Blog 40 - They Think It's All Over and It Is Now!

As I approached my 39th birthday, I did start feeling a bit old and suddenly very aware of the milestone that 40 is. After a tragedy last year when we lost a very special person from our family, life became very poignant. 'Life is short' suddenly became very real for me and I started thinking about all the things I don't do or make time for.

I wanted to honour Kevin's memory in some way and try to raise money for a charity that means and meant a lot to both of us. I also wanted to do something a little bit crazy and make it an unforgettable year and create a 'bucket list' for me as nobody knows what is around the corner. 

This all seemed like a great idea after a couple of drinks and the list of suggestions from friends for the final 40 list ranged from the extreme to bizarre to the downright ridiculous! After much deliberation, I thought I had set a list that was achievable but would also push my resolve, fitness levels and determination. I chose things that were things I had always secretly fancied doing or things that I wanted to improve on or just prove to myself that I could do anything that I set my mind on and hopefully make it a year to remember! 

All in all, it has been a busy year full of fun, adventure, bruises, permanent scars, aches and pains. I also have suffered with anaemia which caused lack of energy, breathlessness and pain throughout the year, which made some of the challenges a bit harder, especially the physical ones! 

My favourite challenges have been the Big Zipper, the Bike Ride, Chocolate Games and the Kindness Acts. The challenges that involved other people taking part with me have been the most fun and memorable and made me feel closer to my very good friends and also helped me make some new friends. 

The challenges that I disliked the most were the 40 days without chocolate, the 40 hour silence and the Ukelele (as I couldn't do it).  I managed to conquer one phobia (Bridges) but think I might have picked up a new one - 'slides' after my most traumatic moment during a challenge, which was towards the end of the mudrunner event. 

I did not manage to get on a game show but am still on the producers lists for future opportunities, so you never know! I’m pleased to say we made it onto the Challenges website for the World Record attempts and are currently ranked, 1 2 or 3 for the Jelly eating with Chopsticks award ( http://challengers.guinnessworldrecords.com/challenges/274-most-jelly-jello-eaten-in-one-minute-using-chopsticks/attempts/5640 ) and Menna is ranked 2^nd for the most amount of cartwheels in a minute! ( http://challengers.guinnessworldrecords.com/challenges/267-most-cartwheels-in-one-minute/attempts/5638 )

I know it's cheesy but I really couldn't have got through this year without the support of my fellow challengers and I owe you all a favour at least! I also have to thank all the people who didn't necessarily do any of the challenges with me but have supported and encouraged me throughout the year! You have all helped me to keep going, especially you Lee Thomas, my best cheerleader! Thank you to all of you who donated and sponsored me, as this was the main reason for me doing all of this and I really appreciate it! 

My family have all had to be very patient with me this year and my husband deserves the highest praise as he had to put up with all my moaning! I have loved how much my children have been involved in all my challenges and it has helped to give them some great life lessons. I have also learnt a lot from them and in particular, not to give up which has earned me the nickname from my daughter of the 'Never Give Up Queen!' Since these challenges, they are always looking for ways to help people and do random acts of kindness, Iolo attempted his first ever 5K run and Menna is determined to break more World records. 

At the end of it all, as I reflect back on the year, I am really glad I did it and I feel proud that I managed to achieve so much and in particular what I set out to do. I have learnt some important life lessons and taught my children a few along the way, I managed to raise over £500 for the RSPCA and am still getting money coming in  ( https://www.justgiving.com/Michelle-Reed-perez1/ ) and hope that I have honoured Kevin in some small way.

I'm not sure what my fortieth year will bring, but I think I will have to set myself a few small challenges throughout the year just to keep myself motivated, but just not 41! Now that my iron count is up and I have tons more energy, my husband and close friends are wondering what I'm going to be like with even more energy! 

Blog 39 - Party

Challenge 20 was to party with 40 friends. I have managed to do this a couple of times during the year at other people's 40th parties, but I hoped that I would be able to celebrate my own birthday with close family and friends too.

As I had spent so much money throughout the year on these challenges, I decided I couldn't afford a huge party too, so decided to have a couple of smaller celebrations instead. I celebrated with a family meal on my actual birthday then had a 'Sports Day' party for close friends and their families on the 24th August and will be having a girls night on the 6th September! So all in all, by the end of all the celebrations, I will have partied with 40 friends!!

Birthday Family Meal at Bills!

