Today, the 8th of January 2015, is a momentous occasion: it's the 281st anniversary of the premiere performance of George Frideric Handel's Ariodante at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; it's 97 years since Woodrow Wilson announced his crucial '14 point plan' dealing with the aftermath of World War One; and it's North Korea's premier film critic Kim Jong-un's 32nd birthday too.
"Blimey", you might think, "there's a lot going on already today Ben, surely there isn't room for anything else?" Well, there you'd be wrong, my friend, for you see today also marks 30 days until my 30th birthday. "Nothing significant about that" you may conclude, but there you'd be wrong again (and you're making quite a habit of it now), because today I begin a quest that will see me try and achieve all the things every self-respecting thirty year old should have done by now, but for lack of time, money or enthusiasm I haven't quite gotten round to yet.
That's right, it's my 30x30x30 Challenge: Thirty days to conquer thirty as yet unfulfilled ambitions before I hit the big Three Ohhhhhh. Can it be done? Possibly. Will my time, money and enthusiasm hold out for a whole month? We can only speculate.
What I do know, however, is this: I NEED YOUR HELP! Whether it's suggestions for the thirty tasks I should be undertaking, tips and information on how and where to do them, or just general support, it's all gratefully received. My only requirements are that things be logistically and financially viable (there goes my trip to the moon) and that you keep things clean (although I'm prepared to get dirty if we're talking about nature) ((and no, that DOES NOT extend to naturism)).
Please do contact me via my YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter and all the old fashioned ways like telling me in person - I really do need all the help I can get!
Now, where's the nearest nudist beach...