Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner

95. Send 3 people a gift for no reason...COMPLETED
(When I state 'for no reason', I mean other than Birthday/Christmas or anniversaries)
For Christmas I got a talking keychain called "Dirty Dancing In My Pocket" which upon the push of a button gave out memorable quotes from my favourite chick flick of all time. The mere sound of "Nobody put's baby in the corner" sent me back to memories of me as a 12 year old swooning over Patrick Swayze's butt. My friend and former flatmate Fiona is also a dedicated DD fan and I was desperate for her to wow at my keychain with me but she lives in Hampshire and we only see each other about once a year these days. Anyway..my desperation for Fiona to share in this devices brillance led me to buy another and send it to her. SHE LOVED IT!

My next gift was to a friend Kim in North Carolina who expressed awe at my sock knitting and said she must try. I gave her no excuse to back out of this statement and sent her a fab book with all sorts of sock patterns.

Finally to my new penpal Elizabeth from Indiana I sent a Scotland calendar with lots of beautiful scenic views for throughout the year.

Television :Drug Of A Nation

15. 48 hrs without TV, ouch...COMPLETED If you know me you will no this is no mean feat. I am a self-confessed telly addict watching at least 8 hours of the 'goggle-box' a day. My addiction probably stemmed from long periods off school convalescing after back surgery or reoccurring chest infections. TV kept me company as my mum busied herself around the house during the day and at night when insomnia set in. Television is a social thing too, childhood memories of the family all sitting to watch 'The Muppet Show' or 'Gladiators' is warming. The current reality show trend with the likes of 'X-Factor', 'I'm A Celebrity..' and 'Big Brother are the shows we all love to hate but all seem to talk about.I studied TV Production for a while at college and earned pocket money as a TV extra..even my dream last night was of Mr John Logie-Baird's invention.Anyhoo, I went without TV for 48 hours...gotta go Coronation Street's starting...

99.Have 10 items done in 6 months..COMPLETED
Nice one..now that makes 11 completed items..only 90 to go.

Words On Words

20.Read & list 50 books.... IN PROGRESS 5/50
'The Friday Night Knitting Club' by Kate Jacobs is one of the many books I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas. As a single mum in her late 30s, Georgia Walker has her hands full juggling the demands of running the Walker & Daughter knitting store with the challenges of raising her lively teen daughter, Dakota. Georgia’s regular customers gather once a week to work on their latest projects and chat – and occasionally clash – about love, life, and everything else. The members of the Friday Night Knitting Club are as varied as the skeins of yarn. And when the unthinkable happens, all of Georgia’s customers are forced to realize they’ve created not just a knitting club, but a sisterhood. Yes..its a chick book, very Americanised (is that a word?) and my enthusiasm for the characters hit peaks and troughs but not a bad read all in all. Think 'Steel Magnolias' in a knitting shop and only read if that's your kinda thing. I still prefer factual books to novels these days though.

Which leads me on to the second book...Between the Lines/My Story Uncut By Jason Donovan. His biography is a brave effort I feel not just because it is self penned (let's just say he is perhaps not a natural author) but because it does come across as very honest and heartfelt. Rather than just blah blahing on about his career as many of these C list celeb bios do, he has given the reader not just the behind the scenes view but a candid account of his innermost feelings at the various stages of his life. He makes no apology for his cocaine addicted days but nor does he condone it but merely explains it as it was at that time. It was a quick read but I did enjoy it having been a 12 yr old at the height of the 'Charlene & Scott' popularity he shared with his then real-life girlfriend Kylie Minogue.

4.Get a cheesy celeb autograph...COMPLETED
Although I did not get receive this from Jason Donovan in the flesh...my other half ordered me the signed copy of the aforementioned biography so I am counting this item as done!!

New Recruit

98.Recruit a new lister to 101 ...COMPLETED
My new fellow 101 lister is an online friend and New Zealand resident David Paterson. We have kept in touch via email for over a year now after I read of his ambition to walk from London to Ediburgh to raise money and awareness for the British Heart Foundation. David is a 66yr old native Scot who a few years back underwent a heart bypass and has since been trying to make his 'Walk of Hope' plans come true. Please take the time to look over David's blog.

Another online aquaintance is fellow knitter Andy B. He intially expressed some enthusiasm in making his own 101 list. I hope he still goes on to do so as his blog is beautifully written with warm words and often comical observations of his new homeland Amsterdam.

All I Do Is Talk To My Pillow..

35.Make DVD database..COMPLETED
I decided to compile an online DVD database mainly because when I am online shopping and see something that interests me I often can't remember whether I've already got it or not. Laziness is a factor in this as it saves me trudging through rooms and checking my DVD shelves. I especially enjoy Doris Day movies such as 'Pillow Talk' or 'Send Me No Flowers' and often people ask what ones I have/ don't have at Christmas and birthdays..now I can just refer them to my database. That's a hint folks..it's my birthday in..let me see..83 days, haha.
You can view my database at littlelou's dvd database or start your own at dvdspot

With This Ring..

