Challenge #1: Read Great Expectations

I always approach classic literature with a hint of skepticism, like I'm waiting for this world famous author to screw up somehow. I'm not really sure where this comes from, perhaps it's fear. Fear that I won't understand, that it will go over my head and I will be left feeling powerless under the weight of literary genius.

This feeling continues, even though I am constantly proven wrong. Every classic I've read has made me realise why it's a classic (well, except for The Great Gatsby, but maybe I was just too young for that one). I guess those literature professors (or whoever deems these novels to be classics) know what they're talking about.

That being said, I did find Great Expectations a hard slog, although I'm still figuring out why. It wasn't the language - I enjoyed his writing style and that time-traveller feeling you get from reading from the past. The story is captivating, the characters well-developed (I particularly loved Wemmick, with his constant desire to keep his work life and private life separate. And the fact that his father is just referred to as 'The Aged'). I think my major problem was a modern day conundrum: I watched the modern TV version first.

I made a classic blunder, although who can really resist anything on the BBC?? In fact, watching the TV mini-series inspired me to read the classic in the first place. But it ruined the mystery of the novel. I knew what was going to happen to Pip, Estella and dear Joe. The secret behind Pip's Great Expectations and his delusion that Estella was intended for him was no secret for me. That was why I found it so hard to pull the novel closer to me, to get into that excited reading-frenzy that great novels cause. Where you waste away hours in another world and when you emerge you're slightly surprised that the characters aren't standing in front of you. I already knew what was going to happen. All the suspense was spent before I even read the first page.

Still, I guess that doesn't matter as the end result is the same: I have finished reading Great Expectations. I can cross another classic off my list. I am acquainted with Mr Dickens and I find him quite satisfying, thank you very much. He can remain in the classic category, as far as I'm concerned.

Challenge #32: Eat a Cornish Pasty (preferably in Cornwall)

I ate something protected. I ate a Cornish Pasty.

I've had many pasties in my life, but never a Cornish one. Little did I know that I was stepping into controversial territory with this challenge. As it turns out, the Cornish pasty is now a protected species.

Recently, the Cornish Pasty has been granted Protected Geographical Indication status. This basically means that you can't call something a Cornish pasty unless:
- it follows a traditional recipe (beef or mince, swede, potato and onion with a light peppery seasoning)
- it is in a distinctive 'D' shape and is crimped on the SIDE (not the top!)
- it is made in Cornwall

Fair enough I say. Although, it does make me wonder about the 'French' fry.

So, being the modern lady, I googled 'best places for Cornish pasties' and found a list. Luckily, one of those places was in village we were planning to visit. So I dragged my parents down some street in Looe to find 'Sarah's Pasty Shop'. Guess what is sold there? You got it. French fries.

After purchasing our pasties, we walked down to the water's edge to enjoy them. I'm not sure how 'traditional' it was of me to cover mine with tomato sauce but hey, it tasted good.

The pastry really was the highlight. Ridiculously golden, thick, yet light. Crunchy. Not sure about the insides but it was fairly tasty. I don't think I'll be rushing out for another one. In fact, the idea of one makes me feel slightly ill. Glad I only got a medium one...

Aside from a slight nauseated feeling, my pasty challenge left me with some interesting facts about pasties. For example, pasties have existed for 200 years and were originally eaten by poorer families and working men in particular. The crimping on the side made a handy handle (ha!) for tin miners and was discarded afterwards because of the arsenic in the mines.

Part of the Cornish identity and now a protected species. Not a bad effort for the pasty really. And not a bad way to fill a hungry stomach on a windy spring day by the sea.

Challenge #22: Participate in a Pub Quiz

Who doesn't love a good pub quiz? You get to show off when you know things (even if they are few and far between), work as a team and drink beer while you do it!

I chose The Goat in Clapham for this particular challenge. They do a regular Monday pub quiz and are well known for their food. I have to say that they didn't disappoint on either factor.

The Goat had made their pub quiz a bit more interesting by awarding extra points for the 'best decorated goat' and a prize for the best team name. We ended up being called "Get your goat, you've pulled" which apparently is a play on the line "Get your coat, you've pulled" which basically means a guy has managed to con a girl into going home with him. According to my housemate anyway, I'd never heard it before. And we didn't win the best team name so maybe the quiz master hadn't either...

We also didn't get the extra points for our 'Where's Goat?" version of the goat. We all felt robbed.

Needless to say, we didn't come last. We came second last. This was even more embarrassing considering that one of the rounds was 'Australia' and 3 of us were Australian...

I did learn some new things though. Did you know that the largest structure built by organisms is The Great Barrier Reef? Or that the quiz master was born in New South Wales?

Love a good pub quiz.

Challenge #38: Picnic at Hampstead Heath

Sunshine in London is more precious than water during a drought. So when the sun does make an appearance Londoners all flock to the amazing parks and commons in the city.

Hampstead Heath is one of those havens. On a sunny day it is packed with people who are picnicking or throwing gigantic frisbees (well, someone did on the day I was there).

