A list & some inspiration

'Why are you going to Turkey?' I ask - 'because it's on my bucket list' he replies. 

I am sitting in the airport waiting for my flight back to London. The retired American man next to me is explaining about his bucket list (for those who don't know - a bucket list is basically a list of things you want to do before you die or 'kick the bucket').

I have always been a list maker and have been slowing knocking off things from my bucket list. While I was on holiday recently I heard about 100things.com.au and the man behind it - Sebastian Terry. Seb is aiming to achieve his '100things' before he's 30. So far he has done an amazing job and has made me think about what I want to achieve before I reach that magic number. So here it is 10 things from my ‘bucket list’ to do before I am 30*.

My ‘10 thing before I am 30’

1 - Visit Africa on safari

2 - Swim with dolphins & sharks

3 - Go scuba diving in the red sea

4 - See the Northern Lights

5 - Work at a Soup kitchen / hospital at Christmas

6 - TV Dinner Date

7 - Plant a Tree

8 - Volunteer work for at least a week

9 - An epic adventure (Trans–Siberian railway)

10 - A Outdoor education guide

*This includes until the end of my 30th year.

Diving in the red sea

As soon as you put your head under the water you see sights hidden from the surface. That’s the magic of diving in the red sea. You can drift along and let the beauty of the fish and coral engulf you.

There was a slightly scary moment when the regulator I was using came out of my mouth, luckily I had done an introduction to diving course and knew exactly what to do – good save.

Location: Dahab, Egypt

Hot Air Balloon

An early morning wake up and an early morning mini-bus ride was all worth it. I was told if it was a clear day I would get an amazing view. They where sure right – I could see for miles with the Valley of the Kings nearby and the desert in the distance. I even got a birds eye view of the morning activities in an Egyptian village.
 
I got the craziest surprise when I looked across into the other balloon basket and there was a friend I hadn’t seen in over 8 years – small world.

The take off was smooth; once the balloon reaches its soaring height it’s very quiet and peaceful. The landing was a different story completely. You had to squat down and brace yourself – all very graceful.

TNT Hotshots runner up

The 2nd Annual Chris Flack meet up.

About 12 months ago 3 people with the name ‘Chris Flack’ meet up in London, inspired by the book ‘Are you Dave Gorman?’ To read about this meet up click here.

Prologue

It was early January 2010 and I had an email from a stranger asking if she could purchase some photos I had taken at a gospel choir recital in Belfast. Firstly I was very honoured that she thought I was a professional photographer but I was slightly confused. I have never been to a choir recital in Belfast. So I asked if she could send me the link to check that I hadn’t ‘just forgotten’ about this. Sadly it wasn’t me she had the wrong Chris Flack. I replied telling her about my mission to meet different Chris Flack for a laugh. 

“That is so funny!.. What happens if you meet a Chris Flack who is a girl? Or worse, what happens if you meet a Chris Flack who is gay? Will they not be allowed into the Chris Flack Club? I think you've just embarked on a potentially fascinating social experiment - imagine Glastonbury 2015: The Chris Flack Tent. So good luck and I look forward to hearing more about the Chris Flack's of the world!!

Now that’s the kind of enthusiasm I expect from random strangers.

The search

All this had reminded me that it was nearly a year since the original Chris Flack meet up. So I got my act into gear and contacted nearly all the Chris Flack’s on facebook – with the aim of getting another to join us for the second annual ‘Chris Flack meet up’.

I then sat by my computer, pressing the refresh button every couple of seconds with anticipation of messages from people with the same name as me (which could get facebook all confused causing it to crash and completely ruin the life of over 400 million users in the process). 

The replies 

Chris Flack Melbourne informed me that he lived in Melbourne Australia and his father had immigrated with his family after the war from Egypt. His grandfather was actually Austrian born in Trieste. Interesting family history but it doesn’t really help me in the quest to meet more of my namesakes.

Chris Flack Louisiana said it would be too far to swim to London. What happened to the ‘Chris Flack can do attitude’.

I heard from Chris Flack Maryland – he runs a promo/production company that put on raves. He told me a great story about how because he has the same initials as his father he always gets good credit.

I then had a reply from a 13-year-old Chris Flack who said he was too young to go to London. I quickly replied ‘thankyou for the email. The conversation ends here.’ Not one wants to get in trouble for cyber stalking young boys on facebook, do they!

I found out Chris Flack’s come from all corners of the globe including Australia, South Africa and the east coast of America. They all share one common bond – they would come to the meet up if I brought them a ticket. My reply was simple, if I won lotto I would.

The 2nd Annual Chris Flack meet up. 