We have hosted the Reed-Perez Sports Day party for a number of years and basically entails my closest and oldest friends and their children all coming over and we go over the field behind our house to have an afternoon of fun sports and games that all the family join in on. We have special prizes for winning teams and a few other selected categories, like Most Enthusiastic Child and Adult, Funniest Sporting Moment and Sports Personality of the Day.

As we enjoy it every year and its a great way for all the kids to be involved too, that was the way I wanted to celebrate my birthday this year. Once again it did not fail to entertain and as the kids are getting older each year, the families are getting more competitive each year too! The sports were once again ranging from brilliant to hilarious. Here is just a little taster of the Sports Day action this year...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaWhmg3-AkM&feature=youtu.be

The Awards Ceremony from the rather brilliantly funny MC Tracey was once again highly amusing with everyone preparing their best loser faces! To combat the changeable weather we also set up our tent of fun for celebration drinks and we partied late into the night! All in all, a fab birthday celebration and my last challenge done!

Blog 38 - Challenge Progress - 11 Months and 2 Weeks in!

With only two weeks left to go before the big 40 and I set off on holiday, I only have 5 challenges left...

• Write 40 blogs (Aug 2013 - 26 Aug 2014)
• Do 40 sit ups every day (Aug 2013 - 24 Aug 2014)
• 40 dates with my husband (Aug 2013 - 24 Aug 2014)
• Party with 40 friends (24 Aug & 6 Sept 2014)
• Lose 14 pounds (Aug 2013 - Aug 2014)

I have been doing my sit-ups every day apart from for 2 days, when I had my stomach injury after the Mudrunner. I have a couple of dates to squeeze in with my husband on my holiday and will be having two parties with friends on the 24th August and 6th September to celebrate. I also will be writing two last blogs around my birthday!

Bar a minor miracle, there is one challenge I am probably going to fail to complete but will continue to try and do so and that is to lose a stone in weight, I only half completed the challenge so have donated a £1 for each pound in weight I failed to lose to my fundraising page.

However, this is the list of challenges I have completed, it has cost me over £600 to complete them all (although I haven't counted all the money paid for accommodation and petrol etc!). It has definately made it a year to remember and this is how my year of 40 challenges panned out;

AUGUST 2013 
(Challenge 30) APPLY FOR A GAME SHOW - Applied for ‘Deal or No Deal’ and ‘The Chase’ on 24.8.13, ‘Bargain Hunt’ on 23.10.13 and ‘The Guess List’ on 28.2.14.

SEPTEMBER 2013
(Challenge 9) 40 HOUR FAST completed with Karen Daniel from 9pm on 31.8.13 until - 1pm 2.9.13.
(Challenge 22) ADOPT A WILD ANIMAL – I adopted a baby Asian elephant called Jubilee who was rescued without its mum. (Cost: £30)
(Challenge 12) VOLUNTEER FOR 40 HOURS - Applied for a volunteer position at NSPCC Childline Schools Service and got the job.
(Challenge 38) HULA HOOP 40 REVOLUTIONS – completed on 15.9.13 (Cost: £18)

OCTOBER 2013
(Challenge 25) GIVE BLOOD – Registered and gave blood on Friday 11 October.
(Challenge 18) TURN PHONE OFF FOR 40 HOURS – completed on 24 to 26 October.
(Challenge 4) SWIM 40 LENGTHS OF 50M POOL – completed with Lara Ramsay on 27.10.13. (Cost: £16)

NOVEMBER 2013
(Challenge 19) 40 HOURS OF NO SWEARING completed between 5 and 6 November. (Fines cost £21).
(Challenge 16) 40 HOUR SILENCE completed on 14.11.13 until 16.11.13.

FEBRUARY 2014
(Challenge 8) SCORE 40 WITH 1 DART - completed with 9th dart on 1.2.14 with Nick.
(Challenge 36) LISTEN TO ALL CDS - 186 CDs listened, started in Sept finished on 17.2.14.
(Challenge 12) 40 VOLUNTEER HOURS – started in October 2013 and completed in February 2014. (6 hours for School PTA events, 2 hours for Arthritis UK Fair, 35 hours: for NSPCC Childline Schools Service, as well as the normal RSPCA fostering hours).

