" in a pub or bar.

Date: 19th May 2012.

Location: Hilversum, Netherlands.

Attendees: Stuart Wilson & the entire contents of the Felix II pub in Hilversum!

In my opinion this has to be an adhoc thing. Something you do on the spare of the moment. A sporadic moment of madness that you can only do when you truly have something to celebrate - Well, that's what I'll say now anyway!

The original plan was to draw it. Me & a few friends would get together, throw a load of pub names & dates into a hat & head off to complete this task on the lucky pub & date. I would just have to hope that I didn't pick the middle of Amsterdam on a Saturday night!

However, I really think the true spirit of this task lies entirely on the very reckless nature of it. Like I said, spare of the moment.

The date in question was a Saturday night. Most of my friends will tell you that calling me a Chelsea fan is an understatement. As far as I was concerned the 19th May was Chelsea's date with destiny. My team, despite a season of disarray that included losing a manager & a run of results that had a lot to be desired, had made it to arguably the pinnacle of all club competitions. The Champions League final. Just One game lie between them & glory. 4 times winners Bayern Munich stood in the way of my boys & a first ever title.

Those who have half an eye on football will know the outcome, as Chelsea over came the Germans in a tense game that ended in a penalty shoot-out, but what they won't know is the shredded emotions I felt by the end of it all. I'm sure that many football fans will agree that on occasion when their team comes that close to ectasy or agony they question why they put themselves through it. This was One of those occasions when I know why I do.

When the final penalty when in & I knew we'd beaten them, I sank to my knees & burst into tears. All those years of hurt were gone. We'd finally done it!

I was in a pub in Amsterdam & I must admit that 6-7 beers does help to lubricate the emotions, but this was huge. I was on a high. Task number 65, it was now or never!

I had left the Amsterdam pub at this point, but on the way home, I stopped outside our local pub back in Hilversum & told my friend what I was going to do. "Are you insane?!". The pub was pretty busy & after checking that they took pin as there was no way I'd have enough cash, I asked the staff if I could get behind the bar & execute my plan. After thoroughly checking my card to make sure it was in good working order & I was absolutely serious, they let me behind the bar. I guess it's not every day that a guy steps into a pub & wants to buy everyone a drink.

I strode up, rang the bell to call for attention & made my announcement. This was going to hurt! Or was it?

I'd like to remind you at this point that every rule of engagement was followed. Packed pub, reason to celebrate & the will do exactly as the task required.

My friend was texting my girlfriend, who was elsewhere to warn her as the beer, wine & spirits kept flowing. I think they were bracing themselves harder than I was. & then it came. The bill.

Just 35 Euros! Everyone in the bar had a drink in their hand & it had cost me 35 Euros to complete task 65 on the list - WHAT A DODGED BULLET!

The infamous reciept.

A day at the races

The finishing straight (Image courtesy of www.grandnational.org)

In a bid to complete the 4 part "Go to the races" task, a group of us recently went to the UK's famous Grand National.


The National is held at Liverpool's Aintree race course every year & is arguably THE most well known horse race, with an estimated 500 - 600 million people watching it on TV Worldwide.


We decided to make a weekend of it. My girlfriend & myself met my sister & her partner in Liverpool & stayed for the weekend. We are all big Beatles fans, so as well as seeing the race, we heading to the famous Cavern club in the evening, where the Beatles used to play in the early days. The weekend was to be like no other though. A very memorable One to say the least.


I had decided that this was going to be the weekend that I did the honourable thing and finally propose to my girlfriend of 7 years. I had seen the ring I wanted all I had to do was get it & do the deed.


I had intended to do it in Rome, a month before, but my girlfriend fell ill a few days before we were due to go & so we didn't make it.


I had worried that the national might be a tacky place to do it, but Yvonne's friends & my family convinced me that what I had planned was just right.


The first task though was to get the ring. The shop was inside the departure lounge of the airport. I had to get it on the way over to the UK. Of course the problem with that was that Yvonne was with me. However, my cunning sister had a plan.


