#38 Indoor Rock Climbing

#38 Indoor Rock Climbing - Completed 28 December
Well well well … how interesting was this task … I am beginning to think I have an issue with heights! While I found this sort of hard - because I was trying to lift with my arms instead of pushing with my legs - I did find the height a bit strange. You really need to have trust in the person holding the rope at the end so that if you fall they will stop you from hitting the ground.

I was lucky enough to have my good friend Christina (up from Melbourne on holiday) to join me on this task - although I should now call her “spider” she flew up that wall like you wouldn’t believe. Chris use to do this as sport many years ago when she lived in Sydney - so it was certainly helpful that I had someone who knew what they were doing.

After a couple of goes I started to get use to the idea of pushing with my feet but my arms got tired very quickly (mental note - long nails are not a good idea!)

20 down, 20 to go.

#8 Sydney Show Boat

#8 Sydney Show Boat - Completed 22 December
OH WHAT A NIGHT.. as the famous song goes.. and what a night it was. Firstly beautiful weather, secondly having my makeup done and thirdly great food, great venue, great entertainment and most importantly great company! Definitely would suggest this as a night out in Sydney - again being out on the Harbour is always fun and the food/show was worth it. Couldn’t take photos of the girls dancing but it is generally a Moulin Rouge type show - they did various dancing from around the world - a Vegas top hat routine, a Tango, an African dance and finished off with the Can Can.

Maria, Jessie, Lea & Sarah joined me on this task - thanks girls what a blast!

19 down, 21 to go.

#39 Skywalk (replacement for High Wire Walking)

#39 Skywalk (replacement for High Wire Walking) - Completed 20 December
Well this one ended up being a replacement because the high wire walking at Entertainment Quarter no longer exists - but what a cool replacement! It was a very windy day so we were not sure if it would even go ahead - Sarah and Adrian joined me on this task.

I don’t generally have an issue with heights but the glass bottom kind of freaked me out - especially when the guide said to bounce on it - not to mention the jumping for the photos! On the second glass flooring part it moves out which of course they don’t tell you they just start moving the floor - I of course already knew it did this so was a bit freaked out - man what a wuse!

Definitely the most amazing way to see Sydney - she really is a beautiful city.

18 down, 22 to go.

#10 Sydney/Manly Thrill Seeker

#10 Sydney/Manly Thrill Seeker – Completed 19 December

FFAAARRRKKKK this has to be one of, it not the best, thing to do in Sydney. Definitely tops my list of fun things. OH MY GOD it was awesome. The driver was a kiwi guy Andre from Auckland. I had the best time - just can’t believe the boat doesn’t flip as you go so fast and just fly through the water and doing 360’s. I was absolutely soaked at the end but who cares its only water!

To see Australia from the open sea is just awesome - we left Rose Bay and headed straight out through the heads to Manly.

This task is something I’ll never forget.

17 down, 23 to go.

#18 Comedy Store

#18 Comedy Store - Completed 13 December

Far out talk about hilarious…. I haven’t laughed that much in a long time. Comedians really do have a special talent. Sophie joined me on this task - unbeknown to us it was actually a festival hosted by Julia Morris and she has ask other famous comedians - Akmal Saleh, Kitty Flanagan and Mikey Robbins to join in. The festival part was for the video and photo submissions that people had done using a large face cut out of Julia. Have to say there are some weird people in this world. Couple of funny videos the rest were more along the line of “what the?” … at least the comedians in between kept us laughing. No words to describe how funny “J-Mo” is.

Oh and another note - the night was a charity night raising money for Breast Cancer - so well worth the ticket in more ways than one.

16 down, 24 to go.

#9 Tall Ship Twilight Cruise

#9 Tall Ship Twilight Cruise – Completed 5 December
After a few days of crappy weather in Sydney the sun was finally shinning for our evening on the harbour. Maria’s home for Christmas from Toronto so she joined me on this task. What a beautiful night! We left Campbell’s Cove (outside the Hyatt Hotel) at around 5.30pm then headed out pass the opera house. The dinner was a simple but nice BBQ – they even served fresh prawns. It was great to spend time with Maria, who has been away for 3 years – catching up while drinking champagne and cruising Sydney harbour was just perfect!

Whether you live in Sydney or are just visiting – this cruise should be on the list!

15 down, 25 to go.

#37 Roller Skate/Blade around Centennial Park

#37 Roller Skate/Blade around Centennial Park – Completed 24 November
This ended up being such a fun task – Lea the wiz on blades and me unsteady on roller skates… I decided to hire roller skates so I could get in touch with my youth!

It was a bit scary leaving the store so we skated around a bit before attempting to cross the road and go into the park. Once we got on to a flat surface without the bumps it wasn’t so scary. I could feel the burn in my legs almost immediately god I am so unfit! Having said that I wasn’t sore the next day.

