Anyone fancy a Do something new every day thread?

[woodcutbirds]

Been discussing how much it helped kick me out of depression to do something - anything - every day that I'd not done before or not since childhood, or something I was scared to do. It made more difference than anything else.
Does anyone fancy having a go at doing something new every day for a week?

Ruffle I love your list. Ely is beautiful. But only been to the cathedral. Had no idea about Cromwell's house.

Gretchen that Seville Gin cake sounds gorgeous. I was pleased with the carrot cake. Might have to make another. DS1 just announced it was his favourite cake ever.

Lonely hope your cold goes quickly. A sea front bike ride - I've never done that before either. I love the ideas that come from this thread.

That cake does sound pretty amazing Gretchen

I really want to go to the seaside now Lonely. Think that might be a half-term day trip to plan.

I'm feeling rubbish today. My plan had been to take a little walk in a new part of town just to be nosey, but I don't think I'm going to be up to it so it might just be snuggling again and something new on Netflix.

I love disappearing into Netflix - recommend After Life with Gervais - emotional but very human and funny too.

I thought of another thing which is a good tool - we have a local travel/bus tour firm which does day trips. I think most areas have similar? Great to scroll through the website and pick out 1 or 2 things to look forward to a few months in advance. I'm taking dd to see Tutankhamun in November in London and thinking of booking a West End trip too. Takes the stress out of the getting there/parking/petrol etc.

Sorry you are feeling rubbish Badger - hope it passes soon.

Also feeling rubbish here if it is any consolation. Keep feeling like i'm about to pass out and having to ensure I regulate my breathing. Mini panic attacks . So no bike riding today but am making a cottage pie for dinner and will get dd out on a small Pokemon hunt/walk shortly. Must overcome my worry I will pass out if I leave the house.

Hope you're ok lonely and badger

Thanks woodcut

Decided to grab the bull by the horns and jumped on a train to Ely this morning!

Didn't have huge amounts of time there as I had to get back for the dcs as they'll be back from their dad's at 4.30. Beautiful place though, especially around the cathedral. Love the way they've left one side of the cathedral hill to meadow, gives you a lovely sense of history. Actually caught the end of the sung mass (think that's what it's called unless i'm muddling up my denominations?!) Which sounded and looked absolutely gorgeous. They've got a science exhibition going on there at the moment so there's a massive moon hanging in front of the alter! kind of detracts from the gorgeous painted ceiling and stained glass windows but somehow awe inspiring.

Tempted to go back with the dcs next weekend as there's a doctor who thing happening there with special guests they know how to give the kids what they want, i'll say that much!

Saw Oliver Cromwell's house from the outside. Entry prices not too steep -about £15 for a family ticket iirc. I stood there thinking how much of British history will be ever linked to that one ordinary looking (if quaint) house.

Found the bookshop of my dreams (independent, 3 crooked floors, loads of guest authors lined up including David Mitchell - not that David Mitchell) and treated myself to a copy of Wendy Cope's 'Two Cures For Love' (because she lives there), walked along by the beautiful river, and then got the train home loling to myself at her awesome poetry.

It was kind of like the perfect date with myself

Thank you all so much for this wonderful thread, without which today would have been put off ad infinitum

I'm sorry you're feeling rubbish as well lonely. Those little panic attacks sounds really horrid and stressful.

Wow, what a wonderful day ruffle! I haven't been to Ely since I was a child, but I remember it being lovely. A date with yourself sounds like a great idea. I think I could do with one of those, I'll have tot have a think about what I would like to do.

I've just had a quiet day. DD had a party so I took her to that and spend most of the rest of the day curled up watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries which is rather fun if you like that sort of thing. I have a bit of a weakness for uncomplicated, enjoyable historical detective programmes (Agatha Christie is my comfort food) when I'm feeling down and this really hit the mark.

Hi all and welcome to the newbies. Loved your list Ruffle...really like the idea of just jumping on a bus and going somewhere new. Might steal that one!

Hope you feel better soon Power and Lonely.

Can’t think what I did yesterday. I’m sure I did something but my mind has gone blank. One thing I did do though is invited someone who I don’t know well at all but has a baby the same age as my little one round for coffee tomorrow morning.

Today we are making calzone pizzas to cook on the BBQ. A slight cheat as I have done it before but not for ages and it’s a new dinner to try baby DD with. Plus I’ve never done a dairy-free version so that’s new!

I was listening to Radio 1 earlier and they were talking about a 30 day wellness challenge that a few presenters were doing. And basically it sounds like what we’re doing here...doing something new every Day to help mental health although they were told what to do each day rather than thinking up ideas!

Coffee thanks for mentioning that wellness challenge - I might google it for inspiration.

I was feeling really sluggish and unmotivated until I checked into this thread. Now I think I'll have a bath in some new bubbles DS gave me for my birthday and put new bedding on the bed. We've had the same dodgy duvet covers for years. I bought new ones the other day and washed them ready to put on but lacked the motivation to do it.(God, battling depression is a slog sometimes.) But now I'm inspired to make the bedroom look nice.

Ruffles that day in Ely sounds absolutely idyllic, especially the evensong and the bookshop. I love the idea of a date with yourself. I need to plan one too. Though I spend so much time alone working from home, I quite fancy a date with a bunch of strangers, just to hear some new opinions. Might try one of the local Ramblers groups. I love walking.