I was glad that we had chosen Saturday 13th February, as Sunday was Valentines Day. I may have done some slightly weird things in my life but I think meeting two other Chris Flacks on Valentines Day would just be too weird. We had arranged to meet outside Nike town in the middle of Oxford Circus. A brilliant idea if I must say myself as it was packed with people, raining and just a really bad place to meet. As usual I was late (another Chris Flack trait that only seems to apply to me). After a few man hugs we where on our way. I lead this band of Chris Flacks through the busy streets of Oxford Circus to a cheap and friendly local pub – The Blue Post.

This pub is part of the Sam Smith brewery chain of pubs and has some of the best prices for pints in central London. Using my favourite trick from my University days – I made sure I was the one to buy the first round of drinks. Because as everyone gets drunker they don’t remember who brought the most recent round but they do remember who brought the first one – Nice one Flack. 

So now as the alcohol was starting to kick in we all started to chat. It was like being with a group of old friends (except the only thing we had in common is our names). I reckon everyone wants to know what have the Chris Flack been up to in the last 365 days…

How was the last year for Chris Flack?

‘2009. There’s a year none of us will forget in a hurry – swine flu, MPs’ expenses, Michael Jackson, Obama’s inauguration, Peter leaving Katie… financial doom and gloom…’ (from the DBA, year in review)

Chris Flack Surrey (Formerly known as Chris Flack Oxford). Will soon be Chris Flack Japan if he gets his visa approved. He has an interesting year just failing one of his papers and having to resit it – all with the aim in improving the average IQ of Chris Flack’s around the world.

Chris Flack Isle of Man. Decided to call all New Zealanders ‘Diet Australians’ to my disapproval. Got asked to leave his last job because his use of the English language was deemed too energetic.

Flack Coat of Arms

There was a apparently a Flack coat of arms. I couldn’t hold back my excitement – finally a coat of arms. I really hope it has a dagger or dragon on it. That would be amazing. I asked if I could see an image of it. As always Chris Flack’s are prepared and at that moment Chris Flack Isle of Man pulled out his iPhone and showed me the website.

Man was I disappointed, not a dragon, dagger on anything remotely dangerous. Just what seemed to be half a helmet from a suit of armour. What use would that be in the middle of battle - dam it.

This website was also where Chris Flack Isle of Man had found an more update meaning of Flack - "Dweller in a field of flagstones". And that brings us to the topic of the famous flacks. We couldn’t think of any new ones so I informed everyone off my anonymous email tip-off from another Chris Flack: “Don't forget about the famous children's author Margaret Flack. You can find her works on ebay and the net. And Jack Flack from the movie, Cloak and Dagger…”

The Dave Gorman inspired crazy question section.

What is the craziest thing you have ever eaten for cash?

Chris Flack Isle of Men once snorted KFC popcorn chicken for fun. Chris Flack Surrey stated, he ‘generally just eats for survival’ (kind of like the 4.2 billion people on earth – congratulations). And in the name of research I found out that Yes all the Chris Flack’s would try and correct there sideburns if they shaved one of them slightly wrong.

We had another pint and took the complimentary photo and decided it was time brave the British winter and get something to eat. Chris Flack Surrey knew a great place in Chinatown so off we went.

The rest of the night went past in a blur – some of the highlights.

An 20 course Chinese meal – where we had a long discussion about if Christine Flack’s should be allowed along. Imagine if a Chris Flack and Christine Flack fell in love – at least they would never have to argue about whether she would take the family name. 

Then there was the chat up line games at the Coach and Horse Pub. These games where meet with varying degrees of success. One of the Chris Flacks was very good – which led to some very funny conversations involving scarf’s, Sex and The City characters and The Simpson’s.

Then just like that it was time for the last tube. The 2nd Annual 'Chris Flack meet up' was over. It was weird saying goodbye as these people now felt like old friends not just namesakes. We all resolved to try and recruit another Chris Flack for the next meet up in 6 months time, settle the argument if Christine Flacks count (if you can shorten it to Chris Flack then it counts - we are getting desperate now) and find the answer to life’s greatest mystery ‘which Chris Flack is the best at Connect 4?’

The Great Santa Run

The Great Santa Run, Battersea Park, London

Celebrating the All Whites victory

Everyone born in New Zealand converged on TV sets in all corners of the globe to watch sporting history.While some fans were getting pie-eyed in New Zealand, at breakfast in London they were merely munching pies. Watch video.

Where are they now?

Strategy Think book 2 - Where are they? Profile 2009

To read the full interview click here.

Guardian Blind Date - part two

Published in The Guardian weekend magazine. To read the full article click here. For my side of the story click here. 

Creative Review: Distracted Outsider

Click here to read more.

ISP Netball Tournament

23red Rhino's winners of the plate competition at the ISP Netball Tournament and I managed to pick up player of the tournament for my efforts. 

Hotshots Winner

Winner of the TNT magazine weekly Photo Competition.

Once upon a time in Wales!

What I have been learning to teach at Full On, Wales.