Lea and I are definitely going to do this again so we don't have to rush against the clock and get the skates back, going to go further into the park and enjoy the scenery more. Fantastic task and so glad I did it, hey might even buy my own skates.

14 down, 26 to go.

#23 Bondi Icebergs

#23 - Bondi Icebergs - Completed 20 November

Elise is heading overseas for over 2 months so I thought it would be fun to have a ‘farewell’ for her and complete my #23 in the process. There were 16 of us who ended up coming including Bec who lives in Melbourne as a surprise for Elise.

The location of the restaurant is just amazing, overlooking the famous pool and side on to Bondi Beach. The weather was spectacular so made for a great view.

The food was exactly what I thought – expensive! I had a steak which came with onion rings and had to order veges separately - of course! have to say the desserts looked and tasted great!

All in all it was a fantastic day and worth every penny.

13 down, 27 to go.

#14 Play

#14 Play - Completed 16 November

Now this task was a big surprise. I’ve seen plays before but never in a such a small setting where I could almost touch the actor. Sophie found this play called “The Sweetest Thing” at the Belvoir Theatre in Surry Hills. There was only 6 people in the cast and 3 of them I had seen on TV over the years in various shows. What a great experience so glad this is what Sophie suggested. I only got a couple of photos from the venue, no way I could get any of the play itself.

This is the description of the play.

Sarah is trapped in her parents’ story. Now she’s fled to New Zealand after the sudden death of her father, leaving the grief stricken remains of her family behind. Teetering out of balance she finds herself falling in love and lust with Jim, a relationship that will change everything, forever.Exploring the random and unexpected turning points of life through a fluid time frame and chaos theory, The Sweetest Thing is the latest offering from award-winning Australian playwright Verity Laughton. Director Sarah Goodes brings her exquisite vision to this tender, funny, sharp and sexy text in a must-see premiere production of a heartfelt local story that examines the desires and contradictions of the human heart.

Cast: Caroline Craig, Vanessa Downing, Diana Glenn, Thomas Conroy, Christopher Morris & Lucy Wigmore.

12 down, 28 to go.

#27 Taronga Zoo

#27 Taronga Zoo (include Ferry/Cable Car) - Completed 1 November
What a day.. weather is not looking to crash hot. Mum and Dad joined me on this task as they are here on holiday. They were looking forward to seeing the baby elephant as they had watched him on TV in NZ.

We caught the train to Circular Quay then Ferry across the harbour to the Zoo. I was lucky enough to have a ticket to get in (thanks Lee!) M&D were able to get in as seniors (@ $30 each) - I have to say going to the Zoo is a costly exercise Adult ticket $43, Ferry ride $10.60 and the Train $6.40 – crazy!

Anyway back to the Zoo – we ended up doing two rounds of some of the enclosures because a lot of the animals were asleep, best part by far was the lions and tigers – WOW they are amazing creatures!! (can’t wait to go to Canberra and play with one…#3 on the list). Got some reasonably good photos through the glass. The baby elephant was just hilarious, you could go out the back and watch as they were being washed, one of the trainers was playing with him – just like any toddler really. We missed another one being born by only a couple of days.

The weather just got worse and by the time we wanted to see the seal show it had pretty much rained out! we managed to get a spot under the cover, so worth the wait the show was just hilarious – those seals really are half human I swear! We decided against seeing the bird show as we’d pretty much enjoyed over 4 hours of wondering around and had had enough of the weather by then, time for the marathon trip home – managed to get on the cable car thing back down to the ferry (at least that was free!), ferry back to Circular Quay then the train home … all in all a great day and made extra special because my parents participated in one of my tasks!

11 down, 29 to go.

#2 Hot Stone Massage

#2 Hot Stone Massage - Completed 23 October

This one was Kerry’s idea originally – and normally would be a great one, unfortunately not this time because of place we went to and the fact it was a package spa treatment at a cheaper rate.

While the massage part was great the “hot stone” wasn’t, all they did was put stones on my back for 10 minutes (over a towel) to warm the muscles. Very disappointing, Kerry had one previously where they used the stones to massage you which is what we wanted. Never mind certainly will give it a go again and will go to the place that Kerry went to.

Ten down, 30 to go.

#35 Pole Dancing

#35 Pole Dancing – Completed 19 September

Janine and Kirsty joined me on this task – certainly was a laugh. We caught a glimpse of the people doing a class before us and decided based on their moves that we weren’t allowed to watch each other once we started.

It was way harder than I thought, but I did find out that the poles actually turn! So that makes it easier to get around.

