Go backpacking around the World

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
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Travel is a huge part of my life! With many holidays over the years I have officially caught the 'Travel Bug'. After many years of talking about it, I am eventually doing it - Travelling the World!!!!

My life wasn't really going anywhere and I still don't know what career path I want to take.

Travelling has always been a part of my life but doing it for a year on my own was a scary thought. After many years of thinking and planning I finally realised that it would be a huge achievement and an experience not to be missed. So, I finally started saving my money and making my dream a reality.

I can't believe it but this is really coming true as I have recently bought my ticket!!!!!

I will be leaving in April 2011, visiting Europe, USA, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

I'm going to be travelling around europe using Interrail visiting Croatia, Italy,Spain,Switzerland and France. From there I will head over to New York to begin a Coast to Coast trip to Los Angeles before I head to Fiji for a month of Rest and Relaxation. After that I will head down to New Zealand visiting Auckland, Christchurch and Queensland with everything inbetween, mainly checking out the adrenaline sports. Finally I will head into Melbourne (oz) to travel up the east coast aiming to be home for Christmas.

I cannot wait for this as it has been a dream of mine for a while now. If anyone has been travelling to these places it would be great to hear some advice on places to visit and must sees!

Americans, please can you help?? I want to see everything there is in the USA but I only have 2 1/2 months to see it. I definitely want to see Florida.

Can anyone suggest a southern route that will pack in a much of the must sees!!

2 comments

Watch your team win the World Cup

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
,

The World Cup only happens every 4 years, so thats only 20 World Cups that England could win in my lifetime. Thats if i make it to 100 years old! With this in mind and the fact that i'm supporting ENGLAND, I have changed this thing to do to 'Attend a major sporting event'. (Bring on 2012)

As the world cup has recently finished I thought I would give you all a summary of my view.

It didn't really start that well for all the major teams like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and England losing or drawing their opening matches to the like of USA, Japan, Korea etc... France then walked out on their manager and didn't even make it into the last 16, while England lost to Germany in their worst ever World Cup defeat (4-0). There goes my hope of watching England for another 4 years!

Meanwhile in the rest of the competition Brazil and Argentina looked to be the favorites for the final, as they both played excelllent throughout the group stages. That was until the quater finals. This gave Holland and Spain the chance to beat Uruguay and Germany for there own victory.

The final was nothing special with tackles here, there and everywhere. Many different shots going on target but getting deflected one way or another. Extra time turned up and out of nowhere Andres Inesta scored with a fantastic shot in the 116th minute to give Spain their fist ever World Cup win!!!

This makes Spain only the 3rd team in history to hold both championships titles together (European and World). With the Golden Boot going to Thomas Muller of Germany and the Golden Ball going to Diego Forlan of Uruguay.

I have to say that this wasn't the best World Cup i've seen and one that I would be happy to forget.

 What are your thoughts on this years World Cup??
Did your team do as well as you expected??
Did anyone go to South Africa to watch a match???

4 comments

Attend a showing of your favorite TV show

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
,

Throughout my life watching TV I have always wondered how people manage to make it into the audience of a TV show. Did they win tickets in competitions or buy them like any other concert or sporting event??? I used to be very jealous of these people, as they get to see how TV shows are made and maybe even see some celebrities. Some people even manage to make it onto the screen as the camera scans the audience.

So about 2 years ago I started searching on google, trying to find out where to get the tickets and how much they cost etc... I found a couple of websites all advertising different shows and to my surprise the tickets were FREE!!!!! I started registering and applying for different shows.

Over the past 2 years I have attended many TV shows such as: 'The Paul O'Grady Show', 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and 'The Whole 19 Yards'. They were all fantastic days out and definitely worth the trips to all the different studios. But I had to attend my favorite show, which is of course is The X Factor!

Imagine my excitment when I recieved a congratulation email saying I had four tickets to see the live auditions on 21st June 2010!!!