MARCH 2014
(Challenge 3). RUN FOUR 10K RUNS IN 4 DAYS Completed St David's Day Run on 2.3.14, with Sue and Nia  (Cost: £16 registration), ran with Elaine, Siwan, Lisa and Catrin on Monday, ran with Paul in Newport on Tuesday and ran with Sue and Nia again on Wednesday.
(Challenge 2) GET 40 PEOPLE TO DONATE £10 completed in March 2014 but still collecting sponsorship so not sure how much exactly I will have raised until the end.
(Challenge 28) COMMIT 12 ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS – carried out in October 2013 and March 2014. (Cost: £15.30)

APRIL 2014
(Challenge 5) RIDE 40 MILES ON A BIKE  - completed on 27.4.14 with Elaine, Sioned, Nia, Nia P, Sue, Andrea, Catrin, Sarah Rawnsley, Sarah Davis, Miriam and Morag. (Cost £125)
(Challenge 13) NO CHOCOLATE FOR 40 DAYS No chocolate for Lent 5 March - 17 April
(Challenge 23) SEE A PLAY IN LONDON – I saw the play ‘Other Desert Cities’ at the Old Vic in London on 19.4.14 with my aunt. (Cost: £53)

MAY 2014
(Challenge 24) TEA AT THE RITZ – Went with my mum and aunt on 4.5.14. (Cost: £71)
(Challenge 27) CHOCOLATE COMPETITION This was completed at our ‘Girls Weekend’ with Sarah, Kath, Tracey, Kate, Corrina, Lara, Rach and Jo on 8.5.14 (Cost: £15)
(Challenge 33) TRY VODKA – I tried a vodka shot at Sarah's party on 17.5.14
(Challenge 31) BIG ZIPPER This was completed on 25.5.14 (Cost £50)

JUNE 2014
(Challenge 29) WALK ACROSS A HIGH BRIDGE – I walked across the Newport Transporter Bridge on 18.6.14 with Paul, Tahnee & Megan (Cost: £2.75)
(Challenge 39) RECORD A MUSIC SINGLE Recorded 'Happy' at The Pentalk Lab on 12.6.14
(Challenge 32) COMPLETE A MUDRUNNER EVENT This was completed on 29.6.14 (Cost: £35)
(Challenge 11) READ 40 BOOKS  -Started in August 2013 and finished my 40th book on 20 June 2014 (Cost: £75)

JULY 2014
(Challenge 17) VISIT 40 PUBS – throughout the year and finished on 9.7.14.
(Challenge 37) GET 40 RETWEETS This was done on 11.7.14.
(Challenge 7) LEARN A 40 MOVE DANCE – After 3 dance practices, we performed the routine on 29.7.14. (Cost: £45).
(Challenge 40) GET 40 PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CHALLENGES – I had managed to get 40 people by the end of July 14.
(Challenge 34) ATTEMPT A WORLD RECORD – The children and I attempted 4 record attempts on 28.7.14. (Cost: £3.50)
(Challenge 35) COOK 12 NEW MEALS -12 Recipes were cooked from August 2013 and 28.7.14.

AUGUST 2014 
(Challenge 15) LEARN A TOP 40 HIT ON A UKELELE I played a song of sorts on 1.8.14.
(Challenge 21) PUT £40 ON BLACK – I put £40 on black in Les Croupiers Casino, Cardiff on 4.8.14 and won. (Cost £40)
(Challenge 10) TAKE 40 PHOTOS - I took 40 photos throughout the year.

Phew! What a year!!

Just in case anyone didn't realise that I was trying to raise money for the RSPCA Cardiff and would like to donate to my page, here is the link... https://www.justgiving.com/Michelle-Reed-perez1/

Blog 37 - A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words!

Challenge number 10 was to take 40 photos throughout the year. So I wanted to make sure I captured the majority of the challenges in at least one photograph, although some couldn't really be captured in a photo, so I have added a couple of extras. Here are the photos of my year of challenges...

Challenge 1 - Write 40 Blogs

Challenge 2 - Get 40 people to donate £10

Challenge 3 - Run 4 x 10K runs in 4 days

Challenge 4 - Swim 40 lengths of a 50m pool

Challenge 5 - Ride 40 miles on a bike

Challenge 6 - Do 40 sit ups every day

Challenge 7 - Learn a 40 move dance routine

Challenge 8 - Score 40 in one dart.

Challenge 9 - Fast for 40 hours

Challenge 11 - Read 40 books

Challenge 12 - Volunteer for 40 hours!

Challenge 13 - No chocolate for 40 days

Challenge 14 - 40 dates with the hubbie

Challenge 15 - Learn to play the ukelele

Challenge 16 - 40 hours of silence

Challenge 17 - Visit 40 pubs

Challenge 19 - 40 hours of no swearing

Challenge 20 - Party with 40 friends

Challenge 21 - Bet £40 on black

Challenge 22 - Adopt a Wild Animal

Challenge 23 - See a play in London

Challenge 24 - Have Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

Challenge 25 - Give Blood

Challenge 26 - Chocolate Games!

