The Brontë Museum

The Brontë Museum situated in the village of Haworth buried between the moors of North Yorkshire was a wonderful experience for a literature lover like me. The Parsonage where the sister's Charlotte, Emily and Anne lived was a tiny but well restored and presented example of a nineteenth century simple home.

Behind these walls were written the words of 'Jane Eyre', and 'Wuthering Heights', and 'The Tenant of Wildfell hall'. This very same sky I was stood under had looked down upon these great historical women as they walked the lane into that church where their father the parson had spoken. That very church tower was standing there when they stood here more than a hundred years ago.

I had read 'Wuthering Heights' twice at this point and was amazed at how much being here felt as though I'd stepped into the book. It was bitterly cold, the wind was like a brutal force pushing us back at was as if the violence of Heathcliff was echoed here, the rain was freezing sharp shards of water, it came down like shreds of cold glass and the wind howled and howled again. The moors were as I expected, a hundred years had not changed them from the dark and dangerous image that Emily had presented. I stood outside in the rain appreciating the view, the spectacular feeling of being stood here. My group had huddled into a tea shop but I wanted to savour this, rain or not. Cathy was roaming the moors, her voice echoing and she called out for Heathcliff, Jane Eyre was rushing forwards to rescue Mr Rochester who lay fallen from his horse, and Sian Siviter stood alone and inspired, and Jim came flying down into my mind. :-)

 

Eventually the rain eased up and I fought my way through the wind to the church, the doors were hard to push through and as I entered an all black cat came darting through my legs. The cat sat on the stone floor all wet fluffy fur and blinked up at me, I'm not kidding when I tilted my head and asked it out loud "Emily?"

The cat let me stroke it and I took this as confirmation, it clearly knew the church well. I knelt a moment at the altar to pray, I like to pay respects, and then I took a seat and pulled out my sketchbook and pencil case. I was quick and rough but here are the pieces I created there.

 

 

I saw something at the front of the church I thought was stunning, the cat seemed to agree, for a while she'd sat next to me quite content for a strangers leg to be a headrest, now she strolled to the front of the church and flicking her tail jumped onto the altar. Next to the alter was a highly polished brass podium featuring a detailed eagle..I loved this.

 

When it was time to return to the minibus I left a donation in the box and lit a candle. Bid the reincarnted Emily Brontë goodbye and took my leave.

So that was another thing crossed off my Bucket List :-)

 

 

 

 

3. Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing, was a tad nervous here, but I try to face any fear I come up against. First time on the wall I got half way, and was ready to come down getting a bit scared. My friend Warren, who was feeding me up, holding the rope, wasn't having any of it, git. I carried on climbing with his encouragement and actually made it to the top, after succeeding at one, I was more conifident to attempt harder, higher walls. I've been climbing  a few times now and managed to reach the top of some pretty high walls. I never intended to make this a passion, I merely wanted to push myself and see if I could handle the fear of height when actually holding myself to a rock. I have abseiled down quite easily and that's fun, so I'm confident that I'll be able to abseil down a skyscraper :-) lol we'll see. :-)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200543197407542&l=666884134772512150

Me! Starting a climb :-)

Warren.

Me almost at the top. Got to go over that ledge all the way to the grey roof, and I did it!

2. Dirty Dancing, at the theatre

I always wanted to go to the theatre, it sounds so very upper class and I always imagined it was a well to do leisure. When I heard Dirty Dancing ( a fantastic film) had come to theatre in the Birmingham Hippodrome I was determind to go. I asked my sister in law Chrissie, tickets would be £55 for the seats I looked at and she instantly said Yes definitely!

 Neither of us had ever been before and it was exciting walking in. The actual theatre room itself was beautiful, very 'upper class' 'posh' lol us commoners were in awe. Now I have to say, I chose and booked the seats on the computer, and I picked some of the best seats! We were in the circle, so raised and looking down and we were right at the front and smack bang in the middle of the row, our view was fantastic.

The show was in a word 'amazing' I've never enjoyed watching something so much. The singing and dancing and the way they led the eyes where they wanted during scene changes and the whole thing was just incredible. It wasn't just a good version of the movie, it was better than the film! Johnny was gorgeous, a hunk that I would have leapt across the seats to get at. The sex scene was so well done, just enough heat and sexiness and then dimming of light as they lay on the bed practically naked. ok it was like it was turning into a porn but they turned it off at the right moment, I was having a hot flush. Chrissie and me were a fit of giggles, and the intermission took place then. It was a bloody good job, I needed a minute to cool down. It was so hot!

The entire experience was truly amazing, it was such a pleasure to watch and I'd love to go again and see other things. Definitely got a 10/10 review from me.

Here's my beautiful sister in law Chrissie by the poster. :-)

1. Sky Dive

My Skydive was without a doubt the best thing I've ever done. I thought being on the back of  a motorbike cruising on country lanes was an adrenaline rush but my god this beat it.
Gregory took me :-) and this is such a girl thing to do but I didn't eat incase I was sick and I wee'd and then wee'd again and literally pushed every last drop out because no way in hell was I risking wetting myself in mid air. There was really no need. If I am shocked and serious about one thing, it's that I wasnt scared. Not in the build up, or the instruction lesson or even when sitting in the plane. (My first plane ride too!!) I felt the excitement but fear didn't once touch me.