So armed with the tickets and lots of food, my friends and I boarded the 8.30 train to London and rushed to the Excel Centre hoping that we had made the first 2000 people. The most tedious part of it all was waiting to go in, even arriving by 11.00 we had to wait 3hrs until they finally opened the door (good job the sun was shining)!

Once inside we were overwhelmed, the set that has been on the TV for 6 years was in front of our very eyes. The massive red X and the London signs were on the backdrop and the opening music was playing. Soon enough the quirky warm up guy told us a few jokes, and the procedures were all made very clear, "No photo taking during an audition and NO BOOING the auditionees!!". 

Dermot O'Leary made an appearance and did a few takes for the opening links (then was never seen again). Then the judges were introduced (Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh). After a few words from them the auditions started and throughout the 3hrs of filming we saw the good, the bad, the ugly and the crazy but I don't think we saw the winner!!


Once the last auditionee has finished the judges were hurried out by security and the hot and sweaty 2000 member audience made a dash for the exit. The train home was packed but everyone was buzzing! If I had the chance to do it all over again I would.

I have already applied for boot camp and final tickets so we will have to see.

The audition process is shown over a 2 month period starting at the end of July, so we will have to watch and see if we are lucky enough to make it onto the show. Last year I made it onto the Xtra Factor (a spin off with Holly Willoughby) so maybe I could  do one better and make it onto the main show.

If you would like to register for TV audience tickets I suggest visiting Applause Store as it has the best show and is available in the USA. You can visit by clicking here.

Have you been in a TV audience and made it onto the TV????

2 comments

Ride the World's Biggest Rollercoaster's

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
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Thorpe Park is known as the 'Nations Thrill Capital' located in Kent, UK. After working the night shift my friends and I decided to drive the hour and a half to Thorpe Park for the day, and what a day! The sun was shining and the schools hadn't finished for summer.

We started the day off by only paying £18 (what a bargin) to enter the park with 2 for 1 special tickets that gets you access to 30+ rides and attractions.
The first ride of the day was stealth, which launches you 205ft up into the air, going from 0 - 80mph in 1.8 seconds. (Holding the record for the fastest acceleration in Europe). All I can say is OMG! Going that fast in such a short space of time sent shivers down my spine. If you ever visit Thorpe Park this is a must.

We queued up for all the must do rides:

Detonator winches you 100ft up, then fires you back to earth at 75km an hour
Tidal Wave is an 85ft drop through water
Nemesis Inferno is a suspended rollercoaster featuring a jounrey through the heart of an erupting volcano.

While letting our lunch settle we tried our luck at winning a soft toy from the arcades section. You know what it's like, you start one game and then you become addicted until you win. We eventually won 2 soft toys (a purple dolphin and a crazy shark) after paying about £15. It's the fun that counts!!!

Finally one of Thorpe Parks flagship rides and my main attraction of the day was COLOSSUS!! Currently a record breaking 10 vertical loops (the highest number of inversions in the world), this rollorcoaster made the list of top rollorcoasters to ride before you die.

What can I say? We had been queuing for rides all day and wasted a lot of time, so we decided to buy Fasttrack tickets for £3, which lets you on the ride at a certain time instead of queuing. The best decision we made all day!!

We arrived at Colossus at 3pm our designated time  and waited for about 5 minutes. Upon entering the station, the dramatic music really helps to build the suspense. Before you know it you are in your seat about to set off. We climb up the lift and off we go for a minute of madness.

If you ever go on this ride I need to warn you!! Going though the corkscrew section you head bangs against the sides of the restrictor causing serious pain. You may need to bring padding!

All in all I would rate Colossus as a 7/10 but definitely a must if you are in the UK. I have now completed 1/6 of the rollorcoasters suggested in the book. I think a trip to the USA is in order.

Which rollorcoaster's have you completed from the list????

5 comments

Try... Abseiling

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
,

Abseiling (Rapelling in America) is used in many sports such as climbing or canyoning to decend down a cliff or waterfall that is too dangerous to decend without protection. It can also be used in emergency rescue that cannot be accessed by foot.

