... You Make Freshly Squeezed Lemonade!
Sadly you may have seen that I have recently been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a huge blow to me, my family and friends. Unimaginable at best. However, the only thing that I know is to search out the positives and to live and enjoy every moment.
So here it is, Sam's Bucket List.
As of 11/05/2022 - 30 complete, 70 to go!
100 moments, experiences and memories that I want to take with me before I go. If you can help in anyway in making them a reality - please do let me know!
Make Fresh Lemonade, of course!
Fall in love - Done! I met my beautiful husband in 2013 and the rest, as they say, is history!
Get engaged - Done! We got engaged on 25 July 2015 in the grounds of the secret garden as the Ashdown Park Country Club Hotel. James proposed with a Haribo ring… how sweet! Geddit? HA!
Get Married - Done! In front of our family and friends, we tied in the knot at Buxted Park hotel on 26 July 2016. A beatnik day that will stay with me forever.
Have a family - Done! Our family became complete when Little Man came home in the Summer of 2020.
Own a dog - Done! Ralph, our beloved Dachshund arrived in 2017 and we’ve been sausage mad ever since!
Go on safari - Done! As part of our honeymoon we spent four days on safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya. We were exhausted most days with the early starts and late finishes but seeing mother nature in all her glory was just stunning.
Ride a hot air balloon - Done! On day three of our honeymoon we caught a very early morning ride to take a ride in a hot air balloon. Nothing can beat watching the sun rise over the Masai Mara whilst you are a few thousand feet in the air watching the world come to life.
See the Northern Lights - Done! We spent several days in Iceland and one night we were lucky enough to see them.
Run a marathon - Done! I have run the London Marathon in 2014 and 2015. I also walked the Shine Night Walk in 2019.
Watch my friends get married - I’ve been able to see most of my friends, however I have one final wedding later this year.
Forgive someone - Done! I won't say too much about this, but having forgiven someone has given me strength to accept differences and to move on with what really matters.
Donate blood as a gay man - Done! January 2021 saw me being able to donate, finally after many years of gay men not being able to donate blood.
Experience live theatre - Done! My love of theatre has enabled me to see so much theatre over the years, and for that I am so very thankful. I still aim to watch as much theatre as I can.
Visit New York - Done! I visited NYC in 2014 and 2019 - its a city that you just cannot help falling in love with. I still want to return to experience the magic of NYC once more. It will hold a special place in my heart.
Appear on TV to raise awareness of MND
Go to an Adele concert - I have seen my idol Adele several times and this Summer I get to see her again in Hyde Park!
Learn to drive - Done! 2022 saw me passing my driving test, first time, with only one minor!
Watch the sun set in Guernsey - Done. I’ve spent many times in Guernsey on holiday, but I want to return one final time to reminisce about my time there and to watch the sunsets that are like no other.
Fly first class
Raise £50,000 - I will do everything possible to raise as much as I can in the fight against MND.
Afternoon tea at The Ritz
Write a book - currently in progress!
Throw a party for my family and friends
Visit Las Vegas
Meet/speak to Adele
Create my own cologne so I can be remembered once I'm gone
Holiday on a cruise
To have made an impact on others - Done! Apparently my husband said this is done, so I take that means I have made an impact on him. Job Well done!
Take time to appreciate nature - Done! I have found in my darkest days that nature has been very healing and gives a sense of freedom. Definitely never under appreciate Mother Nature.
Go skinny dipping at night
Learn how to play an instrument
Volunteer at a zoo for a day and be a Zoo keeper!
Tell at least one person a day that I love them
Complete a random act of kindness with a stranger
Buy a plane ticket the same day it takes off - be spontaneous!
Sleep under the stars
Climb the heavenly stairs
Let go of the past - Done! As they say, we live and learn and with my diagnosis, it has shown me not to hold onto the past, but to look ahead and that continues to be my focus. What once bothered me, no longer does. Perspective, is a wonderful thing.
Plant a tree
Stay At The Plaza Hotel, New York
Be an extra in a TV show or movie - watch this space!
Ride on a sleeper train
Set a world record
Go to the ballet at Christmas - Done! James and I went to the Royal Opera House one Christmas Eve to watch The Nutcracker. We had a great time and the atmosphere of the ballet is unforgettable.
Ask those who know me, what are there favourite memories of our time together? Done! I asked my family and friends to share some of their memories of our time and whilst most of them appears to relate to my younger 'drinking days', it was a lovely wander down memory lane.
Get to know our neighbours - Done! We consider that we're very lucky to know our neighbours well.
Have a family photo shoot
Fly a kite!
Make a scrapbook with mementos and souvenirs
Plan my own funeral - Done!
Ride in a limo
Play a prank on someone
Get a makeover!
Get my upper ear pierced
Have a bonfire at night, with my people sat around singing songs or recalling memories of their lifetime
Have a song request played on radio
Watch a film with a live orchestra
Go to an open air concert
Leave a message in a random place for a stranger to find
Give an heirloom to somebody I love
Watch the sunrise in a beautiful place - we have been lucky to have travelled well, to countries including Antigua, Zanzibar, Kenya, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, New York and Mauritius.
Have my 15 minutes of fame!
Pay for a strangers drink
Say yes to everything for a day
Write to 5 people that have inspired me
Donate to an animal shelter
Have Christmas Day in the Summer
Wish upon a star
Complete a 365 day photo project
Eat fish and chips on a seaside pier
Go to a night at the Proms at The Royal Albert Hall.
Watch a Christmas Panto
Get driven round Brands Hatch or Silverstone
Try a battered Mars bar!
Take a selfie at John O' Groats and Lands End
Go to a silent disco
Watch a theatre show every day for a week!
Have a movie, snacks and PJ night with friends
Pick a fun thing from my childhood to do with Little Man
Eat homemade burgers (you know who you are!) - Done! 19/3/22 - I got to enjoy my lovely burgers, made by my dear friend. Loved them many moons ago and love them still. Take a look at them here!
Have breakfast in bed with Hubster
Make a bucket list - Done!
Recreate a childhood photo
Visit my childhood homes
Travel on the Orient Express
Have a self portrait
Climb the O2
Go to a theme park for the day
Create a blog - Done! I’m so very proud of the blog that I created to document our adoption journey, and also life with Little Man.
Feed the ducks with Little Man - Done! 19/3/22 - we spent a lovely day at Leeds Castle with friend and beautiful boys. Little Man loved feeding the ducks!
Write a poem inspired by my life - Done! My poem 'Memories' is available to read here.
Go fruit picking
Have a Christmas movie marathon
Adopt an animal - Done! I had some lovely this post this week (16/3/22) and it was a lovely surprise when I saw that I had very kindly been gifted an adoption a WWF Panda by somebody. Thank you!
Write a letter to somebody I haven’t spoken to in 5 and 10 years
Change my hair colour!
Leave an unexpected tip for someone
Help someone tick something off their bucket list
. Finally...... complete my bucket list!