Quite the challenge, thanks Mum! So I started a list that I have worked on during flights, coffee times and so on. Soon after reaching 50 entries I thought about how to select those that would make the cut. But I couldn't leave any out, it didn't feel right, so I decided to push onto 100.
Here is the list, in no chronological or importance order. I deliberately keep the description short. Enough to trigger a shared memory for those reading, but scant enough to stimulate curiosity in other readers. Enjoy. I look forward with excitement & anticipation to filling 101-500!
1. The English themed meal, with everyone helping, to celebrate my 50th Spring 2019
2. Our wedding day - All Saints ceremony, Suffolk country reception, the flight to Joburg & brunch then celebratory dinner August 2005
3. Writing thank you cards with Em whilst on honeymoon in Zanzibar Sept 2005
4. Walking through London with Nick, Robin & Beck before our theatre trip Summer 2019
5. Mum's 70th garden party & the preparations together beforehand Autumn 2018
6. Seeing Phebe be born, holding her, announcing the new and giving her first bath Oct 2006
7. Seeing Jonie be born, holding her, and introducing her to Phebe Sept 2009
8. The walnut Christmas present experience with Dad (Christmas sometime in the 80's)
9. Playing wrestling on the old mattress in the garden of Dorchester Road (sometime in the 70's)
10. Receiving my O-Level results and showing Mum & Dad (Summer 1985)
11. Watching Madame Butterfly in the Sydney Opera house with Em, a birthday gift from Johnny C & Cath (Summer 2006)
12. Watching Phebe & Jonie compete in their annual school "Cross" and "Spartan" race
13. Someone telling me in a pub months later how they'd enjoyed a goal I'd scored for Redbourn Reserves (sometime circa 1997)
14. Dad watching me win an 800m race at West Suffolk Athletic Club (circa 1987)
15. Eating Christmas lunch at the Naked Fisherman on the beach in St Lucia with Em, Phebe & Jonie (and the wave incident) (Christmas 2015)
16. Watching Robin DJ at my birthday party at the Crypt, Trafalgar Sq (circa 1999)
17. Playing beach volleyball with the team (Jamie, Mike, John, Dan, Lee, Matt, Richard) in Ios (Circa 1993)
18. Meeting up with Jamie & Dan at Namco world to watch & talk football (early 2000's)
19. Seeing two Orca whales off the coast of the Garden Route (May 1995)
20. Enjoying the Constantia wine festival with Em and the girls (April 2015)
21. Seeing Radiohead play live at Glastonbury (1997)
22. Watching Bryan Adams sing with a pregnant Em (July 2006)
23. Coming home during the holidays from Sheffield Poly and being greeted by Cider our dog
24. Champagne tasting at the Smith's, with Em (circa 2005)
25. Taking the girls to learn how to swim at the Cruseilles pool, and watching their progress (2010-2015)
26. Snowboarding at Mammoth mountain, California with Jamie (circa 2000)
27. Late night chats with Rob Porter after a shift washing up at the Angel Hotel (circa 1987)
28. Youth hostelling with Uncle Peter, especially Whitby (circa 1985)
29. Having Dad as a helper during school trip to Whitley Bay & Sherringham (circa 1980)
30. Going with Dad to buy fish & chips on a Saturday morning, with the crispy bits (circa 1983)
31. Walking with Elephants with Em, Phebe & Jonie in the Cape (April 2015)
32. Surfing & camping in the Gower with Jamie, Dan, Jim, Mike & Johnny C (circa 2001)
33. Watching Uncle Tom swing Phebe & Jonie around in the Abbey Gardens (circa 2012)
34. Performing on stage at the Theatre Royal in the Gang Show with the family in the audience (circa 1981)
35. Taking the old moped over the fields with Dad, Beck riding off near Barracks(circa 1983)
36. Eating dinner in Copenhagen with Arnaud at Kreb's Garden, updated on the football scores (November 2013)
37. Watching Man Utd's comeback in the Champion's League final 1999 v Bayern Munich
38. Hiring bikes in Munich to tour the English Garden with Em, Phebe & Jonie (2018)
39. Walking around the neighbourhood on various November 5th to see & smella fireworks, Dorchester Road (circa 1980)
40. Deep sea fishing off the West coast of Mexico with Johnny C and spotting first tuna (1993)
41. Hiring electric scooters with Em in Stockholm (2019)
42. Riding in a motorcycle sidecar to tour Beijing, especially the Hutong area (circa 2008)
43. Visiting le cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Paris, a solo Eurostar adventure (circa 1998)
