8:07am Tuesday 16th September 2008
In June, Darlington-born ex-pat Ian Usher tried unsuccessfully to sell his life on eBay. Now he’s embarking on completing 100 lifetime ambitions in just 100 weeks. He meets Lauren Pyrah.
IN the past six weeks, Ian Usher has bungee jumped in France, plunged 40ft under the ocean off the coast of Italy and been splattered with tomatoes in a world-famous freefor- all fruit fight in Spain.
But ask him what the most intimidating experience over the past 42 days has been, and he will tell you, without hesitation or irony, that his childhood nemesis of diving from the top board at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, was the one he dreaded the most.
“I hoped I would go up to the board and it would look a lot smaller as an adult. But there was the same feeling of dread,” he said. “I was always to scared as a kid to dive off the top board.”
But yesterday, he finally overcame his fear by completing a successful dive – albeit at the second attempt and at Darlington baths rather than Bishop Auckland, where he swam as a child, but where the diving boards have long-since been removed.
This represents just one of Mr Usher’s 100 goals – a series of lifelong ambitions which he aims to complete in a rather ambitious 100 weeks.
So far, it’s seven down with 93 goals and 94 weeks to go.
At least he’s ahead of schedule.
In June last year, the 45- year-old tried to sell his entire life – including his house, car, a trial at his job and access to his friends – on internet auction site eBay, but did not attract any serious bids.
“It’s funny, but the film, The Bucket List, which is about two men who have been given six months to live and make a list of all the things they want to do in that time, came out at about the same time I started this.
“You think, why should you until you have only six months to live? Why not start doing it now?
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do them all, but I want top at least try.”
Up to now, Mr Usher, who was living in Perth, Australia, before he put his life up for sale, has taken part in the Tomatino Festival, in Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, where the end of the tomato season is celebrated by locals and tourists chucking the fruits at one another; dived 40ft to a statue of Jesus Christ, off Portofino, Italy, and climbed the Eiffel Tower.
He has also bungee jumped at a gorge in France, paraglided and snowboarded down one of the world’s biggest indoor ski slopes in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Worldwide publicity of his eBay sale has meant Mr Usher has also been inundated by generous strangers, who no doubt admire his sheer courage, tenacity and perhaps slight eccentricity, offering a bed for the night or assistance with goals.
“I’ve met a lot of people through this,” he said. “I stayed with a couple in Abu Dhabi, a family in Valencia and a guy in Paris.
I’ve met some great people.
“Mid-life crisis is a phrase I’ve heard a lot over the past six months.
If it is a mid-life crisis, it’s a pretty fun one to have. I have found myself in this situation where I have the freedom to do these things all over the world.
“It is better than staying at home and finding a steady job. I really do believe life is about experience – we only get one short go at this.”
■ Keep track of Mr Usher’s progress at 100goals100weeks.com
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