Challenge 27 - 12 Acts of Random Kindness

Challenge 28 - Walk Across a High Bridge

Challenge 29 - Apply for a Game Show

Challenge 30 - Big Zipper!

Challenge 31 - Mudrunner

Challenge 32 - Try Vodka

Challenge 33 - Attempt to break a World Record

Challenge 34 - Cook 12 new meals

Challenge 35 - Listen to all my CDs

Challenge 36 - Get 40 Re-Tweets

Challenge 37 - Hula Hoop for 40 revolutions

Challenge 39 - Record a Song!

Challenge 40 - Get 40 friends involved

Challenge 40 - Get 40 friends involved.

South Wales Echo coverage!!

Blog 36 - In The Black

Challenge 21 was to put £40 on black on a roulette wheel at a Casino. This one made the list as I'm not much of a gambler but thought it would be a fun one to test my luck! I don't win at many things but I did however win at this year's office sweepstake for the World Cup, so thought that I would use my winnings from that to place the bet.

My brother and sister-in-law live in the States and wanted to join me on one of the challenges, so when they were visiting Las Vegas they placed a $40 dollar bet on black and won!! Although not as glamorous, Nick and I went to Les Croupiers Casino in Leckwith, Cardiff on a date night!

So early evening we headed in to the casino and although very shiny it still felt a little sleazy. We headed straight to the roulette table and took a while to watch the frenzy of bets made and to try and work up my nerve. I think it is fair to say that gambling does not come easy to me and I felt really frivolous to bet a whole £40 in one go! But bet £40 I did and we watched the roulette wheel go round in slow motion and then the ball fell finally into............... (drum roll).............. 35 BLACK!!!

Hoorah, we picked up our winnings of £80 and hot footed it straight out of there before I got tempted to bet anymore! We then went out and spent our winnings on dinner and wine! Not bad for a 5 minute challenge!

Blog 35 - Dates, Blogs, Sit-ups and Weight Loss!

As my birthday is looming and my 39th year is almost over, I thought I had better update you on some of the outstanding challenges. There are four challenges that I have been attempting throughout the whole year and will carry on right up until the last day, so although not officially completed, they are near enough done...

Writing blogs on my laptop, usually happened late into the night!

Challenge 1 was to write 40 blogs, this is blog number 36 and I have a couple more that I am planning to write by the end.

Challenge 6 was to do 40 sit-ups every day. I have managed to do this every day except for 2 days when I had a stomach injury following the Mudrunner! Some days were more whole hearted than others but at least they got done. To be honest I haven't noticed much improvement in my stomach muscles but I will carry on doing as many as I can just maybe not everyday!

Challenge 26 was to lose 14 pounds in weight. Unfortunately, this was one challenge that although attempted I have yet to complete. Although I don't really want to give excuses, as this should have been a fairly straight forward challenge, but I have struggled with Anaemia throughout the year. This condition has meant that my iron count has been incredibly low, which in turn has meant that I have struggled to control my eating. On Doctors orders, I was told not to diet but to try and eat small amounts regularly and as healthily as possible with foods high in iron. As I have struggled with tiredness I have at times over compensated with eating to give me the energy I need. So although increasing my exercise, I have throughout the year gone up and down in weight and the most I lost at any one time was 8 pounds just short of the 14.

I am gutted that I haven't fully completed a challenge but in one way this is good as I will need something to focus on when I eventually reach the age of 40 and have nothing else to do! So I have vowed to continue to focus on getting my iron levels sorted out and finally sort out my chubby self!

One 'Date Night' out on the town at a 40th Party!

Challenge 14 was to have 40 dates with my husband. At the start of this year when coming up with the challenges, I realised how much support I was going to need from family and friends, but especially from my husband as I had to rely on him more for childcare and financial help!! I wanted to make sure amongst all the craziness, that I made time to spend with Nick so that by the end of the year I didn't end up in divorce!

So I set the challenge to have 40 dates. As most families understand it was too difficult to have babysitting to be able to go out for all 40 dates, so some (most) of these dates consisted of turning off the TV and just giving each other attention, sitting down for a meal together and talking! Some of these 'dates' also included other friends with us, as this was the year of parties! So we had a combination of great date nights out celebrating with friends for birthdays and other events and dates 'in'. Quite a few of these date nights also consisted of us trying to squeeze in a few other challenges also i.e. pub visits, casino or darts for instance!

