It's that time of year when another birthday has passed and it's time to start working on the next list. So I'd thought I'd do a quick recap of how things went on the list of 31 things. I am the first to admit that it wasn't a particularly good year for crossing things off. Some of this was out of my control; earthquakes and the crazy year that has ensured since September 4 2010 has put a lot of things on hold or made them difficult. As did going to Antarctica and missing out on most of a summer, although I'm more than happy to have this as an excuse. Other things have just slipped off the bottom of the list without getting done for no apparent reason (or they were somewhat optimistic anyway!). I've added in links to relevant blog posts in case you missed out on the details.
This has to be the highlight of the past year. What an amazing experience. And even better I get to do it all again this coming year.
2. Ride Long Bays
I would have loved to have ridden Long Bays, a cycle route that follows the Port Hills and edge of the Lyttleton Harbour. But unfortunately the road was damaged, probably beyond repair, in the earthquakes. I did ride this instead, which is probably about as close as you can get these days.
3. Submit a sturgeon manuscript
Seven years on, this is probably never going to happen! Unless somebody teaches me to code in Python.
4. Run 500 km
According to my Nike+ whatsit, I only managed to run 92km! This is a bit dismal really, but I've been doing loads of other stuff and am probably about as fit as I've ever been. So I'm happy. This seems to have migrated on to the next list, so we'll see what happens.
According to my Nike+ whatsit, I only managed to run 92km! This is a bit dismal really, but I've been doing loads of other stuff and am probably about as fit as I've ever been. So I'm happy. This seems to have migrated on to the next list, so we'll see what happens.
5. Compete in a triathlon
Unfortunately the February earthquake got in the way of post-Antarctic triathlons. Next list....
Unfortunately the February earthquake got in the way of post-Antarctic triathlons. Next list....
Leopard seal found and photographed (although not very well)
7. Publish the whio HQ paper
After being rejected a mammoth seven times, I think we are almost there. Just redoing some of the analysis.
After being rejected a mammoth seven times, I think we are almost there. Just redoing some of the analysis.
8. Complete a half marathon
I obviously didn't do enough training (see #5), so this never happened!
I obviously didn't do enough training (see #5), so this never happened!
Once again the Mighty Midgets competed in the 6 hour Spring Challenge. And we did pretty well, apart from a minor navigational oops near the end. I love this event. In fact, so much that we are doing the 12 hour version next weekend!
11. Start a post doctoral position
I applied for a postdoc scholarship to look marine reserves in the Ross Sea but alas the powers to be decided that it wasn't worthy. So I've continued to contract for Landcare Research and am involved in some pretty interesting work. Maybe next year I'll get a proper job.
12. Compete in a road bike race
Once again, I'm blaming earthquakes.
Once again, I'm blaming earthquakes.
I went to Antarctica, of course, but that doesn't really count as kiwis don't get their passports stamped in either direction as we never leave kiwi soil. So I had to find another trip to go on. And what better excuse than to visit Hamish in Perth, where he's busy drilling holes looking for minerals to dig up. I also got to spend some time in Melbourne due to some freak weather in NZ.
I did knit a jersey. And then I undid it. I really need to learn to read and make the gauge swatches before I get all enthusiastic about knitting the whole thing. Hopefully next year I will knit (and keep knitted) a jersey!
15. Compete in a mountain bike race
Blaming earthquakes. Actually more, general unfitness coming back from Antarctica. This year I really need to do some exercise when I'm down there!
Blaming earthquakes. Actually more, general unfitness coming back from Antarctica. This year I really need to do some exercise when I'm down there!
16. Buy decent binoculars
I never got around to doing this but they are still on my wishlist. Did get to try out Hamish's twitcher-goggles (his term, not mine) while in Aussie.
I never got around to doing this but they are still on my wishlist. Did get to try out Hamish's twitcher-goggles (his term, not mine) while in Aussie.
17. Climb a grade 16 on rock
There has been a distinct lack of climbable rock in Christchurch recently. What with all falling down around your ears everytime the earth moves. Which it does frequently. But I have started climbing inside on the wall and will hopefully be able to tick this off this coming year.