Abseiling is classed as an adrenaline sport which can be experienced at different heights from the ground.

About a month ago I saw an advert in the local newspaper from 'The Rowans Hospice' wanting people to sign up to a charity abseil event in Portsmouth, so thats exactly what I did.

Today was the day that I completed my abseil of 200ft down the side of a building raising £135 for the hospice, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

At 4pm I registered and was told to wait in the reception area for everyone to arrive. We were then taken up in the lift to the top and given safety equipment and a safety talk. This was the point that I started to get nervous as I was out in the open and could see the view.
It was finally my turn after waiting at the top in the wind and rain! I was clipped into the safety ropes and stepped onto the edge of the roof. Slowly I lowered myself down so I was in the abseiling position and began to walk down the wall. As I became more confident I started decending quicker and even throw in a few sneaky jumps. Finally landing on the ground, relief fell through me and I wanted to go again.

After I was unclipped I returned to the register table and collected my medal!!!


Abseiling was great fun be the excitement diden't end there. I was about to witness a Guinness World Record!

Doris Long abseiled down the same 200ft wall setting a record for the oldest person to abseil at the age of 96!



Doesn't see look good!!!

If Dorris can do it then anyone can. I would highly recommend this sport as you can do it from any height you want to.


Thats now another item ticked off my list!!!


2 comments

Try... Paintballing

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
,

Today I tried my hand at paintballing!

A friend of mine recieved a group discount ticket at the local paintballing field (South Coast Paintballing). Me and 12 other first timers went prepared with as much protection as we could find.

We arrived at the centre at 9am and basically signed our life away! We were given our safety equipment and told not to shoot too close and never take off your mask until told (safety talk).

At 10am we started our first game of 'capture the flag'.  The idea of the game being that you have to get through the woods to the oppositions base and steal their flag, then return successfully to your base. Resurrections are allowed, if you are eliminated within the first 5 to 10 minutes you wait at your base until you are resurrected.

At the start I honestly felt scared with thinking how painful it was going to be.  When the umpire shouted ' Ready-set-go' I reached the highest level of excitment possible and ran for the nearest cover. When I thought it was safe I would sneak out to look for the enemy and ... OUCH! As soon as I appeared the enemies are all over me.

Being hit feels like a rubber band snap on bare skin but in some places to can be worse. The 3 worst places are the neck head and hand.  I really felt like crying when I got hit in the head but like a trooper I carried on till the end.

We had lunch about 12.30pm and then carried on paintballing until about 3pm, playing  a game called 'Attack and Defend the castle'! (original titles)

The idea of this game is that one team start inside the castle and the other team at the opposite end of the field; the attacking team must then attack the castle and ring the bell inside. This was the best game as we all just ran in one striaght line towards the castle. The defending team were startled and didn't know where or who to shoot.

Covered in paint and wounds we all traveled home in the car comparing marks and bruises. The marks that I recieved look like giant insect bites.


I have 12 in total!!!

I would still recomend everybody to try this at least once. The pain of being shot is nothing compared to the adrenaline rush at the start of each game.

3 comments

Create a Website or Blog

Posted by Shelley Worsley ,
,

A Blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentry, descriptions of events or material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronolgical order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.




Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (Art blog), photographs (photoblog), videos (Video blogging), music (MP3 blog), and audio (podcasting). Microblogging is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.

As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112,000,000 blogs.
(Reference: Wikipedia)

From the description above some would say that I have fully achieved this task. I have created a 'blog' with regular (sort of) entries about my challenges of completing the 101 things to do list.

I want to achieve more from this blog!

I first set this up as a diary for myself but to also share my stories with like minded people that are in a simular situation to me, spending time to complete challenges that we will never forget and gain real achievements within our lives.

To really achieve this goal and tick it off my list, I want to know if people actually read my blog.

I am setting myself another goal of getting at least 10 followers before I achieve this goal. So if you are out there and do read my blog please follow or leave a comment.

xXx

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