My skydive partner rushed us to the plane doors before anyone else, he said we'd get in first which would mean we'd be last out. The flight up was an experience sat directly behind the pilot. When the doors opened and one by one they dropped out like conkers from a tree. I was right at the back of the plane, we had to shimmy up the bench to reach the doors a good 2 minutes after everyone else had exited. I remember the noise and the jolt in my stomach, then I fell out. I wont say I threw myself it wasnt like that, one moment I had my feet on the floor then I tilted myself forward and everything went in slow motion. My thought process was a little funny, the first thing I realised was it was damn near impossible to breathe normally-my biggest fear. I thought,
"No, I'm not keen. This isnt for me."
Too late. I wasnt screaming, whats the point. I focused on sucking in air that was rushing into my face and when I felt the pat I spread my arms and then regretted it. I felt the force of gravity even stronger. The wind was ripping into me, or was I cutting through it? It was freezing. That was my next thought "It's sodding cold!"  I started to laugh. That's the freak I am, I laughed. Falling at 250 mph from 13,000 feet high is going to have an effect I guess.

When the shute was released and some bastard of a grip shot me backwards I had a black hole picture and panic jolt thinking "Crap we're going off course!" lol then we slowed down, and sort of just sat in the middle of the sky as if sitting in an invisible chair. Phew! I can breathe!!! ooo this quite nice. Ooo pretty patch work quilt of greens and browns, ooo this is lovely, I'm flying! 
"Take your goggles off."
Arr what! Who? Jesus! Jumped out my skin, I'd totally forgotten about the bloke behind me, controlling this thing oh my god. He could have been dead for all I knew. Well this is just lovely, drifting around, such a gorgeous view! but jesus christ! What the hell is that pain in my ears? another panic, I've blown my eardrums! Crap! My god this really hurts, F*** I never swear but F*** OW!
"Hold your nose and blow hard." That's what he said, tosser! I sodding did it didn't I. Effing christ S*** that Effing bloody killed!!!!! I can honestly say I have never felt pain, like I did in my ears that day. The worst agony ever.

But putting that aside, here we were floating through the sky and below me I can see a spectacular view of all the other parashutes, different colours twirling below me. So it was brilliant we went out last, I got the best experience. Chappy behind me started twiggling his whatevers and spinning us in the air, round and round and dipping and round the other way. I got the giggles pretty bad, it was serious fun! I saw Greg and The Keyholder sitting on top of the car, I waved like a nutter, then I actually thought "What a waste of £20! Insureance company ought to pay it back now I'm not dead!"

When we landed I was so giddy, the feeling was overwhelming. Couldn't stop smiling. :-)
Oh and I was starving. Really starving! Adrenaline must make you hungry.

"I'm a doer not a dreamer"

"I'm a doer not a dreamer"
 That's what I said once, I said it to the Key Holder, during an argument actually. I won't describe the details but sitting crossed legged on my bed I felt a little empty.
"It's just a hobby."
What? My writing is just a hobby? How could my passion, my very essence be pushed aside so easily? Do my dreams make me stupid? Is that what you thought?
"It would be nice if you did, but it's most likely you won't ever get published."

Well now I'll say this. I will get published. I will do the things I want to. I will thrive, and i'll be damned! if I let anyone tell me otherwise. Even you.

I wrote my list that day, most of it had always been in the back of my mind but now I decided to put it on paper. There is a road I've been on since as far back as I can remember, a road of freedom, of pure, passionate life. I wouldn't let that go to be the girl that lives in the street down the road, has three kids, a hated job and a crumpled piece of paper that got thrown away but never forgotten. In the back of my mind I thought I'll do this with or without you, and deep down  knew it would be the latter.

A week later I booked and paid a deposit to do my Sky Dive. I didn't even tell anybody until the confirmation came through. It changed for you then didn't it Key Holder? I think it did. When you realised I would do everything I dreamt of and you couldnt change that. We certainly went in a downward spiral after that day, so don't deny it didnt have some bearing. The sky dive was first on my list because I'd thought about it since I was in primary school, it was the one solid thing I'd always wanted to do, it was also one of the most seemingly unreachable in my eyes. If I did this, I'd do everything.

My list will undoubtably gain new things as I go along, and get new ideas. I am keeping a scrapbook that shall express my creativity, documenting my adventures and with every page, the wonderful life I will live will be collected and stored. When I am old and I am fading, I will have this book to look back on and know that I did well in this life. I hope I eventually have children who will also appreciate its contents and be inspired from it.

So I don't forget when times are dull, rough, at a stand still, or just busy, I have framed and mounted my sky dive certificate, it watched me from the wall and it reminds me that I have a list and anything is achievable.