39.Buy Gavin engagement ring...COMPLETED
Gavin and I have been engaged for 3 and a half years, at least that's how long ago he bought me my lovely white gold and diamond ring. I have always meant to get him a ring too but finding out his size without him knowing was a bit tricky. I initially purchased a ring in 3 various sizes to present him at Christmas but none of them proved suitable. So, to cut a long story slightly shorter..we went to the jewellers, got his correct ring size and bought a lovely white gold band with a brushed gold finish across the centre.

87.Knit 20 easter chicks...IN PROGRESS
I have started knitting my Easter chicks. There is no real plan but I'm hoping they will be egg cosies to give them to friends at Easter with a yummy cream egg. I'm making the pattern up as I go along but well, it's not rocket science is it?

I'm ready for my close up, Mr.DeMille

28.Watch Sunset Boulevard ...COMPLETED
I watched my DVD of Billy Wilder's 1950 picture 'Sunset Boulevard' on Sunday afternoon. It stars Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, an ageing former silent film queen and William Holden as the struggling writer who is held in thrall by her madness. No special effects or gratuitous nudity is needed to make this black and white Hollywood blockbuster watchable..the only gimmick being the sensational dramatic acting and the tragic destiny of the unfolding tale. Recipient of 3 Oscar awards, it's most definitely a winner with me.

More Progress

13.Learn Signalong, sign language
My mum phoned me tonight to tell me she had me some Signalong notes for me, so looking forward to beginning this task soon. One of the reasons I'm interested in learning this form of sign language is that I'm a volunteer at my local hospital on the children's ward. Some children who come in may have learning difficulties, impaired hearing or speech problems and Signalong is beginning to catch on as a method of communication.

30.Fill at least 10 boxes for Shoebox Appeal...IN PROGRESS
My other half and I became aware of the Shoebox Appeal a couple of years ago and contributed by filling a wrapped shoebox with toiletries and small gift items which was sent to an orphan or person devastated by disaster in Eastern Europe. This year we are hoping to fill at least 10 such boxes for Blythwood Care who will then distribute them. We have been putting extra items in with our weekly shopping. With Asda toothbrushes at 15p and toothpaste at 21p it doesn't have to cost a fortune to help people who may have nothing.

Wooly Tale

91.Organise all knitting stuff in one place..COMPLETED

When compiling my list I actually imagined this to be one of the last items I'd get round to doing..I'd previously been avoiding it for months. It just goes to prove this list is working and is motivating me as planned. I had wool, needles, patterns and knitting works in progress...EVERYWHERE! There was some in bags, under the bed in tubs, in drawers and crammed in cupboards..but no longer is there such chaos. I have been Little Miss Organised and arranged drawers and tubs all labelled and tidy. Lets hope it stays this way at least for a while eh?

I also had to post a picture of my glamourous assistant Patch who can be seen sporting a Louise Original knitted scarf.

Book Worm

20.Read & list 50 books...IN PROGRESS 3/50

I have read two of the books I received as Christmas presents. The first is a biography of former female impersonator now teatime chat show host Paul O'Grady. I had always admired the over the top baudy manner of his alter-ego 'Lily Savage' and minus the make-up Paul himself is only a slightly toned down version. This book penned by Neil Simpson didn't quite live up to expectations however. A good enough read chronicalling events through O'Grady's life was marred somewhat by all the quoted anecdotes from 'friends', 'collegues' and 'fans' of the star. I look forward to a self-penned version which Paul O'Grady himself has announced is in the pipeline.

The second book entitled 'Too Many Mothers' by Roberta Taylor has been on my 'must read' list since last Christmas. It was worth the wait. This book is an autobiography by former Eastenders actress Taylor (presently in ITV police series The Bill) and describes intricately the story of her own East End family background. The title of the book reflects the strong female characters of her maternal Grandmother, 3 very different Aunts and her mother Win. It is not a cosy sweetness and light version of events but a gritty, gutsy, tragic yet endearing book. Beautifully crafted with the ability to make you smile and weep on the same page I was loathe to finish this read as it truely was a joy.

Chill Out!

31.Purchase a fridge/freezer..COMPLETE.

The photo depicts my other half showing off our new fridge freezer in a somewhat comical fashion..oh how we laughed! The appliance is a bit more ample than it appeared to look in the shop and so I have given it the moniker of 'Big Boy'.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

45. Buy 10 pairs of pants IN PROGRESS 8/10

Happy New Year...bring on the new pants for all to view, haha. I have just purchased 8 pairs of booty warmers in the NEXT sale and I pride myself on yet another bargain buy. Lovely quality pants and at a total of only £10. Okay I wont go on about them too much..I'm no Belle De Jour.

The picture is merely as evidence..not titillation!!

28. Watch Sunset Boulevard

Not owning this movie and goodness knows when it may be on TV I have ordered it from http://www.4cheapcds.com for only £4.91. Bet its on telly next week now, usually the way.