This fortnight I concentrated on my language skills or lack of them?! I attempted Challenge 19 - 40 hours without swearing and if I did manage to slip up then I was fined £1 for each swear word. I chose to attempt this challenge in my working days as to be honest that’s when my potty mouth gets worse as the stress builds! I was taking the challenge seriously and really trying hard, my colleagues were watching and listening to me closely and I did succumb! Especially when my mate Jamie kept helpfully unplugging my computer mouse without me realising! So in the end the 40 hours cost me £21! S**T! I know, but at least it was £21 more to the charity pot!
Next I attempted Challenge 16 – 40 hours of silence, 40 hours of no spoken word! To be honest this was the hardest challenge so far! Obviously I had to attempt this on non-working days and luckily had a quiet day planned on Friday so spent most of the day alone although even the pets found it strange that I wasn’t talking to them! The children coped remarkably well and loved the oddness of ‘Mummy not talking or more specifically nagging!’ In fact my son said to someone ‘it isn’t much different than when she talks’ which goes to show my kids obviously don’t listen to me much anyway!!
I carried around a notebook and pen with me, which I used to explain why I was appearing rude, and when I had to order a McDonalds for the kids. I did find the whole thing incredibly frustrating and very isolating. It really gave me a small insight into how hearing impaired people must feel and I started feeling really down and miserable not being able to express myself fully. Friends' reactions were weird too as most people started to sign language back to me or felt they couldn't talk and generally looked quite uncomfortable around me. I didn’t talk at all even on my own as I thought if I did I would then forget around people too.
The hardest parts of the challenge were when I couldn’t read bedtime stories to the kids and when I was trying not to break under the interrogation of a 5 year old at a children’s party who just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t speaking to them. I also struggled to cope with my ever helpful friend Dafydd who kept introducing me to other parents at the party and not explaining why I wasn’t talking to them and just kept asking me questions or making up huge lies about me just to provoke a reaction!!
I was so relieved when the challenge was over! I can’t believe I didn’t break, this really was more of a mental challenge with a test of willpower. I have realised how much I love to talk! I talk to myself, sing or hum all the time, before talking to the pets, kids and all other humans! And it brought a tear to my eye when my son hugged me so tight and was so happy when I could talk again and said “I was getting used to having a Mummy who couldn’t talk, but I’m so glad my normal Mummy is back!” Thankfully the communication challenges are over and I can move onto more entertainment based challenges, that is once I have finished chatting to anyone who will listen!!
Update on the other challenges:
· (Challenge 1 – Write 40 Blogs) this is blog number 11 written
· (Challenge 2 –Get 40 people to donate £10 to charity) Raised £60 so far, £340 to go!!
· (Challenge6 – 40 Sit ups every day) keeping up although some days are a bit half hearted!
· (Challenge 10 - Take 40 photos) – None taken yet.
· (Challenge 11 – Read 40 Books) I am on book number 10
· (Challenge 12 – Volunteer for 40 hours) Aside from my RSPCA volunteering, 22 hours given volunteering for NSPCC, PTA events and other fundraising events.
· (Challenge 14 – Have 40 dates with my husband) – Had 10 dates so far.
· (Challenge 17 – Visit 40 pubs) I have visited 11 pubs so far.
· (Challenge 24 – Have Afternoon Tea at The Ritz) This is booked for May 2014 to also celebrate my mum’s 70th Birthday.
· (Challenge 26 – lose 14 pounds in weight) up and down on the weight loss but still only 7 pounds loss
· (Challenge 28 – Commit 12 acts of kindness to random strangers) I have completed 9 acts so far.
· (Challenge 35 –Cook 12 new recipes) - 3 recipes made.
· (Challenge 36 – Listen to my entire CD collection) I am still trying to get through this one!
COMPLETED:
Challenge 4 – SWIM 40 LENGTHS – Swan 40 lengths of the 50m pool in Cardiff Bay with Lara Ramsay on 27.10.13. (Money spent £16 for goggles and entry to pool)
Challenge 9 – 40 HOUR FAST – I completed 40 hours not eating any food and surviving on water and flavoured water only. (Sept, with Karen Daniel)
Challenge 16 – 40 HOUR NO SWEARING OR £1 FINE – Completed between Tuesday 5 to Wednesday 6 November 2013.
Challenge 18 – TURN MOBILE PHONE OFF FOR 40 HOURS – I turned my phone off and had no access to facebook, twitter or emails at all for 40 hours. (Oct)
Challenge 19 – 40 HOUR SILENCE – Completed between Midnight on Thursday 14.11.13 until 4pm on Saturday 16.11.13.
Challenge 22 – ADOPTED A WILD ANIMAL – I adopted Jubilee an Asian Elephant through the Born Free Foundation. (Spent £30 for adoption fee)
Challenge 25 – GIVE BLOOD – Completed on 11.10.13.
Challenge 30 – APPLY FOR A GAME SHOW – I applied to two game shows ‘Deal or No Deal’ and ‘The Chase’ in August but have still not heard anything back. I also applied to Bargain Hunt this month for my colleague Paul who would love to go on this programme.
Challenge 38 – HULA HOOP FOR 40 REVOLUTIONS – Completed in Sept. (Spent £18 on buying hoola hoop)
