The last time I updated you about this challenge was in May. If I don’t want to write a post five pages long in 41 days’ time, I’d better update you on my progress now.*
*Short break while I update the 101/1001 Page*
*Long break while I updated the 101/1001 Page
There’s rather a lot to tell, so I won’t bother with it all today. I will just share some of Task 15:
Expose myself to twenty new experiences (14/20)
1. I tried a gin and tonic.
Writer’s Block 1 (Photo credit: NathanGunter) After one G&T, I’m guessing
It was offered to me at, of all things, a church luncheon, by one of the wardens. We were in her home and she found it at the back of the fridge, I hasten to add – she doesn’t keep it stashed under the cassocks for emergencies.
I don’t think.
I had never drunk gin before. And I never will again. Foul stuff.
One thing in its favour, however, is that it gave me the courage for new experience number
2. Said, ‘I am a writer.’
The idea of the church monthly bring & share lunch is that people get to know each other. One way of getting to know each other is by asking questions about each other.*
*Based on this paragraph, I think saying, ‘I am a writer’ may be a disservice to writers everywhere, at the very least; and an outrageous lie at best.
I asked an other what she did; she told me. For the purpose of our story, I won’t bore you with the details; you will have to be content with the boredom emitting from this long-winded paragraph instead. The other then asked me what I did. I opened my mouth to say, as I have done for the past twenty-three years, ‘I am a housewife,’ but what came out was, ‘I am a writer.’
I’ve been published in many anthologies, hard copy and online; I’ve been placed in several writing competitions; I regularly critique others’ work, some of which has been published; I have been posting on this blog for three and a half years; I am a member of poetry group Write Out Loud; I give poetry readings; I run occasional writing workshops (even more occasionally, people turn up for them, but my writing flesh is at least willing even if their spirit is weak); I am a founder member and de facto manager of Stockport Writers.
I think it’s okay now to say, ‘I am a writer.’
Besides, I’ve never earned money from it: writing credentials don’t come any better than that.
Fresh (and flushed) from that triumph, I followed it up with
I am a writer. (Photo credit: DavidTurnbull)
3. When asked my occupation on an official form, I wrote, ‘Writer’.
I still blush at my temerity. It’s one thing to say it with your mouth; something else altogether to say it with a pen.
At that same church lunch (who knew these events were so exciting?) I also
4. Drank ginger beer for the first time.
But not lashings of it, Famous Five fans!
It was…okay. I didn’t taste ginger and I didn’t taste beer, but it washed away the taste of gin and tonic, so that’s a big thumbs-up from me.
Virgin Trains First Class (Photo credit: David McKelvey)
5. Travelled First Class
My London adventure refers.
It was on a train, not a plane, but I’ll take my free inedible sandwich where I can get it, thank you very much.
6. Went to a university Open Day
We never did it with Tory Boy because he spent a week or two at Lancaster the summer after his GCSEs and knew that Lancaster was where he wanted to go. I always felt a bit cheated, but the second son made up for his brother’s defect by dragging me to Sheffield a couple of weeks ago, as I told you.
There you have it! These six things I had never done before bring me up to 20/20 new experiences, but that’s not quite it.
However, this post is already too long for a Friday afternoon, so you’ll have to wait for the rest.
The Laughing Housewife 
I have the funniest readers in the blogosphere (not necessarily ha ha…)