"Blog? Nah, don't really see the point..."

So, here we are then. First post. I feel a bit nervous writing this as around 50,000 people have visited the website over the past couple of days, so theoretically I guess a substantial amount may read this. Funny how your language and prose changes when you know it won't be just your mates reading it. But 50,000 people... wow.

Well what's the point of this here blog? Many people e-mailed me with comments, suggestions and invitations regarding the site and quite a few commented on the fact that there was nowhere to post any feedback. So having this blog does provide that opportunity. I also would prefer to keep the main site to just the tasks I want to complete, rather than random, dull musings from myself so this also serves that purpose.

It's been another very strange day today. An article about www.beforethirty.co.uk appeared in The Sun today with the usual Sun line of journalism about how I BRAGGED and BOASTED in a letter. Not sure if the Sun realised it was tongue in cheek, but at least they didn't use the pictures they took (I'm obviously too ugly, even for the Sun). There was a really nice article on the BBC news website (just search for Boileau Middlesbrough and I'm sure it will come up) which spoke more about the website in general, which is rather cool. In addition to that the site has been mentioned on the Guardian website, football365, various forums, Century Radio and all sorts of other places.

However, the response of people is the startling thing, and I guess that is the subject of my first post (finally). I've received hundreds and hundreds of e-mails from people, all of them really pleasant. I have had one negative one which simply said "You're a idiotic fool", but to be fair that's a fairly accurate comment so I don't really have any grumbles. I've had invites to write and record a song with someone, the opportunity to drive in a car from Land's End to John O'Groats tomorrow (it's a bit short notice Carl, but I really appreciate the offer and if I wasn't off to Prague tomorrow we'd be spending 8 hours with lots of nice awkward conversation, but alas...) and many, many people trying to explain the rules of American Football. I still don't get it. Shedloads of people have pointed out that my bet on Eurovision wasn't 10-1, it was 9-1. So the nice people at Betfair have offered me a £50 charity bet for Breast Cancer Care on a specially fixed 10-1 shot on England. They have also invited me to join them for a 'Poker Lunch' whatever that is. Presumably it's where you eat chips. Geddit?

I'm now an expert in how to avoid parking tickets - Ian informed me that whenever he gets a ticket he writes to the council to tell them that he was helping an old lady who has fallen over. Genius. Matt from Exeter, who is a mere 22, decided that his life needed something like this and is off to create his 'before thirty' list. Good on you Matt. A celebrity (who I admire greatly) got in touch to ask me if I'd like to be an extra in his TV show. Obviously I told him to piss off, now that I have 50,000 people on my site he can come and appear in mine. Actually, that's not true. I fell off my chair. And then said "yes please".

I now have various methods to remember how many days are in each month. I've been invited to eat shrimp in Taiwan (cheers David), play poker in Morecombe (cheers Deano) and watch a Real Madrid game for free (cheers Nick).

Man Weekend got in touch. Man Weekend are... well... they're... well, I'll let them explain:

"we are a group of esteemed men that like to celebrate manliness in the form of 'Man Weekend' (c), which provide a welcome break from the rigours of girlfriends, work, etc etc. One of our shared passions is football manager - we fully and wholeheartedly understand both the relevance and importance of it! Our last Man Weekend was to Madrid where we saw the glorious Real, something that clearly needs no explanation to a man of your managerial experience. We feel that you have demonstrated an excellent understanding of what it means to be a man and therefore would like to invite you to be an honoury patron of Man Weekend. This accolade has been showered on such talismen as Ross Kemp among others for his service to Ultimate Force....although he is yet to confirm!"

That's just genius. They've sent me a man-based application form but I haven't had chance to fill it in yet, I hope they let me join.

The best thing about the site though has been the money. I haven't made any, but lots of people e-mailed saying I should. Now I'm a luck man, with a job I enjoy and enough money to buy a few nice things and stay happy. So I'm okay ta. But to raise some money for Breast Cancer Care would be really cool, as my Mum had treatment for this horrible disease last year and it is a cancer that effects so many people either directly or indirectly. So I reasoned that if people are nice enough to simply offer to help with my list, maybe they'll just give to a charity. For no reason. And then I pulled myself together and thought... "Nah". But lo and behold - just under £200 has been pledged! Amazing stuff. And it's put a smile on my face all day. You can contribute to at www.justgiving.com/beforethirty

I'm off to Prague this weekend for Soapy Walrus' stag do. If there are any people reading from Dublin you'd be advised to listen to Newstalk106 who are doing an interview with me at about 6pm. I did warn them that being the second day of a stag do, I might not make the most sense. But being Irish, this didn't phase them at all, so we'll see what happens.