As soon as it was obvious that the sun was staying out, I left the house in - shock horror - a t-shirt! This is a sign of truly warm weather in London. (A total freak, it went back to its usual chilly temperatures by 5pm). After grabbing a roll from a supermarket, I met a couple of friends in the park for a picnic. Admittedly, I usually go to more effort than buying a pre-made roll, however on this day I just wanted to be in the sun. A sign that I'm becoming a real Londoner.

I didn't see a lot of the heath in the end, just enjoyed the warmth and the lake, as well as some good conversation with my friends. Which is the whole point of the heath I think. I will definitely go back there and have a better explore but for now I think I can deem this challenge completed!

Challenge #34: No caffeine for a week

Addiction: Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance.

Sadly, I think this challenge has been the most difficult so far.

It's interesting because so many look down on people with addictions, yet everyday millions of people 'need' to have their morning coffee. That is addiction, my friends. And giving up is painful.

Literally painful. The first day of my caffeine free week I thought I was dying. Splitting headache, irritable, tired. I was Miss Crabby Pants with a headache on top. And no amount of painkillers numbed the pain. (And yes, I do acknowledge the fact that I used one drug to get over another drug...)

The second day was the same. And the third. By the fourth day my sanity had started crawling back into my brain. By the fifth I was almost back to normal.

Actually, I should probably admit that this challenge has lasted two extra days because on my second day I bought and consumed a drink without thinking. Iced Tea. Despite the fact that I doubt 'Black Tea Extract' has very much caffeine in it, I decided that I needed to do the two extra days to really deem this challenge complete.

So I guess the question everyone is asking is: when are we going for coffee? Well, not any time soon. Addiction, of any sort, is not anyone's friend. So I'm keeping the coffee for special occasions for the moment.

Tea? Now that's another story. That's not really an addiction... It's a national past time!

Challenge #52: Watch 'Withnail and I'

This challenge stems from a hamster named 'Jeff Wode'.

Intrigued by this name, I soon discovered that he was briefly mentioned in the film, 'Withnail and I'. And so I decided that I needed to see this classic British film.

Set in Camden (although I recognised none of the scenery), two out of work actors, Withnail and Marwood (what is with the names in this film?!), decide to go to the country for a break from their non-existent work lives.

That's about all there is to the film itself. There is also the weird 'Uncle Monty' who pays a surprise visit and spends most of the time hitting on Marwood (who doesn't do a very good job a repelling his affection I don't think). They drink a lot and Withnail goes off on ridiculous rants. Also they have no wellingtons so they wear plastic bags on their feet. Genius idea!

Highlight was definitely the 'Jeff Wode' part, an athlete who was taking anabolic steroids and probably has "huge balls" according to Withnail.

A fairly easy challenge to complete really, but I think if it wasn't a challenge I would have switched the film off very soon after the famous 'Jeff Wode' part. I'm sure there was some deeper meaning, but Sunday evening is not the time to find one.

Challenge #18: Listen to a new album everyday for a week

I set myself this challenge because I often buy or acquire albums and then fail to listen to them in their entirety. It was an interesting experience listening to one band or artist without skipping tracks. I usually just have my entire library on 'random' so this seemed like what normal people do when listening to music.

Day One: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
There's been a lot of hype about this album, mostly because of Liam Gallagher. He's been dissing his brother saying he's the less talented one. And everyone who's heard the album have said that he's wrong. And also a douche. I tend to agree... Pretty good album really, it'll end up on my rotation I'm sure. Has a very Oasis feel to it. Obviously.

Day Two: Crowded House - Woodface
Aussie band or Kiwi band? I know the Finn bros are Kiwis but apparently the band was formed in Melbourne... Anyway, there's something Aussie about these songs, maybe it's just that I grew up listening to them. Sitting on the train, watching London rush by seemed a contradiction.

Day Three: James Morrison - Songs for you, truths for me
Uplifting love songs I guess you could say... This kind of album tends to make me reminisce about past loves and when the song finishes I suddenly wonder why I was remembering someone who was clearly an idiot. I could take this guy or leave him though. Nothing original or particular brain exploding here.

Day Four: Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra
The only problem with listening to this album is the fact that it makes me giggle. Not that I have a problem with that, but it does mean looking a bit deranged on the train. No one smiles on the train. Everyone is sleepy and on their way to work and probably had to run for the train like me. So grinning like an idiot to musical lyrical genius lines like "only a ginger can call another ginger ginger" doesn't really work. But it was totally worth it.


Day Five: Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
One of those bands that I clearly know but never really knew. I.e. just about every song on this album, I already knew and thought, "Ahh, that's who plays this song". Man on the Moon: awesome classic. John Stipe has an interesting voice, very expressive I think. Almost a little haunting. With a career spanning so many years, he's obviously doing something right!


Day Six: Don't Bore Us - Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits
Yeh, girl power!! This made my Saturday morning trek to Earl's Court that much more enjoyable... When "It Must Be Love" came on, I very nearly regaled the entire street with my own rendition... 


Day Seven: Radiohead
What I'm about to say will make it obvious that I'm not cool. I don't really get Radiohead. I think they are one of those bands that all the cool music kids love and I just think... Whinge whinge whinge. Not so much the lyrics, more his voice. Don't get me wrong, there are some songs I love by Radiohead (i.e. "Talk Show Host" from R+J). "Paranoid Android" is another good un. But I doubt that this album will be making a regular appearance on my playlist...