Full On 2009

One part of my summer adventure for 2009. I will let Tara explain:

"I could say we take American youth abseiling off a castle in Wales, but that wouldn't even come close to the true gist of what we do. I could even add that we do a variety of presentations based around personal and social development but I'm still not sure that really explains it. In fact, sometimes I wonder if the only way to really understand it is to experience it yourself... but here goes...

Full On is a New Zealand based company that currently has six sites around the world. We have a client called People to People who run trips across the globe for American youth. We spend one day with these American youth. Our programme has been described as a life changing experience. Both for staff and students. It's focused around personal development, utilising outdoor activities as a medium for that. There are many opportunities provided in the day to overcome fears and create a greater understanding of our own potential. This is supported by a variety of presentations that provide tools to assist us in taking these steps and understanding the experiences and how they relate to our lives.

... Before the season started I heard a quote that has stuck with me every day, on and off programme. "Today might be the day that you change someones life". It might be today, and you might never even know the difference you've made, but live like you mean it. After all, you only get out of life what you are prepared to put in."

Kindly taken from the World Wide Climbing Blog.

The Guardian 'Blind date'

Prologue: The Guardian newspaper occupies a slightly different market to the London Lite. The have articles about worldly issues while the London Lite has stories about footballers wives. You have to pay for The Guardian newspaper and it's a nationwide publication while the London Lite is free. Some would say they have a slightly more affluent, educated and discerning reader (Time to put that to the test). All I have been told is below and this is a real 'blind date' as you don't get to see a photo before you go on the date.

"You will be eating at Bistro One Ninety at the Gore Hotel. The restaurant are aware that you are on a blind date with the Guardian and will point you in the right direction on arrival. The restaurant are offering you a three course meal and a bottle of house wine.

Natasha is 27 and was born in Mexico, living there until the age of 16. She currently works in International Development and is very much interested in conservation. She says she is a 'true outdoors girl' and that her holidays generally involve trekking, hiking, cycling and camping in off the beaten track type places. Whilst in London she loves discovering new bars and restaurants. I do hope you get on!" - The Guardian

 

I made sure I was on time this time. As I learnt from last time that ladies are extremely accurate at telling the time. I also made up for it by being very early and everyone knows when you are waiting for someone time seems to go really slowly. After reading the menu quite a few times and playing with my phone Natasha arrived. Well I guessed it must have been her as she came over and gave me a big hug. She asked if I had been waiting long and I hadn’t – It was 8:02 and the date was meant to start at 8:00.

We slipped quite easily into conversation mainly talking about what we had been told about each other in the profiles that the Guardian newspaper had sent us. She worked for an development company specializing in conservation so had done a lot of traveling with her job which was very impressive. I remembered that the email he said she was into hiking. So I casually mentioned a couple of hikes I had just done and asked her about hers – I was expecting her to say she had done a little bit of rambling (small hill walking) here and there and that she had exaggerated in her profile but no she had under played it. She does extreme hikes with crampons and ice axes on glaciers with sheer faces and sharp drops. Now I thought it was time to casually drop that I ran a marathon a few weeks ago into the conversation thinking that it would end the conversation and I could do a victory dance and she would bask in my glory but it wasn’t to be. Natasha was off for a 100km bike ride on Sunday - luckily I am not a very competitive person.

We talked about other things including a funny moment confusing abseiling off a castle in Wales with The Castle which you can abseil inside, that is in London (you learn something new everyday) and somehow talking about Tom Cruise and how good he was in the movie Cocktail. I then had to explain about how New Zealand does actually look like Lord of the Rings without the hobbits and I think I convinced her to watch Flight of the Conchords so she could learn to better understand the kiwi accent.

The food at Bistro 190 was amazing (and no I am not getting paid to say that – well, not yet that is). There was a very long wait for the dessert, which was worth it because the cheesecake was amazing. This wait gave us time to work out if anyone else in the restaurant was on a blind date as well. You never know it could be the blind date hotspot of London. There was one couple who where very interesting. They had sat down and hardly said a word to each other all night then left without even touching there apple tart – very weird and also it meant that they run out of apple tart so Natasha couldn’t order it for dessert.

After we had finished the 3 course meal and wine (Thanks to the Guardian) we decided it would be a good idea to hit the bar next door because it wasn’t busy and have a quick drink. We found nice spot in the bar as it started to get busy. Choosing to sit near a door that lead downstairs to what seemed to be an A-list party in the exclusive area of the bar. People just kept on coming in and out of the party. There was one girl, who I guessed was the birthday girl, who came out of the party then went back in with a different outfit on. That must be how you judge the party by how many outfit changes the host has to make. We then found out later that they where twins – honest mistake. After seeing a girl say “I am friends with Michael downstairs”… and getting allowed in we discussed for a while the different way of trying to crash the party and then realized it would be too much work and the party didn’t look that fun anyway. I then realized it was getting late and was time to go. A quick hug goodbye and a mad dash to get the tube finished my night. I look forward to the Guardian column in a couple of weeks.