There has been a distinct lack of climbable rock in Christchurch recently. What with all falling down around your ears everytime the earth moves. Which it does frequently. But I have started climbing inside on the wall and will hopefully be able to tick this off this coming year.
18. Submit the final whio paper
I need to publish the other ones first. And given that this hasn't happened yet, I can't cross this one off. Soon, hopefully.
I need to publish the other ones first. And given that this hasn't happened yet, I can't cross this one off. Soon, hopefully.
19. Learn to ride my mountain bike clipless
I put my pedals on. Went for one ride. And promptly took them off again. Scared shitless would be a good description of my mental state. But I've done a bunch more riding since then and am way more confident. So, after the Sprin Challenge, they are going back on and staying on. Be prepared for stories of pedal-induced falls!
I put my pedals on. Went for one ride. And promptly took them off again. Scared shitless would be a good description of my mental state. But I've done a bunch more riding since then and am way more confident. So, after the Sprin Challenge, they are going back on and staying on. Be prepared for stories of pedal-induced falls!
20. Buy a macro lens
Same story as the binoculars really.
Same story as the binoculars really.
I bought a really nice tripod before going down to the ice and I think I've only used it once. No, twice. I really need to do LOTS more photography. And play with my tripod.
Check!
23. Ride a century in a day
Pen and I had great plans of biking from Cave Stream back to Lincoln and I'm not really sure why we never did it. We mapped it out, we flew it in Google Earth but we never actually rode it. This summer, right Pen!
Pen and I had great plans of biking from Cave Stream back to Lincoln and I'm not really sure why we never did it. We mapped it out, we flew it in Google Earth but we never actually rode it. This summer, right Pen!
24. Spend a night at the Sign of the Packhorse
Did you know that this has now been on four lists and has never been crossed off. How ridiculous. It's all of two hours walk and should be super-easy to do. I debated whether to add it to the list of 32 things, given that it hasn't happened yet. I'm giving it one more year. Surely we can make this happen in year five!
Did you know that this has now been on four lists and has never been crossed off. How ridiculous. It's all of two hours walk and should be super-easy to do. I debated whether to add it to the list of 32 things, given that it hasn't happened yet. I'm giving it one more year. Surely we can make this happen in year five!
Done. I'm definitely no expert but I have almost finished a nifty analysis trying to figure out how many birds live on some islands in Northland. Pretty fun (if statistics can be fun).
This is another one of those cases where I finished the task and then promptly undid it again because I wasn't really that happy with the result. But I did it!
27. Make gallstone jewellery
Unfortunately (although some may say fortunately), these got lost when I moved. Oh well.....
Unfortunately (although some may say fortunately), these got lost when I moved. Oh well.....
Yum. I need to make some more.
There is something a little mad about jumping into -1.9C water, complete with icebergs, penguins, leopard seals and orca. But you have to do it. Sorry, no photographic evidence - it would have needed censoring anyway.
I managed to keep a batch of sour dough going for most of the time we were on the ice. Although I'm not sure the little beasties were that happy about the cold.
There were lots of outdoor adventures this year. Antarctica, for one. Lots of tramping trips, mountain bike trips, rogaines, adventure races, skiing ...... It's been a fun year.
I always come up with a few things to add to the list. Things that I never thought I'd be doing but they usually turn out to be a lot of fun....
Michelle and I carved up a storm at the National Rogaine Champs in Blenheim, coming in 7th in the Open Women. An entertaining 24 hours of wandering around trying not to get lost.
Oh dear, what have we done! Will report back in a couple of weeks with how we went.
Another 24 hour rogaine event, this time with Maaike and Elizabeth. More fun, getting lost in the dark. This time in costume.
A 12 hour event, getting lost in the dark. There seems to be a running theme here!
A fantastic girl's weekend (and then some) cross-country skiing down in Wanaka.
So it's been a pretty busy year of being 31. I've managed to fit in a lot of fun stuff, do some work and generally have a great time. Here's looking forward to crossing off 32 things!
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