If you haven’t guessed already, I love a good challenge. So I’ve set myself a new one for the year ahead.

Some time ago and I cannot remember why, my colleague H and I got talking about sign language and how we wanted to learn it, or at least some basics. So just before the Christmas break I said to her, let’s learn a new phrase or word each week during 2019 and see how that goes.

Doing something together always helps and if I’ve got to learn something to show her (and now you!) then I think that will really help me focus on it.

So here we go. I’ve got my BSL (British Sign Language) app and my plan is to post a video of my new sign on Instagram and share it here, building up a collection of phrases. Who knows, it might even inspire you to have a go.

The phrase in each video is written in block caps at the start of the caption. They are all embedded from instagram so if they aren’t working just pop over to https://www.instagram.com/happybarnet/

(By the way, any hints or tips are welcome! Have a feeling I may need help with this one!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR . Week 1 #bslchallenge . Not off to the smoothest of starts and honestly you wouldn't believe how long that took me to practice but I did it. . #bsl #signlanguage #learnsomethingnew #learnsignlanguage #happynewyear

2 Likes, 1 Comments - @happybarnet on Instagram: "HAPPY NEW YEAR . Week 1 #bslchallenge . Not off to the smoothest of starts and honestly you..."

MY NAME IS LAURA . #bslchallenge Week 2 and here I am learning how to say my name is Laura. I've also learnt to flip my video back as it turned out last week's one was the wrong way round thanks to my phone🤣🤦‍♀️#numpty . #bslchallenge #signlanguage #bsl

4 Likes, 4 Comments - @happybarnet on Instagram: "MY NAME IS LAURA . #bslchallenge Week 2 and here I am learning how to say my name is Laura. I've..."

HELP ME WITH MY TAX! . Week 3 #bslchallenge Inspired by my 40 minute call to HMRC yesterday here's my phrase for the week! Good luck to everyone doing their self assessment at the mo! . #bslchallenge #signlanguage #learnsignlanguage #learnsomethingnew

2 Likes, 0 Comments - @happybarnet on Instagram: "HELP ME WITH MY TAX! . Week 3 #bslchallenge Inspired by my 40 minute call to HMRC yesterday here's..."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! . Week 4 #bslchallenge . New jumper, no make up and a song. What else do you want for your midweek update🤣🤣🤣 . #signlanguage #learnsignlanguage #learnsomethingnew #happybirthday

4 Likes, 2 Comments - @happybarnet on Instagram: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! . Week 4 #bslchallenge . New jumper, no make up and a song. What else do you..."

DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN! Enjoy this week's BSL challenge, inspired by the weather today. Ps there were a couple of different ways to sign "do".... picked what looked easiest, hope I got it right!!! Pps sorry, not sorry!🤣🤣🤣 . #bslchallenge #bsl #signlanguage #learnsignlanguage #learnsomethingnew

5 Likes, 0 Comments - @happybarnet on Instagram: "DO YOU WANT TO BUILD A SNOWMAN! Enjoy this week's BSL challenge, inspired by the weather today. Ps..."

YOUR RANDOM SUGGESTIONS Well this week's #bslchallenge is a little different. I asked for suggestions and boy did I get them! So I picked some of the words or phrases and here you go! Ps it technically says wine time rather than wine o'clock. And your mum was as close as I could get to yer maw!! Oh and the naughty word is the US version... only one I could find! . Full videos in stories x . #learnbsl #learnsignlanguage

3 Likes, 2 Comments - @happybarnet on Instagram: "YOUR RANDOM SUGGESTIONS Well this week's #bslchallenge is a little different. I asked for..."