Carpe Diem

​I started working on the Carpe Diem quarterly Badge before I received the book, so some of clauses were well on their way last week. I’d seen a few posts on the Facebook group about the World Traveller, so I knew what to expect for Clause 1. 

Clause 5 involves doing something that scares you every week. Well, sometimes more than one thing might scare me each week, so I am keeping a private list and I’m planning to get that up to the full twelve by the end of September, even if it isn’t a scare per week.

Now that I have the book, I have decided to complete the Moneysaver Badge for Clause 2, and Camper for Clause 3. I had a bit of a debate with myself about the choice of a second ‘Wild’ badge, Stargazer and Code Breaker both appeal to me. However, Stargazing tends to be easier in the late summer to early autumn. Warm enough still to sit out, but darker earlier.

So I’ve chosen Code Breaker. 

As a new Rebel I haven’t had the book long enough to have put off anything or be scared by any of the badges. I wasn’t really liking the idea of an ‘Adulting’ Badge, though, so I chose that before the book arrived.

Where I Currently Am With Carpe D

World Traveller

1. I’ve made a list of the places I’d like to travel in the next five years. This Clause is compulsory. 

2. I’ve made a clear plan for my next trip abroad. This was actually already done for our proposed American Road trip, so I didn’t see a need to do it again. 

5. I’ve spent at least a month learning German with Babbel. More actually, so I am counting this as complete 

7. I have Researched the current visa and health requirements for all the locations on the list I made in Part 1. 

The Badge requires at least six Clauses (out of a possible ten) to be completed to win the Badge. My final two choices are:

3. ‘Choose a country and cook at least three traditional dishes from that country.’ I’m not sure yet which country to choose. I’ve been meaning to make my own gnocchi, so possibly Italy. On the other hand the whole family will eat Mexican, so maybe I should pick Mexico? To be confirmed!

4. ‘Go on a trip (ideally abroad if possible) and make a visual record’. I am going to do a Photobook from our half term trip to Normandy. 

Moneysaver

1. Over July, August and September I am aiming to buy a little as possible. Essential purchases only.  Unfortunately, it’s the summer holidays, so “essential purchases” are going to have to include things that keep the kids entertained!

2. I have reviewed all bills and decided to cancel two subscriptions. Clause complete. 

3. My savings are fine where they are, so I count this Clause as complete. 

4. Three ways to save money. I already walk and cycle everywhere, I’ve cancelled those subscriptions, I cook meals from scratch, I’m buying a Friends & Family Railcard for the holidays… counting this as complete. 

5. Over a period of the months learn to fox at least three things which you would normally throw away and replace. Well, that’s going to depend on what packs up between now and the end of September! Nothing has so far …

6. ‘Educate yourself about stocks, shares, crypto currency and current trends in exchange rates.’ That sounds deadly dull, but I can do it before the end of September. 

Camper

I’m not going to type out all ten Clauses! 1 thru 9 I can do, have done and will do when we go camping over the summer. 

Clause 10 ‘Take part in 3 outdoor activities during camp’ will be done when we next go away. Probably campfire, hiking and outdoor crafts. Or swimming. 

Codebreaker

Five tasks have to be completed. 

1. ‘Learn Morse or Semaphore.’ I’m going to refresh my semaphore knowledge. 

2. I already know the phonetic alphabet. Complete. 

4. There’s a list of ciphers to research, so I’m going to do that. 

8. I’ve been to Bletchley Park more than once, so I’m counting that Complete.  

10. My Puzzle Game choice is Macro Micro Crime City. It’s excellent. 

Adulting - scary!

Various choices of Clause. Have to complete six of them. I’m going to complete the ones about laundry, ironing and bed making. Tidy ‘chaos areas’, which will genuinely be a good idea, as will defrosting the freezer, it needs doing. 

Also picking cleaning the bathroom, which I do, but can do it regularly rather than the current irregular cleaning. Then going to bed leaving a clean sink. This I will count if I left a clean sink. What happens to it after my husband has been by it after me is not my fault!

There are other clause about cars, which I don’t have, and lawn mowers, which I don’t need because we have chickens. 

The twelve things that scare me I am going to keep to myself.