44. Drinking cream soda & reading "Lookin" magazine at Nana and Grandad's bungalow (circa 1984)
45. Organising and completing the "Circle Line rush" with so many friends (circa 1996)
46. Dad teaching me how to hang wallpaper & sand floors at my first home in Hemel Hempstead (circa 1999)
47. Watching any, but especially Athletics) sports with Dad on the TV
48. Running the Escalade with Em (December 2018)
49. Mountain biking after work with Jim, Jamie & Johnny C in the Chilterns (circa 2001)
50. Watching Jonie meet Blackie for the first time (2017)
51. Our cave adventure in Croatia, with cold water, helmets slipping over eyes & kayaks (2018)
52. Exploring the streets of Venice with Phebe (2017)
53. Watching Jonie "scoot" during our Annecy date night (2019)
54. Being there for Ryan Giggs wonder goal versus Arsenal 1999 semi final cup replay, Villa Park
55. Gathering together as siblings with Uncle Peter for Mum & Dad's Silver wedding anniversary photo at St Andrew's church, Hertford 1992
56. Any Christmas day with Mum, Dad and my siblings
57. Announcing we were pregnant with Jonie during my 40th celebration away weekend (2009)
58. Watching Mum meet Phebe & Jonie for the first time (2006 & 2009)
59. Being invited to, and attending Sam & Michelle's wedding - Oratoire then Parc des Eaux Vives Dec 2005
60. The South African braai at our place (circa 2011)
61. Seeing the rooftops of Florence from St Peter's square (circa 2002)
62. Being voted chairman of Siemens Young High Flyers group in Munich (circa 2001)
63. Our family gondola ride in Venice (2017)
64. Swimming with a dolphin at Discover Cove (Oct 2016)
65. Snow shoe walk with colleagues at Cordon & tasting "Crazy Goat" foam drink (circa 2014)
66. New Year's Eve at the Queen's Head the year everyone was there (circa 1990)
67. Eating donuts with the Brumme's in Barcelona (2018)
68. Every time I have ever heard a Welsh male voice choir, "live"
69. Every time I have ever heard a colliery brass band, "live" - I get emotional during both
70. Running the Bury 5km Park Run with Nick & Em (2018)
71. Riding the train from Settle to Carlise with Uncle Peter (circa 1990)
72. The New Year's Eve at Allée Plein Sud we shucked oysters and wore DJ's (circa 2008)
73. The walking tour of London, with Em (circa 2004)
74. Taking Dad on the London Eye & Millenium (wobbly) bridge for his birthday (Summer 2000)
75. Kayaking on Lake Annecy with Em, the girls, Nick & Rob (Summer 2017)
76. Mum & Dad attending my graduation from Sheffield Poly Autumn 1992
77. Being given the Rupert the Bear LP by Uncle Dennis at his shop (circa 1979)
78. My English teacher, Mrs Pryke, being proud of me for finishing Lord of the Rings (circa 1982)
79. Watching Phebe & Jonie perform in the Charlie Chaplin ballet show (2018)
80. Visiting the old abandoned car in the SA desert with Phebe & Jonie (2015)
81. Any visit to 62 Hertingfordbury Road, especially as a child, running races in lanes
82. Skiing off piste or anywhere, with Phebe & Jonie
83. Watching the Greatest Showman, as a family (2018)
84. Ryan Chan playing our piano, Amy's proposal song (2017)
85. Enjoying the Vitam Parc Roman baths with Em (2018)
86. Phebe's 1st birthday party with our friends in Grand Lancy 2007
87. Snowboarding, albeit too briefly, with Em & Nick (circa 2014)
88. Sledging with the girls on the slope opposite our house, anytime it snowed
89. Laying on the lilo in our pool, listening to my favourite tunes, Sunday afternoons
90. Doing our first escape room with Em, Phebe & Jonie in Geneva (2017)
91. Walking Cider & Scrumpy over the fields with Nick, Rob & Beck (1980's)
92. Going for a pre-dawn jog with Jonie in Dunedin, FL (Oct 2019)
93. Riding the Serpent roller coaster with Phebe at Busch Gardens (Oct 2019)
94. Watching the Doo-wop show as a family at Busch Gardens (Oct 2019)
95. Seeing Atlantis Space Shuttle unveiled at Kennedy Space Center (Oct 2019)
96. Bonfires in the garden at 15 Highbury Road
97. Playing 5-a-side whilst working at ICL, West Gorton (circa 1994)
98. Watching Michael Jackson in concert with Nick & Robin at Wembley (1988)
99. Watching Bruce Springsteen in concert in Geneva with Em (2013)
100. Listening to the Top 40 singles count down on a Sunday night at home with Mum, Dad, Nick, Rob & Beck
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