And so it begins…

Wow so this is really happening now. The web designer is finished, the twitter account set up and now I really do have no excuse not to go ahead with my plan.

For those of you who cannot tell from the rather garish web address and branding, I’ve decided to try and do 52 new things this year. This was primarily because 2009, while fun, lacked the punch and tenacity of 2008, a year that for me personally was better than the time I found a fiver on the floor, only to realise it was in fact twenty quid.

I don’t think that 52 new things should be that hard. Its only one a week after all, maths fans. And before you all start clamouring for me to learn Japanese or take sailing lessons, this is as much about the little things as it is about the big, impressive (expensive) things. So, don’t blame me if one week its driving the length of our great country and the next its trying not to pick my feet in front of Silent Witness.

I see this project (is this a project? Or just a doomed exercise in gratuitous self gratification?) as a way to not only make my life more varied as I stare down the barrel of my twenties,  but also as a way of ensuring that each week is different and enjoyable. Its not that it isn’t normally, its just that like others in the media, one boozy week quickly drifts into another with only a hole in the wallet and horrific Facebook pages to show for it.

I promise to keep a weekly diary, with at least one blog a week (although this is my first time blogging, despite being a journalist for the last 5 years, so bear with me) and even maybe add some pictures. What fun.

Also I’ve set up a Just Giving page for people to donate money to two very worthwhile charities that are close to my heart for a number of reasons. I’m not sure why people would do this but it seemed like the right thing to do. I’m sure I’ll think of something. Maybe its like sponsorship? My mate Andy says I’ll only make it to mid-April for example. He’s mean.

If any of you would like to suggest things for me to do, please do. I made a list the other day and I could only manage 24 which isn’t a particularly good start. Maybe I should make a New Thing “make better lists”. Maybe not.

So, here we go…