Can’t begin to describe the sore muscles over the following days but well worth it. The three of us had a ball and it certainly gave me a new appreciation for what pole dancers can do!

Nine down, 31 to go.

#4 City to Surf

#4 City to Surf - Completed 8 August
OH MY GOD. This was so much fun to do!! have never seen so many happy energetic people from all walks of life and what funny costumes.

Up at 6am on a Sunday is not fun, however it turned out to be an absolutely beautiful sunny day - couldn’t ask for anything better.

Only thing that was a bit sad was the amount of people walking on behalf of sick children or people who had passed away from illness - seeing the different t-shirts/costumes was quite inspiring.

Only down side to this whole thing was trying to get out of Bondi at the other end, I joined a very long line of people waiting for a bus but it just didn't move, it was then I started to feel sick, so a nap on the grass was in order (I think my body just realised that it had walked 14kms and was having a late freak out). Felt 100% after that, so rejoined the line and headed back into the city.

The end results was 2:32:50 – This task was so much fun, to be part of the 40th year (started in 1971 the year I was born - how ironic!) I will certainly do next year and hopefully rope some others into joining me - hey I may even wear a costume myself!

Eight down, 32 to go.

#11 Spit Bridge to Manly

#11 Spit Bridge to Manly - Completed 24 July
So here we are its time for the third walk on my list and next to the City to Surf, the longest at approximately 10kms. I decided that walking from the Manly side was a better option, so Sarah and I parked at The Spit Bridge and caught the bus to Manly to meet Sophie at Manly Wharf, our starting point.

To stand at the wharf and look out towards where we were going realising just how big distance was, for me was quite daunting (especially considering how tough it was doing the blue mountains last week). Surprising this, while long, was a great walk and I just can’t put the views into words, you really have to see it for yourself. I’m beginning to think this bush walking may actually be a new hobby for me - who would have thought.

We got to the other end, while I was a little tired and looking forward to our picnic lunch, I had this sense of accomplishment - high 5’s around! Writing this I still can’t believe I did the 10kms, roll on the City to Surf! I got up on Sunday morning still amazed that something so beautiful was in my ‘backyard’ all this time, oh and one good thing, for the first time in a month NO SORE MUSCLES!!!

Seven down, 33 to go.

#29 Blue Mountains Bush Walk and Picnic

#29 Blue Mountains Bush Walk and Picnic - Completed 18 July
Sarah and I headed to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, we had chosen the Valley of the Falls as the walk we wanted to do.

The weather was beautiful and it was certainly a great day for a walk. The start of the walk was just stunning the view of the mountains and seeing the blue haze across the horizon is beautiful. We then hit the stairs... see when you choose a walk that involves a valley and waterfalls... just remember when you go down stairs you will probably need to come back up. OH MY GOD. I knew was unfit but really this was crazy. It has been mentioned to me that one of the walks is nicknames 1000 stairs, well I think we found it! Lucky for me Sarah was very patient in waiting for me to get my breath back!

Although it was very hard on the way up, the walk over all was quiet beautiful.

Once we got to the top, it was time for a well deserved lunch, chicken and vegetable pie, raspberry and apple loaf, chicken pâté and crackers(all homemade) and hot a cup of tea. Heaven.

*Mental note: remember to stretch after a big walk...trying to wear heels to work with painful calf muscles not good!!*

Six down, 34 to go.

#33 Build a Paper Mache of my head

#33 Build a Paper Mache of my head - Completed 16 July
Once again this was a great idea of Elise’s. We started the project on the 26th June at my place and had decided that doing my head really wasn’t a logical option so paper mache my face was the answer. Starting with covering my face with Vaseline, wrapping it in cling wrap and cutting a hole for my mouth so I could breathe, Elise and Mendo then proceeded to covering it with the flour/water/paper mixture...hairdryer to make it dry quick was certainly a laugh! how much fun was this!

A couple weeks later and its time to paint - We came up with the idea of having a Phantom of the Opera type look - spilt down the middle, I got blue and silver paint and some ‘bling’ stones and with the help of Elise and Mendo we got it finished. I had forgotten just how much fun this craft stuff was.

Five down, 35 to go.

#26 Gold Class - Sex and the City 2

#26 Gold Class - Sex and the City 2 - Completed 11 July
Met up with Jesse in the city - it’s really hard to imagine going back to normal theatres after experience gold class, god those chairs are comfortable! We had a great time and a lot of laughs (how good was that movie!). Looking forward to going again for sure!

Four down, 36 to go.

#6 Cremorne to Mosman Walk

#6 Cremorne to Mosman Walk - Completed 10 July
What a great day! Jesse, Sarah (Mendo), Sophie and I all met up at Cremorne for the start of this walk. This was Jesse’s idea as she lives in the area, all I can say is wow, to think this is 10 minutes from the city is just amazing. The houses, the view and the company, just great. We met up with Angela and baby Will for a quick break at the other end, then headed all the way back, I think it was around 4 kms in total and was really an enjoyable walk.

