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I was quite cute in my early days

In the hope it wasn't some dreadful omen I decided I would venture out into the open. I avoided walking under a bus and survived the day which happily culminated in a rather nice party with family and friends.

However the stopped watch did get me thinking. If I were to keel over tomorrow had I notched up "50 things to do before you die?"

Well after more than a quarter of a century in broadcasting my rather privileged position means I can indeed draw up a full list....

In no particular order:

A good ducking at the Alnwick Fair

Sailed a

Jumped out of a plane

Sang on stage at London's

Been ducked in a ducking stool

Taught English abroad

Rode out a hurricane in

Leant a fountain pen

Attended a

Circumnavigated the globe in one direction

Lived in a haunted house

Camped out in the

Fell in love

Seen abject poverty at first hand

Been down underground

Presented my own show on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú1 (Inside Out of course!)

Playing Top Gun at RAF Leeming

Been on board an aircraft carrier at sea

Drifted over the Tyne Bridge in a hot air balloon

Walked over the top of the

Have swung Newcastle's Swing Bridge

First non-worker to cross

Appeared as a panto dame

Have stood on top of the

Flown in a helicopter

Fronted Look North (with Carol Malia)

Gone white water rafting

Swam naked in a waterfall in

Taken in cats from a rescue shelter

Was in a plane with hijackers

Had a swim underneath me

Skied down a black run

Got served in a pub under age

Canoed on a

Fled on a midnight train

Scuba dived

Water skied on a Scottish Loch

Was given six-of-the-best at school (unfairly!)

Have been questioned by a judge in court

Travelled the before the Iron Curtain fell

Entered several countries illegally

Been flown to a private island by an arab sheik

Seen a volcano erupt

Seen black bears up close in the wild

Some of my work has been catalogued in the , Washington D.C.

Watched the sun rise over

Watched an open heart surgery operation

Watching open heart surgery at the

Appeared naked on TV

Lost my eyesight for several months (not recommended)

Helped

Have voted in every election

But most importantly.... I have been able to change someone's life.

I really have been incredibly fortunate!