Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 6 Ghost Hunt

Challenge 31 done and dusted!

6 - Go on a ghost hunt

I had no idea how this one was going to pan out, me being a scaredy pants and all!  We booked with 

ParaSpirit Events for a seance at Merchistoun Hall for the end of March.  We got ourselves ready and it was cancelled last minute!  They had an alarm going off they couldn’t deal with.  I thought that was it - these guys do ghost tours etc all over and none of the rest were local to us, so had kind of given up.  But a few weeks later, the same seance was listed at Merchistoun again! 

Kat and I have known Merchistoun Hall for many years and knew of it’s haunting history.  I went to play school there, we had our joint 30th birthday there, we attended yoga classes there - and everything in between.  We knew we wanted to go there and experience this, so we booked again. 

On the night, we turned up and had a hot drink.  Even while chatting to the other guests, there was knocking and banging and all sorts - proper hand stand up business!  We went through to the main hall for the seance.  We sat in a semi circle, the guys introduced themselves, some humour, explained about energy and lifting it up and away we went!  Angel boards, table tipping, visits to cellars and everything in between!  It was a great night, the caretaker knew all the inhabitants of the building and their history and this made it super special.  Getting confirmation of things we were told.

I can’t tell you I wasn’t frightened, because I so am at times.  But setting myself free, using my intuition and hearing - I loved it!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 7 Natural History Museum

Challenge 30 ticked off!

Challenge 7 - Visit the Natural History Museum

I have wanted to visit since I was a child! My grandad and Marie, generously took us to London when I was little, but they decided we were too young to appreciate the natural history museum and took us to Madam Tussards, the Planetarium and a few other places.  

Now I avoid London like the plague, I hate it! But we’ve done a few bits there, including the London Dungeons, but never the NHM.

I have my Niece every Sunday, and recently visited the Portsmouth History Museum and she loved it! So we knew London would be fab!

We popped the puppy to my Dad for a ‘day-over’ and off we went.  We drove to Southfields and grabbed the tube and had a great day!  We joined as a years member and we can’t wait to go back!

TTFN, Sammy

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 32 - Singing Lesson

Challenge number 29

32 - Have a singing lesson

So yesterday I went along to my lovely friends house and had a singing lesson!  I met Jen in lockdown while she was hosting some beautiful zoom chanting sessions, one of the things that really kept me going in lockdown.  Jen is now hosting these in person once a month in Southsea, you can find the details (and more about Jen) 

here and I absolutely love them!

I have played music and sung from an early age.  I learned the piano and flute through school, I sang in the choir and played parts in school musical performances - but since school ended, the only musical things I’ve done is sing in the car along to the radio!  I do love singing though, I’ve used it while practising CBT, I used to sing karaoke at any given chance and all sorts, but as I’ve got older I’ve got more conscious of singing in public and I know this stems from childhood. 

As a junior school child, I was in a choir and we performed at the local village Carol concert at Christmas, in front of quite a large crowd.  While singing ‘Little Drummer Boy’ I came in a bar too early and sang the line loud and proud by myself to silence.  I don’t think I was told off or anything like that, but the embarrassment of getting it so wrong has stayed with me forever.  Even as a teen or young twenties, when I did karaoke I always wanted to do it with someone else, even though I can hold a tune and am more than capable of singing on my own - the fear has always been strong!

Last year on holiday, they had karaoke around the pool and I declined the first time, but listened to everyone else.  The second time I declined but sat on my sun bed wishing I could have a go, it took a while of inner dialogue but I had a serious talk to myself and up I went just in time before they closed - I was so happy with myself!

When we came back from our holiday, I saw a ‘Love to sing’ course advertised on social media with our local Ladies Barbershop Chorus. It was a 6 week free course to learn a sing, learn more about the mechanics of singing, learn about breathing and have some fun.  I dragged my best friend along with me and we both loved it!  We loved it so lunch we joined the Christmas chorus - we learned and practised together weekly and even took part in some sing outs! 

The Christmas Chorus together!

After Christmas we had the chance to join, and we are now both fully fledged Pitch Pipers! You can find the chorus

here if you are interested in knowing more.

So after joining the chorus and having the singing lesson on my list for a while, I contacted Jen and asked to book in.  The booking process was super easy, the prices really reasonable for a 1 to 1 session and Jen is just a brilliant teacher.  Jen teaches all ages and abilities, made me feel super at ease and is very professional.  Jen pushed me out of my comfort zone a little, and that was great.  We worked on part of a song that we’re doing in chorus as well, so it was great to combine the two.  I can’t wait for the next one!!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 12 Arty Potz

Challenge 32.

My lovely friend knew this was on my list, so gifted me a session!  Along we went on the allotted Saturday morning, and wow - what a great idea for a shop!

You get to choose what you paint/decorate and that’s what you pay for.  The paints and brushes are provided, along with other materials and tools such as sponges and pens etc.

We both choose a spoon rest, yes we are nearly 40! And started the day with a cuppa and no ideas!

Of course I went for a moon theme, and I got well into dot work!

A quick three weeks and we were back to collect the fired article.  Now looking super at home in my kitchen!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 39 Visit a Gin Distillery

Challenge 27

39 - Visit a gin distillery

Now it’s no surprise that my list has changed and developed a few times over the last few years.  The premise has remained the same - but there have been a few tweaks and this was one of them.

While in Scotland we were literally around the corner from this gin distillery and having tasted the gin in a local pub in Pit Lochry, we definitely wanted to visit!  It’s a family run small batch distillery and so worth the visit.  They were super friendly, we didn’t just have a tour, we also had tasters and we of course came away with some bottles too.  They raise money for their local animal charity and are an all round great bunch!  If you’re in the area, visit - if not, order online!

TTFN, Sammy xx

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 13 Axe Throwing

Challenge 28

13. Axe throwing

This was the most amount of fun ever!  Another challenge for the 3 of us best friends, this was on all of our lists.

We found that Go Ape in Southampton offered this and at a really reasonable price!  We signed up on line and waited our date.

Short safety and throwing briefing and we were off!  There was 6 of us in the session and 4 throwing spaces, so us 3 versus the other 3 and taking it in turns.

It is harder than it looks! I made the axe ‘slap’ the board quote a few times, rather than actually hit it! 

But I succeeded a few times!  We had such a great day, huge smiles all round!

I’d totally recommend this to anyone, such fun!

TTFN, Sammy

 

Mrs. B Challenge 40 - 11 Travel to Scotland

Challenge number 26

11 Travel to Scotland!

This year we had a super special birthday to celebrate, my mum turned 60!  And to celebrate, mum invited us all for dinner in a beautiful hunting lodge she hired in Glen Isla in Scotland.  We stayed at the lovely Brewlands Lodge.

We celebrated mums birthday with a lovely dinner cooked by a hired chef who came to the house.

One of mums friends organised a bag piped to pipe us in to dinner!

We had beautiful days out in St Andrews, Pitlochry, Braemar, and around the Glens.

The scenery was absolutely stunning!

We of course had a dip in a loch!

It was such a lovely week and I’m so grateful we got to spend it together.  

TTFN, Sammy xx