Three down, 37 to go.

#32 Knit a Scarf

#32 Knit a Scarf - Completed 9 July
The beautiful Elise gave me the idea of knitting a scarf, what she didn’t know was I decided to knit it for her. I didn’t realise how something like knitting a scarf could invoke such fond memories from my childhood. My Grandmother had taught me to knit when I was young and because I am left handed she had tried to teach me by me mirroring her, quite a laugh when I think back. Of course she has gone now and I will never forget that doing this task has given me back those fond memories of her and reminding me about the amazing women that she was.

As for me, refreshing my knowledge of knitting - fast forward 30 years and the internet is my training ground! I managed to teach myself to cast on, English knit stitch and cast off - who would have thought. As for making this for Elise, I knew straight away it had to be blue and have some pearls on it to finish it off. The look on Elise’s face was priceless and worth the 4 weeks of knitting every day it took.

Two down, 38 to go.

#01 Flying Trapeze

#1Trapeze - Completed 26 June
Having woken at 5am a little nervous and due to some change of plans, I found myself arriving early to the site on my own and got a glimpse of what I was installed for - OH MY GOD was I nuts? turned out that I wasn’t. Sort of.

Next to arrive was our resident photographer Sarah, who unfortunately had to pull out of the session due to injury, bringing me a T-shirt with “Kaz’s 40 things before 40” on the back very cool! Kerry and finally Janine (with a massive hangover in toe) this was going to fun!!! After a quick warm up and training session (J was already a bit green by this stage) it was time to climb up.

In a nutshell the description of what we needed to do was - climb up the ladder, turn around the ladder once past the net, keep going to the top, step on the platform, hold the bar with right hand, while the guy holds you completely, let go of left hand to hold the bar, once ready to go, jump back and swing out, bring knees up over the bar, then let go off arms and swing upside down, bring hands back up to bar, take legs off and let go. That’s it. Are you kidding me? Looking back I see this was a big ask for first timers like me. BUT who would have thought it was actually possible; to add to this by the end of the session they said we would be doing a full catch. Yeah right.

So the first guy goes up, a young guy who says he’d never done it before - completes the first stage like he was born in a circus, amazing! Eventually it was my turn. Climbing up the ladder was worse than I thought, I don’t usually have an issue with heights, this climb was way harder than I imagined, must be the fact I was holding my body weight as I climbed. By the time I got to the top I was shaking, badly. The guy waiting up there was so nice, asking about the '40 things’ (he’d seen the t-shirt) obviously trying to get me to forget about what I was about to do. After fixing all the safety gear, I was then expected to put my complete trust in him to hold me so I could hold the bar with both hands. It’s time for me to jump. I jump off and realise that my hands haven’t gripped the bar properly and it’s all feeling wrong. Then the nausea hit, oh god I want to get off..trying to yell out I want to get off above the music and the trainers yelling instructions is really hard, so I just let go. opps, they weren’t ready for me and I face planted the net, how embarrassing. Trying not to vomit at this stage I get off as fast as possible, the girl was nice in trying to give me advice, but I was done, that was terrifying and I wasn’t doing it again.

Kerry was up after me and poor thing had the same issue with her hands, she could feel herself slipping as she tried to move her legs at all and like me didn’t manage to get her legs over the bar, at least Kerry had a more graceful landing than me!

Janine, Janine, Janine - what a legend, seriously hangover she manages to climb up, swing off, legs over the bar, lets go, swings and gets her hands back and legs down - brilliant!!! Eventually it comes back to my turn, I have calmed down a bit by this stage and feel that if I don’t give it another go I’ll never really know if I could do it. So turning on the positive voice in my head I climb up the ladder and make it to the platform in one piece. I told the guy I just wanted to swing out and get a better feel for what I was doing, not to aim to bring my legs up, I got a great grip on the bar, jumped back and swung out, Man that was awesome!!! as I was swinging back I realise I was feeling a bit off again and basically wanted to stop, yet again, the landing wasn’t so good (I seem to lose all control once I let go of the bar) another face plant on the net!!, oh well at least I tried! Janine has a few more goes and actually did finish the session off with a full catch - just amazing!

Jesse arrived (with her hangover) just as we finished and joined in all the laughs. While all these people in our group were complete strangers it was fun to support each other and yell out - of course us five being the loudest - but hey we were there to have fun! All in all it turned out to be a fun morning, definitely going back when Sarah and Laura are up for their sessions - my aim next time is actually not face plant the net and land gracefully.

One down, 39 to go.