Hello! You’re reading my first blog post and that makes me very happy on so many levels. #100DaysNoTV has been a little seed in my mind for a while now. But, you know how it is. Life has ways of halting progress and, I have to admit, ‘procrastinate’ should have been my middle name… Although – hopefully – not any longer! 

So, what is #100DaysNoTV?

After realising that we were spending quite a bit of time in front of the television in the evenings, my husband and I resolved to find better ways to use our time. We cancelled our TV subscription and started to write a list of things that we’d like to try for the first time, as well as things we enjoy and would like to do more regularly.

Rob and I quickly developed the #100DaysNoTV concept. Put very simply, the idea behind this blog is to come up with 100 varied activities and every week (when possible!) select a new one to do, then blog about the experience. (Edit: in retrospect, ‘every week’ was a little ambitious 😉 )

What is on the list?

Happily, we ended up with a blend of creative, hands-on activities; relaxing, fun ways to unwind; and a number of more involved mini-projects.

Most will be a single day or evening activity, but some will take days or even weeks to complete. Rob and I will do many of them together and on occasion we will involve our two children. I will introduce you to some of my friends along the way too, when we do the activities that they have inspired me to try.

I’ll try my hand at some new crafts: crocheting, felt sewing, jewellery making . . .

A child-friendly vegetable patch is on our list. We also want to fill our garden with year-round colour and use recycled materials where possible.

Perhaps I will finally finish making our sons’ toy bag!

I have various upcycling projects in mind: hallway table refurbishment, dolls’ house renovation, turning my old jeans into a mini skirt . . .

I’ll experiment with hairstyles and beauty products, and getting tips from the professionals.

ABOVE and BELOW: A flavour of the themes I will be writing about . . .

I don’t really do make-up but I will be making a special effort to try some new products and techniques

Worldwide cuisine, baking breads, inventing ice-cream flavours . . . We’ll involve the children as much as possible.

Yummy cocktails, fruit infused spirits and home brew. We’ll make them all!

Buy local

Our beautiful Fenland city of Ely features many amazing, and wide-ranging, independent businesses and retailers. So, I won’t need to travel far for most of the ingredients, materials and equipment that I’ll use.

The Old Fire Engine House, Ely, uses the finest local produce. We’ll dine here and hope to use their dinner and cream tea menus as inspiration for our cookery projects.

Cutlacks has three floors filled with kitchen, DIY and garden products. I won’t have to go far for most of my materials and equipment.

Duck Egg Blue Interiors, Ely, is renowned for design and style, so I will seek inspiration here for my upcycling projects.

Did I mention that I love tea? Ely’s Samovar Tea House has a menu with over 100 different teas and a cosy corner perfect for blog writing!

The perfect place to unwind! As well as treatments, Spa Ely stocks some amazing pampering products. The smell as you walk in is heavenly!

ABOVE: Some of the Ely businesses that will feature in #100DaysNoTV.

I should add that I will not ask for, nor expect, free items from any of the businesses that are mentioned in this blog. They will be included because I believe they deserve the recognition.

Let’s socialise

If you’re on Twitter or Instagram, come and follow me! I would love to connect and update you as our venture progresses. You’ll also find me on Pinterest which I use for inspiration and also, hopefully, inspiring others with my own #100DaysNoTV board.

Inevitably this blog project will evolve as time goes on. I want this to be as inclusive as possible and I’ll be asking for reader participation at certain points!

I am very proud of #100DaysNoTV and I hope it is a place where you feel you can share your ideas and making it an interactive experience.

Bye for now!