Challenge 25# - 8 times the embarassment!

Since I started a new job in September my new teaching assistants have been very keen to set me a challenge. Originally they wanted me to jump off a bridge (I promise I'm not a tyrant boss!) but safety got in the way of that.

Whilst I was busy breathing a sigh of relief, they were busy plotting. They decided if safety was an issue; embarrassment wasn't. So they are going to make me spend a day at work in fancy dress.

As an octopus.

In a home made octopus costume.

Maybe I should have just jumped off the bridge! So I really hope lots of people donate and I don't lose all the respect of my students or colleagues. Let's hope I look cooler than this guy!

Remember you can donate to support this or any other challenge at www.justgiving.com/30before30sense

Challenge 24# - Pea eating contest!

This comes close to being the most random challenge! The logistics of this are still a little unclear but it involves some serious competition between me and my sister. The challenge is to eat as many peas as you can using chopsticks - there are apparently legitimate competitions around the country for this already!

We will be doing ours as part of a coffee morning we are organising to publicise the challenges on the 17th of May. People will be able to 'buy a square' to guess how many peas will be eaten. There will be a prize for the closest answer. In addition to this people can donate to take part if they are compelled to be a part of the challenge.

Roll on May 17th - I don't know whether to practice in between! There is the issue that I've never used chopsticks to eat anything, let alone peas!

Remember you can donate to support, or take part in, this challenge at www.justgiving.com/30before30sense

Challenge 23# - Play us a tune!

I won't lie this terrifies me. The challenge is to play an instrument at an 'open' music night at a local pub. It's described as small, friendly - no pressure. But the pressure comes from the fact I haven't picked up an instrument, let alone played to anyone in nearly 20 years.

I played the flute as a child. Although I really enjoyed it, I hated to perform in public. My mum had dreams of my sister and I playing flute and harp duets. Instead we became teenagers and gave up. Since then my hearing impairment has got worse and I now wear a hearing aid.

It's a great challenge. If I can pull it off it will be a massive achievement. If I don't it will be the most embarrassing one yet.

So the first step is to get hold of a flute. The next step is to try and see if I can make even a note. Then choose a song.

Any advice greatly appreciated! Any donations to spur me on even more so! www.justgiving.com/30before30sense

Challenge 22# - Karaoke!

Remember the money! That's what I've got to tell myself when this is clearly a friend wanting to embarrass me. "I've never done karaoke". Why I would admit that when I know someone could set it as a challenge I don't know! "I've no idea what song I'd sing but it absolutely wouldn't be Whitney Houston". Again why would I admit that?

So here goes the challenge - sing I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston to a room full of people. Just the slight catch that I cannot sing. That's not modesty - it's fact.

Cue me singing in the car frequently until it's D-Day.

Please, please donate at www.justgiving.com/30before30sense and make this worth my while!

Challenge 21# - Silence!

Oh this will be tough. I'm perhaps what people might politely call chatty and less politely call someone that just does not shut up! So when Lesley challenged me to a 24 hour silence it was the first time I was speechless.

We've had to be somewhat careful about timing, as I am a special needs co-ordinator I cannot possibly achieve this at work. It wouldn't be fair to my students and I'm not sure parents and professionals would tolerate me just not answering the phone! But to make it harder Lesley has said I need to do it around people who may well try and embarass me into failing at it. As I said for life drawing I'm quite a prude so there's a number of people who would know just what to say to make me crack!

The incentive is that any sound I make I'll lose money and as I want to get as much as I can for SENSE I'll do my best.

Remember you can support this or any other challenge by donating at www.justgiving.com/30before30sense

Completed Challenge 8# - Teach the world to sign!

So the title may have been a slight exaggeration! But I had a lot of fun with this and it was something that was really important to me. I'm hearing impaired myself and although I don't need to sign it is something I've always been fascinated by. My mum and I took classes together and had a fantastic teacher Mark for our level 1. Mark is profoundly deaf and was a very inspirational teacher - I'm really hoping to do my level 2 BSL with him when I have more time.

For this challenge I ran an adult beginners session and one for the students at my previous school. We learnt numbers, letters, how to introduce ourselves, sign our names and addresses. I really hope I managed to inspire an interest in each of the sets of students to take this further in the future.

Although this challenge did not raise a lot of money (I wanted to keep the lessons cheap to encourage as many students as possible) it did help raise awareness of my challenges. It remains one of the things I would like to keep doing and pass on my knowledge to anyone that's interested.

Completed Challenge 11# - Winster Map

This challenge has been a long one. It took time to complete and has taken longer to get right and feel happy that it is completed. I think it is one that will continue to develop and evolve over time and I have passed this duty onto the village to continue to make it what they need it to be.

Though it took a lot of time it was a great challenge to do. It helped me to reconnect with my childhood village and it was lovely to give something back. As soon as it was up and running it was immediately in use and has already proved a popular addition to the noticeboard. There have been a few tweaks along the way; wrong addresses, weather proofing but hopefully we have now got it right.

I want to thank John Geddes and my mum Anthea and dad Clive for all their help with the map. This was a massive undertaking and I couldn't have done it without the practical skills of my parents or the software skills of John. 

There was a really powerful reason behind the challenge to not only help with village life but to assist emergency crews when something went wrong. If it makes a difference to lives on one person in the village that gave me such a wonderful childhood I will feel really proud. Thanks so much to Wendy and Cynthia for a wonderful challenge.

The map is available online at http://www.winster.org/villageAddressMap.htm and on the noticeboard by the shop.

Completed Challenge 20# - Make Me Smile

Though I'm writing this as completed it will always be ongoing. I sent a message every day for 5 weeks and now I send them as and when I find them. It's not something I'll stop as the person in question is a great friend and I'll always be thinking of her.

It was a lovely challenge to do and I would lie awake at night trying to find the right quotation. Her response to them, whenever it sent them, proved to me that little things really do mean a lot.

Here is just a selection of the messages:

Remember you can support this or any other challenge by donating at www.justgiving.com/30before30sense

Completed Challenge 18# - Sewing!

Well I can safely say I didn't find a hidden talent! I really agonized over this one as I wanted to get it right for someone else rather than just pushing through it for me. I borrowed equipment, sort advice where I could and it was still less than perfect. But I did learn that with a lot of perseverance I can achieved something I don't consider myself to have any skills in.

The skirt fits, it hasn't fallen apart yet and it is certainly an original item! The real test will be whether Charlotte wears it! She has been a real supporter of my challenges so I'm grateful to her for pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me to achieve something different.

As you can see I had a happy helper who may have slightly got in the way!

Remember if you want to support this or any other challenge donate at www.justgiving.com/30before30sense

Completed Challenge 17# - Picture Round

This was a really fun challenge and a good reason not to be hungover on Boxing Day. I loved getting to see behind the scenes of the quiz and having to keep quiet about the answers which I've never had the privilege to see before. The quiz is always a risk in terms of turn out and I was really glad to see lots of Winster folk there.

I think I had correctly gaged the level of the picture round - certainly not too easy as no-one got full marks! I had a chance to tell people about my challenges - though I did have to use the microphone and I'm not sure I like the sound of my own voice.

We had a lot of fun and raised £100 - around £60 from customers and a generous top up from the landlords David and Marilyn.

Thanks so much to everyone who came along and especially Allan for letting me take part in such a well-loved tradition.

Here it is below - have a go if you can!