That's it - I'm 30

On our way up...visibility before the clouds

Well, I would say au revoir to my 20s but of course I shalln't see them again. That's it. I'm 30.

One more World Cup; I reckon I could play full-back at 34. And at a push, I could play a bit-part in Euro 2020. But the reality is, that's at best, highly unlikely to happen.

Then again, eighteen months ago I would have said tour New Zealand, cross the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, go to Singapore, support England at a World Cup in Brazil, get a job I love, appear on a TV show, run two half marathons and climb a mountain seemed pretty far-fetched.

I've just returned from completing what was to be my final challenge...climb Snowdon. A group of eleven of us set off on the 5 hour trek to reach the summit of Wales' highest mountain peak. Despite visibility of zero at the summit - the challenge was complete and I can sign off my list having a huge sense of achievement having climbed 3071 ft.

The End

Snowdon Summit - and #24 complete

What was initially a passing comment by a former colleague has, over the last eighteen months or so, turned into a fascinating journey which has, for the most part, kept me amused and out of too much trouble. It's done what I needed it to. I've traveled around the world which has opened my mind to new adventures, it's given me back the self-confidence to try new things and to hurl myself outside of my comfort zone once in a while. 

But I couldn't have achieved half of these things without some incredibly good people behind me. My family have been great - and I take two pearls of wisdom from my parents which have had a profound affect upon me and, which in hindsight, I wished they'd imparted many years ago: "there's always a plan B in life" and "don't fall for the first bint who throws herself at you". I'll leave you to decide which quote is attributable to which parent. 

Have I learnt anything?

Well I've learnt that I have some incredible friends - it would feel like an Oscar's acceptance speech were I to list them all - but hopefully they know who they are. But I need to make a mention to two in particular; Dav and Bordy. They might not have undertaken their duties officially, but they've been the best men I could have ever have wished for.

I've learnt that taking a dance class in a city centre bar on the night of a Wolves game is an exceptionally bad idea.

I've also learnt that it doesn't matter so much what you do and where you go in life; it's about the people you share these things with. The panoramic views and sun-set landscapes will no doubt stay with me for a long time; but the people I've shared them with are the ones which make the real memories.

"While there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour". Charles Dickens

When I sat down and wrote my list of 30 things to do before I turned 30, I actually included a 31st thing to accomplish. It simply read; "be happy".

I guess that's 31 things I've achieved before 30.

And for those who wanted to see the list in its entirety, here it is:

1.     Visit New Zealand

2.     Visit the USA

3.     Stand on the Golden Gate Bridge

4.     Visit Alcatraz

5.     See a show in the West End

6.     Eat seafood overlooking the ocean in San Francisco

7.     Read a Dickens Novel - (The Signal-man and A Christmas Carol)

8.     Get a pet

9.     Watch cricket at Lords

10.   Go to a World Cup

11.   Watch a football match at Wembley

12.   Go to an England away game

13.   Get a job/promotion at work

14.   Grow vegetables in the garden

15.   Buy a new car

16.   Start a blog

17.   Go to a yoga class

18.   Take a dance lesson

19.   Score a goal on the pitch at Molineux

20.   Appear on a radio show

21.   Have a lads summer holiday abroad

22.   Go to at least 10 music/comedy gigs (The Darkness, Status Quo, Chas 'n' Dave, Made in Birmingham, Blondie, Definitely Might Be, Beady Eye, Stereophonics, Winter Dance Party, Jack Whitehall and Dixie Chicks)

23.   Learn to swim properly

24.   Climb Snowdon

25.   Cook, from scratch, a Sunday roast dinner

26.   Visit Scotland

27.   Run at least two half marathons (one at least sub 1:55m) (Oldham, 2hr 01m and Stafford, 1hr 51m)

28.   Visit 10 new football grounds (Brighton & Hove Albion, Stafford Rangers, Carlisle United, Burton Albion, Fulham, Arbroath, MK Dons, Home United of Singapore, Shrewsbury Town, Belo Horizonte)

29. Appear on a tv show

30. Go to the top of the Shard

31. Be happy...