Here's the list...I've marked the ones already done with # hash tag and will continue to edit to show my progress to the world. It's in no particular order, I will do what I am able to whenever I can, there's no time limit or pattern to this list. I certainly don't intend to do any of these things in any particular order.

My Bucket List

1.     Sky Dive #

2.     Skinny Dipping

3.     Swim with Dolphins

4.     Be in a movie

5.     Send a message in a bottle

6.     Fall in love #

7.     Write and finish my novel

8.     Move out of parents house

9.     Grow an apple tree

10.                         Enter into a bakery competition

11.                         Join the W.I-Women’s Institutional

12.                         Ride in a hot air balloon (Bristol international Balloon festival) #

13.                         Go to the theatre #

14.                         See a music concert, a performer live

15.                         Do the James Bond thing, Place a bet in Vegas, maybe win big time in a bong girl dress

16.                         Go fishing

17.                         Scuba dive on ‘the great barrier reef’ Australia

18.                         Be like crocodile Dundee, have a walk-a-bout in the Australian Bush

19.                         Go on safari

20.                         A good real Camping trip

21.                         Visit the forest of Dean

22.                         Host a party #

23.                         Host a better party

24.                         Cook a really good Christmas dinner

25.                         Host a Christmas party (like the Kranks)

26.                         Christmas in New York

27.                         Paris and the Eiffel tower

28.                         South of France

29.                         Pyramids of Egypt

30.                         Statue of liberty

31.                         Stone Henge

32.                         The Grand Canyon

33.                         Coliseum in Rome

34.                         Great wall of China

35.                         Northern Lights

36.                         Have my fortune told

37.                         Lose Virginity #

38.                         Smoke #

39.                         Horse riding #

40.                         Get married, (Hopefully!) with a small but beautiful wedding

41.                         Get a tattoo-maybe :-/ probably not lol

42.                         Get a dog

43.                         Learn to drive

44.                         Graduate university

45.                         Publish something

46.                         Drive/ride down route 66

47.                         Trek America!

48.                         Streak, like they did in the 70’s, wearing an American flag

49.                         Work with elephants

50.                         Empire Estate building, (an affair to remember)

51.                         Eat Breakfast at Tiffneys (Audrey Hepburn)

52.                         Go Clubbing #

53.                         Watch the horse racing at Ascot, (wearing a hat, as they do)

54.                         Yorkshire dales, and three peaks

55.                         Notre Dame

56.                         Venice

57.                         London (Window Shopping, London eye, big ben, Buckingham palace, crown jewels)

58.                         Vote (in honour of the suffragettes, the women that fought for the right to vote.)

59.                         White cliffs of dover

60.                         “Sit on the dock of a bay, wasting time” –Otis Redding inspired this one

61.                         Have a baby

62.                         Buy a car

63.                         Ride in a yellow N.Y Cab

64.                         Do a murder mystery weekend and be like Marple and Poirot

65.                         Cut my hair #

66.                         Do well in GCSE’s#

67.                         See the stars from the desert

68.                         Solve the Labyrinth (Longleat Hedge maze)

69.                         Hever castle, Kent (Home of Anne Boelyn)

70.                         Quit a job

71.                         Abseil down a building

72.                         Take part in raising money for Charity #

73.                         Settle in a cottage/house somewhere in the countryside.

74.                         Grow and maintain a vegetable patch

75.                         Scotland

76.                         Be a model for a day

77.                         Ride on the back of motorbike on a day in the country #

78.                         Visit the Brontë museum (Haworth, North Yorkshire)#

79.                         Drink in Starbucks #

80.                         Clent Hills #

81.                         Paragliding

82.                         Buy mum a whole wardrobe of nice clothes

83.                         Learn how to make chocolate

84.                         Take the ‘waters’ in Bath

85.                         Sex in a car

86.                         Jane Austen’s Home Museum

87.                         Take a boat trip

88.                         Canoe down a river

89.                         Camping trip around Ireland, (Galway, Dublin, Cork, in a triangle)

90.                         Wicklowe national park

91.                         Hadrian’s wall

92.                         The lizard peninsula, cornwall

93.                         Ullwater and place fell, lake district

94.                         Malvern hills

95.                         Fitzwilliam museum

96.                         Museum of wizardology, stratford-upon-avon

97.                         Disney land!

98.                         Windsor castle

99.                         Go in a shark tank

100.                   Do another skydive, but with somebody this time

101.                   Take a scenic train journey

102.                   Host a masquerade ball

103.                   Build a time machine

104.                   Go back in time lol

105.                     Rock Climbing #

106. Visit Land's end, Cornwall

107. Visit Clovelly, Devon

108. Visit the Lake District, Cumbria


109. Cast a large wiccan circle for a pagan festival with a gathering of people

110. Grow a vegetable patch I can be proud of.

111. own a micro pig

112. Visit Agatha Christie Home: Greenway

113. Visit Pemberley

114. Do a girly spa visit-just for the fun of it.

115. Learn to swim, stop being afraid of water and drowning.