I have written occasionally on this blog about people who inspire me.

Now I have decided to make this more of a regular feature of the blog, and when I hear about someone who does something inspirational, or even just plain nice, I am going to shout about it for everyone to hear.

Which brings me to Nigel Parker, who was given the honour of turning on the Christmas light at Portishead this year (a very big honour that is usually reserved for celebrities). Nigel looks to be one of the nicest blokes around, and if you are feeling a little down today, just take a leaf from Nigel’s book.

Here’s the video. If you come across anyone that you think is an inspiration, please let me know. Everyone needs a little inspiration.

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

Sometimes, sources of inspiration are on your doorstep.

One of the people at my work is a guy called Stephen.

Stephen is a unique character. He is never short of a story, is always friendly and happy around the office, and he is someone that personifies the spirit of never believing it is too late to start something new.

Despite being what some might describe as a member of ‘the older generation’ (he has just turned 60 and proudly holds a Freedom Pass), Stephen has not let the opportunities of life slip him by. Let me give you a couple of examples.

At 50, despite never having ridden a motorbike before, Stephen bought a Harley Davidson. While waiting for the bike to arrive at the showroom, he learnt how to ride, got his license, and when the Harley was ready to pick up, he successfully drove the bike home.

And just this year, a burning desire to learn guitar was finally realised, with Stephen starting guitar lessons once a week and putting to use the Fender he bought a few years earlier.

Too often I hear people say that it is too late to start this, or too late to do that.

To them I say – it is NEVER too late!

And for the thousands of Stephens out there that are living proof of this, thanks.

Month completed: September 2009

When I was growing up, we had the 1983 book of Guinness World Records.

In that book was a record for a lady who ate the most baked beans in one minute.

The conditions were that she had to eat them one at a time, and pick them up off the plate with a toothpick.

Being a baked bean fan, I thought this record seemed easy to break. I never broke it though.

But this book, which I loved reading cover to cover, spurned my interest in one day being part of a world record.

And finally, on the same day that I complete my half-marathon, I was also part of a world record.

That record was for the most people in one place dressed up as fruit. Bananas specifically.

There were over 200 of us there, and the world record was secured after we had huddled together for 15 minutes.

Strangely, that 15 minutes was spent doing stretches being run by two of the Gladiators from the UK TV Gladiators series. One of them was Doom (see below), who looked like he was quite keen to be surrounded by a bunch of bananas (yes, nice play on words, I know).

Next plan is a world record that I achieve on my own, but for now, I am proud to say that I am a world record holding banana.

Month completed: September 2009

This goal has been one of the toughest so far.

But one of the most rewarding.

After two months of training, I ran, and completed, the Run to the Beat half-marathon in south London last Sunday, in a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes.

Which is a great time, I think.

Considering I ran the race dressed as a banana!

Yes, a banana.

As part of running for Leukaemia Research, they gave me, and 200 other people, a banana suit to run in.

Being a hot day, and running in a banana suit, is not a good combination, but I was determined not to walk the race, and was very pleased that I got through the race without walking at all.

I felt terrible afterwards, and my legs have only just recovered, but it was definitely worth it.

I raised £450 for Leukaemia Research in the process (you can still donate here) which was a nice addition to this goal.

Would I run another one? Yes. But not for a year or two. And definitely NOT in a banana suit!

I came across this book in the bookshop today. Probably the perfect antidote for anyone who doesn’t want to start up a list.

I flicked through it at the shop (didn’t buy it of course, as it might have an adverse effect on my list!), and found it quite amusing.

Here is the snippet of the description from Amazon:

Can’t Be Arsed is a hilarious diatribe that takes a detailed look at the alternative side of the 101 most frequently cited must do’s, revealing the ugly details that most of these guidebooks conveniently ignore. It gives off-putting facts and statistics to quote at holier-than-thou thrillseekers, so the next time somebody tells you that you simply must swim with dolphins, read Kafka in Prague, or go skydiving, you can tell them exactly where to get off.

So, if you are looking for some light relief to the pressure of making and completing a list, check out Can’t Be Arsed.

Get it online here.

Month completed: September 2009

Introducing yourself to others is never an easy thing to do.

Although people almost always say hello back, exchange your handshake or smile back, starting a conversation with a complete stranger is never easy.

So to achieve this goal, I wanted to go somewhere that I would have to introduce myself.

That place, I decided, would be a networking event. One in which I went on my own, and knew not a sole who was there.

And what better networkers are there than entrepreneurs? Not many.

So on Tuesday I went to an entrepreneurs event in west London, on the Thames, which someone handed me a pamphlet for.

Aimed with business cards and a big smile I entered.

Immediately I looked for someone on their own, to start a conversation with.

He was almost relieved when I started speaking with him, which reminded me that starting conversations with strangers is an almost universal fear.

Once we started talking we then became a magnet for others to join our conversation, and by the end of the night, I had spoken to and exchanged business cards with well over the 10 people I was after for this goal.

The event finished at 9pm, but I had such a great time meeting new people that I was one of the last to leave, at 11pm.

I am now looking to feed my entrepreneurial desire, so will definitely be trying to go to more networking events and continuing to say hi to strangers (within reason!).

p.s Apologies for the lack of recent posts – a lot of my time is taken training for the half-marathon at the moment.

[Image via here]