All in all although a hectic year, I have realised how lucky I am to have such a supportive husband and it has made us even closer. We will make sure that we continue to make time for each other in the future too!

Blog 34 - A Little Help from my Friends

Challenge 40 was to try and get at least 40 people involved in these challenges with me. I really thought I might struggle with this but thought ‘at least I could count 40 people at a party!’ to get out of it if I needed to. I was so surprised though in how much support I got throughout the year in my craziness. I am so lucky to have such amazing friends and I also made some great new friends. I realised that everyone is as bonkers as me and most people are just waiting for an excuse to challenge themselves or join in on something.

Special mention must go to my friends who attempted the more physical challenges and in some cases more than one! Step up Sue, Nia and Elaine (Run and Bike) and Lara Ramsay (Swim, Big Zipper and the traumatic Mudrunner) you all had the same physical wear and tear and you all deserve a round of applause!

All of the friends though who joined me in the physical challenges are legends and it is thanks to you all that I completed them all!

There was quite a few of you that attempted multiple challenges; Paul, Karen, Sioned and Kath - you have been a massive help and proved you are just as crazy as me! 

I also need to thank my talented friends who used their special skills to help me… Thank you to dance teacher Emma, Music Producer Jamie and my piss head friends who volunteered for pub visits and used their special chocolate eating skills for the greater good!

I also need to especially thank my amazing husband and children who not only had to complete some of the challenges with me, but also supported and listened to me bleeting on about all the other challenges (apart from in the 40 hour silence though obviously, which by the way was my husband's favourite!).

All the lovely ladies for the 40 mile bike ride

Sue & Nia in the running challenge

Sally, Emma and Jo for the 40 move dance

Paul, Tahnee & Megan in bridge walk

Kate, Lara, Trace, Sarah, Kath, Rach,
Corrina & Jo in just one of the pubs!

Sioned, Lara, Kath, Karen & David (and Dyfan taking pic)
for Big Zipper!

So here are the amazing 40 people who are all heros in my eyes…

1. Karen (40 Hour Fast and Big Zipper)
2. Nick (Pubs, Dates, Darts, Ukelele and Casino)
3. Lara (Swam 40 lengths, Big Zipper & completed the Mudrunner)
4. Elaine (Ran 10k and Rode 40 miles on a Bike)
5. Sue (Ran 10k and Rode 40 miles on a Bike)
6. Nia (Ran 10k and Rode 40 miles on a Bike)
7. Paul (Ran 10k, Pubs, Bridge & Ukelele teaching)
8. Siwan (Ran 10k)
9. Catrin Collins (Ran 10k)
10. Lisa (Ran 10k)
11. Mum (Afternoon Tea at The Ritz)
12. Auntie Kathy (Afternoon Tea at The Ritz & London Play)
13. Leon (Placed £40 bet at a Casino and Pubs)
14. Brenda (Placed £40 bet at a Casino)
15. Sioned (Rode 40 miles on a Bike and Big Zipper)
16. Dyfan (Big Zipper)
17. Kath (Big Zipper, Pubs, Ukelele teaching and Chocolate Games Competition)
18. David (Big Zipper)
19. Tracey (Pubs and Chocolate Games Competition)
20. Kate (Pubs and Chocolate Games Competition)
21. Corrina (Pubs and Chocolate Games Competition)
22. Jo (Pubs and Chocolate Games Competition)
23. Sarah Mitchell (Pubs and Chocolate Games Competition)
24. Rachael Thomas (Pubs and Chocolate Games Competition)
25. Catrin Rodric (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
26. Gwennan (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
27. Miriam (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
28. Sarah Rawnsley (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
29. Sarah Davis (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
30. Andrea Storer (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
31. Nia Price (Rode 40 Miles on a Bike)
32. Tahnee (Pub and Bridge)  
33. Megan (Pub and Bridge)
34. Jamie Winchester (Song & Pub)
35. Iolo (Kindness)
36. Menna (Kindness & Ukelele)
37. Emma Goodwin (Dance)
38. Joanne Parcell (Dance)
39. Sally-Anne Evans (Dance)
40. Leah (Pub)

All 40 of you are amazing and I promise I owe you all a favour and I will try not to do anything else silly for a while! Thank you, all of you! and thanks to all the friends who maybe couldn't carry out a challenge with me but supported me with all your kind wishes and messages!