D: Things I want to achieve in life

"So what does one do on the crashingly boring train journey from Dorchester to London Waterloo?" I hear you trill. Why, one simply writes a list of the 44 things one would like to achieve in life. (The challenge I set myself was 50, but hey, I'm clearly just v low maintenance!) Enjoy, my girls. I invite you all to create similar lists. Maybe we can all get together in 20 years time (when our schedules finally converge), and see how we are getting on with achieving things on the list.

Things I want to achieve in life

1. Size 8 (in designer jeans)
2. Longer, redder hair
3. Long, natural nails of equal length
4. Love
5. Buy property
6. Buy new car
7. Run marathon in under 3 hrs 30 mins
8. Appear on TV panel of political debate (Question Time or similar)
9. Write ground-breaking feminist manifesto, cited in future years as the catalyst for the 3rd wave
10. Explore South Africa
11. Be invited to be keynote speaker at prestigious event
12. Own stunning (and shockingly expensive pair of diamond, citrine and smoky quartz earrings I have my eye on
13. Own enormous bling amethyst ring (surrounded in pave of amethysts or diamonds)
14. Write regular newspaper column in weekend broadsheet
15. Achieve black belt in kickboxing
16. Act in arty play
17. Speak and write fluent Italian
18. Become highly acclaimed partner in top law firm
19. Attain flawless complexion
20. Correct my deviated septum and discover the joys of easy breathing
21. Study nutrition and attain encyclopaediopic knowledge of nutritional qualities all food and vitamins
22. Speak and write fluent Spanish
23. Speak and write both fluent Arabic and Hebrew
24. Acquire profound understanding of stocks, bonds and shares
25. Become skilled at Ashtanga yoga
26. Regularly practise Bikram yoga
27. Read the whole of A la Recherche du Temps Perdu. In French
28. Take up piano playing again, and exceed Grade 8
29. Take up violin playing again, and work up to at least Grade 6
30. Study and attain profound comprehension of South African history (with ability to refer knowledgably to key literary texts pertaining to different eras)
31. Study and attain profound comprehension of English Tudor history
32. Study and attain profound comprehension of Israel-Palestine history (with ability to refer knowledgably to key literary texts pertaining to different eras).
33. Study and attain profound comprehension of history of conflict in Northern Ireland
34. Study and attain profound comprehension of 19th – 21st Century history of Balkans
35. Obtain deeper understanding of liver function and the impact of alcohol and bad eating on this organ
    Complete a doctorate
36. Be able to freely quote Shakespeare
37. Take my mum on long, exploratory trip of N.America
38. Attend a political cocktail reception, network madly and (a) build up list of useful contacts to help me get ahead in my career, and (b) confront key political figures about important issues (eg Blair on Iraq; Livingstone on everything to do with London)
39. Attend a TV or film awards ceremony
40. Be instrumental in attaining political justice for women in some capacity
41. Attend Glastonbury (something always comes up at the last minute, preventing me from going!)
42. Carry out a high profile political role
43. Select a dance genre and become skilled and proficient in it
44. Own a Vivienne Westwood dress