Badgers I love cheesy detective dramas too. When I had really severe depression I used to spend hours on the sofa watching Murder She Wrote. Felt very soothing to watch Jessica dashing all around the world to her glamorous parties and operas and rodeos, solving mysteries without a trace of emotional distress.

There is something very calming about watching someone resolve everything nice and neatly isn't there woodcutbirds?

Today I am harvesting my early spinach before it bolts and converting the patch to a herb bed. At least that's the plan if I can drag myself off the sofa.

Well, I didn't manage much gardening but inspired by this thread I have made a cake. It's an orange cake, which I've never made before. It's rather yummy though.

PowerBadgers that sounds amazing. Again I want cake now!

Also didn't get much done today as had x2 no show by the same guy who kept changing the appointment time then apparently went to the right address in the wrong town so a wasted day but a cleared kitchen at least.

Think I'm needing fresh air so going to suggest a sandwich on the beach to dd after school. It's just about warm enough and only a 30 min drive plus i'm feeling too lazy to cook dinner today. Thanks for the well wishes. Slightly better today but definitely need to push myself to go out. Have been watching Mum on iplayer and i'm not sure it's very uplifting

Orange cake is wonderful Badgers. I know it's not healthy but it is such a good feeling to do some baking when you are down.

Mine are tiny things: tried cherry blossom bubble bath, downloaded Chrome as a new server because my old server was glitching. (Never done that before and am very tech-averse) Just had a coffee flavoured cornetto with DS, walking back from school in the sunshine.

I want to do something a bit more exciting and daredevil but am out of ideas. Ruffle (and anyone else!) do you have any wild and wonderful things on your list I could try? (Too far from Ely though I love the idea of it. I do fancy a day trip though. Just can't think where to.

Lonely having a sandwich on the beach is a lovely idea. Beats being inside on a day like this. I bet your DC will love that. Sorry you are still down. Seems quite a few of us are struggling at the moment. Is it seasonal - or have we just all come on here to try and shake it off because we're all at a similar stage of low grade depression - not crisis level but enough to hold back your everyday drive and happiness.

Hi all, didn't manage to tick off anything yesterday due to work stuff. Going to try and do the online singing tutorial today tho.

Woodcut the wildest thing on the list in my head is to learn to surf! (Not sure if you're anywhere nr Cornwall?!). Another one is to go to one of those Meetups at a day of a music festival (a whole weekend might be a bit much in those circumstances but i reckon a day would be manageable if the music is good).

I'm waiting in for a violin today so have to keep it low-key (groan)

Hello all! What a lovely thread, I like the idea, OP!

Oh, what a cool thread! I love this. Is it ok if I join?

I went through a bad patch last year, with depression and anxiety. I feel better now but my comfort zone has shrunk hugely, and I feel scared of doing anything new. I just talk myself out of everything before I even try it. This lovely supportive thread sounds perfect for helping me past that.

I love all the things you've been doing: Orange cake, Ely, and those worry dolls are adorable.

My new thing for today has already been bringing the D.C. breakfast in bed 😆 (DS1 has Maths and Physics GCSEs today, which sounds stressful!) but I'm also going to do a BBQ for dinner, which I normally wouldn't bother with.

Love this thread.

i like this thread.

id love to be close enough to a beach to go sit with lunch!
also to have a horse ride on the beach.that something ive always wanted to do.

Ooh a BBQ for dinner! Excellent idea! That is something I didn't get around to last year and kept meaning to! I might marinade some steaks while I wait in for the plumber (any time between 9-1 ).

I repainted the frame on an oval mirror I bought on ebay last year (was orange) over the weekend and it has changed the look of my bedroom for the better.

I may also make cake... any good recipes out there?

Ooh a BBQ for dinner! Excellent idea! That is something I didn't get around to last year and kept meaning to! I might marinade some steaks

Yum at marinaded steak drool

It's funny, isn't it? I always think of BBQs as a hassle, but once they're lit it's probably the easiest way to cook anything. And the kids love it.

Any cake recipe by Mary Berry is simple and works a treat!

Coffee and Walnut? https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/food/recipes/coffeeanddwalnutcakee03763/amp

Here's a link to loads of Mary Berry cake recipes on the BBC Food site, I'm sure you'll find something delicious here!

www.bbc.com/food/search?q=Mary+Berry+cake

Morning all. I feel like I’m running out of steam a bit too. I threw myself into gardening which was lovely and got me doing something new and productive every day. But then the entire family got involved which was also lovely and lots of fun but it feels ‘done’ now (or requires more money!) so I’m struggling for ideas of what I can do!

Yesterday I had a new Mum and baby friend round to play which was lovely. I also bought some new fish for my little aquarium 🐠

No plan for today yet. What can I do? Quite like the idea of baking something but it’s a lovely day out there so perhaps an outside thing...

CoffeeChocolateWine I've just busied myself by re-arranging the car (sounds dull but gets you outside!). Don't know about you but we have wellies and a jumble of stuff in our boot. Have just switched it all for the bucket and spade, electric pump and inflatables, flip flops. Optional hoover in there too if you want more sun . Am hoping this may encourage me to be a bit more spontaneous after school.

Thanks for the cake recipes. Might try a lemon drizzle. Plumber has arrived! Hot bath tonight with luck!