So last year I had mixed success with my 25 before 25 list- BUT I found it a really good way to motivate me to try to do some new things. And it was also interesting to see what I’d written when I’d forgotten one or two parts of it!

I’m going to do another list- I’m already a month down, but hopefully it won’t be too difficult to get back on track!

1- Read 30 new children’s books (0/30)

I have to read children’s books for my teacher training course, and even though I’ve already read a load, I’m going to start from NOW to read some more.

2- Read 25 new YA/adult books (0/25)

Obviously as I’m trying to read children’s books, I’m going to make my number smaller for this (but to be honest I also have no idea how much time I’ll have for reading come September!)

3- Lose some weight

This was on my other list and I’m going to keep it on this one! Again I’m not going to put any specific target down but it would be nice to continue with the loss.

4- Change my hair again

It doesn’t matter what I do- chop it off, go ginger, dye it black- I just don’t want to get stuck in a rut. EVEN IF I really love the length it is now!

5- Get a tattoo

I didn’t manage this one last year, but I’m going to do my best to manage this one this time! I think rather than focusing on my inner arm tattoo, I’m going to aim to cover up my rubbish ankle tattoo on my left leg!

6- Pierce my ear again

Whether that’s another lobe or another couple of helix piercings- it doesn’t matter!

7- Run another 5k in less than 45 minutes

I’m going to sign up for the Race for Life 2016 soon so that will be an easy one! Hopefully I shouldn’t find it too hard to beat my time from this year either.

8- Run a Tough Mudder

I’d also like to have a go at a Tough Mudder or Obstacle event. I know I’ll be busy next year but I hope to have enough time to fit one of these in.

9- Get a first draft of my novel written

I failed MISERABLY at finishing my novel this year- this time, I’m aiming for at least a first draft by my next birthday. Again I’ll be super busy but I’m being optimistic.

10- Visit 3 new places

It doesn’t matter where- I’d just like to go to 3 places I haven’t been yet!

11- Have at least £1000 saved

Last year it was £500 which I managed pretty well- next year, being as I will be earning more, I’d like to double the amount.

12- See the Northern Lights

Still haven’t seen the Northern Lights!

13- Have afternoon tea

This doesn’t have to be anywhere posh- M&S do Afternoon Tea now!

14- Buy a corset

Self explanatory!

15- Continue to learn French

I began to learn some languages through Duolingo last year but I think I was a bit too ambitious and tried to learn too many (French, Italian, Irish Gaelic and Danish). Whilst I’d like to learn all of those eventually (and improve my German and Russian and learn Finnish and Mandarin too!) I’m going to focus on French for now! It will help with…

16- Visit Paris

Ambitious, expensive- oh well!

17- Go on a trip by myself (doesn’t have to be far away or overnight)

I didn’t go anywhere by myself last year- mainly because I was in a relationship pretty soon after making this list! I’d like to take a solo trip this year though. Assert my independence and all.

18- Throw a dinner party

Didn’t throw a dinner party. Need friends for that, ha! Will try again before next birthday.

19- Pick up the cello again

Rather than being (again, overly) ambitious and pledging to pass my final exam finally, I’m going to go easy on myself and just pledge to pick it up again.

20- Learn geeky cello tunes!

Maybe this could have been part of number 18 BUT I have a list of ‘geeky’ pieces I’d like to learn to play- my World of Warcraft cello book, for example, alongside the Dragon Age Inquisition theme and the Game of Thrones theme as well.

21- Succeed in my training year

Obviously, come my 26th birthday I’ll only be partway through the year (going into my third and final term) BUT I’ll still be able to gauge how well I’m doing. And it’d be nice if I was doing well, wouldn’t you say!?

22- Try some Pinterest recipes (0/10)

I have a HUGE collection of food-related pins on Pinterest (including 6 boards!). I’m going to actually try out some of the recipes from them and blog about them here!

23- Continue running

I’m slowly but surely starting to enjoy running. I’d like to try to find the time to make it a permanent fixture and try to run 1-2 times per week.

24- Get back on the ‘scene’

I’m not going to lie- this won’t happen for a good while. I’ve no desire to find anyone new any time soon and, frankly, I respect my ex-boyfriend too much to jump straight into the search. But it would be nice to be at least ‘back out there’ by the time I turn 26.

25- Visit Ollivander’s

This is a bit of a cheat, because I know it’s definitely going to happen in about one month’s time. BUT I want to go to Ollivander’s Wand Shop in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Islands of Adventure. Doesn’t matter if I don’t get a chance to pick my wand (or would that be have my wand pick me?!) but I’d like to go there!

26- Post a blog once a week

This, I feel, may be the hardest one to stick to. BUT I’d like to post at least once a week. Even if it’s a quick update, that’ll do. I shan’t neglect this space like I have been!