She rang my girlfriend telling her that she really, really needed a horse matching necklace & bracelet set from a specific shop in the airport, asking Yvonne to pick it up for her on the way through. This of course couldn't wait & she had to have it there & then. Suffice to say that no such necklace & bracelet set existed, but it gave me just enough time to pick up the ring & get it set before I met up with my unsuspecting future wife. It was touch & go though. I was sweating buckets as they went about their business, polishing the Diamond & carefully setting it into the band that I hoped would be the right size. My fingers were crossed that Yvonne wouldn't get bored & come looking for me. Thankfully, they managed it & got back to her at the end of her wild Goose chase.


However, unbeknown to all of us, as my sister was helping plan my engagement, her partner had been organising his own little proposal. On the way up to Aintree, my sister & Rory stopped off at Winsor & he popped the question himself. It was a huge coincidence as he'd apparently planned this for months.


The day itself went swimmingly, despite my nerves. After a hearty breakfast, the Four of us headed to the race course. The weather wasn't perfect, but the rain held off & my plan was executed.


I had explained what I'd wanted to do to my sister & her now fiance & they agreed they would help. I wanted to do make my move as the winner crossed the finish line.
We were right in front of the main Grand stand, in line with the finish, so as the horses came by & I pulled the ring out of my pocket, Sophie & Rory ensured that my girlfriend faced the action, whilst I got down on One knee behind, so that she couldn't see what I was up to. & then we did it. Thank god she said yes as the whole crowd around us gazed in bewilderment at what I'd just done!


The funny thing is that we thought all our horses had come in at Once, so to speak. We were in jubilant celebration as we thought our horse had just won the National too. It turns out that the commentator had  got the wrong horse though ours had actually fallen a couple of hurdles before! This didn't dampen our spirits though. To coin a phrase that others have used since hearing our good news, I still picked a winner.


A wonderful weekend & One we'll never forget. Now I just need to convince her to get married somewhere unusually & I can fill in task number 88!

Completed: Sell your junk on ebay & make a profit

Task number: 84.

Sell all your junk on ebay & make a profit.

Date: 29th March 2012.

Location: Hilversum, Netherlands.

Attendees: NA

A difficult task, given that there wasn't that much to sell in the end. You'd think that moving house, I'd have all sorts of stuff to get rid of.

I put a number of items up for sale, but only One sold.

Funnily enough it was a book by a man who is probably most recently famous for his ridiculous antics on film involving something very similar to the Bloody book.

Karl Pilkington's latest series "An idiot abroad Two" follows him trying various peoples ideas of life experiences from a bucket list. I won't give too much away because if you haven't seen it yet, I strongly advise that you do, but the basic point of the show is for Karl to experience the ultimate bucket list. This is a list compiled by the shows other Two stars Ricky Gervais & Stephan Merchant & based on most peoples dream to do before they die. He can select any activity from the list, but Ricky & Stephan ensure that each One is as entertaining as possible by dropping in a few unexpected surprises. Pilkington is a self confessed creature of comfort & clearly hates doing any of the tasks, which makes it all the more funny.

You get to know Karl & his "unique" personality through this & the previous series & this book is a clear reflection, full of anecdotes &  & observations of his childhood & early life.

A rather mundane task in the end, it must be said, but completed, none the less. I got this as a Christmas present, so the 3.25 pounds I sold it for still means a profit!

Completed: Make at least One huge purchase you can't afford

Task number: 54.

Make at least One huge purchase you can't afford.

Date: 2nd April 2012.

Location: Hilversum, Netherlands.

Attendees: Yvonne Weatherlake.


After 5 years in Holland, my girlfriend & I finally decided to take the plunge & buy a house here.

It can take people years to find the perfect house, but it seems we were lucky.
Our year long quest finally ended in April of this year when we moved into our Two bedroom maisonette, in Hilversum.

Just a stones throw from the high street, we ended being neighbours with the first friends, we met when we moved to the country all those years ago.

Now all I have to do is start replacing some of the "quirky" elements that the previous owner had seen fit to pass as style. Such as metal clad flooring in the kitchen, striped paint in the bedrooms & painted wood across the whole of the Second floor. Wish me luck!