Month completed: November 2009

There is something quite nice, I find, about doing a jigsaw puzzle. I think it might be that in order to solve it most efficiently, you need to develop a process (i.e. start by finding the corner pieces, then the side pieces, then all the bits that are just sky and so on).

Being random in approach and having no process at all means the job will fail or take ten times as long.

A little like life perhaps.

The other thing I like about a jigsaw is seeing the finished product. Which is why for this goal, I decided to embark on a 540-piece 3D puzzle of the globe, because the finished product is a great piece to display.

And as I found, quite a challenge not just finding the right pieces, but also the act of putting them together.

Here’s some shots, of the start, the middle and the end of the puzzle.

Just getting started – wondering just where to start

This thing is starting to take some shape. If I stopped now it would make a cool, but very fragile, fruit bowl

I have conquered the world!

I really enjoyed this goal, and think I will buy another – in a toy store the other day I saw one called ‘Pooh Sticks‘ – I was tempted but held off. What a ridiculous name.

Month completed: November 2009

I saw this goal as a scientific experiment – to evaluate one of the many teeth whitening kits out on the market in London.

To get a one hour teeth whitening session in London you are looking at upwards of £150, so I instead opted for a ‘at-home’ solution from Boots for £28.

This kit involved a three step process, which included wearing a mouthpiece with whitening gel for 15 minutes each morning and each night for two weeks.

It was a bit annoying to use, but after the two weeks, here were the results.

BEFORE

AFTER

As you may be able to tell, there is quite a difference between the two. The product does work.

Will I give it another go? Probably not. At nearly £30 a kit, I can think of much better things to spend my money on.

p.s. if anyone call tell me what the brown spot on my tooth on the top right in both photos, I would be interested to know!

Month completed: October 2009

In an earlier post I mentioned that the new flat that Nat and I moved in to in June has no TV.

Now, in early November, it still doesn’t.

The only TV we now watch is Home and Away (how embarrassing, I know) and the occasional documentary, via the Internet on-demand channels.

I remember back in Melbourne, the latest episode of Survivor, or Australian Idol, or whatever the latest hit show is, was the number one topic of discussion every day in the office.

So missing out on the main TV shows there meant not being part of the discussion.

But one thing I have noticed is that TV is rarely discussed around the office water cooler in London. Activities that people are up to seem to take precedent, which is a welcome change.

After five months now with no TV, I am starting to miss it though. It is nice to plonk in front of the couch at the end of a hard day, and escape with some mindless program.

Maybe I will make it a joint Christmas present for the house

With the latest technology available to the youth of today, from Xbox, to all the latest apps on the iPhone, to the millions and millions of pages of the Internet to surf, I have always been interested in how the Harry Potter series cut through all that, and got billions of young people to read.

What is so magical about it?

Why is it so popular?

And how I am going to possibly read all 7 books, totalling 3,500 pages (see my stack of books and the first five movies on DVD to the right), when my books tend to be short, sharp 300 page things?

It didn’t take long to answer these questions, and by the end of the first book, I was hooked.

The benefit of starting late was that I didn’t have to wait for the next book to come out – it was there waiting for me. So as soon as one book was done, I was immediately on to the next one. They are very addictive.

The characters are all classic (my favourites are Dobby, Hagrid and Lupin), the stories have many up and downs, when I finally finished the last book, the Deathly Hallows, I was left with a feeling of closure that was definitely worth the time and effort invested.

I have also now seen the first five movies, which I must say are great, but not a lick on the greatness of the books. With the last movie split into two parts, and the second part not coming out until July 2011, I now have a long time to wait to finish this goal off.

Until then, I will work on my Patronus Charm – just in case