31. Winning money at the races

I have only been to the races only once before and pretty much, didn't really understand what I was doing.

This time, I decided to get advice and knowledge from some of the people with me and made three bets.  Two of mine were to guess winners/placers in 6 different races and the other was a two way bet (I think that's what they call it) on a winner (means you get money if they get within the first three places and if they win).

I made my choices very carefully and on the first two bids, lost (one I guessed 3 placed horses, but not the second 3).  But then on my last bet and the last race of the day, I won : )

Last Sovereign was the winning horse, of the last race at New Market Racecourse and with a £5 bet I won just under £25 : )  No bad for a newbie : )

(This is a picture of another race I watched on the day, as the one for my winning horse wasn't as good)

18. Working on a show with Arabic speaking cast members

One of the newest challenges in my work has been working on a show with Iraqie cast members who mainly don't speak english.

We do have a translator but at the start it was difficult because if you couldn't find them and the cast or you wanted to ask the other one something, you tried to explain it through actions.

It has got easier through the week and we have not just got used to finding ways to explain through gesture but also had a laugh along the way.

For many,it is their first time in the country and they have had the opportunity to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Lift Festival and also work at Riverside Studios.

The cast have been really nice and although we seem to have different ways of working, we have found muddle ground.

This is a great before thirty venture and one I didn't expect to have when I started this : )

17. Getting offered a job without interviewing

Today I had the most extraordinary day.  I woke to find there was a job that I was suited to on one of my regular job sites.

As any normal person would do, I applied for the job straight away (especially as it was to start Monday) and then carried on my day.

Later in the day I checked the application status and it had been looked at several times (which is normally a good sign).

At around 2:30pm I got a cool and was told they would love to have me on a board and I definitely fine to start Monday - insane!  Obviously I checked all the details and made sure I was happy with everything, but yes, I am starting a one week job from Monday with a new company I have never worked with before.  I might expect this from a past client but not from someone who is only going from my experience.

It's been a great way to end the working week and I now feel I deserve a beer : )

15. Having a Nexplanon put in my arm

For those of you that don't know what this is, it is a contraceptive implant for women, that fits in the underside of the top of the arm.


I used to have an Implanon, but apparently this is it's new replacement.


The main difference between this one is it is inserted using a tiny machine, so that it is in the right place (unlike the old ones, where a doctor inserted my friends one too deep into her arm and she went to hospital to have it removed : s) and the fact that it shows up on x-rays.  It also seems to be a bit longer in length (like a small plastic bendy tube that produces low does of Etonogestral), a bit thicker and is placed slightly higher up the arm than before.


I had mine put in the other day and now that the incision has healed, I don't have to think about it for another 3 years - perfect!

For more information, please look on the official website: http://www.nexplanon.co.uk/

10. Offering a great ticket offer to the masses : )

You might think that this shouldn't count, but I believe it should.


I have worked in Theatre for ages and normally I have to be really hush hush about ticket offers.  But today, I was told about an offer that anyone is allowed to use if they know about.


All the details are below and it's not a con.  I want to offer something to you my viewers : )


It is a 2 for 1 ticket offer for Sister Act at The New Wimbledon Theatre.  If you like a good musical, with a decent story and great songs - this could be for you!


Details below, have a great show on me : )  For once, I get to give something back!

Great SISTER ACT OFFER (2 for 1 ticket offer on Top Price Tickets*) at New Wimbledon Theatre: Book at www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon or call 0844 871 7646 (bkg fee) and quote JUBILEE

*Valid for three top price for all performances. This offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Bookable in multiples of two only. Subject to booking/transaction fee.

1. Learning Mandarin (or attempting)

Firstly, like in my other blog, apologise for lack of writing.  Computer sick, so no writing for me : (


I have just paid and signed into my 12 month course of Mandarin.  I decided to go for this language as I used to study Italian, French and Latin and wanted to try something different.  I have also always wanted to go to China, so I also thought this might be useful for some future trip.


I won't start learning it tonight as it's late and I'm tired, but paying for it and signing in is definitely the first step : )  I have also paid for a 12 month Web Development course, a 2hr course in Henna Tattooing and I am already thinking of other things to do (possibly Rollerskiing : p).  It's so exciting and I can't wait to start trying new things : )


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Yonks after writing this post, I have finally started Mandarin.  So far I have done a few sessions and I am really enjoying it. My biggest problem with my course is my computer does not like the bit where the course needs to access the microphone, so I am unable to do any speaking tests yet, which is quite annoying.  However, I have started completed some of the games for the first section and I am doing well : )

The inspiration...

For anyone that has been reading my Route to Thirty blog, this is kind of a side blog to that even though it could be read completely separately.  Due to being thirty at the end of this year, I have been re-accessing my lifestyle and things I do.

The idea of this blog is to find new skills (if you hadn't guessed from the title, lol).  The reason:  I was working on Lord of the Dance recently and saw one of the Wardrobe women learning to Irish dance when she wasn't working.  It looked like so much fun and reminded me of all the hobbies and interests I have slowly given up (many down to Theatre, as the unsocial hours and long days make it hard to do anything, let alone see friends and family). The other thing that triggered it was my friend @CaraNeedsHelp said she had read my blog and liked it, but asked if I was going to set myself any aims.  Thinking about her comment and me watching the Irish dancing the other day made me think, why don't I try and find some new skills.

I have previously done lots of random things including: Air Guitaring to compete to be a finalist for Ireland; cut my friends hair using an online guide; completed Go Ape (even though I am not very good at heights) and used to do Ju-Jitsu.  I have no idea how this blog is going to turn out, but I am willing to try and find new skills to try, to push my boundaries and maybe even something interesting to add to my CV (also if Karl Pilkington can do new things, so can I!).  At the moment, this blog will run up to my thirtieth birthday too, but we will see how it goes.  

And so it begins...