No 13 Spend a whole day with each of my children (19)

Why was this a challenge?  Having 3 adult children with busy lives and 1 living 2 hours away meant it was tricky to spend a whole day with just them.  Of course we all wanted to make sure we did the challenge and are now planning to do it every year - I recommend it!  So often I see my family but in groups, or at events; having a day to just be... we had the opportunity to remember what we like about each other and how much we love each other.

Spent the day with Sara at a spa - what a treat, healthy juices and lunch, lovely massage and facial, quick jog in the gym topped off by a swim, a stint in the steam room and ending with a relaxing spell in the jacuzzi! To say we talked for England was an understatement - but we soon put the world to rights and vowed to do it again in the not too distant future.

Spent the day with George that ended up with another challenge being ticked off my list!  He treated me to an open air concert at Blenheim Palace to see Ludovico Einaudi - magical!  The sunset we had to some of the most beautiful music in the world was a very emotional moment; yes I had a tear!!

Spent a few days with Chloe on other challenges but the day in question that was so meaningful was when we visited so many of the places I lived when I was younger for the front door challenge.  It was quite emotional for me to visit so many in one day and to talk about what I remembered with Chloe as she wanted to know more about my history; it was a nice moment between mother and daughter.

No 12 Take a Ferrari for a test drive (11)

Not only did I get to drive a Ferrari I drove an Aston Martin as well!  

 This bright red car oozed super car; it was sporty, low and ready to go. I eased in to the leather driving seat and could feel the car purring at me; waiting for my foot on that gas pedal!  Edging slowly to the start of the track, my foot wanted to slam down and GO!  As I pulled on to the right hand side my instructor said "foot down all the" - who was I to refuse....  I took it round 3 short laps, navigated the twists and turns until finally, it was over My instructor was very pleased. said he had never been asked so many questions by a woman before and I had handled the car very smoothly. What can I say - I am a Ferrari girl!



Next up the Aston Martin. It was an automatic with paddles on the steering wheel so it took a lap to

get used to it. Still, I soon got it and got it up to a fast speed, not as nippy as the Ferrari on pulling away or when changing gear.  It was definitely something I had never thought I would do but my heart lies with that bright red, brashy supercar!

No 11 Cable car over the Thames (17)

My sister Alex treated me to a day out to complete the challenge of going over the Thames on the cable car. As I have vertigo this could have been a difficult challenge! To make it more of a challenge she decided we would also climb the 02 (The Millennium Dome) - yes - climb up to the top and back down again! It was a nice climb up, quite windy but not cold, brilliant views on the way up and down.  The viewing platform at the top is interesting and we really could see far and wide over London. It was harder to come down as the angle was steep and we had to go slowly on the harness links, even though I suggested we all slide down the side on our bums, 007 style! 

365m round, 52m high

The walkway over the dome

Harnessed up!

Nice clear day

Windy at the top!

                       

Off to the cable car                                                 Don't forget my medal

Only 5 minute wait for the cable car despite a queue, it was surprisingly stable when we got in. Usually there is an element of swaying, especially when it is windy but it was hardly noticeable if there was any.  We shared the car going over the first time but the views were breathtaking and our companions just as much in awe. They got out when we crossed and we had the whole car to ourselves on the way back so i took some fab photos and videos too.

An awesome view

Really incredible

Forgot the Thames is so wide!

and so big!

What a day for heights.......

....the Shard!

No 10 - Go to the top of The Shard (6)

This challenge was completed on my Birthday with friends and family. We stayed in a hotel next to London Bridge after my party and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to do this challenge.

It was a beautiful sunny day and London was looking good! I was a little surprised to experience vertigo though. Never having had an issue with heights before I wasn't worried about looking down, in fact it was amazing seeing the full 360 panorama! Stepped out of the lift and the dizziness and nausea set in - very strange I must say but I had a great time and did complete the challenge!

Getting ready to go up

Tower Bridge

Started to get vertigo!

HMS Belfast

Ooh very whooshy now!

The London Eye

At the top - it was amazing!

No 9 - Write personal letters (42)

I wanted to make this challenge a very special one. I originally thought I might write a letter for each person on their Birthday, but then I realised that it would only be a surprise for the first couple of people. I thought then to maybe do it for Christmas, but then there would be so many other things going on and other gifts that it might be seen as just a Christmassy thing, and I wanted it to be a something from me thing!

When I decided to give golden goody boxes as a little something for my Birthday guests I realised it was the perfect opportunity to pop a note/card into each box of the people I wanted to write to. This would mean it would be a surprise for everyone at the same time and also give me a lot of pleasure spending some time thinking and writing about all the people I love and the wonderful quirks and traits they have!

So I popped each note into the goody box and it was such a pleasure to hear how much they were appreciated. I loved this challenge as it was all about everyone else and not me!

Coloured notes and dinky envelopes!

The golden goody boxes

No 8 - Make my own Birthday Cake (20)

This was always going to be a good challenge as I am not a baker! I can make lovely savoury dishes but cakes, always a hodgepodge!  Still, I have 2 facts about my cakes: 1 - they always taste lovely, 2 - they always look as if they are about to fall over; and this cake did not disappoint!

First thing to do, make an extra large cake board as I was going big! An old cork board and some cardboard boxes did the trick....

Just a simple cork board!

Ta da! 

 Then I found out that too much chocolate dries out cake and also that ganache can curdle!!

Oh dear....

Curdled ganache - yuk!

 If it doesn't stick together then try kitkat scaffolding as a support structure, tasty and effective. Then if it looks a bit like it might just all fall apart, bring in the fondant icing!

Starting to look like a ship

Kit kat scaffolding!

Cover it up, lol.

It might still fall over but I discovered that a garden brick covered in gold tissue paper holds a cake up nicely and can even add to the overall effect!!

Secret support wall..

 

Let the decorating commence

Yummy chocolate...

Time to get creative

Ta da!

No 7 - Have coffee in Harrods (50)

Believe it or not, despite spending a third of my adult life in London and another third visiting London, until today I had never been to Harrods! I have driven past many times at Christmas time and the shop front windows always look so magical and I remember as a child seeing on the news the crowds queueing over night for the January sales. So I was been looking forward to my visit with the added bonus of having a coffee and a pastry.

I did the challenge with my daughter Chloe and we arrived on a lovely sunny afternoon, except it was a Saturday and there were so many people it was hard to move around the store! There are very few signs in the shop so it is difficult to find out where you are and where anything else is. I asked a male shop assistant where the Tea Room was and after following his directions we ended up going round in a circle and back where we started! I then asked a female assistant where the nearest place to have a cup of tea was. She laughed and said there were loads of places in the shop and I eventually pinned her down to where the nearest one was; so I thought!  It took asking another assistant who told us to go downstairs to the Cappuccino cafe before we found somewhere to actually get a drink, can you believe it!!

The cafe was very sweet, small but nicely laid out. We made our order including some water as it was very warm.  It did look lovely when brought to our table, minus the water. We had to ask 3 times in total to get the water and when it arrived it was warm, that was disappointing. Especially as the coffee was a very small cup and not very hot either.  The pastries were yummy though and CHloe had a large pot of hot tea which I shared too. She actually ordered ice tea and was given a hot pot and a glass with ice - didn't expect that!!

Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our pastries and we took our time eating them as they cost so much!!  They were very sweet so we did have pauses, especially as we were waiting for water.  Chloe didn't manage her all her tea but I definitely drank every drop of the coffee.

The prices were going to be high, but I knew that before I went and as a one off treat for a challenge, but I was a little surprised just how much a coffee and a pastry would be in their little coffee bar!