18 things to do at 18...a year on

HELLO EARTHBUGS,

TODAY IS A SHOUTY DAY BECAUSE IT IS MY BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LIAAAAAA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. I shall stop shouting now, I promise, but today I thought I'd publish an extra post to see if I managed to ticked off the things on my 18 things to do at 18 list. I thoroughly recommend putting on a dance playlist, something incredibly cheesy, and having a mini dance party with some party poppers before continuing to read this post. 


1. Go to bingo - DONE!
After having this planned for a year and a half I can now tick this off. I loved bingo!

I have still only done this twice but I thoroughly enjoy it and I haven't won yet but one day my luck must change. DONE.

2. Buy my own alcohol - DONE!
I was probably the most enthusiastic person ever whilst getting my ID out to prove I'm 18...this is probably going to happen a lot as I look approximately 14.

I still get asked for ID all the time, in fact I almost got asked for ID to put the lottery on the other day. To put the lottery on you have to be 16...so yes, I can still vouch for looking 14. DONE.

3. Raise £100 for charity
Pretty self-explanatory.

Smashed this target whilst doing my "Walking all over cancer" in June, I titled this Walking for Mary and had to walk 10,000 steps everyday in June. I raised a grand total of £474, I was super proud of this and I'm definitely looking to raise more money for other charities etc in the future. DONE.

4. Finish my A-Levels
I'm not particularly aiming for A* grades but I would like to finish them just so I know that the grades I get are the grades I deserve because I like to think that I've tried pretty hard during sixth form. If I get into university, I get into university and if I don't then I simply rethink.

Picking my A-Level results up is still the weirdest thing I have ever done, I remember sitting at a bus stop in the rain happy crying because I got into my first choice university with a little old woman slightly confused as to what was going on. But I did it. A Levels were very stressful for me and I had many meltdowns over them because I simply couldn't get my head around any of them so I had came to accept the fact that if I didn't get into university, I thoroughly didn't expect to, then I had done my best and no one could expect anymore of me. DONE.

5. Watch a sun rise 
I love watching sunsets so much but I definitely want to watch more sun rises this year.

This happened accidentally as my Mum dropped me off for work the other week, but we got to watch a very lovely sunrise on a Saturday morning and I do still endeavour to get up early to see as many sunrises as I can but hey, DONE.

6. Get at least one tattoo
I've grown up with my dad getting several tattoos and over the years I have definitely decided that I'd like to get a few.

I currently have two tattoos. One of them is on the back of my left arm above my elbow and is a Manchester bee, called Bertie, which I got to raise money, as part of an open day, for the victim's families of the awful Manchester terrorist attacks in May last year. I also have a man wishing for the world with the words "the world is yours" in a script on my right forearm, it is very colourful and I love it. I have more planned, DONE.

7. Build my confidence in swimming
I used to be pretty confident with swimming when I was younger but over the years I have lost it so I think that now I'm an adult

In short, give me goggles and a nose peg and I can swim like a little fish. Take them off me? I may drown. So I think I can confirm, DONE.

8. Take up a new hobby 
Instead of watching Netflix all summer I feel like it would be pretty cool to do some sort of new hobby.

I'm in the process of knitting some form of blanket and I could never knit well, I also have other craft things that I can start so I like to think that I've fallen in love with craft stuff and can class that as a hobby, DONE.

9. Do the Sheffield TenTenTen and actually run it 
This is a difference to doing about 100 metres and walking in a huffy mess which obviously means that I will have to do some form of exercise other than walking from my bedroom to the kitchen.

I missed the sign up for this as I am a complete idiot, but I convinced Jack (aka: he had no choice as I signed him up) to do a fun run with me where we dressed as the 118 guys which was fun, but cold, very cold, and my wig kept falling off and I lost my moustache. But we did run most of it so I'm saying DONE.

10. Start to learn a new language
I feel like this would probably be a cool skill to have.

I have started to look at different tutorials on YouTube for learning BSL so I guess it is a kind of tick.

11. Go on a random road trip 
With no particular destination with loud music and good company. I feel like this would be a pretty decent thing to do at 18.

I did this accidentally without realising it was going to be a road trip, it wasn't very far and to be honest we ended up in Sainsbury's car park eating crisps and donuts but it was lovely and the company was wonderful. I hope for more drives like this. 
DONE.

12. Go to a drive in cinema
I can pretend I'm in Grease.

I loved this experience and will definitely look at doing more of them, although I recommend taking a pillow as the car wasn't that comfy. Mumma G and myself went to watch Pretty Woman at a drive in cinema and it was great.
DONE.

13. Read Pride and Prejudice 
I feel like it is one of the many classics that I should add to my reading list.

I have started to read Pride and Prejudice, I haven't completed it yet as I am reading it from the big book of stories by Jane Austen so I haven't been able to take it on the bus with me etc. because it's huge so I am definitely dedicating a day of my time when I am less busy to simply read it all. I am enjoying it though!

14. Watch Mary Poppins
One of my Mum's favourite films and I have never seen it.

I managed to do this on the 1st March, nothing like leaving it to the last minute. I LOVED IT. How have I never seen this before? DONE.

15. Get fit
This may be similar to number 9 but I do think it is probably slightly concerning that I get out of breath walking up the street.

I have started to walk more and am making more of an effort to get active and stuff so I would say this is a completed mark as getting completely fit was always a long shot.

16. Place a bet
Because I can.

I have done this several times and won quite a few actually. 
DONE.

17. Go to a cocktail bar 
I bloody love a good cocktail.

I have not completed this. However, still love a good cocktail.

18. Try not stress over everything
Probably a big thing if I actually achieve this... 

Anyone reading this who knows me super well knows that this was always an incredibly optimistic goal, I did not reach it. I still stress about absolutely everything and at quite extreme levels but hey, I tried.

So now as I continue to enjoy my day of birth for the 19th time, I bid thee farewell and recommend a mad dance session at least once an hour for the remainder of the day. You're welcome. 

All my love,

Lia x