Archive for the ‘101 in 101’ Category

Not So Freshly Baked Bread!!

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Some of you may remember the list that I created in October last year, The 101 in 1001 list. Well It’s been lying idle for some time now. There are somethings that I have done recently that should have been added to this list at the start but I never realized it and some stuff that I am about to do that should be added to it. I just don’t know if adding after I have them done are just before I am about to them is right. The thing is, they are big things and things that should be added to the list. Some advise on these would be great if anyone wants to give some. Thanks.

Well onto the main topic of this post. Item number 4 on my list was to bake bread, well, viola, it is done, almost. I went at this my usual way, without proper planning. Ever heard the phrase, “Fail to plan, plan to fail”? Well this probably would have went a lot easier if I had planned it correctly. I did manage to make to loafs of bread.

First I got most of my ingredients, “most”, see a problem? I got the flour, self raising, some raisins, just to add something to it. A new baking dish and some grease proof paper, which from years of watching my mother bake Christmas cakes annually I though that I would need. See the picture below for when I though things where going smoothly, i.e., before I even started.

 

 

 

Cooking ingredients and equipment on the cooker

And so I got started. I mixed the flour with some milk and created my dough. The whole time not anyway near sure if I had the mix right. I done a lot of guess work with it I created a great big mess, see below!!

That picture makes it look like I knew what I was doing. Do not in anyway be fooled by this. I was, still am, a complete novice. Still this shall not deter me. I plan another go at it very soon. I have to admit, I did make two goes of this. The first loaf. I put grease proof paper in the pan and when it came out the paper was all stuck to it. The next time I didn’t use any because the pan was “non-stick”. That was a mistake. I had to pry the loaf from the pan with a knife!!

You can see below the final results. It was tasty, but not completely ate.

After having written this post I realized that I actually blogged about baking bread!!

I think I just really out-gayed myself!!

Mike.

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: 61 Hours by Lee Childs

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Book No.1.

I started reading this book in mid 2010 and for some reason put it down again. I couldn’t remember the reason that I put it down. So when I came across it at the start of the year again I decided that I’d give it another go.

61 Hours

Image by CraigGrocott via Flick

The problem was that I was I quickly reminded why I hadput it down. I found that the start of the book was quite slow to get started and didn’t seem like it had much momentum. I wasn’t connecting with the characters in any way at all. If I’m reading a book it is important to me that I feel something towards a character, be it hate, love, admiration, etc. I need to connect.

I had to work, which at some points seemed like a little too much for a novel, but once I got passed the first four chapters before I then started to feel something towards the main character of the book. He was someone that would have to grow on you and read more about in order to “get” him.

When we finally get into the town where the main part of the book is based it is then that we are starting to see the aspects of the book that would keep me gripped and wanting to read more. I saw things that made me ask why? They started to come quick and fast. It got to the stage that on the Sunday evening when I finished the novel I spent 8 hours straight, without interruption, turning page after page just to get to the end because I had to find out and know what was going on and what was about to happen.

In the end I had changed my mind about the book. I had gone from thinking that it was boring and slow to thinking that it was gripping, page turning and so full of action that I had to spend 8 hours straight just to get to the end.

I would advise this as a read to anyone. Just make sure to give it time before you put it down after the first chapter or two.

Mike

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Something New For The List

Friday, March 18th, 2011
A symbol for list-class articles.

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve been thinking about a few new items to add to the 101 in 1001 list. Some of them actually make sense, some them are a good thing to do and others may seem pointless but I want them on there all for their own separate reasons.

The first one, which would be the good thing. Read 20 books in the 1001 days. I like to read a lot, but lately I just don’t seem to have the time or never take the time to pick up a book. It was only last week that I again got the chance to pick up a book and start reading and it occurred to me during the week that I should make more time to read and what better way to make sure I do take time to read than to put it on the list. I am currently on my first book of the 20, Lee Childs 61 hours. I’ll post a blog review of this when I have it read, which won’t be long more now, over half way through it now.

The next on the list is the one that makes perfect sense. For every goal I knock off the list I am going to put 10 euros into a savings tin. So when I have the list completed, I will have saved 1010 euros. IT can go to paying bills, loans or just to buy myself something nice. :)

The third one doesn’t really make much sense and is kind of pointless, but I always wanted to do it and love the sound of it when used to play music. Learn the piano. It might not be of much use to me but it would be nice to be able to play an instrument. I can see myself sitting down some day and just playing music that I can enjoy and relax to.

As part of the 101 in 1001 I have also added a new page for it. It shows my list, what I have done, what I have not done and what is currently in progress. So these are three more to add to the list.

Laters,

Mike.

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Time To Add

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

Time to add another item to the 101 in 1001.

Go see an F1 Grand Prix.

Being an avid fan of F1 this one is a no brainer and will happen within the 1001 days. I would like to see a European grand prix. Belgium sounds good. Germany sounds great but Monza with the Tifosi would be excellent. To be surrounded by the Tifosi in Ferrari’s home grand prix would be something special, and if they won, it would be an incredible experience.

Clive experineced it this year at the 2010 Itailian grand prix with Fernando Alonso wining his first Itailian grand prix with Ferrari. This would be a must for any Ferrari fan.

Start your engines?

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101 in 1001

Friday, October 29th, 2010

People tend to go through life by trying to achieving goals that they may have set out, but sometimes this is harder than they originally thought. Anything that makes achieving a goal easier is a good thing by me, and 101 in 1001 from the day zero project is just that.

I recently joined the day zero project as I felt that there were things in my life that I would like to do and felt that I was missing out by not doing them sooner than later. So in order to motivate me I joined the day zero project and set up some goals for myself.

The site suggests setting 101 goals in the 1001 days. I intend to set 101, but at the moment as a starter I have only added 10, these 10 are:

1. Donate blood.

Always wanted to donate blood. So here is my chance. Someone somewhere might need me someday and I wouldn’t even know it.

2. Random acts of kindness.

Bring a bit of happiness and joy into someone elses life when they are down.

3. Get fit.

Same goal for a lot of people. Loose weight, tone up, live a better, healthier life. Adopt a healthier diet and treat my body with the care and respect it deserves.

4. Bake bread.

Yes, I know, gay!! I have to learn to bake something!!

5. Bake an apple pie.

The way I look at it, if the bread goes well, it’s time to up my game.

6. Identify 100 things that make me happy.

100 things that make me happy may sound like a lot but it’s only 1 thing every 10 days throughout the challenge. Happiness is very important in life. Identifing things that make you happier are important.

7. Loans.

Straight forward one here. Clear all my loans and debt in the 1001 days. I don’t see this being a problem, as long as I don’t borrow anymore money or do any unesscary shopping.

8. Become vegatarian for a week.

I have tried this before in the past and with great results, but at the time I allowed myself to eat meat two days during it. This time I want to do it for the whole week, and maybe longer.

9. Learn a computer language and be able to confidently code with it.

I have always been interested in computer programming languages and have a small knowledge of a few different languages, but not a complete understanding of one full language so that I could code with it without any issues. It’s time to sort this.

10. Learn and speak a new language.

I have always wanted to speak a new language, so this was an obvious one to add to the list. I have recently started learning Spanish in college so this will go along way with achieving this goal.

So there are the intital 10. Will be adding more as I decide which I want to add to them. I will also give updates on my progress through them. If you want to vsit my profile page on the day zero project click here or the link on the side bar to the right.

“So when is the big day Mike?” you might ask. July 26, 2013. The countdown has begun.

Mike

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